newbie needs a power cage help!

[ilikewhey]

hey guys, long time lurker here, so i bought a power cage from sports authority.

FreeMotion 620 BE Power Cage ~ i can't post link since i just joined.

this one to be exact. i haven't assembled it yet, i don't know if i want to keep this or not, one of my biggest issue about this cage is j hook holding the bench bar, i'm so used to a single j hook i just can't see myself using that fish fin looking support thing on the freemotion cage.

at the time i didn't know any better and thought that was the only cage i can pick up in my area but than discovered Sears sells power cage as well.

York Barbell York Barbell FTS Power Cage

this one is signfiicantly more expensive since i had a 20 percent off at Sports Authority. however it offers lifetime warranty as oppose to 90 days from freemotion, not that i think it will be all that important since power cage are pretty tough.

but i did notice the free motion demo at the store was a little wobbly, the sales told me its just a demo and if properly assembled it would be alot stronger.

i'm not too sure what to do here, should i keep the free motion and maybe get a j hook attachment for the fish fin rack? or ditch it and get the york power cage. (forgive me if i'm using the wrong terminology here) i would prefer local pick up since shipping would be almost as expensive as the cage itself.

p.s. i definitely like the dip/ leg raise attachment features.

sorry my paragraph is badly structured :/

any help would be greatly appreciated it. this is all i have been thinking about for the past week.

[LimitStrength]

hey guys, long time lurker here, so i bought a power cage from sports authority.

FreeMotion 620 BE Power Cage ~ i can't post link since i just joined.

this one to be exact. i haven't assembled it yet, i don't know if i want to keep this or not, one of my biggest issue about this cage is j hook holding the bench bar, i'm so used to a single j hook i just can't see myself using that fish fin looking support thing on the freemotion cage.

at the time i didn't know any better and thought that was the only cage i can pick up in my area but than discovered Sears sells power cage as well.

York Barbell York Barbell FTS Power Cage

this one is signfiicantly more expensive since i had a 20 percent off at Sports Authority. however it offers lifetime warranty as oppose to 90 days from freemotion, not that i think it will be all that important since power cage are pretty tough.

but i did notice the free motion demo at the store was a little wobbly, the sales told me its just a demo and if properly assembled it would be alot stronger.

i'm not too sure what to do here, should i keep the free motion and maybe get a j hook attachment for the fish fin rack? or ditch it and get the york power cage. (forgive me if i'm using the wrong terminology here) i would prefer local pick up since shipping would be almost as expensive as the cage itself.

p.s. i definitely like the dip/ leg raise attachment features.

sorry my paragraph is badly structured :/

any help would be greatly appreciated it. this is all i have been thinking about for the past week.

How heavy do you plan on going in the rack? What is your budget? Are you located anywhere neat Ohio, Texas, North / South Carolina (lots of manufacturers in these areas)?

What would you like to be able to do in the rack? Ex. Use bands, dips etc.

Does your budget include cost of having to buy a weight bench and barbell / free weights?

[ilikewhey]

How heavy do you plan on going in the rack? What is your budget? Are you located anywhere neat Ohio, Texas, North / South Carolina (lots of manufacturers in these areas)?

What would you like to be able to do in the rack? Ex. Use bands, dips etc.

Does your budget include cost of having to buy a weight bench and barbell / free weights?

not heavy at all, mostly around 230ish for bench.
budget is preferrably under 1k, without the weight bench and barbell/free weights.

bands i dont really mind not having since its not part of my routine, however a dip / leg raise attachment is high on the list.

and no sadly i'm not near ohio, texas, or south carolina, i'm located in long island new york area.

[GarageIron]

i'm located in long island new york area.

www.blackwidowtg.com

One of the best. Located in Bohemia NY

[LimitStrength]

I'm located in long island new york area.

Whats up fellow strong islander

[ilikewhey]

awesome to know locals are here as well. that black widow look expensive as hell. not sure if i can afford that.

[elgreek84]

awesome to know locals are here as well. that black widow look expensive as hell. not sure if i can afford that.

Hey, I actually went to Sports Authority and I've been thinking about a power cage as well. I seen the Free Motion and I did NOT like it - it looks way to fancy and I think all of the catches would annoy me. The dip/ab station looks very weak - I don't like it at all. Plus the price was pretty high - around 700 dollars. So I finally decided I'll just bite the bullet and get a Powertec Power Rack. I ordered this one today from here: http://www.fitnessfactoryoutlet.com/...ower-Rack.html
So I'll update if everything goes well with the transaction, but they also have a 3% off coupon (coupon code: 3off).

Edit:
Just checked Sears - they have Weider rack that looks exactly like the Freemotion one - so that's no good.
http://www.sears.com/weider-500-l/p-...00000P?prdNo=6 <--Weider
http://www.sportsauthority.com/produ...entPage=family <--Freemotion

[D2rmind]

http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/spo/3624932755.html

This might be worth the drive. Keep your eye on the Craigslist thread here. I'm pretty sure that there was another nice rack downstate NY not long ago as well.

[iportal]

Hey, I actually went to Sports Authority and I've been thinking about a power cage as well. I seen the Free Motion and I did NOT like it - it looks way to fancy and I think all of the catches would annoy me. The dip/ab station looks very weak - I don't like it at all. Plus the price was pretty high - around 700 dollars. So I finally decided I'll just bite the bullet and get a Powertec Power Rack. I ordered this one today from here: http://www.fitnessfactoryoutlet.com/...ower-Rack.html
So I'll update if everything goes well with the transaction, but they also have a 3% off coupon (coupon code: 3off).

