Which is the better power rack?

[bigmanpo]

I am going to get a power rack and was wondering which one is better and why?

It's between the Bodymax CF475 and the bodycraft F430.


powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-cf475-heavy-power-rack.php

or

powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodycraft-f430-power-rack.php

Cheers guys

[Essexlad]

I am going to get a power rack and was wondering which one is better and why?

It's between the Bodymax CF475 and the bodycraft F430.


powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-cf475-heavy-power-rack.php

or

powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodycraft-f430-power-rack.php

Cheers guys

F430 any day of the week.

It's not even a competition. Build quality and strength of the F430 is miles ahead of the bodymax. Even just looking at the specs of each rack; the F430 has 50% more steel in it.

I've now used both, and am so glad I bought the F430.

[bigmanpo]

F430 any day of the week.

It's not even a competition. Build quality and strength of the F430 is miles ahead of the bodymax. Even just looking at the specs of each rack; the F430 has 50% more steel in it.

I've now used both, and am so glad I bought the F430.

But are the pul up bars not better on the cf475. on the f430 its just a straight pole. Thanks

[Essexlad]

But are the pul up bars not better on the cf475. on the f430 its just a straight pole. Thanks

A straight pullup bar is better than the rubbish on the Bodymax. Lets you have many more grip options and ton more space to work. Don't let the fancy bent bars you see fool you; it's a poor design if you're serious about pullups and their variations.

[bigmanpo]

OK Thanks a lot.

Anyone else got an opinion?

[Wildtim]

No Essex covered it.

You want the best rack possible. Frankly even if you are a pull-up geek it is still just an accessory piece, something nice to have but not critical, on a power rack. It doesn't take much to get pull up bars strong enough to hold even the beefiest of monsters, it takes a lot more to provide the needed safety when a monster does squats. always safety first.

[TripleTrouble]

F430 any day of the week.

It's not even a competition. Build quality and strength of the F430 is miles ahead of the bodymax. Even just looking at the specs of each rack; the F430 has 50% more steel in it.

I've now used both, and am so glad I bought the F430.
Im planning to get the CF475 in the strength package. As you've tried them both do you think there is anything really wrong with the CF475? Would i be making a big mistake going with the CF475?

[Essexlad]

Im planning to get the CF475 in the strength package. As you've tried them both do you think there is anything really wrong with the CF475? Would i be making a big mistake going with the CF475?

No there's nothing terribly wrong with it I don't want to seem like I'm just bashing it for the sake of it (I hate those pull-up bars on any rack!), and that package is really good value for what you get in it. It's probably still more rack than most people are going to need, and does what it does OK.

That said if I was choosing the rack seperately I'd save up the extra 50 quid and get the F430. Or an extra 80 quid and get the Powertec from Fitness superstore. Both are heavier duty, and both have a better build quality. Out of those two, In my opinion the F430 is the better rack (many would disagree!), but if you hate the pop pin safeties and want sabres, the Powertec is the rack for you.

You can't argue that the cheaper Bodymax racks are the best for the money (they are the ONLY racks in the 100~250 range!), but when they start getting into the ~300 price range with other mid range racks like the F430, Powertec and even the Bodysolid Powerline; the quality of the Bodymax just dosen't stand up. Worse steel, worse welds, worse bolts.

[TripleTrouble]

No there's nothing terribly wrong with it I don't want to seem like I'm just bashing it for the sake of it (I hate those pull-up bars on any rack!), and that package is really good value for what you get in it. It's probably still more rack than most people are going to need, and does what it does OK.

That said if I was choosing the rack seperately I'd save up the extra 50 quid and get the F430. Or an extra 80 quid and get the Powertec from Fitness superstore. Both are heavier duty, and both have a better build quality. Out of those two, In my opinion the F430 is the better rack (many would disagree!), but if you hate the pop pin safeties and want sabres, the Powertec is the rack for you.

You can't argue that the cheaper Bodymax racks are the best for the money (they are the ONLY racks in the 100~250 range!), but when they start getting into the ~300 price range with other mid range racks like the F430, Powertec and even the Bodysolid Powerline; the quality of the Bodymax just dosen't stand up. Worse steel, worse welds, worse bolts.
I would get the f430 but that + the lat pulley system and all that adds up to an extra 200 or so. I have a tight budget but as long as the bodymax will work and i can safely do squats, benches etc on it im happy. Anyway ive got to go and see, powerhouse might give me a better power rack for my money, you never know as they are quite flexible.

[buffbrown21]

A straight pullup bar is better than the rubbish on the Bodymax. Lets you have many more grip options and ton more space to work. Don't let the fancy bent bars you see fool you; it's a poor design if you're serious about pullups and their variations.

Agreed.

[Essexlad]

I would get the f430 but that + the lat pulley system and all that adds up to an extra 200 or so. I have a tight budget but as long as the bodymax will work and i can safely do squats, benches etc on it im happy. Anyway ive got to go and see, powerhouse might give me a better power rack for my money, you never know as they are quite flexible.

There's always going to be something better for a bit more money, thats life. As I said, it works fine, obviously I didn't go dumping 250kgs on it though. If they'll give you an F430, bargain. If not, the Bodymax is still well up to the job.

[HardKore79]

Like others, F430 and period! I would have kept mine if I didn't have a lat attachment for the Parabody I have now. That was a sweet rack!

[bigmanpo]

Ive decided to get the F430 rack as it has been greatly recommended. I am getting the 185kg weight set. I am getting olympic dumbbell handles and was wondering wat size of weight plates u can put on them? In the 185kg set i get 4 x 20, 2 x 15, 2 x 10, 4 x 5, 4 x 2.5, 4 x 1.25 is that fine. Thanks

[Wildtim]

You can put all or any olympic plates on them. Depending upon the exercise you might not want anything with a larger diameter than the 5's though or you might limit your range of motion.

[bigmanpo]

You can put all or any olympic plates on them. Depending upon the exercise you might not want anything with a larger diameter than the 5's though or you might limit your range of motion.

Thanks. Can u give some examples of exercises bigger plates would limit? Do you think its necesarry for me to buy an extra 4 x 5kg plates? Thanks

[Wildtim]

I'd wait and just pick them up locally if you need them.