In this REP Drop-In Dip Attachment review, you’ll discover if it’s worth upgrading to this style of dip attachment vs a standard Y dip bar.
| Model | Pros & Cons | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Pros:
| Rated 4.6 out of 5 |
In this review, I’ll cover all aspects of this dip attachment. But if you’re in a hurry and want the highlights, read my summary below:
SUMMARY: The REP Drop-In Dip Attachment surpasses standard Y dip bars in stability and versatility, thanks to its double bracket system and center-of-rack placement allowing for a wider range of exercises like inverted rows, decline push-ups, and leg raises. However, its shape and size make storage and setup more challenging. Despite this, the slight price increase over a standard dip attachment is worth it for the enhanced performance and versatility, particularly for users valuing stability and exercise versatility.
Why should you listen to me? Not only have I been reviewing gym equipment for several years, but I’ve also been testing this dip attachment in my REP PR-5000 rack for the past few months.
Table of Contents
Overview
The Drop-In Dip Attachment is a relatively new addition to REP’s line of power rack attachments. It’s an alternative to their standard dip attachment.
Instead of mounting on a single upright like a standard dip attachment, it consists of two separate handles that mount to two uprights. It’s more stable and puts you in the center of the rack.
There is a version available for both the REP PR-4000 and the REP PR-5000 racks. However, it will work on any 3” x 3” rack with 1” holes or 5/8” holes.
It’s compatible with both metric 3” x 3” (2.95” x 2.95”) racks like REP or true (imperial) US-made 3” x 3” racks like Rogue. It will have a tighter fit on a true 3” x 3” rack, but it will work fine.
Specs
- Height: 12.2”
- Width: 15.7”
- Depth: 16.5” Excluding Brackets; 19.5” Including Brackets
- Handle Length: 14”
- Handle Width: 18.3” – 24”
- Handle Diameter: 44mm (1.75”)
- Weight: 18.2 lbs Per Side; 36.4 lbs Total
- Weight Capacity: 810 lbs
- Material: 11-Gauge Steel
- Finish: Matte Black Powder Coat
My Experience Training on the REP Drop-In Dip Attachment
Overall, I like the REP Drop-In Dip Attachment. I’m glad I chose it over REP’s standard Y dip bar.
It’s not perfect, which I’ll get to shortly. But first…
…Let me tell you my favorite parts about it:
- It’s extremely stable: By having a super secure connection to the rack via a double bracket mechanism AND being installed across two uprights, this dip attachment is rock solid. Much more so than a standard Y dip bar. I only have to focus on lifting, not stabilizing myself to counteract the rack or dip bar from flexing.
- It’s more versatile: The dip handles are installed in the center of the rack rather than in front of an upright. You have space in front of and behind you, allowing you to do other exercises like inverted rows, decline push-ups, leg raises, and more. You can also lean as far forward as you want on dips without bumping into an upright.
As I alluded to, there are some quirks to this dip attachment – all of which stem from it consisting of two separate large and oddly-shaped handles:
- It’s harder to store: Their odd shape makes them more difficult to store efficiently. I’ve had success storing them on the side of my Rogue Monster Mass Storage Rack, as well as on the back of my power rack. But those options may not be accessible all users.
- It takes longer to install: Their shape makes them a bit odd to handle. You also have to rotate them a lot to install on the rack due to the double bracket design. On top of that, there are two separate pieces to install instead of one. It takes maybe 7 to 10 seconds longer to install than a basic Y dip bar. That’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s noteworthy.
I had to get used to these quirks. I’m fine with them now, but I understand they may turn some people off.
If these issues don’t bother you, the REP Drop-In Dip Attachment is the superior choice to REP’s standard Y dip bar. The better performance and versatility are worth it if you use the attachment frequently.
Construction Quality
The REP Drop-In Dip Attachment is very well-made, featuring heavy-duty 11-gauge steel that is more than enough to support you and all the weight you want to add to your body for dips.
How much weight can it handle exactly? A ridiculous 810 lbs between the two handles.
You can feel the heavy-duty build quality of these handles just by holding them. They weigh a hefty 18.2 lbs per side or 36 lbs for the pair. You can still move them around, but you have to be purposeful when handling them.
The welds look fantastic, with no defects or ugly-looking patterns. It appears to be a mix of robotic welds for the straight welds and manual welds for the circular welds.
Not all portions are welded. The handle tubes are bolted to the steel backing plate with strong 5/8” hardware. This provides a sufficiently strong connection while also allowing for a lower price point because they can be shipped disassembled in a smaller box – as opposed to if the entire piece was welded.
