REP PR-5000 Power Rack Review: Is It Worth It?

In this review of the REP PR-5000 power rack (V2), I’ll tell you why I believe this is the best overall squat rack on the market. And I’ll help you decide if it’s the right rack for your home gym.

Model	Pros & Cons	Rating
REP PR-5000 Power Rack	Pros: Beefy 3” x 3” 11-gauge frame provides extreme stability & durability The best value premium power rack & attachments on the market Compatible with REP’s Ares and Athena to turn your rack into a cable machine Access to the biggest and best 1” attachments, including (some) from other brands Highly configurable in terms of depth, weight storage area, and height options Several powder coat finish colors, including clear coat Cons: More refined racks & attachments are available from US manufacturers No extra-tall rack height option is offered Metric dimensions make some US-made (imperial) attachments incompatible, except single-hole types	Rated 4.75 out of 5 View product page

The REP PR-5000 V2 is a heavy-duty 3” x 3” (metric) 11-gauge modular power rack with 1” holes spaced 2” apart, which is about as overbuilt and sturdy as you can get.

There are lots of power racks with these base specs on the market, but the REP PR-5000 is such a compelling choice because it has:

• Highly configurable height, depth, and weight storage configurations that let it fit in small or large spaces.
• Strong value for the premium features offered, giving you a good bang for your buck.
• Several finish color options for a custom look that fits your aesthetic preferences.
• An attractive ecosystem of attachments for versatile exercise options — most notably the innovative Ares and Athena that convert the rack into a full-blown cable system.

That’s just a preview.

But like most products, it’s not perfect. For example, Rogue Monster Racks are a bit more premium in their details and overall quality. Plus, Rogue has more attachments overall, even if they lack anything like the Ares or Athena.

Luckily, some attachments for both brands are compatible with each other. More on that later.

Let’s dive in!

Overview

REP Fitness is one of the leaders in the home gym equipment market. They’ve had a quick rise to prominence over the past decade and have given their primary competitor, Rogue Fitness, a run for their money.

The REP PR-5000 Power Rack is REP’s answer to Rogue’s Monster Series power racks — their flagship 3” x 3” (imperial) 11-gauge squat rack product line which has long been the Gold Standard of power racks for home gyms.

Rogue beats REP in attention to detail, with slightly better build quality. Rogue also has more total attachment options in their ecosystem.

However, REP wins handily on price and value. On top of that, they’ve been crushing Rogue in innovation, with attachments like the highly-praised Ares and Athena cable systems making the PR-5000 (or PR-4000) a no-brainer pick for lifters who want that functionality.

Lastly, you can tell that REP listens more to feedback and requests from the home gym community.

Rep PR-5000 V2 vs V1

Now, when it comes to the PR-5000, it is on its second iteration — the V2, which was released back in 2019. Even the V1 was received well by the home gym community, but the V2 no doubt made some significant improvements, including:

• Upgraded 1” hardware instead of 5/8”
• 4-way holes with 1” hole size; previously there was an odd mix of 5/8” and 1″ holes on the sides of the uprights
• Laser-cut numbering on all holes instead of on every other hole
• Laser-cut numbering on the front and back of the uprights rather than just the front
• Laser-cut numbering on the crossmembers, flip-down safeties, and safety spotter arms
• More attachments in total as well as various upgrades to the V2 attachments

Specs

• Depth Options: 16”, 30”, or 41” (inside the uprights)
• Width: 47” (outside the uprights)
• Height Options: 80” or 93” (+1.5” with multi-grip pull-up bar)
• Material: 3” x 3” (metric) 11-gauge steel
• Weight Capacity: 1,000 lbs
• Hole Spacing: 2”
• Finish Color Options: Metallic Black, Red, Blue, Clear Coat, White, or Matte Black
• Pull-Up Bars: 1.25” Standard Straight Bar, 1.25” Raw Steel Straight Bar, 2” Straight Bar, Multi-Grip Bar, or Globe Grip Bar
• Price: Varies based on configuration

My Experience Training on the REP PR-5000

Overall, I’ve had an absolute blast training on the REP PR-5000. It looks amazing and does everything I want a power rack to do.

My current attachments like the leg rollers and drop-in dip attachment expand my capabilities beyond mostly barbell work, giving me access to dip variations and Bulgarian split squats (as well as other creative movements).

I look forward to further expanding the capabilities with more attachments like a landmine and band pegs (mostly for storage). But before I get those, I’ll be adding the Ares cable system to it so it will be capable of SO much more.

There is no wobbling of the rack frame when I’m doing pull-ups or dips, even when using a fast tempo. It feels incredibly secure. Mind you, this rack is not bolted to the floor.

I attribute the stability to having a bolt-together design. During installation, I was able to let the rack’s feet settle and make full contact with the floor before tightening. It’s also a 6-post setup with weight plates on the back, which bolsters its stability.

Transitioning between exercises is a breeze. The laser-cut numbers on the front and rear of the uprights take the guesswork out of changing the height of the attachments.

I love the strap safeties because of how easy they are to adjust — just like j-cups. Yet, they’re still super secure because the brackets install in opposite directions. Plus, there’s enough slack for me to move one end multiple holes at a time. All of this makes for a faster setup time, which is very important to me.

I train on the outside of the rack at least as often as on the inside. The spotter arms make this possible, and they get the most use out of any of the “optional” attachments by far. They’re beefy, secure (without the need for a hitch pin), and have quality protective UHMW as well as numbered holes. I highly recommend them unless you only train inside the rack.

I’m happy I chose the 30” depth option because I have plenty of room inside. I never feel like I’m cramped for space, even for movements like good mornings that require a little extra ROM.

Similarly, this height is perfect for me. At 5’11” with long arms (6’4” wingspan), I’ve got plenty of vertical clearance above me when doing standing overhead press inside the rack. Likewise, I still have to jump up to grab my multi-grip pull-up bar. Meaning, my feet don’t drag.

Construction Quality

The REP PR-5000 Power Rack is a beast of a unit, featuring large 3” x 3” uprights made from 11-gauge steel. This gauge, or thickness, of steel is the standard of modern power racks.

The robust rack frame construction makes for an incredibly strong and durable setup. I can attest that it’s rock-solid whenever I’m doing pull-ups or dips on it.

This rack could easily handle the strongest lifter in the world.

It even has 1” hardware, making it completely overbuilt, which I love. Is it necessary? No. But is it awesome? YES!

The 1” hardware, by the way, is one of the improvements REP made on the V2. The V1 PR-5000 had adequate but less impressive 5/8” hardware.

While I’m not a metalworking expert, the welds on my rack and its attachments look fantastic.

I can tell most of the welds are done robotically since they look so clean and consistent. The ones done manually (e.g. circular ones) still look very good. I have complete confidence in their integrity.

Before I go further, I want to point out that this rack is imported. It’s made in China. And as far as imported racks go, the construction quality is top-tier. It approaches the quality of American-made options like Rogue and Sorinex but at a much lower price.

It’s not quite to the same level of refinement, but it’s close. About 90-95% of the way if I had to put a number on it.

REP evidently has a great relationship with their manufacturing partners overseas and a strong process in place for quality control (for the most part – I’ll discuss a few issues later).

Because it’s an imported rack, it uses metric units for the measurements of the uprights, hole diameter, and hole spacing. This is in contrast to American-made racks like Rogue and Sorinex that use imperial units (aka Freedom units!).

What exactly does this mean?

Well, REP calls this a 3” x 3” rack with 1” holes spaced 2” apart. However, the uprights are actually 75mm x 75mm, or 2.95” x 2.95”. Likewise, the claimed 1” holes are 25mm (0.98”) in diameter and the hole spacing is 50mm (1.97”).

The practical implications of this relate to how attachments from American-made racks will fit (or won’t fit) on the REP PR-5000 — and vice versa.

I discuss attachment compatibility later, but here’s the summary: All American-made 3” x 3” one-inch attachments that require just one hole are compatible with the REP PR-5000. Those that go in two holes will not work (with a couple of exceptions).

The construction quality of the PR-5000 attachments is very good overall. They’re well-designed and well-built. And there is a trend of increasing design and build quality on these — REP recently came out with upgraded 2.0 versions of some PR-5000 attachments (e.g. j-cups, strap safeties) with some real improvements.

However, as a whole, the REP attachments are still not quite as refined and premium as Rogue Monster attachments.

When it comes to the build quality of the REP attachments, one of the things I appreciate most is the UHMW (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene), or protective plastic lining.

Specifically, every surface of any attachment that touches the rack frame has UHWM to protect the rack’s finish. Similarly, any surface that’s designed to hold the barbell (i.e. j-cups, spotter arms, flip-down safeties) has thick, well-placed UHMW. Even the standard j-cups have UHMW on the lip to protect the bar, something Rogue’s standard j-cups lack.

