Or how I ended up choosing the Rogue S2 Squat Stand
The Lead Up
After 5 good years (mostly) at a local YMCA, I decided I’d had enough of crowds, waiting on equipment, and having to deal with times and days the gym wasn’t open, etc. My wife and I were going to build a garage gym and it would be GLORIOUS. But where to start?
I knew I eventually wanted a full-on power rack. For the uninitiated, this is a fully enclosed rectangular rack with four sides. Between the uprights on the left and right sides there are usually spotter arms or safety straps that can receive the bar should you fail on a rep. They’re perfect for doing heavy compound movements such as the squat and bench press and most have the capability to receive attachments, enabling the lifter to do even more exercises. They look bad ass, are extremely customizable and are super heavy duty. However, after considering things, there were a few reasons why I decided to go with a squat rack rather than a full power rack.
– They’re cheaper
– Smaller footprint in some cases
– Non-permanent
– Most of the same functionality
– Maybe worth keeping even after upgrading
For starters, my garage was an absolute wreck! It was stuffed to the gills with junk, boxes filled with random things, and items left over from the previous owner. I knew I’d have to move some things around, get rid of a bunch of stuff and spruce up the place. I even wanted to paint the walls.
This was not some flash in the pan idea, but a committed plan for a fully kitted out gym space. At the same time, once I had my mind set on starting a garage gym, I wanted to end my gym membership as soon as possible. That way I could start enjoying working out in my own space, while putting that monthly money towards improving my own store of equipment.
I should mention here that I did actually have an old Powertec rack which was of some use, and I quickly set it up to start using it. It was only a bench attached to some uprights which couldn’t really be used for squatting. But on chest days, oh my! I was in heaven, feelin’ the pump and jamming out to my own tunes as loud as I wanted! This merely stoked the fire for a more functional piece of equipment.
Back to the matter at hand. I needed a rack that I could squat out of, but I didn’t want to have to remove shelves, paint all the walls and otherwise prep the space before I could start using the equipment. Plus, if I got a power rack I knew I’d want to bolt it into the floor for added stability and didn’t like the idea of having to work around it while I painted. Would I cover the rack with dropcloths so I wouldn’t get paint on it? Ugh.
Additionally, a full power rack would be expensive and I didn’t have a ton of money to start. Someday, yes it WOULD be mine. But gradually, I began to form a vision of a garage gym 1.0 with a squat rack and a garage gym 2.0 with a full power rack.
By now I had decided on getting a squat rack and I knew I wanted one that
– Would fit our ceilings (duh), i.e. 100” or less (so the Rogue S-3 was out)
– Had a pullup bar option
With a squat rack, hopefully I’d be able to move it around the garage as needed and wouldn’t have to commit to putting it in one place and leaving it there permanently.
Rogue S2 Squat Stand
Review
I noticed when I was in the market for a squat rack that there wasn’t a ton of information about this particular model. At least there weren’t many reviews from an individual’s perspective, so I figured I’d give my opinion here in the hopes it may help someone make a good decision on what to purchase for their garage gym. Now that I’ve given my reasons for choosing a squat rack, I’ll take this chance to say that this review is going to focus on the following-
– Buying a used squat rack from the second hand market
– What you can expect to get/what’s a good deal
– How this particular rack holds up over time
– What is possible with this rack in terms of attachments/exercises/expansion
Buying Used – Should I buy a Used Rogue Squat Rack?
As I mentioned earlier, I set out to buy a used squat rack from either Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. I was leaning towards Rogue because although I did look at some Rogue competitors, I knew that Rogue equipment, in addition to being bomb-proof, would hold its value well in case I decided to sell it later.
I was still open to buying new, but if I could save some money I would. I started regularly scouring Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for a used Rogue squat rack for sale in my area. My ideal find would be a Rogue SML-2 squat stand for a little off list price. I hoped to score the equivalent of a great used car deal (I’m not Bruce Wayne with the cash flow- yet!); something that was only a year or two old, was well-taken care of, and would look good/give me all the functionality of a new model but at a significant discount.
Rogue S Series
This proved to be easier said than done. After finding a few possibles online, I kept missing out and figured out quickly that I’d have to be early on one of these listings. I’d need to contact the seller quickly if I was going to secure a purchase. After some consistent, patient searching, I found a used Rogue S-2 Squat Stand for sale for $355 about an hour and a half away. It didn’t check every box but it was darn close, so I contacted the seller and drove up to get it.
Let’s talk for a second about price. I’ve noticed while searching gym equipment online that there are some individuals out there who seem to buy/sell/trade equipment as a sort of side hustle. Good on them, but it seems that many of them (at least in my area) are charging full price or close to it for Rogue stuff. I guess their thinking is that at least the buyer isn’t having to pay for shipping so they’re getting a deal, right? Well, if people are buying the used items at those prices I guess the used market is supporting it, but not me. It’s used! It should be priced at least a little under full retail price, shipping or no shipping. My suggestion is that if you’re in the market to score some Rogue or other high-end gym gear, keep looking around till you find it a reasonable price.
