Rack depth: is 30" depth worthwhile?

[Afo3]

Due to my Sorinex Bulldog purchase, I'm looking to upgrade to a rack with 1" holes. I've been using a Rogue half-rack for years and recently used a Sorinex rack that was about 40-42" depth inside. That felt spacious and I loved using it with straps where I could set the side nearest my face a bit higher to catch the bar and roll it 'downhill' to a lower section of the strap by my waist.

I don't really want to give up the space that a rack like that or the Rogue RM6/4 would take up so I've been looking at the the RM-3 but it is only 30" of depth inside the rack. That seems kinda small. Anyone have a point of view on this?

Alternatively, has anyone seen a nice product that has 1" holes that would make a good permanent stand for the Sorinex Bulldog and take up little space?


Thanks!

[Duplicitous]

Rack depth is a personal choice. A lot of guys are fine with 30"; I'm not one of them. I made do with it at my last commercial gym, but when I bought a rack for my home gym I went with an RML-490.

[BiGx5MurF]

If you plan on using monolifts, you'll want more space.

[1651Naismith]

If you plan on using monolifts, you'll want more space.

^^^^This…and no rack is complete until you have monolifts.

[Deep-Voiced-One]

I personally like the rack space to be 36" depth, but YMMV...for me it works out good because I'm a bit tight on space, yet it fits my monos in there just fine as long as it's setup for one inside station.

I also don't feel as restricted unracking in general with 36" space because I tend to sometimes take a bit more of a stride back on squats and OHPs.

Would I get an even farther depth rack if space allowed?

Yes, it would be nice for me and my gf to be able to lift at the same time in one area and cut our workout time a bit, but for what I have, I'm satisfied.

[evankyle]

I have 30 and while I have kept the rack it is only because I do not squat heavy and prefer using dumbbells. My next rack will be bigger.

[CW47]

Honestly, I think 24 inches is plenty of space for the vast majority of people. I used a half rack for a long time which meant I had basically as much space as I wanted on the outside. I thought 30 inches would probably be too tight for me once I decided to purchase a full rack, but it was all I could fit in my workout space. Turns out it's more than enough space, even with the mono's.

I don't think I've ever seen someone's bar path move so much forward or backward that they wouldn't be able to squat or bench in a 24 or 30 inch rack. Only way I could see an issue with this depth is if someone were using mono's AND walking out the weight from them (which wouldn't make much sense). Lunges inside the rack may also be an issue (I've not tried yet, and it would obviously depend upon how long your stride is). That said, if I had the room I would still opt for a deeper rack just because I like the feeling of having more space.

[Cleveland33]

28-30" is my preference

[Mech6]

All my racks have been 30". And most have included a monolift. Never had any problems.

[Leprechuan71]

30" works great for me and that's with a monolift.

[irongrandpa]

28-30" is my preference

I feel 30” is more than adequate. I have used mono’s in a 24” rack with no problems.

[smokinHawk]

I started squatting out of a 24" track and it was a little small for box squats. Switched to a 30" and it was perfect.
30" is a good size you can do anything in. 43" is a little big but I bench out of that and don't have to move my bench when I squat out of the 30" section

[sera310]

My rack is 24"; you're not going to get lost in there, but it's big enough to work and the smaller footprint is nice.

[TolerantLactose]

For most people, I think 36" is more than enough room. I'd probably feel a little claustrophobic but I'm rarely more than 6" away from the hooks on bench or squat.

[Aspenextreme03]

Question for you all with monolifts. If can you use them for squat setup and then have jcups below for bench? Essentially I am asking if it is possible (yes lazy) to keep both setup at the same time inside the rack.

[Duplicitous]

Question for you all with monolifts. If can you use them for squat setup and then have jcups below for bench? Essentially I am asking if it is possible (yes lazy) to keep both setup at the same time inside the rack.

I suppose you could for flat/decline bench. Monos are great for benching though.

[irongrandpa]

Question for you all with monolifts. If can you use them for squat setup and then have jcups below for bench? Essentially I am asking if it is possible (yes lazy) to keep both setup at the same time inside the rack.

I could, but why? They’re great for benching and easy to move down.

[Aspenextreme03]

Thanks all and appreciate the help n

[sera310]

I suppose you could for flat/decline bench. Monos are great for benching though.

Heck, that's the main reason I bought my mono attachments--saves my shoulders because I don't have to reach back to unrack for the bench. They work great for squats also, of course, so I just move them up & down the rack as needed. It's pretty much my favorite accessory I have bought for my rack.

[Aspenextreme03]

So you dont have jcups?

Heck, that's the main reason I bought my mono attachments--saves my shoulders because I don't have to reach back to unrack for the bench. They work great for squats also, of course, so I just move them up & down the rack as needed. It's pretty much my favorite accessory I have bought for my rack.

[irongrandpa]

So you dont have jcups?

I do but they only get used as a bar holder at times.

[sera310]

So you dont have jcups?

Sure, 2 sets of them; I use them for everything but bench presses.

[Duplicitous]

So you dont have jcups?

Jcups require that you lift off from behind you and move the bar forward into the benching position. Without a spotter that's a killer on your shoulders over time, especially as you get older. Using monos for benching takes that movement out of the lift.

[PTzFree]

I have the RML-3WC. The lifts are done on the outside of the rack so interior space is irrelevant. I even opted for the 21.5 over the 41.5 and it's still plenty of space for a spotter on bench and I don't feel like I'm smashed up against the wall doing pullups either.

[RGrizzzz]

Jcups require that you lift off from behind you and move the bar forward into the benching position. Without a spotter that's a killer on your shoulders over time, especially as you get older. Using monos for benching takes that movement out of the lift.

