Should I invest in a Power Rack?

[silverwex]

So im not lifting to my potential as i dont have a spotter - i work out at home. Is it worth my money buying a Power Rack (cost: e750 - about $1000).

Its a powertec.

Thanks.

 

[Alpine]

The body solid racks are very good and a lot cheaper than that.

I made some safety devices out of 4x2. They will easy hold 500lbs. Of course a power rack lets you do partial and OHP type stuff too.

The other option is to just deadlift instead of squat.

 

[Slickster]

I saw your other post about Powertec.

I recently purchased a Powertec Workbench Leverage System. Its a home gym that also allows you to lift heavy without a spotter. Ie. Bench Press, Squats, etc.

It also has a cable for doing Lat Pull downs and Rows which is nice. It cost me about $800 and I'm very happy with it.

Model: Powertec WBLS

also good Powertec WBMS

Google Powertec and check em out.

 

[silverwex]

Hey slickster, heres the one im gonna get:

http://www.vjhomefitness.com/cgi-bi...Session=16003dlejdelideefhigaedkbckfbdh030883

Same as yours?

Also, Alpine: a few months back i saw a pic of you and, no offecne, but you looked kinda nerdy, today i saw a pic of you on hot or not and you look great (no gayness intended!). that really you?!

 

[Alpine]

The bad news is I'm still a nerd!

No, I ditched the glasses, changed the hair and have put on about 16lbs since that was taken. Still look a bit skinny, but with other stuff I do I've got to stay fairly lean.

Send me a pic of the guy on hot or not, I'll use it as a template

[EDIT]
Cracks me up when I go on there, just seen a bloke in a pilot's G-suit and helmet giving it the furrowed brow look he gets 9.6. They fall for it every time.

 

[Anhslaught]

you can get a smith machine for under 200 bucks at sportmart.

The one I use have bars on the side incase I drop the darn thing on top of me.

 

[de silva]

Originally posted by silverwex
So im not lifting to my potential as i dont have a spotter - i work out at home. Is it worth my money buying a Power Rack (cost: e750 - about $1000).

Its a powertec.

Thanks.

Well, if you're serious about working out and you want to do squats, it's either the gym or a power rack, basically. If you're not all that serious, or not sure if you're serious (if you have to think about it...makes me wonder), then maybe hold off a bit longer and prove to yourself you're serious first.

In the mean time, you can, as has been suggested, substitute deadlifts for squats. Also, you can do high rep (and deep!) squats with whatever you press overhead, to get the weight in place (which, for most people, isn't a lot). If you haven't enough strength left to press the weight off when you're done, do your squats in your bedroom, with your azz in front of the end of your bed, and when you're done, you just dump the weight back onto your bed from the bottom position. I'm not sure how much you're squatting right now, but even a light weight like, say, 90lb can be used for squatting if you're doing high reps with it, say like 40.

 

[silverwex]

Hey, de silva.

Im dead serious about lifting (have u not seen my bulking thread ). Have been doing it for nearly 6 months now and wanna lift more - safely.

Im currently squatting about 48kg. but could do more if i had the rack.

no way would i stop doing squats and just do deads. thats a sin!

 

[de silva]

Sorry man, I missed your bulking thread. I just went and checked it out. Dropped a little comment in there for you too.

Well, if you're dead serious, then power rack it is. What are you waiting for!

But just before you order it, you might want to consider "hip belt squats". I've never done them, but I know some people that do, and they are very well pleased with them. Basically, you wear a belt that attaches to the barbell, leaving the barbell hanging (longways) between your legs (with weights slapped on, of course). Picture it? If not, do a search. As I understand it, it hits the thighs harder, but you miss out on the upper body involvement you get with a standard squat. But that's not really that pressing a concern, 'cos you're still getting the major benefits of squatting (heavy). It's also (I imagine) a lot cheaper than 750EUR, so it's something worth considering.

 

[Alpine]

Good point de Silva,

I've been doing HBS with an Ironmind belt and an ez curl bar.

You can also use a plate pin and a chain, but it gets a bit uncomfortable.

The other good thing is if your lower back gives you trouble, it takes it out of the movement, also if you are into 20 rep squats, breathing is a lot easier.

Silverwex, the deadlift is just as productive as the squat, some would say more so. More importantly for you, all the gains made on deads will quickly transfer to your squat poundage later on as they use the same muscles.

It takes a little while to get the BLD technique sorted, just like squats, but once you're in the groove it's a very satisfying lift.