Protocol Power Cage?

[jigglexbilly]

So I've been in the market for a Power cage, and I'm looking for something with a reasonable price. I stumbled upon the Protocol power cage on the Dicks Sporting goods, but unfortunately I couldn't find any information about it anywhere on the web. I was wondering if anybody here has any experience with it.

If not, I was wondering if I could be directed towards a good rack under $600. I was considering the Powertec rack as well.

[KBKB]

So I've been in the market for a Power cage, and I'm looking for something with a reasonable price. I stumbled upon the Protocol power cage on the Dicks Sporting goods, but unfortunately I couldn't find any information about it anywhere on the web. I was wondering if anybody here has any experience with it.

Someone posted a photo of some promotional material over in the power rack thread. I spent a few minutes (at that time) trying to do a search to find out more about it, but I came up empty.

[cm45]

Someone posted a photo of some promotional material over in the power rack thread. I spent a few minutes (at that time) trying to do a search to find out more about it, but I came up empty.

That looks like a very good power rack probley. The frame looks stronger than the powertecs. Is it available in the store?

[Alchematron]

Protocol Power Cage
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...413986.4417718

Product Information

DICK'S Sporting Goods Exclusive. Get a superior workout in the comfort of your own home with the PROTOCOL™ Power Cage. Built with heavy duty steel, it is designed for classic strength building exercises including deadlifts, overhead presses and squats. Plus with 28 adjustable settings you will always have a variety of workouts to choose from.

Features

* 28 adjustable settings for a variety of workouts
* Multi-function front bridge design pull up bar and 2-1/4" back bar
* Workout area dimensions: 36" x 44"


I have to say I'm impressed with the design of this rack

28 Spotter Bar holes vs 22 on the Powertec

Monkey Bar and Back Bar

Powertec should redesign their rack this way

Hard to judge the the build quality without seeing it in real life

I don't see any reinforcement plates at the joints

Since its exclusive to Dick's, I will assume its their inhouse brand they designed

I will post a comprehensive review of the Powertec rack in a few days

[Alchematron]

Protocol Utility Bench
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...13986.11294664

Not a bad looking bench either

At $149.99, I really wonder about the build quality

The adjustment arms remind me of the Legend Fitness 4-Way bench

http://www.legendfitness.com/product...lity_3164.aspx

[cm45]

Protocol Utility Bench
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...13986.11294664

Not a bad looking bench either

At $149.99, I really wonder about the build quality

The adjustment arms remind me of the Legend Fitness 4-Way bench

http://www.legendfitness.com/product...lity_3164.aspx

Agreed it looks like Dicks sporting goods finally stepped up their game with their inhouse brand. Their previous in house brand fitness gear was complete crap. I am actually going to email them to see if I can get the max weight capacity for the power rack, and the chin-up bar.

[jormone]

The 20% Dick's Coupon brings the Power Rack down to $320, cheapest out there AFAIK.

I can't find much about the Ashley Collection or their Protocol line (other than a class action suit over toy helicopter batteries overheating)

I wonder if you could buy more J-hooks for it? The spotter bars seem to hang on the side of the uprights and don't seem to be locked into the holes from what I can tell.

I'd like to hear a review of it if anyone has a Dick's near them with it in stock (+pics). Could be paper thin steel...

[julces]

i see this rack in dicks
The material is real thin (14 g or less)
Looks nices but cheap
The max weight limit shoulbe in 400 lb
bench looks nice and reeeeal cheap steel
Maybe 300 lb capacity (maybe)
For me powerline is better

[SDSammy]

I'd like to hear a review of it if anyone has a Dick's near them with it in stock (+pics). Could be paper thin steel...

I actually drove by two DSGs today. Had I known they now had this rack, I might have stopped by to check it out. I think later this week I'm heading that way so I'll definitely stop and see if they have one.

I'm not expecting much out of it, it is Dick's Sporting Goods after all, but hey, someone on here actually liked that little half rack they sell.

[SDSammy]

I stopped by yesterday to check out the rack. I was able to grab some pics but since I was by myself, some didn't come out very well.

Here's a full frontal pic of the rack


The rack is right at 82 inches tall. I know it looks like it's right under but I believe it's from taking the pic from a low angle.


Here's a pic of the J-Cup.


Here's a pic from behind the J-Cup.


Here's a pic of one of the safeties.


Here's a pic of the safety positioned in the rack.


A pic of the monkey bar. As you can see, the texture is not smooth. When doing pull ups, it felt pretty good. Not rough like some knurled bars but not slippery like some smooth bars.

[SDSammy]

Pic of the monkey bar's approximate diameter. For obvious reasons, this one was not easy to get exact.


Pic of the rear pull up bar's approximate diameter.


Pic of the approximate width of the rack. It's from the outside of one of the beams to the outside of the other. I would have taken the interior width but as it was, I already had trouble taking the pic.


Pic of the length of the rack, from the outside of one beam, to the outside of the other.


Pic of the lowest hole

[SDSammy]

Pic from behind the safety.


Here's a pic of the steel's thickness. 1/16 of an inch which equals 16 gauge


Here's a pic that was somewhat troubling. Who ever assembled the rack, tightened the bolts too tight which caused the indentation in the metal.



I asked the sales person if he knew the weight capacity or actual weight of the rack and he of course had no idea. It wasn't very heavy though. During strict pull ups it was fine but I'd doubt it would be able to handle spastic "pull ups".

Since the only racks I've seen in person are the heavy duty commercial types, I can't say how this rack compares to the lower end racks like the Powerline or Bodycraft.

[Alchematron]

Great photo review Sammy!

I have to say the rack and bench is very impressive for the price.

It looks more solid than I thought.

I like the rubber lined J-Hooks and Monkey Bar!

Here's my review I mentioned

Review: Powertec Power Rack PR11 and Utility Bench UB11
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=135587451

[KBKB]

Thanks for posting lots of great photos. (Rep'd.)

[darkfact]

Nice work getting pics of a new rack on the market dude!

The steel is a little thin but not moreso than what you'd expect from a rack at that price point. Other than the lower rear crossmember I like the design of the rack, I think whoever did design it actually did some research or even uses power racks themselves, alot of the lower end companies need more designers who use equipment IMHO.

[cm45]

Sammy did you ask about the weight capacity of the rack? The steel of the frame does not look that strong to me.

[qwan456]

b]Here's a pic of the steel's thickness. 1/16 of an inch which equals 16 gauge

Unless I'm reading it wrong, isn't that closer to 1/8" than 1/16"? If it is, then I believe the gauge is around 12 gauge like the Powertec and Bodycraft. Well, at least the uprights are.

Sammy did you ask about the weight capacity of the rack? The steel of the frame does not look that strong to me.

Yep, he did.

I asked the sales person if he knew the weight capacity or actual weight of the rack and he of course had no idea.

[SDSammy]

Unless I'm reading it wrong, isn't that closer to 1/8" than 1/16"? If it is, then I believe the gauge is around 12 gauge like the Powertec and Bodycraft. Well, at least the uprights are.

That pic is very deceiving. I actually had to go and look at my tape measure before posting because I too thought it was 1/8" instead of 1/16". Here's a pic of my tape measure that should clear things up.



Had I though about it, I would have asked to see the box since it probably has a GW listed somewhere on it. It may not have given us the actual weight of the rack itself but it would have given us an idea more or less on it's actual weight. I'm also thinking that the weight capacity is probably listed somewhere in the assembly instructions.

[cm45]

LOL, I guess this is Dicks Sporting Goods clever way of saying they don't know what the weight capacity of the power rack is, or they just dont want me to know?

Thank you for contacting DicksSportingGoods.com

This email is in regards to the inquiry we received on the PROTOCOL
Power Cage. We understand you were looking to receive some information
on this item. Unfortunately, it is out of stock, so we are unable to
obtain the information you have requested. We do not have any future
shipments scheduled for this item at this time.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Please let us know if there is anything else we can do for you, and
thank you again for contacting DicksSportingGoods.com


Sincerely,

Ashley T.
Customer Service Specialist


If you have additional questions, please visit our online Help Desk.

[ProudMarineDad]

Great review. Repped. Judging by the photo below, it appears the hole spacing was a little over an inch or am I looking at it wrong?

[Cpl.Girthington]

Nice pics! This rack looks like a great value for someone looking for something new... that looks quite a bit superior to my powerline to me.

[KBKB]

That pic is very deceiving. I actually had to go and look at my tape measure before posting because I too thought it was 1/8" instead of 1/16". Here's a pic of my tape measure that should clear things up.

The shortest markings on (the inches side of) your tape measure are sixteenths, right? That earlier photo still looks to me like the metal is 2/16 or 1/8 inch thick. Where am I going wrong?

[SDSammy]

The shortest markings on (the inches side of) your tape measure are sixteenths, right? That earlier photo still looks to me like the metal is 2/16 or 1/8 inch thick. Where am I going wrong?

Up until 6 inches, each marking is 1/32 of an inch. After 6 inches, that's when each marking is 1/16 of an inch.

Great review. Repped. Judging by the photo below, it appears the hole spacing was a little over an inch...

No, I'd say you were about right. Here's another pic I took but don't believe I added in my original post.

[KBKB]

Up until 6 inches, each marking is 1/32 of an inch. After 6 inches, that's when each marking is 1/16 of an inch.

I see it now. Thanks!

[Cpl.Girthington]

Measured my powerline, and it's 1/16" thick. So it looks as if they're the same gauge.

[Zanzibrute]

I bought the rack and bench yesterday and set it up last night. I am very pleased with the end result and will upload some pics soon. The weight capacity in the manual said both the rack and the bench have a max weight of 600 lbs. One thing I modified is that even though the height of the grey metal part of the rack is 82 inches, the red monkey pullup part is 84. Well, my basement ceiling is 85 inches so that was an issue. I has already gotten the okay from my wide to cut a hole in the finished ceiling before I bought it but when I was building it, I realized that I could flip both pullup sections. Now, the front pullup bar is probably 80 inches so I have enough clearance to do most of a pullup. I will upload some pics soon but I just created this account so I am not sure if I am able to. Feel free to post any questions though and I will try to answer them. All in all, I am happy with it so far.

[Kodokan]

i see this rack in dicks
The material is real thin (14 g or less)
Looks nices but cheap
The max weight limit shoulbe in 400 lb
bench looks nice and reeeeal cheap steel
Maybe 300 lb capacity (maybe)
For me powerline is better

This is what I would have guessed...it's an interesting design and nice pull-up bar, but I'd probably rather have the powerline as well.

[ProudMarineDad]

I bought the rack and bench yesterday and set it up last night. I am very pleased with the end result and will upload some pics soon. The weight capacity in the manual said both the rack and the bench have a max weight of 600 lbs. One thing I modified is that even though the height of the grey metal part of the rack is 82 inches, the red monkey pullup part is 84. Well, my basement ceiling is 85 inches so that was an issue. I has already gotten the okay from my wide to cut a hole in the finished ceiling before I bought it but when I was building it, I realized that I could flip both pullup sections. Now, the front pullup bar is probably 80 inches so I have enough clearance to do most of a pullup. I will upload some pics soon but I just created this account so I am not sure if I am able to. Feel free to post any questions though and I will try to answer them. All in all, I am happy with it so far.

If I hadn't recently bought my used Body Solid, I would strongly consider this rack. I really like the design of this one. How is the stability of it?

Called the local store and the guy was building one so I am going to take a look at it Saturday.

[Alchematron]

I bought the rack and bench yesterday and set it up last night.

Congrats!

If you could cover some of the questions I answered in the Powertec review
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=135587451

That would be great, thanx

[cgc]

If I didn't already recently bought my used Body Solid, I would strongly consider this rack. I really like the design of this one. How is the stability of it?

Called the local store and the guy was building one so I am going to take a look at it Saturday.

Honestly, I'm considering selling my power line for this. I just want to hear some more feedback on it first.

I may run by Dick's to see if they have one local....but I already know I would like to buy their push/pull sled.

Man, my wife is going to kill me...lol