On the other hand, I think there’s something about those who buy Rogue equipment. It’s expensive enough that when someone pays for it, they usually end up taking good care of it. The rack I ended up buying was one that the previous owner got from her brother. And although it showed signs of use, it was in great condition and had not been left out in the elements or been otherwise abused.
A brand new Rogue S-2 squat rack costs $425 before tax and shipping. With tax ($37.41) and shipping and handling to my location ($42.60) the cost comes to $505.01. This particular rack included a couple of short weight storage posts which normally cost another $43.10 plus additional charges for tax and shipping. Altogether, if I were to buy this set up new, it would have cost me a grand total of $567.22.
Now I did have to drive about an hour and a half there and back to pick it up, so I’ll say that cost me $35 in gas. At the end of the day, I ended up saving about $177.22 for the whole package. I’d consider that a good deal, assuming the rack met my needs. You’ll have to decide for yourself how much you’d like to save versus buying new, but I think at least some off the retail price plus the fact that you’re not paying shipping would be great, especially considering that Rogue equipment holds its value well. But I’m getting ahead of myself. How bout dat performance doh??
Performance and Functionality
The S-2 falls within Rogue’s “Infinity” line, meaning that all squat racks and power racks in this line utilize similar sized uprights. 2”x3” to be exact. These are made out of 11 gauge steel and use 5/8″ bolts to attach the pieces. I’m not a huge guy. I have a decent amount of strength, but nothing overly impressive. Still, I love solidly built equipment and had thought I’d prefer the SML (Monster Lite) line from Rogue, which utilizes 3”x3” uprights.
Would this Infinity rack be beefy and stable enough to inspire confidence? Well the answer to that question, is a resounding YES. Mostly, lol. This rack is plenty strong and built like a tank. In no way does it seem like it’s too thin or weak, or otherwise not up to the task. Its max weight capacity is 1,000 lbs!
The only reason I say it “mostly” inspires confidence is because it will move some when re-racking a weight. Any swaying is minimal and the rack, bar, and plates remain stable. If you’re benching and slam the bar back against the uprights at the end of a set, the rack can tip backwards ever so slightly.
However, I don’t really feel like it’s a big deal. Some movement/swaying when re-racking weights is inevitable, but the racks from Rogue are plenty stable. One of the differences between this squat rack and a power rack from the same line is the elongated feet in the front and back. This helps to stabilize the rack without you needing to bolt it into the floor or platform. So while I still love a power rack for other reasons, I don’t really feel that I NEED one to squat or bench heavy. Hell, even most Olympic weightlifters simply use squat stands (no spotter arms) and their squats are plenty big 👌🏼.
J-Cups
So the rack is plenty strong and plenty stable. Have you ever seen those nifty “sandwich” style j-cups? I thought these were more of a must as well, but the j-cups the S-2 comes with are heavy duty and can handle anything. If you want the sandwich style because they look nice or you like the idea of them because they’re more substantial, hey, you’ll get no judgment from me! But do you need ‘em? Nah. The standard j-cups are easy to maneuver as well, and are lined with UHMW plastic to protect your barbell.
Spotter Arms
One thing I DO recommend and wish I had when I started using the rack is a set of spotter arms. The S-2 does not come with them and you’ll want a set of these if you’re going to be squatting at or near maximal weights, or if you want to bench off of the rack. These run $135 a pair from Rogue, but they’re a must have if you want to go heavy using the S-2, especially if you’ll be lifting alone.
There are a couple things to keep in mind with these. When squatting, it’s normally accepted advice to get out of a failed squat by dumping the bar behind you. That way when it comes crashing down it’s not over your head or body. Makes sense, right? The spotter arms are not that long. If you’re used to walking the bar back 2 or 3 steps when setting up to squat….well, why are you doing that? Lol. Save yourself some energy!
Anyway, you’re not going to be able to do that here. There is just enough room for you to clear the j-cups and squat to depth where the bar comes just over the spotter arms. If you were to dump the bar backwards it most likely would come down past the spotter arms and onto your floor. If you have bumper plates and a platform or plenty of space behind you then that might be all well and good.
If you’re lifting in a tight space like me though, and want the spotter arms to perform their job and catch the bar, you’ll need to dump the bar straight down or forward to escape a failed squat. This isn’t a huge deal for me, but it may bother you if it makes you feel unsafe. That being said, these spotter arms are just as heavy duty as the rack and everything else, so I have no doubt they can catch the bar and weight no problem.