Unfortunately, I have noticed that the handles are slightly uneven. Luckily, this unevenness only occurs when the dip bars are oriented sideways – which is how I store them, as shown in this photo:
Thankfully, the handles are much straighter when oriented in the normal direction, as shown below:
However, I’d obviously prefer if there were no unevenness, regardless of the direction it’s installed. I’m sure there are plenty of other users whose attachment is perfectly straight, but if it happened to mine, it may happen to others.
All that said, I’m not too mad about it considering:
- It’s straight during most scenarios that I use.
- I’ve attempted to use it installed horizontally for pull-ups and I couldn’t feel the difference.
- The attachment is priced more for value.
Versatility
The REP Drop-In Dip Attachment is more versatile than a standard Y dip bar attachment. The versatility is a direct result of it being installed between two uprights instead of on a single upright.
By being in the center of the rack, you can get these benefits:
- The ability to lean as far forward as possible without bumping your head into the uprights. This is what happens on most Y dip attachments if you use a narrow enough grip width.
- It unlocks the ability to do more exercises (besides all the various dip variations). Or, at least, makes certain exercises easier to do than on a standard Y dip attachment. Examples of those exercises include:
- Inverted rows
- Decline push-ups
- Leg raises
- Knee raises
- Neutral grip pull-ups
Beyond these versatility benefits, this attachment also adds versatility by having built-in variable grip width options thanks to the angled handles. To be fair, this is almost a given for almost all dip attachments.
However, it doesn’t have quite as many grip width options at the Rogue UDA or Rogue Velocidor, both of which have angled AND removable handles that you can insert into any of three slots per side.
The result is access to wider and narrower grip options than this REP dip attachment.
Design Features
I’ll discuss all of the major design features on the REP Drop-In Dip Attachment:
- Separate Handles: Having separate handles allows for center-of-rack installation where your weight is distributed evenly by both sides of the rack. This makes it more stable than a Y dip bar on a single upright. It also means there’s no obstruction in front of, or behind you; meaning, you can do other exercises like inverted rows more easily. The trade-off is longer installation time and storage can be tricky.
- Dual Bracket Installation: Each handle has two brackets that wrap around each upright, making for a more secure fit. The trade-off is that it takes a little more effort to get it on.
- Angled Handles: Most, though not all, dip stations have this feature. Angled handles not only allow for a comfortable wrist angle, but also create a tapered grip width from 18.3″ to 24”. Go wider for more chest activation and narrower for a triceps focus.
- No Knurling: A lack of knurling is common on dip attachments. As long as you have a textured powder coat, knurling isn’t a must-have for dips since it’s a push exercise. However, it’s nice to have and some higher-end dip attachments like the Rogue Velocidor and Rogue UDA have it. It would be especially useful on inverted rows.
- Thick Handles: The handles are 44mm in diameter. Thick handles like these are typical and desirable in a dip attachment. You don’t want thin handles that dig into your palms.
- Full UHMW Protection on Brackets: The dual brackets, or “double c-cups,” that attach to the uprights have UHMW inserts on all sides, which prevent your rack’s finish from getting scratched up.
Stability & Fit
The REP Drop-In Dip Attachment is incredibly secure. In fact, that’s one of the biggest draws of this dip attachment.
If you don’t like the wobbling or slight drooping you’ll feel when using a Y dip bar, this is the way to go.
One of the biggest factors contributing to its rock-solid stability is the fact that it attaches across two uprights. This spreads your weight evenly over the entire width of the rack. You don’t feel the rack swaying or the handles flexing as you perform dips.
You’ll inevitably experience some amount of sway on a Y dip bar (aka matador-style dip bar) – even the most overbuilt ones. This is because, even if the Y dip bar itself doesn’t flex, the rack may sway. This is because this type of dip bar attaches to a single upright.
Another factor that bolsters the stability is the dual bracket installation. REP calls this a “double-c-cup” installation. There are two brackets on each handle that wrap around the uprights in opposite directions – one at the top and one at the bottom. This keeps the dip attachment locked in place – further bolstering the stability.
The brackets fit well around the uprights. There’s no appreciable amount of play between the uprights and the UHMW inserts in the brackets, making for a fit that’s not too loose or too tight. Any wiggling you can cause by manually rocking the handles is gone during exercise.
Lastly – and It may be obvious, but another factor influencing the REP Drop-In Dip Attachment’s impressive stability is its hefty weight and heavy-duty build quality.
