Using The Rack For Too Long

[icu222much]

Is there a gym etiquette for using the rack for too long? Note that I am active and present the entire time I am using the rack. I don't use my phone, and spend 1 or 2 minutes at most resting between sets.

My gym (Anytime Fitness) has two racks. I don't often see a line up, and there are some pretty large-ish guys at my gym. In my previous gym, people would ask each other if they can share the equipment. I don't see much socialization or talking at my current gym.

I don't want to be that guy that hogs the rack, and I don't want to seem unfriendly. Is there anything that I can do that will show others that I am willing to share the rack?

I use the rack for about 45 minutes each time. I do the following exercises:
3 sets of front squats
3 sets of back squats
5 sets of bench press
5 sets of military press

[Duplicitous]

There's nothing written in stone, but I would consider that an unusually long time to use the rack in a gym that only has 2 racks. We only had 2 squat racks at LAF when I was a member there. There were a handful of guys that would camp out in the racks and it wasn't well-received. That said, if there's no one waiting (e.g. there's no one that keeps walking by, looking over at the rack, etc.) then I wouldn't worry about it. If there is, offer to let them work in.

[OldFartTom]

The rack is probably at least half my gym time, I'd go as far as to say the rack and bar is why I keep my membership.

I'm conscious of the time too. If the other rack is empty... don't worry. I always offer people to work in, but if you're doing OHP and they're a squat-beast or they're a very different height etc it can be impractical.

The gym should get a third rack, but with big-chain gyms they may be tied to a formula (based on floor space, depending on franchise model) and can't change it

[drudixon]

I'm often in the rack for 30 minutes or so. If there's a line I offer folks to work in. I'd say just be aware that there are others around you and don't be a dik.

[Garage Rat]

As long as your using it ,resting by it and doing what you posted(no phone or jacking around)your good in my book.
If someone wants to work in i may or may not let them depending if we have to remove a lot weights.
If they are pretty close in strength thats usually good and do close to the same rest periods.
Other wise i would them ill be done in little bit and let hem find something else to do in the mean time.

[LWW]

Here you go, Kirk Karwoski and being in the squat rack.

https://youtu.be/brhau4xo0x0?t=3

[icu222much]

Lol, thank you guys for the feedback

[Marius_Ursus]

It's the responsibility of anyone bothered by the amount of time someone spends in the rack to walk up and say, "Is it okay if I work in a few sets?"

No one has ever said, "No," to me. Ever.

Most people never realize how much power they have to control their situation by using their voice. I guess they'd rather just bitch about everything.

[MrCarrot]

Depending on my workout sometimes I'll use a rack for around an hour. Personally if I were to give it up earlier and then have an inferior workout as a result I wouldn't really be happy. However my gym has about 8 racks so it's rarely an issue.

[KidFreeze]

If you can carve out a small space where you live, buy your own, well worth it. You can get a decent one for a good price.

[anonymous]

Nothing annoys me more than waiting for the solitary rack to clear, only for the guy using it to adjust the pins and do shoulder press after his half assed sets of squats.

I also get extremely annoyed when people do stuff in there that can be done in the squat stands or other stations

When I use it I do one or two top sets then move on.

[shaneinga]

Lots of good answers in here.

This is my go to if someone is using the squat rack for something other than squats. I actually used it today.

"Are you going to use the squat rack to squat? Do you mind if I do?"

Which usually is always answered with, yes no problem. I can row, deadlift, curls, name your other exercise done in squat rack somewhere else.

[TolerantLactose]

I take forever in the rack so I can't complain about other people most times but I did give a couple of guys long death stares for spotting each other doing barbell curls in one (srs).

[OldFartTom]

I take forever in the rack so I can't complain about other people most times but I did give a couple of guys long death stares for spotting each other doing barbell curls in one (srs).

For years I always thought that curls in the squat rack was a gym myth, who could be so ****** stupid?

