Full Cage vs. Open Rack

[Jim J]

Is there any advantage to having a full cage as opposed to an open squat rack? I'm thinking about buying something. If you have the full cage, do you clean and snatch inside the cage? I've never done snatches but, at the gym I like doing cleans in the open. Never tried them in a cage. I don't really have a preference for squatting.

 

[vince89]

The cage suits wrestlers more.

 

[Donut62]

Get a cage. The open racks typically don't have an adjustable safety peg height, and even if they do you still lack the ability to do things like pull ups from the top and the cage will gaurantee you don't go all the way over if you somehow lose a squat backwards.

No reason to do cleans and snatches inside the cage.

 

[B3rserk3R]

The cage suits wrestlers more.

Somehow I knew someone would say something to this effect

 

[Ziltoid]

I would prefer the cage for the fact of the spotting bars. This way I can push myself a bit harder and not have to worry about falling during a squat or if I cant get up, I can just sit back and lay the bar on the spotter bars.

 

[Klotz]

Cages have better adjustibility; even if you can adjust the safety pins on a rack they still cantilever.

 

[B3rserk3R]

I can never get out of an open squat rack right. I always hit the pins above where I set the bar.

 

[Tosa]

http://www.sherdog.net/forums/f13/power-rack-training-353782/

 

[immovablestone]

Cage = Grand Cathedral
Rack = Modular Alabama Klan shack

 

[immovablestone]

double post

 

[Fedorable]

cage is better, I had to do rack pulls using the bicept curl station with two 10lbs weights under my feet.

 

[Steve Dougson]

I hate open racks for the same reason someone else had mentioned. The hooks where you rack the bar are so small that getting the bar in and out of the rack is a chore (relative to the cage).

 

[MatterOverMind]

Get a cage. The open racks typically don't have an adjustable safety peg height, and even if they do you still lack the ability to do things like pull ups from the top and the cage will gaurantee you don't go all the way over if you somehow lose a squat backwards.

No reason to do cleans and snatches inside the cage.

This is the correct answer.

 

[natedg72]

One thing I hate about the open racks at my gym is the location of the pins. I must be at an in between height or something. If I put it at one spot I just barely clear the pins walking out. If I go one set lower I find it really hard to rack the weight.

If I had room for a rack I would buy/make a full cage. I might have room next year, if i do I will probably break out the welder and make my own rack.

 

[Deleted member 87037]

I prefer the cage.


Then again, I've never used a squat rack.

 

[Cap'n]

I've used both. Cage FTW.

 

[vince89]

I dont even know why squat racks exist, power racks do everything squat racks do and more. Makes no sense.

 

[ghostwipe]

Without hesitation, I'd say the cage is way better for versatility.

 

[blakethemus]

I dont even know why squat racks exist, power racks do everything squat racks do and more. Makes no sense.

Cheaper to make.

 

[Saith]

wow, looks like I'm alone.

I'm pretty tall, and prefer the squat racks. I always feel claustrophobic inside a power rack. Plus it's easier to get the bar out for deadlifts/rows and I don't think I could do OHP in a power rack without slamming the bar into the top.