Edit:
Just checked Sears - they have Weider rack that looks exactly like the Freemotion one - so that's no good.
http://www.sears.com/weider-500-l/p-...00000P?prdNo=6 <--Weider
http://www.sportsauthority.com/produ...entPage=family <--Freemotion

The Powertec rack should be much better than the Weider products.

I would trust the Powertec rack a lot more over that weider POS.

It will also have a smaller footprint, even if it doesn't have plate storage.

[Steelfan7]

For a budget of 1K or less on power rack, it is hard to beat the Dark Horse by Sorinex. Shipping is included in the price.
I can't yet post links.

[Stasher1]

For a budget of 1K or less on power rack, it is hard to beat the Dark Horse by Sorinex. Shipping is included in the price.
I can't yet post links.

Very true. This Body Solid unit doesn't look bad, either...


http://www.amazon.com/Body-Solid-Clu...724927&sr=1-14


I've looked at that Free Motion rack in person at my local SA, and wasn't impressed. Everything about it just seems cheap, flimsy, and more about flash than substance. It does have some nice features, but it kind of struck me as being a (pardon the expression) polished turd.

I'm not a huge fan of the Powertec either, but I'd definitely go with the Powertec over that Free Motion.

[SDSammy]

Post # 20

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=149452583

[elgreek84]

Right - the spots are kind of scary because they do not look secure or like they sit right on the rails. There are cheaper and more durable racks out there in the range of 500-700 shipped

[ilikewhey]

alright, it's settle than, i'm taking this 300 pound package back to sports authority first thing next weekend. along with the freemotion bench seat which i found to be too wide for my taste.

now i'm looking at two options, powertec from fitnessfactoryoutlet or York Barbell FTS Power Cage. i guess i'll get the leg raise as a secondary station by itself.

[elgreek84]

alright, it's settle than, i'm taking this 300 pound package back to sports authority first thing next weekend. along with the freemotion bench seat which i found to be too wide for my taste.

now i'm looking at two options, powertec from fitnessfactoryoutlet or York Barbell FTS Power Cage. i guess i'll get the leg raise as a secondary station by itself.

That's cool, I think that's a good call. How much was the Freemotion machine? Also, it looks like the York Power Cage might be better than the Powertec? Not sure, but in my case I also needed the bench, so I bought both the Powertec Rack and Bench for what looks like might be the total cost of the York Power Cage ~850ish? Just FYI, something to consider pricewise.

[ilikewhey]

i had a coupon for sports authority which brought it down to 540.

i do have one problem, the one thing i absolutely love about the freemotion was the 70inch width. i'm 6'3 so when i grip the bar it tends to be longer, the 50inch on the powertec and york kinda scares me a bit if i ever drop the bench on the safety catch.

[elgreek84]

i had a coupon for sports authority which brought it down to 540.

i do have one problem, the one thing i absolutely love about the freemotion was the 70inch width. i'm 6'3 so when i grip the bar it tends to be longer, the 50inch on the powertec and york kinda scares me a bit if i ever drop the bench on the safety catch.

Oh, I don't know about that, I looked up the specs and it looks like it is 70 inches - I find it strange since it seems like the width should be somewhat standard (based on the fact that the standard is a 7' olympic bar). Anyone have comments on the width of power racks and what they should be or if there's any benefit to having it longer?

[Paulie_G]

If you've considered the York rack around $800, you should do yourself a favor and consider this rack too. No better rack available for the price, IMO...

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...ight=Promaxima

[elgreek84]

If you've considered the York rack around $800, you should do yourself a favor and consider this rack too. No better rack available for the price, IMO...

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...ight=Promaxima

That looks like an awesome rack Paulie_G, I seen your other post about it. I think TS should consider it since he's looking for a larger style rack which the Promaxima seems to fit. In my case I was looking for something smaller and 800 was my budget including a new bench.

[ilikewhey]

hey guys, so i just returned the freemotion cage today, now my search is on for a new power cage. i'm in no rush since my gym membership doesn't expires til mid july.

[elgreek84]

hey guys, so i just returned the freemotion cage today, now my search is on for a new power cage. i'm in no rush since my gym membership doesn't expires til mid july.

Power cage and bench or just cage only and what is budget?

[jetlynk]

Im surprised no one posted this yet

http://bodybuilding.wikkii.com/wiki/Power_Racks

Good list of power racks also benches if looking as well as links to forum posts of people who have bought them.

[ilikewhey]

oh yeah definitely cage + bench + lat system + dip (if it isn't too wobbly)

but for now just a cage and a bench. the cage i wanna stay around 800-900, thats only for the cage. bench i guess the general price from what i seen is around 200. being a utility bench and all.

i definitely appreciate all the input you guys have given me. if it weren't for you guys i would've been pulling my hair out about the freemotion lol

[elgreek84]

oh yeah definitely cage + bench + lat system + dip (if it isn't too wobbly)

but for now just a cage and a bench. the cage i wanna stay around 800-900, thats only for the cage. bench i guess the general price from what i seen is around 200. being a utility bench and all.

i definitely appreciate all the input you guys have given me. if it weren't for you guys i would've been pulling my hair out about the freemotion lol

So I did the Powertec Rack and Utility combo for about 850. One note about that - I think I seen on Dumbbellbuddy.com that they have a backorder on the black rack until March 18- so I don't know if that's just for that company or if that's from the manufacturer (Powertec). My budget was around 800 for both (550 for rack, 300 for bench) - sounds like you have a little more budget to go with, but other can correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like a good/decent flat incline decline bench might run you more in the 300 range than the 200 range.