BodySolid vs Powertec vs NortherLight Power Rack

[headhuntr]

Hey guys,
I know some of these racks have already been compared to one another a few times, but I've read through all of the threads I could find and my decision is still up in the air. I've been doing some reasearch for some time now, but am far from being an expert on the subject. My question to you guys is, which rack should I buy out of the following three. Maybe give me some pros and cons of each one, or rank them in order (best to worst)? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm planning on starting the Starting Strength Rippetoe routine in September and want to buy a solid rack that will last. I am not looking at getting the lat attachment for any of these racks! The dip function on the Powertec one I like though.

Also, is the Northern Light rack actually 84" in height? That would be tight in my basement and probably wouldn't have any room for the chin-ups and pullups... Is the chin-up bar able to be lowered?

1. Northern Light Power Rack


2. Powertec Power Rack


3. Body Solid Power Rack


Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks a lot!

Cheers!

[HardKore79]

Body Solid gets my vote, due to the straight pullup bar and 11 gauge 3"x3" construction.

[Skidmarx]

Notice how they use a short model, to make the rack look taller?

[HardKore79]

Originally Posted by Skidmarx

Notice how they use a short model, to make the rack look taller?

Well no chit! You're 6' 4". Anything would be short at that height.

[headhuntr]

I had just found a Parabody Power Rack with Lat Attachment in brand new condition for 300$ (guy had bought it for 900$), but when I called it had just been sold Anyway, still looking for your guys's input! Thanks again!

[jackson28]

I like the Body Solid too because of the straight pull up/chin up bar.

[AaronCF]

I like the fact that the bodysolid has 3" tubing and a straight pull up bar, but I don't like the higher price.

I really like the powertec's dip bars, but hate the pull up bars.

Another thing to consider: The powertec's tubing is 2 3/8", making it difficult to find aftermarket hooks, etc.

However for the price, the powertec got my vote.

[Zensuji]

The guy looks biggest in the third one so I guess that ones the best. There's no one in the power tec one so I guess its not a very popular model.

[HardKore79]

Originally Posted by Tetsu.

There's no one in the power tec one so I guess its not a very popular model.

The lone ranger...

[Accutron]

Id get the Ptec rack, Ive seen the NL unit and its didnt look that solid. They sold them at the FitnessDepot, its the only rack they carry, its like an exclusive deal they only sell NL stuff, which isnt the best quality.

Ptec racks are much nicer and cheaper too.

[DiamondDelts]

Originally Posted by headhuntr

Hey guys,
I know some of these racks have already been compared to one another a few times, but I've read through all of the threads I could find and my decision is still up in the air. I've been doing some reasearch for some time now, but am far from being an expert on the subject. My question to you guys is, which rack should I buy out of the following three. Maybe give me some pros and cons of each one, or rank them in order (best to worst)? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm planning on starting the Starting Strength Rippetoe routine in September and want to buy a solid rack that will last. I am not looking at getting the lat attachment for any of these racks! The dip function on the Powertec one I like though.

Also, is the Northern Light rack actually 84" in height? That would be tight in my basement and probably wouldn't have any room for the chin-ups and pullups... Is the chin-up bar able to be lowered?

1. Northern Light Power Rack


2. Powertec Power Rack


3. Body Solid Power Rack


Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks a lot!

Cheers!

The northern lights rack is not of good quality. I've tried one and it sucked. The powertec rack would be the most aestheticly pleasing while the bodysolid pro rack is built for a beating with it's 3" square tubing. If you plan on going as heavy as possible I'd definitely go for the body solid rack. And the straight pullup bar is icing on the cake.

The powertec pullup handles are pure garbage but I'm not going to beat that dead horse again.

[demike]

Body solid for my vote

[barbarian1543]

Thanks for this thread and good helpful replies. I appreciate the community here.
Now, after reading this thread, I have changed my mind from buying a powertec rack in Canada to a bodysolid one as in Canada, the price difference is only 29.99!