Another thing I thought was a must have before I started using the S-2 with spotter arms- safety straps for benching in a power rack. Now don’t get me wrong. I am a big fan of safety straps and think they’re quite an ingenious invention. Big time strength equipment company Sorinex invented these to catch the bar when a lifter needed to bail out of the bench press. I’ve never used them, but they’re well known to work great in keeping a lifter safe and there are a few videos online demonstrating this.
What I didn’t realize is how well these spotter arms would work for the same purpose. You see, one major feature of the S-2 is that it has Westside spacing throughout the bench area, meaning that the adjustment holes are closer together. They’re spaced 1” apart here (as opposed to 2″ elsewhere), allowing you to get an ideal placement for bench, both for the j-cups and for the spotter arms.
Using this, a lifter with even a modest arch in the bench, can have the spotter arms juuuust below where he/she would stop the bar at the bottom of the movement. The result is that you can get the full range of motion but still let the bar slam down on the spotters if you fail a rep. I usually dump it just a little forward of where I would normally bench to.
I do currently use this rack on an Olympic lifting platform that I built myself. It works great here, but occasionally I’ll move it off to use the platform alone for deadlifting or Olympic lifts. In this case, it’s not too bad to move it by myself, sliding it around till I can get it off next to the platform. However, Rogue does make a set of wheels that you can attach to the back of the rack. This should make it much easier to maneuver and speed up moving it around the space. I plan to get these wheels and will update this review once I’ve used them some.
Attachments
One of the great things about Rogue’s support of its squat racks is the amount of attachments they make for them. These increase the functionality of the rack and allow you to do more exercises or increase storage options as well. What’s great about the S-2 and all of the Infinity line is that since it uses the 2×3 tubular construction (smaller, less material) all of the attachments are cheaper than they are for the SML and Monster lines. That’s more money saved towards extra gym equipment, your next rack, or for that cruise to the Bahamas!
I have the Matador attachment, which is great for weighted dips and is super quick and easy to take on and off. The Matador attachment for the S-2 runs $83.49, while the version for their SM-2 (Monster) stand is $145! See what I mean? Those differences can and will add up.
When looking at the many attachments available, consider what will give you the best bang for your buck. For instance, the next piece I purchase will most likely be a landmine attachment because they’re so versatile. With that one attachment, I’ll be able to do T-bar style rows, shoulder presses (standing or kneeling), ab twists, and landmine squats among other things. That’s a lot of increased functionality for one piece of equipment! Then again, if there’s an exercise you’ve just gotta be able to do (ahem…weighted dips), it may be worth it to you to purchase a one use type piece of equipment.
A couple other suggestions for increasing functionality of your rack are a set of olympic rings and band pegs. I do own a set of rings and the increased instability they create turns old exercises new again. Doing movements such as ring dips, ring pullups, and ring pushups are great for working those stabilizing muscles in the joints. There are also holes in the bottom feet of the rack for band pegs. Bands offer another way to play with resistance, keep training interesting, and you can use them in all sorts of ways. They come in a variety of resistances, denoted by color. There are many great sources online where you can learn about training with bands, so do some research, get you a few different types and let your creativity run wild!
There are also several storage options available, including several different kinds of plate storage (long or short peg, change plates, etc.) as well as an attachment to store a single barbell. If you’re short on space and plan on just using one barbell for everything this might be a better option for you than a 3-bar or 6-bar gun rack style barbell rack that goes up on the wall.
Durability
After a couple years of use from the previous owners and myself, this rack is holding up great. Yes, it does show its share of scratches and nicks in the finish, but for a heavy duty piece of gym equipment that’s meant for heavy work, this just adds to its charm. The black powder coat has a very nice matte finish look. It’s got a serious, all business sort of vibe to it. Something that wouldn’t look out of place in this guy’s gym 👊🏼. It holds up well and is nice to the touch. This is most evident on the pull up bars which both feel great in the hand, although if you’re doing lots of reps you’ll probably want to use some chalk to maintain your grip. The finish is not delicate, but if you slide a metal plate up against the rack, it will mark it. The most beat up looking part of my rack would definitely be the weight storage posts on either side. These look pretty worn but with their intended use it doesn’t surprise me, nor does it bother me.
Conclusion
All in all, I have to say that I’m very pleased with this Rogue S-2 squat rack and my decision to purchase it. For me, it’s always been meant as a stepping stone to a power rack, but the more I use it the more I think I may just hang on to it and simply expand my options one day with a full power rack.
This piece of equipment is a great value, especially if you buy used, but I wouldn’t feel bad about paying full price for a new one either. You’ll be able to perform most major exercises with this rack and with a few additional attachments you can really have a ton of training options that should keep you fit and engaged for many years. In a word, if you’re considering it just go ahead and buy it! You’ll enjoy it and if not, you’ll most likely be able to recoup all or most of your money. If you have any questions for me, let me know by leaving a comment down below or you can email me at upgradedragon@gmail.com I hope this review was helpful to you and thank you for reading!!!
