Last Updated on December 2, 2022 by Jeff
If you have a home gym the chances are good that you already have some exercise equipment like dumbbells, resistance bands, and a bench. But, if you are looking to build muscles and lift heavier, your next best investment is a home gym cage for your home gym setup.
A home gym cage is basically a compact home gym. It’s also known as a power rack. A power rack is an essential piece of equipment for any home gym, especially if you are someone that is a weightlifter.
A power rack is very versatile and can be set up for many different exercises. They can be bought on their own or you can use them as part of a multi-station home gym. But with so many options, you might have a tough time choosing.
In this article, we’ll cover the four best home gym cages available. There’s no such thing as the perfect rack; the best choice for you will depend on your needs. So we’ve covered everything from cheaper beginner options to more advanced power cages.
Best Home Gym Cages
BangTong & Li Squat Rack Stand (Best for Smaller Spaces)
The Bangtong&Li is perfect for someone who is looking for the basics and doesn’t want to break the bank to invest in a gym cage. It is one of the best home gyms for the amount of money you spend. They are very well priced and start from $101. This is an excellent home gym for women because it is so easy to move around.
The BangTong&Li squat rack is perfect for squats and bench press exercises at home. The squat rack has a 6 level horizontal adjustment. This rack is ideal for smaller spaces because it can be broken up into smaller pieces and stored away. The rack can support up to 50lbs.
This rack is ideal for anyone who is new to heavy lifting and doesn’t use weights over 500lbs. It’s the perfect rack if you are only looking for something basic without a lot of accessories.
Pros
- The rack is sturdy and durable
- Has a six-level adjustment
- Rubber padded end caps
- Safe and stable support frame
Cons
- Can only take a weight capacity of up to 500lbs
- It does not come with a bench
Adjustable Squat Press Barbell Rack Sturdy Pair Weight Lifting Stand Fitness Exercise Equipment Home Gym (Best Compact)
This is a great compact barbell rack. You can do many exercises such as overhead presses, squats, dips, and bench press variations. The frame is made from extra-thick steel tubes and the rack has a maximum capacity of 440 lbs.
The rack has an adjustable width that will allow you to use shorter barbells that aren’t compatible with wider fixed racks. The rack has a rubber coating on the feet which will protect your floor and ensure that the bench doesn’t move during your exercise.
The bench dimensions are: 47.2L x 27W x 54.5h. The total weight of the rack is only 31lbs. It can be easily moved around. The racks are available from $119.
Pros
- Has a weight capacity of up to 440lbs
- Has an adjustable width to accommodate shorter barbells
- Only weighing 31lbs, it can be moved around very easily.
Cons
- Does not include a bench
- Does not include any accessories
Fitness Reality Squat Rack Power Cage with J-Hooks, Landmine 360° Swivel, Weight Plate Storage Attachment and Power Band Pegs (Best for Heavy Lifters)
This home gym cage is ideal for someone who is interested in lifting heavier weights. The power rack has heavy-duty 2×2 inch steel tubing. It also has an adjustable bench and has a weight capacity of up to 800lbs
The weight plates, barbell, and exercise bands are not included in the purchase price of the cage, but they can be bought easily. The power cage, seat, pull-up bar, tools, and manual are included with the purchase.
The power cage is available in three different price categories. The rack bench combo from $492, The cage and no bench from $448, and the stand-alone rack from $399.
Pros
- Weight capacity of up to 800lbs
- Great for heavier lifters
- Has the option to include a bench or you can buy it without the bench
Cons
- The stand-alone rack is expensive, especially compared to the BangTong&Li.
Lifeline C1 Pro Power Squat Rack System (Best for Bodybuilding)
The C1 power rack is a great addition to any home gym. One of the biggest advantages of C1 is that the racks are available in two options: the full rack and the half rack. The C1 squat rack is ideal for heavier lifters and functional training athletes. They have been tested to be able to withstand up to 1000 lbs.
The half cage is ideal for lower ceilings and areas like garages and basements. The half-rack includes a fat grip pull-up bar, two j-hooks, 16 reinforced spotter arms, Olympic plate storage posts. Its size dimensions are:
Height: 83 inches
Depth 49 inches
Footprint: 49 x49 inches.