But I saw a guy in the rack about 6 weeks ago. He had a bar with a technique (full diameter) 5Kg on each end curling it and resting it on pins between sets. He was looking around checking everyone had seen him with that "aren't I so cool, look at my big weight" look on his face. Yes we were all watching him, but not with the admiration he'd assumed. Thankfully it's a rare occurrence.

[oldandintheway]

The racks and smith machines are normally empty at the 24 hr I go to. Occasionally someone might actually do squats. Normally folks pull a bench under one and do all manner of chit they could do with 2 15 lb dumbells. I don’t stress over it, just do something different

[JeremyM07201978]

For years I always thought that curls in the squat rack was a gym myth, who could be so ****** stupid?

But I saw a guy in the rack about 6 weeks ago. He had a bar with a technique (full diameter) 5Kg on each end curling it and resting it on pins between sets. He was looking around checking everyone had seen him with that "aren't I so cool, look at my big weight" look on his face. Yes we were all watching him, but not with the admiration he'd assumed. Thankfully it's a rare occurrence.

I'm pretty fortunate in that with only 2 racks, the gym I use rarely has both (or even one of them) occupied...but there are other things that can be tied up like benches for example.

That said, I would be hard-pressed to keep my time in the rack under 30 minutes. I've only had one situation (if that is the right term) where a younger kid asked if I was still using the rack - I obviously was. Since there was another one open I politely said, yes, that I was not finished but there is the other one over there that is open. I've never seen that same guy again, so maybe it was a trial membership or something.

Anyway, everyone is in the gym with their workout as their focus. I always try to be considerate of others but stay focused on my goals. When things get backed up, I check with people if they seem to be waiting on me, but I don't rush unless someone is being pushy and then they are messing up my concentration anyway.

OP, you just need to gage the situation and if you suspect someone resents the time you are taking, finish your squat and military press workout, but maybe move out of the rack on bench and ask for a spotter - in those backed-up situations.

[jademonkey]

Currently in the squat rack for 75 minutes. Currently doing rdl, def don't need a rack for that. Might even do some curls. But there are 5 open and 2 in the annex closed off for a gym brunch. Guess I'm lucky I can finish squats and just camp out here for my whole workout.

[Corbets]

I park myself in the rack for up to 90 minutes at a time. Sometimes I even do dumbbell curls in there.

But as I train at home, nobody complains...

[nitefeatherz]

It's the responsibility of anyone bothered by the amount of time someone spends in the rack to walk up and say, "Is it okay if I work in a few sets?"

No one has ever said, "No," to me. Ever.

Most people never realize how much power they have to control their situation by using their voice. I guess they'd rather just bitch about everything.

I've had to say "no" to people that wanted to work in. I was in the rack and a guy wanted to "work in", do a single squat, and then walk away leaving me to take eight 45 pound plates off the bar. He walked away after the first set and said "yeah, thanks, you can take them off, I'm super setting"...and then was aggravated when I told him no the next go around. Most of the time when I say "no" people aren't looking to share... they expect to be able to just kick me out of the rack because I'm using less weight or a woman.

We also had a guy that got spoken to that had a "perfect workout routine" in the squat rack involving varying types of bicep curls (for four hours...)

[jademonkey]

I've had to say "no" to people that wanted to work in. I was in the rack and a guy wanted to "work in", do a single squat, and then walk away leaving me to take eight 45 pound plates off the bar. He walked away after the first set and said "yeah, thanks, you can take them off, I'm super setting"...and then was aggravated when I told him no the next go around. Most of the time when I say "no" people aren't looking to share... they expect to be able to just kick me out of the rack because I'm using less weight or a woman.

We also had a guy that got spoken to that had a "perfect workout routine" in the squat rack involving varying types of bicep curls (for four hours...)

Yeah I don't understand how working in could work with the squat rack. Even if you get lucky and use the same pin and safety settings, swapping the plates around alone is a pain in the ass.

[John Prophet]

maybe a dumb question but, is there no bench press bench in your gym?