There were issues in the past with REP’s UHMW on some of its old sandwich j-cups, but that’s been fixed in their 2.0 version.

As mentioned, this is an imported rack. Even so, the build quality is excellent. However, I understand that some home gym owners prefer to buy American-made only. If that’s you, then a Rogue Monster Series rack is your next best bet.

My only call-outs on build quality are related to my particular PR-5000 unit. There were some minor rust spots under the clear coat. And one metal shaving was left hanging in a hole from the laser-cutting process. I talk about these issues a little bit more in my critiques section.

Footprint & Height Options

One thing that makes the PR-5000 appealing to a lot of home gym owners is that it’s highly configurable in terms of its footprint and height.

There are two height options and three depth options, and an optional weight storage section with three depth options. That’s a ridiculous number of possible combinations.

On top of that, it’s modular, so you could technically purchase more uprights and more crossmembers of varying lengths to create a custom mega rack, including building off the side.

Height

The REP PR-5000 Power Rack is available in two height options:

• 80” tall
• 93” tall

Having a super low 80” rack option is rare among equipment brands. But it’s a major selling point for home gym owners with low clearances, such as those who train in their basement.

Props to REP for thinking of those with limited ceiling height. Previously, these folks were more limited to squat stands or lower-quality short power racks.

If you’re lucky enough to have taller ceilings, my advice is to go with the 93” option. It’s almost always better to have a taller rack if your space can handle it. It gives you more room to overhead press inside the rack. Plus, it makes it so your feet won’t touch the floor on pull-ups (unless you’re super tall).

When figuring out ceiling space constraints, be sure to also consider these factors:

• Headroom needed for pull-ups: Your head will go a little higher than the top of the rack when doing pull-ups. If space is tight, you can either opt for the 80” rack or you can stick with the 93″ version but lower the position of your pull-up bar — For the straight pull-up bar, simply install it low on the uprights; for the multi-grip bar, install it upside down.
• Additional ceiling clearance needed for cable system attachments: If you’re planning on getting the Ares, Athena, or the lat pulldown & low row attachment, you need to add an extra 3” to the rack height.

There used to be a 100” height option when the PR-5000 V2 launched. However, REP no longer offers that option. I’m guessing it’s because it wasn’t popular and eliminating it allowed them to keep prices lower.

The fact of the matter is 100” is unnecessary for most users. However, there’s a small subset of consumers who still want or need it. This includes very tall lifters whose feet will drag on pull-ups. Of course, these lifters could simply bend their knees, which many people naturally do on pull-ups. But if they’re Crossfitters doing kipping pull-ups, their feet will hit the floor.

For those few individuals who need a taller rack to properly train and have the ceiling height to support it, I recommend going with a Rogue Monster Rack instead. They’re available in 100” and 108” heights.

Depth

The REP PR-5000 Power Rack is available in three depth options:

• 30” deep: This is best for most people and gives you plenty of buffer room to your front and rear when squatting. Yet, it’s not so deep that it takes up valuable floor space in your home gym.
• 41” deep: This is cool if you have enough extra floor space and you want a TON of breathing room inside the rack. If you’re limited on floor space but still want a 41” rack, you can still get away with it by sticking with a 4-post design. You’ll just have to store your plates elsewhere since you won’t have a weight storage section on the rack.
• 16” deep: I only recommend this if you’re trying to build a half rack setup where you’ll be lifting only on the outside of the rack. If you do this, you’ll need the front foot extensions. Some people go with the 16” option if they’re planning on building a compact Ares setup.

Weight Storage Section

You can optionally add a weight storage section to your REP PR-5000 Power Rack.

Opting for the weight storage area gives you a 6-post rack. You store the weights on the rear posts to keep the weights out of your way when training inside the rack.

If you decide not to go with the weight storage area, you’ll have a 4-post rack, in which case you’ll need to store your plates elsewhere; likely on a weight plate tree.

Note that if you want the Ares or Athena attachment, you’ll need the 16” weight storage area.

I chose to get a weight storage area on my REP PR-5000 rack because I had the space for it and it’s the most efficient way to store your plates near your rack for fast weight changes.

There are three weight storage area depth options to choose from, including 16”, 30”, or 41”.

Unless you have a specific reason for wanting extra room in this rear part of the rack, you should opt for 16” depth.

Sixteen inches is plenty deep for weight storage; the stored plates will never interfere with your loaded barbell when training. Lastly, as mentioned already, it’s the only compatible weight storage depth for the Ares and Athena.

The only reasons I could see for getting a 30” or a 41” weight storage area would be these scenarios:

• If you want a second area to train inside of the rack. This could be useful for having two people train inside the rack at the same time. In this scenario, it’s no longer for weight storage.
• If you want a ton of extra space to hang accessories or barbells. For example, you may want to install vertical barbell storage attachments along the depth for several bars.

If you choose to get a weight storage area, you’ll need to decide if you want the weight storage horns. These horns bolt to the weight storage uprights to hold your weight plates. If you plan on storing weight in this area, these are a must.

The only reasons I can think of to NOT get weight storage horns for your weight storage area are:

• If you’re getting a deep weight storage area (30” or 41”) to lift in.
• If you’re only getting the weight storage section to eventually install an Ares or Athena cable system AND you plan on storing your plates elsewhere.

Design Features

4-Way Hole Design (with Staggered Holes)

The PR-5000 has 1” diameter holes spaced 2” apart on all four sides of each upright and crossmember: on the front, rear, left, and right sides. This is known as a 4-way hole design.

The benefit of a 4-way hole design is that it allows you to install attachments at virtually any height on any side of the uprights.

Compare this to some power racks that have no holes on the sides, preventing you from installing anything on the left or right sides of the uprights.

Or more commonly, most 5/8” hole racks (with the PR-4000 being a notable exception) only have a handful of holes spread far apart on the sides of the uprights. This gives you fewer height settings for using attachments on the outside or inside of the uprights.

Not only do the PR-5000 uprights and crossmembers have 4-way holes, but they go a step further: The holes on the front/rear aren’t at the same height as the holes on the left/right side. They are staggered by one inch.

The benefit of this is that if you insert two bolts or attachments through adjacent holes, they won’t hit each other.

Here are a few examples of when this comes in handy:

• You can install the weight horns anywhere without worrying about interfering with bolts connecting the uprights to the crossmember.
• If you’re installing the crossmembers or a pull-up bar at a different height than the typical recommendation, you won’t have any issues.
• If you’re trying to attach a leg roller on the side of the upright around the same height as, say, a spotter arm, you can do so without having to remove the spotter.

The only thing that could be better about the holes is if they had the keyhole shape in the side holes like on Rogue Monser Racks. This allows you to use the ⅝” attachments in the lower part of the hole. However, I’ve only seen Rogue with this design and it may be patented.

Laser-Cut Hole Numbers

One of the premium details about the REP PR-5000 is the laser-cut numbered holes.

This is such a useful feature because it allows you to know exactly which hole to install attachments in. No counting holes or “eyeing” the height.

You can make notes in your workout log for your various exercises about which hole numbers to use the j-cups, spotters, or other attachments.

It makes setting up your exercises more efficient so your workouts flow smoothly.

There are laser-cut numbers on (almost) all holes on the uprights. I say “almost” because there are no numbers on the three holes above the bottom crossmember. There are also no numbers on the highest four holes, just below the upper four crossmembers (on the 93” version).

Essentially, the middle 30 holes are numbered.

Granted, you’ll rarely if ever need to use any of the non-numbered holes, but it’d still be nice to have them all numbered.

A big positive about the numbering is that there are numbers on both the front and back of each upright. That makes it SO much easier to adjust attachments on the back of the uprights.

I’ve had power racks in the past that only had numbers on the front and I wasted a lot of time guessing which hole I was at when using the back side. So I really appreciate this feature.

That’s not where the laser numbering ends, though. There are also laser-cut numbers on these components:

• All upper and lower crossmembers (except for the logo plate crossmember)
• The safety spotter arms
• The flip-down spotters

And, yes, the numbers are on both sides for all of these pieces as well.

Logo Plate Crossmember

The logo plate crossmember refers to the top crossmember that spans the width of the rack. It features REP branding along with holes. There are two options, which I’ll quickly discuss below:

Large Logo Plate Crossmember

The large logo plate crossmember features a full-sized, branded REP nameplate welded to the bottom of a regular crossmember. The nameplate has a sheet of stainless steel with “REP” laser cut into it, revealing the black powder coated steel sheet behind it.

I opted for this logo crossmember because I think it looks cool. A bit flashy, yes, but I like it.

It’s worth noting that if you want to use the crossmember holes for something creative, the large logo plate might get in your way. This won’t matter in my case because I’ll be installing the Ares, which means I won’t be able to use that area even if I wanted.

Compact Logo Plate Crossmember

The compact logo plate crossmember takes up a minimal amount of space and has more subtle branding consisting of:

• Tasteful laser-cut mountain accents for the corner gussets, which are a reference to Colorado where REP Fitness is based.
• A small “REP” logo plate that’s meant to be bolted in the center of the crossmember, covering the middle seven holes. However, if you want to use these holes, you can simply not install it.

This option costs about $20 less than the full-sized log crossmember.

This is the way to go if you’re not a fan of the large REP branding. It’s also a good choice if you think you may want to use the crossmember holes for attaching anything without the large nameplate getting in the way.

Bolt-Together Design

The bolt-together design allows the rack’s feet to sit flat on the floor despite any unevenness in your floor. You just have to wait until after assembling the main pieces to tighten all the bolts.

This is in contrast to welded designs, which are more prone to wobbling on uneven floors. Welded racks are less common these days but still exist (e.g. Rogue Fortis, Rogue RML-3).

The bolt-together design also makes for easier assembly, disassembly, and transport than a welded power rack.

Bolt-down OR Freestanding

The REP PR-5000 is NOT a flat foot rack, which means it needs to be bolted down in certain scenarios.

Luckily, there are many ways to avoid having to bolt it down. That’s good because a lot of people can’t or don’t want to bolt their rack to the floor.

Here are the common ways to avoid bolting your PR-5000 down:

• If you have a 41” deep 4-post rack, adding the rear base stabilizer is enough to make it stable enough.
• You can add the front foot extensions to your power rack, regardless of rack depth, to make it stable enough to not bolt down.
• Having a 6-post rack instead of a 4-post rack increases stability. If it’s a 41” + 16” 6-post setup, that’s sufficient. However, REP may still recommend adding front foot extenders or a rear base stabilizer to a 30” + 16” 6-post setup unless you always keep enough weight on the weight storage section.
• If you have the Ares, Athena, or Lat/Row selectorized cable attachments attached to your 6-post rack setup, the weight stacks will keep your rack firmly in place.

Attachments

In this section, I’ll discuss each of the attachments that REP currently offers for the PR-5000 power rack.

I only own some of them, but am familiar with all of them. I’ll give you my opinion on each attachment and tell you when I think it makes sense to buy any given attachment.

J-Cups

There are four j-cup options — two basic options and two premium options, all featuring UHMW to protect your barbell from metal-on-metal contact:

• Standard J-Cups 2.0
• Round Sandwich J-Cups 2.0
• Flat Sandwich J-Cups 2.0
• Lowered J-Cups

Most people will choose either the standard j-cups or one of the two premium sandwich-style options. Few people will opt for the lowered j-cups since, as I’ll discuss, it’s not necessary for most users.

Standard J-Cups

The standard j-cups are sufficient for any user. They’re strong and well-protected by UHMW on both the top and bottom. Importantly, the front lip is also covered with UHMW, which isn’t the case with Rogue’s standard j-cups.

All sides of the j-cup bracket that contact the uprights are also covered with UHMW to prevent scratches on your rack.

However, the underside of the standard j-cup isn’t protected.

Sandwich J-Cups 2.0 (Round or Flat)

The premium sandwich j-cups have a large UHMW insert sandwiched between its frame. This provides comprehensive UHMW protection, including for the underside of the j-cup. So your bar will be protected when you accidentally hit the bottom of the j-cup, which happens often.

The sandwich j-cups are stronger than the standard j-cups. They have a UHMW insert is larger and it’s a single piece.

The hardware used to secure the UHMW is out of the way, on the sides. Whereas, it’s on the barbell landing zone for the standard j-cups, meaning the hardware may become exposed when the UHMW eventually wears down.

The part of these j-cups that holds the bar is narrower than the uprights, unlike the standard j-cups which match the upright width. This gives you room to rack the bar as well as more clearance for your pinky fingers if you have a wide grip.

Importantly, these have a significantly taller back than the standard j-cups

The sandwich j-cups are also a lot better looking than the standard j-cups. They have a sleeker appearance and feature laser-cut REP branding on the sides.

I think it’s worth the upgrade to one of the sandwich j-cup options considering their significant benefits and how often you’ll use them.

Of course, if budget is a concern, don’t feel bad about sticking with the standard j-cups. They’re a fine option overall.

Choosing between the round sandwich j-cups vs flat sandwich j-cups is a matter of personal preference.

Some people like being able to roll the barbell forward or backward before lift off. In that case, go for the flat sandwich j-cups.

I prefer the round sandwich j-cups because the barbell only has one place to go. It ensures the same starting and ending bar position every time. It gives me more consistency, especially on bench press liftoffs.

You can read my REP Round Sandwich J-Cups review for more information.

Lowered J-Cups

There’s a fourth option — lowered j-cups. These only make sense if you also have one of the other pairs of j-cups. The surface of the lowered j-cups is one inch lower than the other j-cups.

So when you have both pairs of j-cups, you can achieve one-inch height increments even with two-inch hole spacing.

Two-inch hole spacing is plenty precise for most lifters, but I’m sure some competitive powerlifters may enjoy the extra precision.

For everyone else, though, you can skip this one.

Safeties

Safeties are required when using the rack builder for any 30” or 41” rack. No safeties are available for a 16” depth configuration since that’s too small to lift inside of.

The options include:

• Pin-Pipe Safeties
• Strap Safeties
• Flip-Down Safeties

NOTE: I’m not including spotter arms in this section, since they attach to the front of the rack rather than inside. I’ll talk about spotter arms after this section.

I’ll discuss each of the three safety options below:

Pin-Pipe Safeties

The pin-pipe safeties are the cheapest option, currently available for $85. While they’re completely safe and effective, I strongly recommend against them unless you’re on a budget.

They’re very inefficient to use. To change the height setting, you have to:

• Remove the inner pipe
• Line up the pipe with the upright holes at the desired height
• Insert the pin through the upright holes and into the pipe, like a sword in a sheath

Basically, height adjustments take more effort, focus, and time.

On top of that, they’re loud both when adjusting and when the bar hits them.

As you can imagine, they’re more likely to scratch or otherwise damage your barbell if you drop it since it’s hitting against a small, hard surface.

Strap Safeties

Strap safeties are my favorite safety option and the one I chose for my rack. I recommend it for most people.

It uses a reinforced nylon strap to catch the barbell. This soft, flexible surface is awesome because it helps protect your barbell.

Not only does it prevent scratches and dents when you set the bar down hard. But it also reduces the likelihood of bending your barbell shaft when you dump the bar because the strap has some give to it.

The straps are designed with some slack in them. This lets you install one end higher than the other. This effectively gives you height increments less than the 2” hole spacing. You can also set them up so that the barbell rolls forward or backward so it’s out of your way if you fail.

The straps are super easy to adjust; easier than all the other options. You adjust each end of the safeties just like a j-cup. It can be done with just one hand.

This is their 2.0 version of the strap safeties. The biggest improvement over the 1.0 is that each end of the strap safety installs in the opposite direction. This means that it stays on better. This reduces the amount of wiggle/rotation when a bar is dropped on the straps.

Here’s me demonstrating the stability of the brackets:

All in all, the strap safeties are the middle-of-the-road option in terms of pricing for the three available options. That, combined with the above-mentioned benefits, makes them a great value.

Flip-Down Safeties

The flip-down safeties are the most durable, strongest, and most expensive option.

They’re beefy 3” x 3” 11-gauge square steel tubes with thick UHMW inserts on top to protect your barbell. They insert into both uprights and then flip down into place. Height adjustments can technically be done with one hand, but practically require two hands due to their large size and heavy weight.

If you do a lot of heavy rack pulls, this safety option may be superior to strap safeties because of its superior durability.

If you’re constantly dropping a heavy barbell on nylon straps, it will stretch out over time and become weaker. That’s impossible on a steel flip-down safeties which have no natural give. Of course, your bar will take more of a beating and it will be louder. It’s up to you to weight the trade-off.

If you’re a very strong lifter who somewhat frequently ends up dumping the bar off your back during squats, flip-down safeties may be better because of their overall strength and durability.

Lastly, the flip-down safeties have laser-cut holes (which are numbered by the way). This gives you the ability to add attachments. Many people put utility horns in the holes to create a dip station. Another cool idea is to install one horn on each flip-down safety to do inverted rows.

Safety Spotter Arms

For me, REP’s safety spotter arms were an absolute must-have when I ordered the rack.

I lift on the outside just as much, if not more so than inside of the rack. It’s often more convenient to set up your bar on the outside so you can start an exercise faster. The spotter arms allow you to do this safely.

I think most people would benefit from the spotter arms. As such, I consider them a high-priority attachment.

They are big and beefy, weighing about 18.7 lbs each and measuring 27.6” overall with 23.4” of usable length. All the welds are clean and consistent.

They have a weight rating of 1000 lbs, which I’m confident they could handle with ease.

The spotters have an evenly applied black matte powder coat and a nice “REP” logo laser-cut through the support gusset on the underside.

The spotter arms don’t have a pin to secure them like the Rogue Monster spotter arms. Instead, they have a double-sided bracket where one bracket wraps around one side of the upright and the other bracket wraps around the other side. While this doesn’t actually lock them in place, it does improve security. Overall, I prefer it to having to mess with a hitch pin.

There’s a thick slab of UHMW on the top surface to protect your bar. And there are UHMW inserts on all surfaces of the rear brackets to protect your uprights.

The only place lacking UHMW where it could be useful is the lip. This is something spotter arms from all manufacturers lack.

However, Aperture Engineering makes a cool protector that snaps onto the spotter arm to protect the lip and the entire front edge. Not everyone needs this, but it’s pretty cool!

IMPORTANT: If you plan on having just a 4-post rack that you’re not bolting to the floor, you’ll need to also invest in the front foot extension attachment. The extensions will help stabilize the rack so it won’t tip when you put a loaded barbell down on the front of the spotter arms.

Weight Storage Horns

I love REP’s weight storage horns. They’re surprisingly premium, featuring a steel core covered by a thick urethane coating to protect your weight plates.

The urethane also makes sliding the plates on and off smoother without being slippery.

The diameter is somewhat thinner than many weight horns I’ve come across. I like this because it leaves extra space so that the plates have some clearance, making it easier to land them on the pegs when you’re moving fast.

They bolt onto the uprights, with two bolts per horn, taking up a total of four holes worth of upright space.

There are 12” horns for your bigger plates and 6” horns for your smaller change plates.

You can buy them as a full set or as pairs. I opted for the full set, but if you have a specific configuration in mind and/or don’t need that many horns, it would be wise to buy the pairs as needed.

Pull-Up Bars

Some type of pull-up bar is required for the rack to make it sufficiently stable — effectively acting as a front upper crossmember. Of course, you also get the primary benefit of being able to perform pull-ups (and potentially other exercises) on it.

There are several options to choose from, including:

• Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar
• Globe Grip Pull-Up Bar
• 1.25″ Straight Pull-Up Bar
• 1.25″ Raw Straight Pull-Up Bar
• 2″ Straight Pull-Up Bar

I’ll go over each and who I think they’re best for:

Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar

The mulit-grip pull-up bar is the option I chose for my REP PR-5000 power rack and I couldn’t be happier with my decision. It gives the most versatility for the price.

You get both a 1.25” AND 2” bar that provide straight grips and wide grips, giving you access to a thick bar for grip training if and when you want it. On top of that, you get 1.25” neutral and angled grip segments.

While you get the same number of grip positions as the globe grip bar, it costs $50 less. Plus, the globe grip lacks a 2” straight and wide option. Of course, the multi-grip doesn’t have globes, but most users will rarely if ever use those.

Note that the wide grip segments are quite steep on this bar. They feel a bit awkward, but luckily I rarely do wide-grip pull-ups. If wide grip pull-ups are important to you, you may have better luck with the Globe Grip bar since its wide grip angle is more gradual and also wider.

If you have short ceilings, you should know that the multi-grip pull-up bar attachment adds 1.5” to the rack height…

…However, if you have short ceilings, there’s a hidden benefit to this one. You can install it upside down and gain a few extra inches of headroom for pull-ups.

Globe Grip Pull-Up Bar

The globe grip pull-up bar is the most expensive pull-up bar option. Its standout feature is that it has two pairs of globes to grasp onto for an intense grip workout:

• A 3” diameter pair for a medium-width grip
• A 4” diameter pair for a wider grip

On top of that, it’s versatile because it has straight and wide grip segments, as well as neutral and angled segments, all of which are 1.3” in diameter — similar to the multi-grip bar.

However, unlike the multi-grip bar, it doesn’t have a 2” diameter bar segment.

Also, the wide grip segments are the best of any pull-up bar option. This is because the wide grip angle is more gradual than on the multi-grip bar. Plus, unlike any of the other bars, the wide grip is wider than the uprights.

I’d recommend this bar to those who want to use the globes for intense grip training and/or those who regularly do wide-grip pull-ups.

1.25″ Straight Pull-Up Bar

If you want the most basic and lowest-cost option, you can’t go wrong with the standard 1.25” pull-up bar. It’s straight with a normal diameter. It’s great for regular pull-ups and chin-ups as well as muscle-ups, kipping pull-ups, and hanging ab exercises.

It features a black powder coat to protect against oxidation. This is the only difference between the 1.25” raw bar, which is raw uncoated steel. So while you do get better rust protection, the grippiness isn’t quite as good as the raw bar. It’s not bad, just a bit less tacky.

1.25″ Raw Straight Pull-Up Bar

The 1.25” raw pull-up bar is the same as the standard 1.25” straight bar, except that it’s raw steel, giving it a more tacky feel for better grip.

The trade-off, though, is that it’s unprotected against oxidation so it will develop a patina and may rust.

I’d only dissuade you from choosing this option if you live in a humid environment where oxidation can become an issue with getting your hands dirty. Otherwise, it’s a cool upgrade that only costs $10 more.

2″ Straight Pull-Up Bar

The 2” pull-up bar is a thick straight bar with black powder coating. This is the option for you if you want to train your grip strength and you don’t need multiple grip orientations.

I don’t think this is the best option for most people since most people aren’t that into grip strength training.

Most people who want a straight pull-up bar should choose one of the 1.25” options.

Getting Multiple Pull-Up Pars?

You can technically get two pull-up bars. However, the rack builder does not allow you to select two. You’ll have to add the second to your cart manually if going this route.

However, before you do, you need to ensure that both types of pull-up bars will fit in your rack with enough space to use both.

For example, I’d only recommend pairing the multi-grip bar or globe grip bar with one of the straight bars if you have 41” rack depth. This is because 30” would be cutting it too close in terms of usable space and 16” would be impossible.

A common pairing that would work in both 30” and 41” racks is a 2” straight bar and a 1.25” straight bar. Of course, this wouldn’t work in a 16″ rack.

I think the vast majority of lifters will be completely satisfied with just one pull-up bar. If you want variety, the best bet is to just choose the multi-grip bar.

Ares Cable Attachment

I will be putting the REP Ares cable attachment on my rack soon. I already have it waiting in my gym to be unboxed and installed.

The Ares is an adjustable cable system with dual selectorized weight stacks that mount to the rack.

It uses the front uprights to create a 2:1 weight ratio functional trainer with adjustable height pulleys. In the back of the rack, it has both a lat pulldown and low row station that have a 1:1 weight ratio for heavier lifting.

The default selectorized weight amount for each stack is 260 lbs, which means you can lift as much as 130 lbs of resistance on the 2:1 functional trainer and 260 lbs on the lat pulldown and low row.

However, you can go even heavier by opting for the 50 lb weight stack upgrades, which bring each stack to a whopping 310 lbs! That’s what I did since I love going heavy on low rows especially.

This attachment was the first of its kind when hit the market in 2022 and it was a true game changer. Before that, the only cable systems you saw were lat pulldown/low row stations.

If you want a functional trainer AND a lat pulldown/low row station but don’t have the space for dedicated equipment for those, this is a great option.

I’ll be doing a full REP Ares review soon so stay tuned.

Athena Cable Attachment

The REP Athena attachment is similar to the REP Ares in that is a cable system that mounts to the rack rack’s frame.

However, it only acts as a functional trainer. It does not have a dedicated lat pulldown and low row station in the back.

The resistance is side-mounted between each set of uprights in the weight storage area. Whereas, the resistance is rear-mounted between both sets of uprights in the center of the weight storage for the Ares.

While the Ares only has selectorized weight stacks for the resistance, the Athena offers both a selectorized option as well as a less expensive plate-loaded option.

For the selectorized Athena, the weight stacks (with the optional upgrade) only go up to 220 lbs per side, which is 110 lbs with the 2:1 ratio. Compare that to 310 lbs, or 155 lbs with the 2:1 ratio on the Ares.

The Athena may make more sense if you’re more interested in just the functional trainer feature and you care less about having a dedicated lat pulldown / low row station. It’s also better if you’re on a limited budget. The selectorized Athena costs less than the Ares, and the plate-loaded version is even cheaper.

Also, note that you can get both the Athena AND REP’s rear-mounted lat pulldown & low row attachment. Combining these will be more expensive than the Ares, but some users say the low row on the rear-mounted lat pulldown / low row attachment is better than the one on the Ares.

Front Foot Extensions

For many people, the front foot extensions are a smart choice for increasing the stability of their rack without having to bolt it to the floor.

These feet increase the depth footprint of the rack, helping to prevent it from tipping forward.

If you’re using the spotter arms on the outside of the rack, these are a must-have if you only have a 4-post rack. They’re less necessary for 6-post racks.

While the rear base stabilizer on a deeper 41” 4-post rack is sufficient for a non-bolt down setup, the combo of a rear base stabilizer AND front foot extensions on a 30” 4-post setup gives you similar stability.

I didn’t get these because I’ll be installing the Ares, which adds so much weight my rack will never budge. In the meantime, my 6-post setup provides sufficient stability for the amount of weight I’m putting on the spotter arms.

The front foot extensions do more than add stability, though. They also have holes in them. So you can use them to easily add band resistance to exercises in the front of your rack. I don’t need this capability, but I’m sure many lifters would love it.

Dip Attachments

There are two different dip attachments available for the REP PR-5000:

• Dip Station: This is a single piece that is shaped like a Y, often called a Y dip bar or a matador-style dip attachment. It installs into one hole on the power rack uprights, with the option to secure it through a second hole for added stability using the included hitch pin.
• Drop-In Dip Bar Attachment: This consists of two separate pieces. Each piece has one handle. Each attaches to a separate upright, using just one hole and no extra pin.

I chose the drop-in dip bar attachment because it provides noticeably more stability and less wobble when doing dips, especially when performing them explosively. This is because it spreads the load between two uprights instead of one.

Seriously, it’s rock solid.

I also like that you can lean as far forward as possible and not have your head be near the upright, which can happen on a Y dip bar.

Since there’s nothing in front of you, you can also use it to do inverted rows, which is something I use it for occasionally.

The downside of the drop-in dip attachment is that it takes longer to install because it’s two separate pieces. And it takes up more room in storage, though I’ve had luck attaching it to my storage rack uprights.

If you’re low on storage space, stick with the Y-bar. If you prefer better stability and versatility, choose the drop-in attachment.

Check out my in-depth REP Drop-In Dip Attachment review if you’re interested in learning more.

If you want a Y dip attachment, but want it to be more premium than REP’s offering, go with the Mutant Metals Ultimate Dip Attachment (UDA). It’s knurled with adjustable widths and has removable handles that can be used elsewhere on the back. Plus, you can keep it stored on your uprights by flipping it up and out of the way.

Landmine

I didn’t buy the REP landmine, but it’s one attachment that’s on my “to buy” in the future.

It holds one end of your barbell, and then you load and lift the opposite end. The barbell moves in any direction since the landmine pivots and rotates.

It installs with a band peg-like pin into any hole on the rack — though, for virtually all movements, you’ll install it at the base of the rack.

It’s quite inexpensive and can give you a ton of variety with exercises from landmine rows to landmine presses and much more.

Utility Seat

The utility seat is a compelling attachment that I didn’t order with my rack, but I’m strongly considering adding it in the future.

I’m not 100% sure I would use it enough to justify keeping it in my gym, but it has many potential applications that make it tempting.

This attachment is designed to install width-wise across your rack by installing it on the safety spotter arms, flip-down safeties, lower crossmembers, or even the ISO arms.

It provides a flat, stable, and adjustable height surface to perform any number of movements. There’s also an optional removable pad that you can add on top for cushioning when needed.

The applications include, but are certainly not limited to:

• Seal rows
• Step-ups
• Box jumps
• Box squats
• Lever leg press
• Decline push ups
• Bulgarian split squats
• Bodyweight reverse hypers

It can even be used as a spotter platform for bench press. Your creativity is the limit.

It’s a big, heavy steel slab. That would usually turn me off from getting it because of the storage issues. However, it can easily be stored from the top crossmembers via band pegs.

Plus, the built-in handles make carrying around this heavy piece more manageable.

One major benefit of the utility seat is that it’s designed to fit on both 47” wide racks (e.g. REP, Sorinex) and 49” racks (e.g. Rogue), as well as on both 1” holes (e.g. REP PR-5000, Rogue Monster, Sorinex XL) and 5/8” holes (e.g. REP PR-4000, Rogue Monster Light).

In other words, it’ll fit on most modular power racks on the market, which is great if you already have some of that equipment in your gym.

Barbell Holders

If you have multiple barbells and don’t want to use precious floor space or mount any barbell storage racks to the wall, then one of REP’s rack-mounted bar holders is a smart, low-cost choice.

I didn’t get one of these for my rack because I plan on storing my barbells on the wall.

REP offers two types of rack-mounted bar holders for the PR-5000, both of which store your bars vertically:

• Barbell Tube Stand: This option bolts near the base of the rack and holds a single barbell. It consists of a tube that holds the bar. The tube is lined with protective plastic to protect your barbell sleeve.
• Dual Barbell Hanger: This option bolts near the top of the rack and holds two barbells. It has two slots, protected by plastic, that let you hang each barbell by the bar sleeve.

Between these two options, I recommend the dual barbell hanger for most people. Not only does it hold twice as many bars, but it’s a bit faster to use. Plus, if you’re limited on ceiling height, this option requires less clearance.

Leg rollers

I’m a big fan of the REP PR-5000 leg rollers. They’re a very good bang for your buck, costing just $50 for one or $100 for a pair.

Compare that to the Rogue Monster version, which costs $120 for a single roller and $240 for a pair.

Granted, the Rogue leg rollers are of higher quality. Notably, they have less wiggle because they’re secured with a knurled screw-on nut for a tight fit on the upright.

Whereas, REP’s rollers use a simple lynch pin so there is a bit of play. However, in practice, you don’t notice any movement during use because your weight is against it.

I highly recommend rollers if you want to incorporate Bulgarian split squats into your routine. It’s better than using a weight bench because you can set the exact height you want. Plus, the rotation of the roller makes for a more seamless movement.

The vinyl is grippy, which will help keep your foot from slipping off during Bulgarian split squats.

However, their utility extends beyond Bulgarians. They’re also a must-have if you’re getting the Ares attachment to keep your legs down on lat pulldowns.

Beyond that, your creativity is the limit with these. I’ve used them successfully as a makeshift preacher bench pad for dumbbell curls and as a leg holder for sit-ups.

You can even use them to do Nordic curls or decline crunches (in conjunction with your bench). I’ve even seen them used for sissy squats, which is something I’m yet to test.

I go into more detail about the uses, benefits, pros, and cons of this attachment in my REP Leg Roller review.

Lat Pulldown & Low Row

I didn’t get the lat pulldown & low row attachment for my PR-5000 rack because I ordered the Ares. The Ares includes its own lat pulldown and low row station.

However, if you want to have a lat pulldown tower and low row station inside your power rack without a functional trainer system, the lat pulldown & low row station is the way to go.

In fact, some users claim the low row station on the lat pulldown & low row attachment is slightly better than the low row station that comes on the Ares.

The PR-5000’s lat pulldown & low row attachment gives you access to a rear-mounted high and low pulley without needing separate dedicated equipment. It uses the existing footprint of your rack (plus a little extra space off the back), which will help save space in your gym.

While this type of attachment is not exactly new to the power rack market, the fact that REP offers a selectorized weight stack version is.

The selectorized version gives you a 1:1 ratio 200 lb weight stack by default. You can upgrade this to a whopping 300 lbs if you want. You can also add band resistance for accommodating resistance training using the integrated band pegs.

Both versions of the lat pulldown & low row attachment require the rear base stabilizer (RBS). The attachment is optionally sold with the RBS in case you don’t already have it.

While the price is fair at $1,299.99 (or $1,419.99 with the required RBS) for this selectorized attachment, it’ll no doubt be out of budget for many. In that case, you can choose the much more affordable plate-loaded version for just $449.99 (or $569.98 with the required RBS).

It’s worth noting that you can always add a functional trainer capability to your rack in the future while keeping this lat pulldown & low row attachment. You do this by opting for the Athena attachment instead of the Ares attachment.

Utility Horns

The utility horns are similar in design to the weight horns. Like the weight storage horns, the utility horns are 12” long and consist of a steel peg covered with urethane.

However, it doesn’t bolt to the rack. Rather, it uses a tethered lynchpin to attach to the uprights so you can quickly change the position.

While it’s not designed for holding weights, you could technically use it for that. Though it wouldn’t be as stable as the bolt-on weight horns.

It’s designed to do whatever your imagination can up with.

I’ve heard of people doing a lot of things with these including:

• Using them on the flip-down safeties as dip handles.
• Putting them on an upper crossmember for neutral grip pull-ups.
• Attaching them to the uprights as handles for Hatfield squats.
• Using them as a makeshift step to reach the pull-up bar (for shorter people).
• Storing collars, straps/wraps, bands, chains, or other accessories on them.

There are so many possibilities! I don’t have one, though it’s on my “maybe” list for future attachments. Just because I think I’d have fun coming up with creative uses.

Belt Squat

The belt squat attachment allows you to add belt squats to your routine using your existing rack footprint. No need for a dedicated belt squat machine.

If you want to squat but without loading your spine, this is an attachment worth considering.

However, to use it in your PR-5000, you need to also have the lat pulldown & low row attachment OR the Ares attachment. This is because it requires cable resistance to work.

If you have either of these cable attachments already, then the belt squat is very well-priced at $300. But if you don’t, then the investment required to use the belt squat attachment is steep.

Even though I’ll be installing the Ares on my rack, I don’t have much interest in the belt squat attachment. I’ve heard from others in the home gym community that the setup time can take a while. And fast transitions between exercises are important for me.

Additionally, it’s a large and oddly shaped attachment, which poses storage issues. I prefer to have easily stored attachments unless it’s something I’ll use a lot.

That’s not to say it’s a bad attachment. Some people love it and use it a lot despite the setup challenges. And if you lack space for a dedicated unit, this is one of the few options.

ISO Arms (Lever Arms)

If you want jammer arms aka lever arms on your PR-5000 power rack, then the REP ISO arms are for you.

These arms allow you to mimic plate-loaded lever machine exercises similar to the Hammer Strength-style machines you’ll find in commercial gyms.

However, they’re not quite as efficient or effective as dedicated lever machines. This is because the strength curve isn’t always exactly what you want for a given movement.

That said, what these lack in specificity, they make up in versatility. You can adjust the height anywhere on the uprights. You can modify the position of the handles and weight holders, too.

This lets you perform all types of movements from seated chest press to bent over rows to standing push press and a lot more.

Before you invest in these, you should know that adjusting the ISO arms to the perfect position for a given exercise can take a bit of time and energy.

If you have weight loaded already, you need to remove that. Even unloaded, they’re kind of heavy. Sliding them up or down the rack will take two hands and fiddling with the hitch pin.

It’s doable, it’s just not seamless and you should know that beforehand.

What I do like about the REP ISO arms is that you can lock the arms in place so that they’re extended up or out. This keeps them out of the way when not in use.

For now, I’m passing on the ISO arms. Especially because I’ll be installing the Ares.

You can use the ISO arms with the Ares, but it becomes crowded. You can’t use the ISO arms at the top of the uprights since that’s where the pulleys are. And you can’t use the cable pulleys at the bottommost position if the ISO arms are installed. You can add or remove the arms as needed, but that’s not convenient.

Rear Base Stabilizer

The rear base stabilizer (RBS) is an optional attachment that can make your power rack more stable and thus safer.

It’s particularly useful if you don’t have a 6-post rack.

REP claims you don’t need to bolt down your rack if you add it to a 4-post 41” depth rack setup.

But what if you have a 4-post 30” setup and you don’t want to bolt it down? In that case, it’d still be worth getting the RBS. But you’d also need the front foot extensions to have enough stability to not bolt down.

I decided not to get the RBS for a couple of reasons. First off, while I do have a 30” rack, it’s a 6-post setup, which adds a lot of stability in its own right. On top of that, I’ll be installing the Ares attachment soon. The Ares is not compatible with the RBS.

If you’re planning on getting the rear-mounted lat pulldown & low row attachment, then the RBS is required. The lat pulldown & low row attachment is sold both with and without the RBS depending on whether or not you already have it.

Band Pegs

If you want to add band resistance to your bench, squat, deadlift, or other movements, you should add band pegs to your PR-5000 order.

I honestly don’t do a ton of band work, so I skipped these.

However, I’ll probably get some soon just because they’re also a convenient tool for adding storage to a power rack. When I get them, I’ll use them primarily to hang bands, belts, and other accessories. And if I want to do band-resisted exercises, I’ll have that option.

They’re just $28 per pair, which makes them a great value.

More Attachments

I’ve already discussed all of the major REP PR-5000 attachments, as well as some of the minor ones. However, this isn’t a complete list. Some of the others include:

• Wall Ball Target
• Pull-Up Bar Connector
• Cannonball Grips
• Cable Catch (for the belt squat attachment)

I won’t talk about those, though, since they’re not that popular and there isn’t much to say.

I’m sure more attachments will come in the future, so be sure to check the attachments page for all of the current rack accessories.

Finish & Aesthetics

Finish

The REP PR-5000 Power Rack is currently offered in the following powder coat finishes:

• Metallic Black
• Red
• Blue
• Clear Coat
• White
• Matte Black

This is a pretty good variety, though Rogue Monster and Sorinex XL racks both have more options. Rogue even offers a stainless steel version — if you’re willing to pay an extra ~$4,000, or about 1.5x the price of their standard powder coated racks!

REP used to have a stainless steel version of the PR-5000. It’s too bad they got rid of it because that’s a pretty sweet upgrade. It wasn’t nearly as much of a price jump as Rogue’s stainless version.

They also used to have green and orange powder coat options. However, both of those have been retired as well.

I chose the clear coat for my finish option. It does cost more than the colored finishes, but it’s a very reasonable upcharge. For me, it was well worth the extra cost to get the look I wanted for my home gym.

The clear coat allows the raw steel to show through while still protecting it from oxidation and impacts. It gives the rack a beautiful, shiny silver color while highlighting the steel’s natural patterns.

I should mention that there were a few small rust spots that you’ll see if you look closely. However, as I discuss in my critiques section of this review, it’s apparent these were there before the clear coat application. They haven’t expanded since I got them.

The quality of my clear powder coat is great. It has a smooth texture and it’s applied evenly. There are no signs of chipping or other imperfections. Of course, if you bang a bar against it hard enough, it will scratch the coating. But luckily I haven’t done that yet.

Unlike the clear coat, the colored powder coat finishes on the PR-5000 are more textured. They have an “orange peel” texture, which is the same texture on my REP FB-5000 flat bench. It’s not necessarily better or worse than a smooth coating, it’s just a different style.

I’ve spoken to other home gym owners who own both a Rogue Monster Racks and a PR-5000. They told me that the powder coat quality on Rogue is a bit better in terms of scratch/impact resistance. REP is still good, but not quite to Rogue’s level.

Aesthetics

The REP PR-5000 is a beautiful rack.

There are a bunch of things that make this rack look pleasing to the eye, with the following being the big ones:

• The variety of well-applied powder coat finish options.
• Pristine robotic laser welds on the entire rack frame (and most parts of most attachments).
• Laser-cut numbered holes on both the front and back of each upright; as well as on both sides of the main crossmembers, the spotter arms, and flip-down safeties.
• Subtle laser-cut REP branding on the sides of the uprights. (Note: this can cause a minor issue in certain scenarios, as explained here.)
• Multiple logo plate options to match your particular preferences.

There are only a few ways I think the rack itself could look better:

• The option of custom colored attachments like Sorinex offers. This would raise prices a lot so I don’t think it’d make business sense for REP.
• The front foot extensions, logo plate crossmembers, and rear base stabilizer only come in a black powder coat. While I understand that it wouldn’t make financial sense for REP to offer most regular attachments (e.g. j-cups, safeties, etc.) in different colors, I think it would be worth the extra cost to have these three pieces available in the same colors as the rack finishes because they’re technically part of the frame.
• Having the top of the crossmembers be flush with the top of the uprights like on Rogue racks.

Price & Value

The REP PR-5000 Power Rack isn’t cheap in absolute terms, but it’s an excellent value for what you get. You get a premium power rack at sub-premium prices.

It costs significantly less than premium 3” x 3” one-inch hole racks from American manufacturers like Rogue and Sorinex. This competitive price is possible because it’s an import.

But the quality is notably better than other imported racks, approaching that of its American competitors.

The attractive price point is amplified by the fact that shipping is free. Of course, it’s not truly free; the shipping price is built into the retail price. Still, it’s nice to know the price upfront and not be shocked by a large shipping fee once you finally checkout.

The relatively lower cost of the REP attachments is where you’ll begin to see even bigger savings compared to Rogue and Sorinex. Sure, the PR-5000 costs less than their racks. But the PR-5000 attachments are disproportionately lower in price.

Here’s a breakdown of costs between the REP PR-5000 vs the most popular Rogue Monster Racks vs the Sorinex XL Power Rack (all with only the base-level options):

Power Rack Model	Price
REP PR-5000 (30” 4-Post)	$1,064.92
REP PR-5000 (30” 6-Post)	$1,753.89
Rogue RM-3 (30” 4-Post)	$1,285.00
Rogue RM-4 (41” 4-Post)	$1,585.00
Rogue RM-6 (41” 6-Post)	$2,610.00
Sorinex XL (43” 6-Post)	$3,050.00

And here’s a price comparison between several popular attachments that REP, Rogue, and Sorinex all have in common for their comparable racks:

Attachment Type	REP Fitness	Rogue Fitness	Sorinex
Sandwich J-cups	$149.99	$255.00	$289.00
Flip-down Safeties	$229.99	$490.00	$439.00
Spotter Arms	$209.99	$295.00	$399.00
Roller Pad	$49.99	$120.00	$102.00
Landmine	$89.99	$145.00	$164.00
Utility Seat	$224.99	$275.00	$319.99

Warranty

REP Fitness offers a strong warranty on the PR-5000. You get a lifetime warranty on these components:

• The rack frame
• Structural welds on the rack itself (uprights and crossmembers)
• Structural welds on rack attachments

This warranty applies to any defects in material, functionality, and workmanship for the lifetime of the product. It does not apply if you neglect or abuse the rack or attachments, causing them to become unusable.

If you opt for any attachments such as the Ares and Athena cable systems, just know that components on those such as the cables, pulley, and pop-pins only have a one-year warranty. That’s the industry standard for these types of components.

Critiques

No Extra-Tall Height Option

There is no longer a 100” height option even though one was originally available when the V2 first launched. While 93” is a fine height for my needs, I could see some tall users wanting a taller rack assuming their ceilings allow for it.

While tall users won’t have any issues squatting or doing other lifts in the PR-5000, they could have an issue with pull-ups (especially kipping pull-ups) if their feet touch the ground at the bottom of the range of motion. That wouldn’t be the end of the world since you could just bend your knees, but it’s still a potential annoyance.

If a tall rack is a must-have for you, go with a Rogue Monster Series rack. They offer 100” and 108” heights.

Not Compatible with Certain Non-REP Attachments

This rack is technically a 75mm x 75mm (2.95” x 2.95”) rack with 25mm (0.98”) holes and 50mm (1.97”) hole spacing and not a true 3” x 3” rack with 1” holes and 2” hole spacing.

This means that not all attachments from other companies like Rogue and Sorinex with true 3” x 3” one-inch hole racks will work.

You can only be sure that an attachment made for true 3” x 3” racks will work on the PR-5000 if it installs into a single hole. If it requires a second hole (e.g. a hitch pin to keep it in place), chances are it won’t fit due to the discrepancies in hole size and spacing.

There’s a caveat to this. If the two holes are close enough together, it’ll probably fit because there’s not enough space for the discrepancies to make a difference.

For example, the Sorinex Bulldog Pad uses two holes to install, but it fits on the PR-5000 because the holes are so close. Same thing with the Rogue Monster LT-1 50 CAL Trolley 2.0 & Lever Arm Kit — multiple users have confirmed this compatibility.

However, the further the holes are away from each other, the less likely it is to fit.

If there’s a Rogue Monster attachment requiring two holes that you absolutely must have for your rack, then that’s a reason to go Rogue. However, the vast majority of people will be perfectly happy with a combination of REP’s attachment ecosystem and any single-hole attachments from Rogue or other companies.

Laser-Cut Logo in Upright Can Interfere with Attachment Position

I think that the small laser-cut “REP” logos on the sides of each upright look fantastic. However, they can interfere with functionality in some scenarios, even if it’s rare.

The logos are there instead of holes. That means you can’t install attachments that require a side hole at that specific height.

Luckily, this is rare since the logos are high up — at the 24th hole number. Most users would rarely if ever want to install an attachment there.

However, if you have the Ares, Athena, or ISO arms, then you’re more likely to notice this issue. This is because these attachments are commonly moved to different heights on the rack and require side holes.

You can get around it by simply installing the attachment one hole above or below. But the whole problem could have been avoided if REP just nixed the logos and replaced them with holes.

Minor Imperfections

I should note that the following applies to my specific REP PR-5000 unit. It may or may not be a common occurrence for other units.

That being said, I noticed a couple of minor imperfections on my REP PR-5000 Power Rack.

For one, there are a few small rust spots under the clear coat. This rust was likely there before they applied the clear coat. However, I’ve kept a close eye on these and these rust spots have not expanded at all in the several months that I’ve owned it.

REP’s other finishes may have similar small rust patches, but if they do, they’re hidden by having a colored powder coat instead of a clear coat.

If REP could improve quality control by checking frame components before applying finishes, this could be avoided. That’s probably easier said than done because it’s an imported product.

All in all, I’m not bothered by this aesthetic imperfection, considering it’s only visible if you’re up close and looking for it.

Another minor issue was that I found a metal shaving still attached to one of the holes. Luckily, it’s not that sharp and I should be able to easily file it off. But it’s something that could’ve been caught by quality control.

Compatibility With Third-Party Attachments

REP has some great attachments for the PR-5000. This includes all of the most common ones as well as some that are unique just to REP.

However, there are plenty of other attachments made for 3” x 3” one-inch hole racks that other companies make that REP does not produce.

So the question becomes: Will those third-party attachments work on the REP PR-5000 Power Rack?

The answer is… maybe.

If it’s an attachment made for an imported rack (with the same specs) AND if it uses metric rather than imperial measurements, then they’ll likely be compatible.

However, if the attachment is from an American-made company like Rogue or Sorinex that uses imperial measurements, then only some attachments will be compatible.

Namely, the American-made attachments that are installed into just one hole are guaranteed to work on the PR-5000. If an attachment requires two holes on an upright, then it (likely) won’t be compatible — unless the two holes are very close together.

This is because the 2” hole spacing on an imported metric rack like the PR-5000 isn’t true 2” spacing. It’s slightly less than two inches. Even though one pin may fit in the first hole, the second pin won’t fit. It only takes a couple of holes before the discrepancy causes the second attachment hole to not align with the hole on the upright.

Also, understand that the single-hole American-made attachments that work on the REP PR-5000 will be slightly loose. This is because it’s a true 3” x 3” attachment fitting on a 2.95” x 2.95” upright.

Third-party attachments such as pull-up bars won’t work on the REP PR-5000 unless they are made for 47” wide racks. For example, a Rogue pull-up bar is made for a 49” wide rack and thus won’t fit.

However, a pull-up bar for a 47” Sorinex rack MAY work on the PR-5000. But you’d still have to consider the imperial vs metric issue. I’ve heard that crossmembers and pull-up bars can work between American and imported racks IF you use the slightly smaller metric hardware.

Lastly, there’s no chance of 3” x 3” 5/8” attachments working on the REP PR-5000 unless you buy adapters like these.

Ordering Process

I love REP’s ordering process using their PR-5000 Rack Builder module. It’s easy to navigate and streamlines the buying process.

It makes it super easy to customize your order from the dimensions to the finish to the attachments.

You’ll go through the Rack Builder in a step-by-step process, in the order shown below:

• Upright height: 80” or 93”
• Upright color: Metallic Black, Red, Blue, Clear Coat, White, or Matte Black
• Rack depth: 16”, 30”, or 41”
• Crossmember color: Metallic Black, Red, Blue, Clear Coat, White, or Matte Black
• Weight Storage Area: Yes or No — If yes, choose the upright color, the depth option (16”, 30”, or 41”), and crossmember color, and whether or not you want weight storage horns.
• Storage: If you want to add rack-attached storage shelves for dumbbells, bumper plates, medicine balls, kettlebells, or accessories, you can do so here.
• Logo Plate Crossmember Type: Compact or full-sized.
• Pull-Up Bar Type: 1.25” Standard Straight Bar, 1.25” Raw Steel Straight Bar, 2” Straight Bar, Multi-Grip Bar, or Globe Grip Bar
• Safeties: Pin-Pipe Safeties, Strap Safeties, or Flip-Down Safeties
• J-Cups: Standard J-Cups 2.0, Round Sandwich J-Cups 2.0, Flat Sandwich J-Cups 2.0, or Lowered J-Cups 2.0
• Attachments: You can select from most optional attachments here, excluding the Ares and Athena. If you want to buy the Ares or Athena with your REP PR-5000 Power Rack, then you should use the Ares Builder or the Athena Builder.

Shipping

Shipping is “free” with all REP Fitness products, including the PR-5000. That just means the shipping costs are baked into the retail pricing, but it’s still nice to know the actual price before you finally get to the checkout page.

It’s also helpful because you don’t have to stress about making your order as big as possible to save on shipping. If you’re not sure you want an attachment, don’t get it now. Get it later after using your rack for a while to see if it’s actually needed. You won’t have to pay extra to ship it separately in the future.

I ordered my REP PR-5000 Power Rack along with the Ares attachment on a Monday. I received it two days later on Wednesday! I was shocked by how fast it got here.

As you can imagine, it shipped via freight since it’s such a large and heavy order.

My PR-5000 arrived on one pallet. Although my entire order arrived on a total of two pallets because I also got the Ares.

The pallets contained both boxes and crates. The PR-5000 was only in the boxes. The Ares was in boxes and crates.

All of the PR-5000 boxes and everything inside of them were completely undamaged.

The packaging inside the boxes is very well done. Everything is packed tightly so things to shift around, along with plenty of cushioning, including each component wrapped individually with plenty of bubble wrap.

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Assembly

The assembly process was simple, straightforward, and relatively quick.

There are only three pieces of hardware to worry about: Bolts, washers, and lock washers.

Then it’s just a matter of using that hardware to connect your uprights, crossmembers, pull-up bar, and in my case, weight storage pegs.

Not including the unboxing, assembly took about an hour. I had my fiancée help me at one point to hold up one side of the uprights while I connected it to the other set with a crossmember. It’s possible to do it on your own, but a helping hand goes a long way.

Here are some tips that will help you out:

• I recommend using an adjustable wrench that opens to at least 36mm. If you don’t have one already, buy one that opens up to at least 1.5” (which is slightly more than 36mm). Being able to open to 1.5” will allow you to install Rogue hardware in the future.
• You should also have a 36mm socket deep socket for your ratchet. Mine is a 1/2” drive. Using a ratchet as opposed to two wrenches will save you a lot of time.
• Some people use impact drivers to speed up the installation, but this is overkill in my opinion, and may lead to damaging the finish if you’re not careful.
• You’ll need a ladder or a tall enough step stool to install the pull-up bar and upper crossmembers.
• Don’t fully tighten the bolts until all uprights/crossmembers are in place. Then wiggle the setup as needed so that all the rack feet sit flat. Only then should you proceed to tighten.

Is the REP PR-5000 Worth It?

The REP PR-5000 is a whole lot of rack. It’s a 3” x 3” 11-gauge rack with 1” holes for beefy 1” attachments.

You’ll never need something this overbuilt.

But you may very well WANT it. And that’s okay.

The REP PR-5000 Power Rack IS worth it if:

• You want a premium, overbuilt rack that still gives you a great bang for your buck.
• You want the ability to add on an integrated cable system attachment (i.e. Ares, Athena, Lat/Row attachment).

The REP PR-5000 Power Rack is NOT worth it if:

• You’re on a budget. There are a ton of smaller and much cheaper budget racks that can do all the basic functionalities without the bells and whistles.
• You want the most detailed and refined premium rack and are willing to pay more for it. In this case, Rogue is your best bet, followed by Sorinex.

Alternatives to the REP PR-5000

If you’re in the market for the PR-5000, you’re probably also considering one of the Rogue’s 3” x 3” one-inch hole Monster Rack 2.0 models.

Or you may be eyeing the REP PR-4000, which is also a 3” x 3” rack but with 5/8” holees. It’s no doubt beefy, but is not REP’s premier rack. It is a bit less expensive, though.

I’ll compare the PR-5000 vs both options in the sections below:

REP PR-5000 vs Rogue Monster Racks

The REP PR-5000 is most comparable to these Rogue Monster Rack models:

• Rogue RM-3 Monster Rack 2.0 (30” 4-post)
• Rogue RM-4 Monster Rack 2.0 (41” 4-post)
• Rogue RM-6 Monster Rack 2.0 (41” 6-post)

These are virtually all the same rack, except with different depths and/or numbers of posts. Rogue doesn’t have a convenient Rack Builder module like REP to easily configure the dimensions and options for the Monster Racks. Instead, they just have different models for the most common depth/upright configurations.

If you want a different configuration, you have to reach out to Rogue directly.

Beyond that, there are several other differences between the REP PR-5000 and the Rogue Monster Racks:

• Rogue offers more attachments: REP is making headway here, especially in terms of the development of innovative sought-after attachments (i.e. Ares, Athena). However, Rogue still has way more attachments in the Monster ecosystem.
• REP offers full cable systems: Rogue’s Slinger provides a side-mounted lat/row cable station, but it has mixed reviews. REP has more and significantly better cable options. The Ares and Athena both offer a complete functional trainer experience. The Ares also has a separate lat/row station. If you only want a lat/row station, get the rear-mounted lat pulldown & low row attachment instead.
• Rogue offers taller upright options: Rogue Monster Racks are available in 90”, 100”, and even 108” heights. REP maxes out at 93”. Although that’s a great height for most, some home gym owners (or training facilities) want a taller rack.
• REP costs significantly less than Rogue: When comparing similar base rack configurations, you’ll save a few to several hundred dollars going with REP. When you factor in several comparable attachments and shipping costs, you can easily save over $1000.
• REP offers a short rack height option: While Rogue is great if you need an extra tall rack, REP wins for any home gym owner with short ceilings thanks to their 80” option.
• Rogue uprights display more laser-cut numbers: Rogue’s numbering starts at the first accessible upright hole and goes up to the highest accessible hole. REP skips the bottom few and the top few, with a total of 30 numbered holes in the middle.
• Rogue has keyhole-shaped holes on the side uprights: The keyholes allow you to insert either one-inch attachments or 5/8” attachments in the sides of the uprights. Rogue also makes a couple of attachments that fit these keyholes perfectly (e.g. Keyhole Gun Rack and Keyhole Plate Storage Pins).
• The REP rack is 47” wide vs 49” wide for Rogue: I prefer the narrower rack because it’s easier to rack the barbell without the sleeves bumping the uprights. However, whichever width you get, some specialty bars will fit better than others.
• REP attachments aren’t quite as refined as Rogue’s: REP’s attachments are good, and in some cases, more useful and innovative (i.e. Ares; Athena) than Rogue’s. But Rogue’s attachments are better when it comes to the small details.
• Rogue crossmembers are flush with the top of the uprights: This looks better from an aesthetics standpoint. Plus, it provides a couple of extra inches of clearance inside the rack, which is good unless you’re limited on ceiling space, in which case your pull-up range of motion may suffer.

I went with REP over Rogue because I wanted to have access to the Ares cable attachment. I also think it offers a better value than Rogue while still being a premium option. Plus, most of the Rogue attachments I’m interested in are single-hole attachments that will work on my REP rack.

REP PR-5000 vs Rep PR-4000

Many people struggle when deciding between the REP PR-5000 and the REP PR-4000.

The defining difference is that the REP PR-5000 has 1” holes spaced 2” apart and the REP PR-4000 has 5/8” holes with Westside spacing (1” in the middle; 2” above and below).

If you can afford to pay a little extra, I think the PR-5000 is the best choice for most people in the market for a high-end power rack that you’ll own for a long time.

The price difference between the PR-5000 and PR-4000 is around $200 for comparable configurations that include the base rack plus the mandatory attachments. You’ll save a bit more if you start adding a bunch of optional attachments.

Some competitive powerlifters may prefer the PR-4000 over the PR-5000, regardless of budget. This is because the PR-4000 has Westside hole spacing, with 1” hole spacing in the bench zone compared to uniform 2” spacing for the PR-5000.

One-inch hole spacing allows for extremely precise j-cup and safety height settings. Some powerlifters will appreciate this because it may improve technique and performance when training at a high level.

However, 2” spacing like on the PR-5000 is plenty precise for most lifters, including even many competitive powerlifters.

Beyond that, if the PR-5000 is just out of your budget, the PR-4000 is still an excellent rack.

You’ll have access to more attachments with the PR-5000 because it’s a 3” x 3” rack with one-inch holes. Generally, there are fewer attachments made for 3” x 3” 5/8” hole racks. Or attachments are released at a later date compared to the one-inch hole racks.

This is because the 3” x 3” one-inch hole racks are the flagship racks for equipment companies so they get priority treatment in terms of product development.

It’s worth noting that REP has a similar availability of attachments for both the PR-5000 and PR-4000. However, since you can often buy compatible attachments from different companies, you should understand this disparity in the market as a whole.

Conclusion

I hope my REP PR-5000 Power Rack review has helped you decide if this is the best squat rack for your needs, wants, and budget.

Overall, the REP PR-5000 Power Rack is a well-built and feature-rich premium power rack at a significantly lower price than other premium racks on the market.

Most REP attachments aren’t to the level of Rogue’s or Sorinex’s in terms of refinement. However, they’re close in the ways that matter. And your biggest savings will come from buying REP attachments vs Rogue and Sorinex.

Plus, don’t forget that you can still use many Rogue and Sorinex attachments (among other brands) on your rack if they’re single-hole attachments.

REP’s innovation in attachments from the Ares to the Athena to the rear-mounted lat/row attachment make the REP a clear winner over Rogue if any of those are on your wish list.

If you’re ready to buy the REP-PR 5000 Power Rack, you can do so by using the link below:

Buy Now – REP PR-5000 Power Rack »