Finish & Aesthetics
The REP Drop-In Dip Attachment has a basic but effective and nice-looking matte black powder coat.
It’s held up well so far, though there have been a couple of scratches. However, no scratches have fully penetrated the powder coat to the underlying steel, which is good.
It’s not as premium as a matte black powder coating from, say, Rogue Fitness. However, it still does its job quite well.
The choice of the matte black coating was on purpose. It’s a non-slip coating that has a bit of texture to the surface. This helps with grip, which is important whether you’re doing dips or inverted rows.
The major aesthetic points of this attachment are the laser-cut designs. On the steel backplate, there is a laser-cut REP logo as well as a laser-cut mountain shape, which represents Colorado, where REP’s headquarters are based.
The mountain is my favorite part of the whole look. It’s aligned with the backplate’s edge, making for a striking, eye-pleasing design.
Price & Value
The Drop-In Dip Attachment costs $149.99 for both the PR-5000 and PR-4000 version of the attachment.
Only $10 more than the standard dip attachment for the PR-5000. Though, it’s $30 more than the PR-4000 standard dip attachment.
Considering that it’s such a small price difference vs the standard dip attachment, the Drop-In Dip Attachment delivers strong value for the price.
It’s undoubtedly worth the upgrade, but only if you value stability and versatility over portability and ease of storage.
Warranty
REP has a strong lifetime warranty on the welds for this attachment, which is the only part that would need to be warrantied for this type of attachment.
Considering the quality of the welds on my unit, I don’t see ever needing them to honor this warranty.
Critiques
I only have a couple of critiques on this piece, which I’ve discussed already but I will summarize them below:
- Storage Challenges: The two large oddly shaped handles make storage difficult. However, if you space on the upper, rear part of your power rack or a separate storage rack, you’ll be fine.
- Installation Time: Their shape and size make for a longer and more awkward installation. If you’re looking for a quick and seamless process, you may want to stick with a standard Y dip bar.
Shipping
Shipping is fast and free for the REP Drop-In Dip Attachment. Mine came along with my entire PR-5000 power rack and REP Ares order. I received my order just two days after ordering.
In my case, it shipped via freight because it was part of a huge order. If you buy yours separately, it may ship as a regular UPS or FedEx parcel package.
Your shipping times may vary depending on your location or method of shipping. But in general, you can expect it to be fast.
My dip bar came in one box along with its hardware. Everything was packaged tightly and wrapped in plenty of bubble wrap. There was no damage.
Is the REP Drop-In Dip Attachment Worth It?
The REP Drop-In Dip Attachment is worth it if you do dips frequently and want to maximize the stability of your dip setup. If you want additional versatility, such as the ability to do inverted rows, leg raises, or even pull-ups, that’s a bonus reason to buy it.
It’s not worth it if you only do dips occasionally and have limited storage options for the attachment. In that case, the standard REP dip attachment is the smarter choice.
Alternatives to the REP Drop-In Dip Attachment
If you’re considering the REP Drop-In Dip Attachment attachment, you probably have a PR-5000 or PR-4000 power rack. In which case, you’re probably also considering the standard REP dip attachment.
The standard REP dip attachment is perfectly fine. It will get the job done, but there’s nothing particularly special about it.
It’s sufficiently stable, but not rock solid like the REP Drop-In Dip Attachment because it attaches on one upright instead of two. It’s also not as easy to do different non-dip exercises like inverted rows because it’s not in the center of the rack.
On the upside, it takes up less space than the drop-in attachment. Accordingly, adjustments are quicker and it’s easier to store.
The cost difference between both options is negligible, particularly for the PR-5000 version. So the choice ultimately comes down to selecting stability and versatility over ease of performance vs ease of use.
Conclusion
After thoroughly testing the REP Drop-In Dip Attachment, it’s clear this piece of equipment stands out for its versatility and, most notably, its exceptional stability.
It’s a valuable upgrade for anyone serious about dips and who appreciates the bonus of being able to do other exercises like inverted rows, decline push-ups, or leg raises.
Adjustments take a little extra time and it’s harder to store because of its size and shape. These are valid reasons to skip this attachment if you can’t justify the storage space or if you value rapid adjustments.
If you’re torn between the drop-in attachment vs the standard dip attachment, don’t let price sway you one way or the other. It’s already priced competitively as is, and it’s only slightly more than the standard option.
If you’ve decided that the Drop-In Dip Attachment is going to be the next addition to your home gym, you can purchase it with the link below:
