Are you serious about weightlifting? I am, and that’s why I’ve been in the market for a while for a power rack that would allow me to work out at home on those days when I’m not able to (or let’s face it, willing to) drive to the gym. My search led me to the Atlas Power Rack Squat Deadlift Cage. I read everything I could find about it and decided that the affordable price and specifications made it worth a try. And now, I’m eager to share my Atlas Power Rack review with you so you can decide if the Atlas Power Rack HD is right for your workouts.
With chrome plated pins that resist scratching, a wide walk-in design for maximum room, and a flexible twenty-eight different positions, the Deadlift HD provides more bang for your buck than any power rack in a competitive price range.
NOTE: As of 2019, Atlas power rack is no longer manufactured. Instead, you can check similar TDS power rack.
Features:
1” steel, chrome plated safety pins with lock on design
Wide walk-in design with plenty of room for lateral movements
28 holes are spaced 2” apart for easy adjustments
Attractive matte black finish with chrome plating
1000 pound max load
Detachable J-hooks
56” by 48” of space
Light weight and easy assembly
Comes with a 10-year warranty on the frame
Who Is the Atlas Power Rack For?
The Atlas Power Rack is more affordable than many other power racks on the market. If you’re looking for a way to workout with a lot of weight at home – without someone to spot you – then the Atlas Power Rack could be the solution you’re looking for.
It’s worth noting that this cage is big when fully assembled. Make sure you have someplace to put it where its size won’t be a problem. The dimensions of the assembled cage are 56” by 48” on the bottom. You’ll also need clearance of at least 85” (the cage is 83” tall.)
My Experience with the Atlas Power Rack
I ordered the Atlas Power Rack and it arrived on time, as promised. The total weight of the parts (and the assembled machine) is only 137 pounds – very light for a power lifting cage. I had no problem getting the boxes inside on my own.
Assembly was reasonable – the instructions were good, and it took me just about 90 minutes from start to finish. I put the bolts in place loosely and then went back and tightened them once I had everything together. I do recommend assembling it in place, because while the rack is light it’s also very unwieldy to move.
The manufacturer says the Atlas Deadlift HD can handle 1,000 pounds. I can’t lift anything like that amount, but I did work my way up to 200 pounds and it handled it with no difficulty. Honestly, I was expecting some movement because of the Atlas’s light weight, but there wasn’t any.
Lifting Time
I then decided to run through some other lifts. I did flat bench, incline, military press, squats, and dead lift /shrugs without any problem. The rack felt solid and I felt safe even when lifting large amounts without a spotter.
Curious about the weight limits, I decided to ask a friend of mine who’s a beast to come test the Atlas out. He loaded up with 500 pounds and the cage handled it just fine. He pushed it up to 550 – same thing. In other words, the Atlas Power Rack should be able to handle anything you can throw at it.
It’s worth noting that my buddy did have an issue with squats. This cage measures about 26” deep. It was fine for me, but my buddy’s taller than I am and he felt a little cramped. He got accustomed to it (he’s about 6’3”) but I imagine anybody taller than he is might have a problem with the depth of the cage.
Pros and Cons of the Atlas Power Rack
There’s no such thing as a perfect product, and I wouldn’t want to write an Atlas Power Rack review without running through the pros and cons of this product as I see them. Here are the pros:
- For the amount of weight this power rack can support, it is one of the most affordable racks on the market.
- The 28 holes offer a ton of versatility when it comes to placement.
- The interior of the cage is spacious enough for most average-to-tall men.
- The J hooks are detachable.
- The Atlas Power rack is super easy to assemble and comes with a 10-year warranty.
- You will be hard pressed to find another power rack that is built as sturdy as the Deadlift HD for even a comparable price.
- Other advantages of this power rack include its chrome plated safety pins, the amount of space that it offers, the amount of weight its spotter catches can withstand (rated at 500 pounds), and it relatively light weight (137 pounds total).
- Atlas has terrific customer service and is responsive to customer problems and suggestions
- One common complaint with the Deadlift HD is that the welds on the J-hooks are not smooth, leading to an annoying, metal-against-metal scraping noise every time the bar is racked.
- The Atlas Power Rack is tall (83”) making it less than Ideal for small apartments
- For maximum versatility, you’ll need to buy separate accessories
- Very large guys may find the interior of this cage to be too small. For example, it’s 25” deep – I was fine with it, but someone taller than me might feel cramped.
Despite the poor welds on the J-hooks and the slightly short construction, the Deadlift HD is still probably the sturdiest, best-built rack you will find in this price range, earning it a five out of five star rating. Is that enough to convince you to buy it? You’ll have to decide for yourself.
My Recommendation
4.5 / 5
After testing it out and writing my Atlas Power Rack review, my final recommendation is that this is a very good product that’s ideal for people who want a comprehensive (and safe) lifting cage at home. Honestly, the company could charge twice as much for this product and get it. It’s a great deal and I’m very happy with it.
If you are looking for a lightweight rack that can safely support and accommodate a gigantic amount of weight but don’t want to spend a small fortune, then the Deadlift HD is just about the best rack you could buy.
If you would prefer something of a full-commercial quality, then check out Fitness Reality X-Class power rack.