The full cage is a bit bigger and taller than the half cage. It needs a bit more space. It includes a bridge-style pull-up bar, dip handles, two j-hooks, spotter arms, ten slot plate storage racks, and Olympic bar storage posts. Its size dimensions are:
Height: 86 inches
Depth: 31 inches
Footprint: 57 x 49 inches
Pros
- Available in full and half-rack models
- Option to pay less with almost all the options that the full rack offers
- Available in two colors
- 1000lbs weight capacity
Cons
- The full rack weights a bit more than the half rack (164lbs vs 206lbs )
- The full rack is a bit more expensive with not a lot of additional functions
Marcy MWM-988 Multifunction Steel Home Gym 150lb Weight Stack Machine (Best Portable)
This is a great compact gym machine. It’s a heavy-duty home gym with a lot of additional features. You can sculpt your body without leaving the comfort of your home. It has a lot more to offer than the BangTong&Li. But, the stack machine is not quite yet on the level of a full cage in terms of all the additional equipment included.
The cage has a dimension of 68″length x 42″with x 78″height. Its maximum user weight is 300lbs. The current price for the Marcy is $1200. The home gym cage comes unassembled but is easy to put together. The hardware is included with an instruction manual.
The Marcy home gym includes all of the following: weight stack of 150 lbs, upper and lower pulley system, preacher curl pad, chest and butterfly press, lat bar, and ankle strap.
Pros
- The smaller dimensions make it perfect for smaller spaces
- Comes with a chest and butterfly press
- Well priced
Cons
- Only has a maximum user capacity of 300lbs
- The machine does come assembled
Marcy Pro Full Cage and Weight Bench Personal Home Gym Total Body Workout System (Best All-in-One)
The Marcy Pro Full Cage is an excellent all-in-one cage. This cage has a variety of features to exercise your core, thighs, arms, and legs. It combines all of the great exercise features in one machine. It combines the smith machine, pull-up bar, dip station, pulley, and leg developer.
The Marcy Pro includes a bench and can take a weight capacity of up to 600lbs and a maximum user capacity of 300lbs. The size dimensions of the cage are 61 x 71.75 x 86.75. Just note that the rack doesn’t include bars and weights but they can be added easily. The Marcy Cage is made of very strong durable steel tubes.
Pros
- Includes a weight bench with a padded seat
- Includes an Olympic barbell training station
- Made of 14-gauge steel tubes
- Includes storage pots to organize your weight plates
Cons
- Needs a lot of space to set up will not work in a small flat
- The bar and weights are not included in the rack
Fitness Reality X-Class Light Commercial High Capacity Olympic Power Cage (Best Value-for-Money)
The Fitness Reality X-class is an excellent gym rack. It has a capacity of 1500lbs.
The rack comes with a few additional features and includes the following: Two adjustable dip handles with rubber grips, lateral pulley, and row cable attachment, multi-grip chin up and pull up bars, safety bars, and j-hooks. It also includes an adjustable bench. You can move the bench out of the way so that you can do dips and pull-ups in the cage as well.
The Fitness Realty is a smart home gym. This Cage also has the option not to include the lat pulldown attachment. The price without the lat pull-down is a bit cheaper than the one that includes The price for the cage with the lat pulldown starts at $999 and without the pulldown at $578.
It is the perfect option for someone who is looking for more than just the basics but doesn’t want the fanciest option.
Pros
- Has the option to exercise a lot of different body parts
- Has the option for a limited lifetime warranty
- Includes safety bars for racking bars with no wobbling.
Cons
- The cage only has a 15-year warranty and not a lifetime warranty
- Needs to be bolted down, this may be a problem if you do not have the right tools. You might need to ask someone to install the cage.
HulkFit Cable Crossover Attachment Multi-Function Adjustable Power Cage, 1000-Pound Capacity, Yellow (Best Stability)
This power cage is for the heavy lifters. It is designed for a heavier weight load while remaining highly customizable. The cage can be expanded with add-ons such as a lat pull-down attachment, dip bar, and storage units.
With one piece of equipment, you can target multiple muscle groups from your core to your shoulders. All in the comfort of your own home.
The Cage has a 1000lbs weight capacity. It is made of a heavy-duty steel frame with an H-shape base for maximum stability.
The Cage indulges in a few additional accessories. An Olympic lat pull-down attachment is included with the cage. Two extra J-hooks and dip bars are included. At the top of the cage, there are multi-grip pull-up bars to do pull-ups and other variations.
The cage assembled dimensions are 81L x 44Wx 47H. The bench is partially pre-assembled and can be adjusted.
Pros
- Can take a weight capacity of up to 1000lbs
- Cage comes out with a lot of additional accessories
- H-shape design for stability while exercising
Cons
- Takes up a lot of space
- Can not be easily moved around
Marcy Smith Machine Cage System Home Gym Multifunction Rack, Customizable Training Station SM-4033, Red (Best Gym Contract Replacement)
Get a stronger body and muscular physique all in the comfort of your own home with the Smith Machine Cage system from Marcy. This cage will turn your home workout area into a professional gym.
The Marcy Smith is the best home gym smith machine. With all the equipment included in this innovative home gym, you can do strength, cardio training, weight lifting, and bodybuilding.
