Squat Racks (Pt. 2/2) – Full Racks Focus

Same as last week, we are talking about the two main types of squat racks, being half racks and full racks. We have talked previously about some specific racks, and will highlight more specific ones in the future, but wanted to have a couple posts that talk about these racks from a general perspective.

So, what makes it a full rack? Full rack means that you can squat inside of the rack and off the front of the rack. These racks always have four posts, so a common nickname for these is “four posters”. By squatting/lifting inside of the rack, not only do you have the safety catches for safety, you also have the four posts that will help to ensure your barbell doesn’t fall to far forwards or backwards if you do fail your lift.

From the standpoint of my customers it seems very mixed on whether half racks or full racks are the go to options. Ive seen short people to tall people and strongman competitors to junior lifters choose both options. Because there are so many different styles, color combos, etc. out there for both racks, you really can find something that fits your desires, no matter what those desires are.

That being said, there are a four key decision points that tend to sway someone towards the half rack. They are:

1) Footprint. Generally speaking, the full racks have a larger footprint than the half racks

2) Cost. Most full racks are more expensive than half racks (especially when you are comparing the same brand). Makes sense when you consider they generally have less material in them

3) Use case. What I mean by this is what is the setting/purpose of having this rack. If someone is looking to get only one piece of equipment that has everything (pulley system, dip attachment, etc.) they generally are going to choose a full rack as it is easier to get more functionality. If this is going to be one of a few pieces in the gym, then it is less of a factor

4) “Safety”. I put this in quotes because this one can be quite a debate. Here’s the facts of the matter. The half racks have safety catches, but, since you’re squatting in front of the rack, technically speaking you could fall too far away from the rack and miss the safety catches. With a full rack that is not possible. That being said, the likelihood of that is low, but it is still a possibility.

So, with all of that being said, what does JEV use? Both! I personally love the half racks and will always have one in my gym. I like having the open setup with longer safety arms better than the full rack personally. I got a full rack because I wanted two squat cages and I wanted the second unit to be one that had everything (cable systems, dips, etc.). This way I can have a buddy over to lift and not have to worry about spotting them, they can have their own cables, etc.

Hope this helped and look forward to more #ShreddedSundays in the future! Thank you for all the support #JEV_nation