[Swollen_Powell]

Originally Posted by barbarian1543

Thanks for this thread and good helpful replies. I appreciate the community here.
Now, after reading this thread, I have changed my mind from buying a powertec rack in Canada to a bodysolid one as in Canada, the price difference is only 29.99!

Sweet, I like the pullup bar better myself..enjoy

[honx99]

on that bs gpr378 vs. powertec rack thing, i read somewhere on this forum that the gpr378 had some side-to-side wobble issues because of the way the pullup bar is attached to the top frame. Can someone who owns this rack confirm/deny this?
Bracing wise, the powertec seems to be really well designed, maybe it's still the better choice vs the gpr378 (well, aside from that pullup bar...).
It's rated to 1000lbs (bb.com even says 1500lbs), so i guess the fact that it's 2.375"x2.375" 12 ga vs the gpr378 3"x3" 11ga (dunno how much the gpr378 is rated to tho, but I guess it's in the same region) won't be much of an issue to most people here (after all, who of us is lifting that much), but a side wobbling will be annoying in any case...

[Blue Blazer]

Originally Posted by Skidmarx

Notice how they use a short model, to make the rack look taller?

I resent that lol

Go with powertec, cheaper, best bang for the buck

[barbarian1543]

Originally Posted by honx99

on that bs gpr378 vs. powertec rack thing, i read somewhere on this forum that the gpr378 had some side-to-side wobble issues because of the way the pullup bar is attached to the top frame. Can someone who owns this rack confirm/deny this?
Bracing wise, the powertec seems to be really well designed, maybe it's still the better choice vs the gpr378 (well, aside from that pullup bar...).
It's rated to 1000lbs (bb.com even says 1500lbs), so i guess the fact that it's 2.375"x2.375" 12 ga vs the gpr378 3"x3" 11ga (dunno how much the gpr378 is rated to tho, but I guess it's in the same region) won't be much of an issue to most people here (after all, who of us is lifting that much), but a side wobbling will be annoying in any case...

I am also deciding between these two brands. So far I want to buy bodysolid, but after reading this issue I will have to go see it in person if it does wobble, or the person who installed made a mistake and thought all bodysolid racks wobble. Thanks for posting this concern it was helpful.

If I get the correct results, I will post here about this issue by tomorrow or the day after

[kolonelkutz]

I would definitly go with the powertec. I owned the body-solid and I wouldn't buy it again. The safety's are crap, they are weak, hollow and they lose paint every time you get them in and out of the cage. You can forget about pinsquats and rackpulls with this piece of equipment. There is also a little side to side wobble, but thats only if you rock the cage. You shouldn't feel it when racking and unracking the weight. The crossmember at the bottom also makes it a hassle to get an FID bench in. It should be deeper like the powertecs.

As for the powertec. Its more solid and the safety's are good. The only negs about it are its smaller depth and the pullup bar. You'll get a good dipping stand tho, and for chinning you could just put a BB on top of it. Overall its a better rack. It can take more of a beating and rackpulls and pinsquats are no isseu. I wouldn't hesitate if it were between these 2.

[honx99]

thanks a lot for the first-hand input about the gpr378. Looks like you saved me from wasting some money. Didn't know the safeties are that crappy. I wonder why they build such a massive frame and use such crappy safeties then.
I guess I'm going for the powertec then.
Bye bye straight pullup bar :-(

[DiamondDelts]

Originally Posted by honx99

thanks a lot for the first-hand input about the gpr378. Looks like you saved me from wasting some money. Didn't know the safeties are that crappy. I wonder why they build such a massive frame and use such crappy safeties then.
I guess I'm going for the powertec then.
Bye bye straight pullup bar :-(

Yeppers, it's looks as though the powertec wins this battle. But those bubu pullup handles. If you can get a local welder to weld on a pullup bar for you the ptec would be the perfect rack.

But in my opinion the best midrange rack on the market right now is the bodycraft f430.

[kolonelkutz]

Originally Posted by DiamondDelts

But in my opinion the best midrange rack on the market right now is the bodycraft f430.

+1. Better than the powertec in every way.

[kolonelkutz]

bodycraft f430

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18i0Lp4xNMw

[High-point]

Originally Posted by DiamondDelts

Yeppers, it's looks as though the powertec wins this battle. But those bubu pullup handles. If you can get a local welder to weld on a pullup bar for you the ptec would be the perfect rack.

But in my opinion the best midrange rack on the market right now is the bodycraft f430.

Hmm... Now you just confused me. I was just set on getting the TDS 8515....

[HardKore79]

Originally Posted by kolonelkutz

bodycraft f430

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18i0Lp4xNMw

The vid is funny. Why in the hell would you have chains used in a manner that he is using them? Maybe it makes him feel hardkore?! I would rather slap on a few plates. The chains are used to increase load at the top of the movement.

[DiamondDelts]

Originally Posted by High-point

Hmm... Now you just confused me. I was just set on getting the TDS 8515....

I should have said if you don't mind spending a few extra hundred bucks. The bodycraft is higher but worth it in my opinion. But I would still stick to my tds because of the options I can add. Especially the juicy chinup options. My masterpiece will have even more added and be finished this weekend!

[kolonelkutz]

Originally Posted by HardKore79

The vid is funny. Why in the hell would you have chains used in a manner that he is using them? Maybe it makes him feel hardkore?! I would rather slap on a few plates. The chains are used to increase load at the top of the movement.

I guess he ran out of plates and wanted some extra weight. Glad to help you figure this out.

[DiamondDelts]

Originally Posted by kolonelkutz

I guess he ran out of plates and wanted some extra weight. Glad to help you figure this out.

Oh snap!

[High-point]

Originally Posted by DiamondDelts

I should have said if you don't mind spending a few extra hundred bucks. The bodycraft is higher but worth it in my opinion. But I would still stick to my tds because of the options I can add. Especially the juicy chinup options. My masterpiece will have even more added and be finished this weekend!

Yes, the vast options that the TDS offers is what is attractive to me. As well as the larger workout area.

Can't wait to see your finished project!

[honx99]

Originally Posted by kolonelkutz

I would definitly go with the powertec. I owned the body-solid and I wouldn't buy it again. The safety's are crap, they are weak, hollow and they lose paint every time you get them in and out of the cage. You can forget about pinsquats and rackpulls with this piece of equipment. There is also a little side to side wobble, but thats only if you rock the cage. You shouldn't feel it when racking and unracking the weight. The crossmember at the bottom also makes it a hassle to get an FID bench in. It should be deeper like the powertecs.

As for the powertec. Its more solid and the safety's are good. The only negs about it are its smaller depth and the pullup bar. You'll get a good dipping stand tho, and for chinning you could just put a BB on top of it. Overall its a better rack. It can take more of a beating and rackpulls and pinsquats are no isseu. I wouldn't hesitate if it were between these 2.

btw, how did you find out the gpr378 safeties were hollow? Did you break one when dropping your weight on it?

[honx99]

Originally Posted by DiamondDelts

Yeppers, it's looks as though the powertec wins this battle. But those bubu pullup handles. If you can get a local welder to weld on a pullup bar for you the ptec would be the perfect rack.

But in my opinion the best midrange rack on the market right now is the bodycraft f430.

Unfortunately the bodycraft is not available in europe.

Going for the powertec then. What do you guys think, should i get the lat attachment for the powertec rack for 200 EUR (~ 320 USD) extra, or should i buy a powertec standalone lat machine (PL-M) for 349 EUR (~550 USD)?
The space i need for the standalone tower is not an issue, got plenty, just wondering if the convenience of a standalone lat tower is worth the 150 EUR extra.
As the powertec rack lat attachment has a leg hold down built in, it's only the convenience of having more room to move the bench deeper into the rack,and probably the ability to have a "huma spotter" spot you while benching in the rack.
Do you guys think these two points are worth the 150 EUR extra?