This is the royalty of home gym cages. The cage equipment includes all of the following workout stations: a linear bearing smith machine, butterfly press station, pull-up bar, preacher curl pad, pulley system, and a standalone bench. You can effectively exercise all of the major muscle groups in your body.
This cage is one of the few cages that includes so many additional accessories. This means that you can avoid the additional costs of purchasing the extras as you would with other home gym cages. The accessories included are the following: plate posts, lateral bar, dip bars, shiver bar, tricep rope, ankle straps, two handlebars, footplate, and landmine.
The cage dimensions are 70” L x 84” W x 86” H. The machine has a 300lbs weight bar and the bench can take a maximum weight capacity of 600lbs.
Pros
- This cage has the potential to replace a full commercial gym because of all the exercise options it has to offer
- It is made of high-quality steel tubes
- Comes with tons of extras
- Has the capacity to accommodate heavy weight lifters, cross-fitters and people who only want to do some light weight training
- You can exercise almost all of your major muscle groups only using one machine
- Max weight on weight bar 600lbs
Cons
- This gym cage is one of the most expensive ones on the market. If you don’t use all the additional accessories that the cage has to offer you may end up paying a lot for something that you don’t use
- The cage takes up a lot of space
Buyers’ Guide: What is the best Rack for Me?
A lot of people choose a home gym because of the convenience it offers. If you have a home gym, you do not have to leave your home to go to the gym which is overcrowded with people. Especially in Covid times a lot of people prefer a home gym.
One thing to consider before you purchase a gym cage is whether or not you have sufficient space available to set up a gym station.
Here are some factors to consider to help you choose the right gym cage.
Weight Capacity
Weight capacity is very important.
Do not overload your cage. Even Though it is made of a strong material it can still break or tip. If you are a heavy lifter, anything from 300lbs and up, you need to choose a rack that can accommodate those weights.
Space Constraints
Before you buy a rack take measurements of the area that you are planning to buy it. If you have minimal space you will need an option for a rack that can be mounted into a wall or one that can be folded smaller. Keep in mind that smaller racks will have fewer attachments that you can add to them.
Type of Training
Are you only looking for something to accommodate your barbells or are you looking for something more in the heavy lifter and CrossFit category? If you are only looking to do weights the BangTong&Li will be perfect. But if you are looking for something more, rather look at the Marcy Smith Machine.
Cost
This is a big factor to consider before you buy a rack. Make sure you take into account additional equipment that you want to use with the rack if you still need to buy them. Items such are a bench, barbell, bar, weight plates, and pulley system
Home Gym Cage FAQs
What can I add to my home gym cage?
Some of the attachments that you can add are the following:
- A pull-up bar – the pull-up bar is usually located at the top of the rack.
- Safety straps- these straps are separate from the rack. You can use them when you lift heavier to help you get back to the spotters when you feel you will not be able to complete the exercise.
- Safety spotter arms (very important)
You use these spotters to rest the weights before you lift and place them back after completing a movement.
- Cable pulley system
These systems enable you to add the rowing attachment bar.
- Rowing attachment or bar
Should I bolt down my rack?
If the manufacturing manual instructs that the rack should be bolted down then you should bold the rack for safety. Racks are tested in labs to adhere to safety standards. These standards need to be followed to prevent injury or damage to your home.
You could put a sandbag or heavy item on the rack to keep it down. Consider the type of model that you have and whether this will be suitable.
Also, take into account the weight that the rack needs to withstand. The more weight you use the more support the rack will need also the type of exercises.
What exercises can I do on a Gym Rack?
Some examples of exercises that you can do on the rack include:
- Variations of squats
- Bench press on your back using a bench
- Overhead presses using the bench
- Pull-ups and all variations of pull-ups
- Leg raises
- Military press
- Hamstring curls adding a pulley
- Tricep dips
If you buy a pulley and other attachments this list will get much longer. This just proves the point that gym cages are extremely versatile and can be used for many different exercises.
Final Thoughts
As listed in the article there are a few options for home gym cages to choose from. It can be quite overwhelming to decide what cage is the best for you. Starting with the buyers’ guide. These factors will help you to determine what your needs are. The best home gyms are the ones that can accommodate your needs.
There are so many possibilities when it comes to gym racks. You can buy a very basic one or spend a lot of money on a cage that has all the attachments that you can think of. Some racks even have the option to customize the color of the rack that you purchase.
The cages in this article cover almost everything. There is something for everyone, from the most basic option to the one with all the bells and whistles that you can think of. Ultimately the goal is to be active and start moving. If you’re not a fan of home gym cages, you can also give smith home gyms a try. Start shopping and stay healthy.
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