Rack Vs. Rig: What's The Difference?

The million-dollar question: What is the difference between a rack and a rig? 

 

Think of a rack as your own personal workout station.  All your weight plates are within reach and your accessories are attached for more versatility.  Racks come in all sizes and styles; however, the most common variations are a full rack, power rack and half rack. The size depends on your needs and space requirements and is completely up to you! Racks are especially beneficial if you like to perform Olympic lifts. The space and design are most useful for these lifts because of the stability, safety, and the ability to control your environment. Most racks come with standard J-hooks for racking your bar between sets and a pull-up station for added exercises.   

 

Rigs are primarily made to be customized. They give you an opportunity to create whatever size, height, and accessories best fit the needs of your gym or workout space. Rigs are always bolted down to either the ground or the wall and can be a single station or multiple stations built off each other. Do you need a post that is 90” tall or 120” tall? Do you need a 44” pull-up bar or a 72” pull-up bar? Rigs are all about versatility. No two workout spaces are the same, so customizing a rig for your space gives you complete control of the set-up and functionality.  

 

Do not forget, not every rack/rig is made equally! Quality is important, safety is important, and longevity is important! Ask yourself these few questions when purchasing your rig or rack: 

• Is the product mass produced overseas or is it made in the USA?  
• What type of material is used?  
• Do they use the standard 11-gauge steel thickness?  
• What hardware is used? 
• Do they use heavy-duty hardware, 5/8” or bigger?   

Asking these questions will ensure you are getting a quality product that will last you years to come.