I have an RM4, coming from an Infinity R3(30"). I like the additional depth, but it isn't absolutely necessary. I bench right off the flip down spotter arms, as I can slide under the loaded bar. The bar with barely touch my chest, if I arch. It's probably not a perfect solution, but it's safe, and works for me. I'd consider monos, but moving them feels like a pain, as I squat in the rack too, and my SSB lives in the j-cups.

[JohnCuster]

I've owned multiple racks from Rogue, Legend, and Sorinex, most of the rack designs were modular (not welded except the Legend) so I've taken most of them from full 6 post options w/a deep front to half racks and everything in-between.

It will likely come down to a few things in my experience so far:

1) Space - can you fit a deep front (40in +) into your space w/o it obstructing your lifts, both inside and outside the rack, the latter being if your butting up against the garage door track or other possible overhead obstacles due to ceiling bump outs or other.

2) If the rack is going to have storage off the back, that will extend the length of the floor you eat up, which could mean you either have a 4x4 type cage and no rear posts or rear posts and 36in front.

3) If you are training alone and/or this is your only station - if you have a bench inside the rack and you're also planning to work or warm up outside the rack (or train w/a partner on the same rack) while the bench is in there, a 36in front will likely have the bench sticking out.

4) If you want the ability to expand/contract the working room in the rack if your space changes...if so, you would likely want to consider a bolt together model (Rogue Monster RM3/RM4 or RML options, Rep Fitness or Sorinex XL) vs a welded (RM3/RM4 Fortis the new Sorinex Dark Horse w/4 way holes all over)...welded means you get what you get and depth isn't changing.

5) If you really need the cage over all...a lot of members here have gone from large racks to a very solid half racks and had minimal change to to their training and loading...some things are much easier inside a cage though, like working off of straps vs working off short spotter arms.


6) Monos are essential, IMO and easily fit into a 36in rack...I have two sets of Mech6's version on mine now.


My current step up is a 36in deep, 100in tall RM cage w/24in deep storage off the back connected to 90in tall posts (w/shelves for KBs/Fatbells/CMBs, bumpers, medballs).

I did this as a compromise at first b/c of space constraints vs the garage door track at our rental house.

The rental has a smaller garage (despite being a bigger house) than the house w/sold (new home to be built whenever materials become available and not 400% over normal price), but found that I actually like the 36in front and focused storage vs prior larger and smaller set ups...it is more or less the sweet spot, at least for me when training solo in a smaller space.

Now that Sorinex finally dropped the 4 way hole DH rack, I might end up getting it w/some custom storage and items I planned w/them in 2019/2020 but ended up pausing on b/c they were not ready to make the rack updates at that time and then COVID did it's thing to the world and really slowed everything down. .

[RGrizzzz]

i have two sets of mech6's version on mine now.

what?!?!?!

[JohnCuster]

what?!?!?!

Yep...I was chasing them for years and finally got my hands on two sets over a two year period.

One is designed to work w/the keyholes on Rogue Monster racks (and maybe RC Pro Gold) and the other is a traditional 1in hole style.

Both are great...the keyhole model is easier to move up and down.

Out of the commercial models I've used, only the Sorinex version comes close to being as good and easy to move.

I have not tried the new Rogue model, which look very good as well.

I also have the Mech6 30in swing in safety arms and his J-Squat with a floor mount.

[robbieuva]

I recently purchased a 30” RM3, in addition to the new Adjustable Mono 2.0s, which have been used for bench, incline bench, squats, and close grip bench so far. There is sufficient room inside the rack with this mono attachment. I feel totally spoiled with these things. Is there a way to directly upload pictures to posts on this site? If so, I can upload a picture to illustrate the amount of space the AM2.0s take up in a 30” depth rack.

JohnCuster - you were nice enough to reply to my DM regarding the Sorinex Monolifts at some point during my long search for a rack. I could find no other reference to them anywhere online aside from you. Really appreciate the feedback and insight I’ve gotten here.

[JohnCuster]

I recently purchased a 30” RM3, in addition to the new Adjustable Mono 2.0s, which have been used for bench, incline bench, squats, and close grip bench so far. There is sufficient room inside the rack with this mono attachment. I feel totally spoiled with these things. Is there a way to directly upload pictures to posts on this site? If so, I can upload a picture to illustrate the amount of space the AM2.0s take up in a 30” depth rack.

JohnCuster - you were nice enough to reply to my DM regarding the Sorinex Monolifts at some point during my long search for a rack. I could find no other reference to them anywhere online aside from you. Really appreciate the feedback and insight I’ve gotten here.

Thanks...I am not on here very often, so a DM to me might be a crapshoot in terms of response time.

The lack of info on Sorinex monos likely comes down to a limited amount of people owning them.

Not too many people have a Sorinex set up at home and a chunk of those that do have Rogue monos b/c Sorinex was late to the game on launching them.

I have only seen them at Sorinex HQ, on my older set up, at Matt Vincent's private gym, and at my other buddy's place...I was one of their first ever retail sales of the product when it launched.

The Sorinex monos are really good, but they only work w/Sorinex 4 way holes, which means all the holes are level on all sides of the rack vs the offset holes that everyone else has.

The Sorinex monos secure in the front with a short welded pin and w/a hitch pin from the side, but it won't work if holes are offset and out of alignment w/the side bracket.

Rogue's new ones seem to only secure side to side and will provide a more universal option across different makers w/1in holes.

Straight 4 way vs offset holes is a matter of preference, I haven't found one to be vastly superior in function to the other...if Rogue actually used their keyholes on accessory design that could be a difference maker, but I digress.

Having had some type of 4 way holes up and down the whole post on multiple racks and not having it on multiple racks has me in the camp of refusing to buy anything w/o 2in on center holes on the side of a post now...except maybe a Dynamic Ultra Pro, if they would make it as a Mini/Multi and I could find some monos for it.