Valor Fitness BD-7 Power Rack Reviewed

If you’re in the market for a power rack for home use, you’re in luck. I was recently in the market for one myself, and that’s why I decided to write this Valor Fitness Power Rack review after I bought and tried the Valor Fitness BD-7 Power Rack with Lat Pull.

Product Specifications

Height

80"

Length

23.63"

Width 

43.25"

Weight

180 lbs

Max User Weight

500 lbs (catchers outside) , 650 lbs (catchers inside), 800 lbs (safety bars) 250 lbs (lat pull down)

Warranty

3-year frame, 2-year cable, 1-year hardware

Adjustments

27

My primary concern was finding a cage that was sturdy, safe to use, could handle a lot of weight, and would allow me to perform a wide range of exercises. The online reviews and specs of the Valor Fitness Power Rack convinced me to order it.

In this Valor Fitness Power Rack review, I’ll give you my honest take on the product, so you can decide whether you should try it for yourself.

Before I tell you about my experience with the Valor Fitness Power Rack, let’s look at the product’s specifications and features. 

Feature Summary
  • 4 solid steel chrome adjustable weight bar supports
  • 4 plate storage pegs (8 inches each, holds up to 500 pounds)
  • Foam-covered utility bar for curls or other accessories
  • Solid steel chrome pull-up bar with knurled grips for comfort
  • Low pulley station for upright and seated rows
  • Lat pull-down station with plate loading carriage
  • 17 variable positions for the bar supports – they range in height from 17.5” to 68”
Valor Fitness BD-7 Power Rack

Weight Settings

The weight this machine can handle is impressive. Here’s how it breaks down:

  • 500 pounds for the bar catchers outside the cage
  • 650 pounds for the bar catchers inside the cage
  • 800 pounds for the safety bars

Basically, unless you’re trying for an Olympic medal, this machine should be able to handle any amount you want to lift.


Who Should Buy the Valor Fitness BD-7 Power Rack?

I fit right in the target market for the Valor Fitness Power Rack. I take fitness seriously and I weightlifting is a major part of my fitness regimen.

The other thing that makes me a good fit for the Valor Fitness Power Rack is that I like to work out at home. I’ll go the gym, but it’s a bit of a hike from where I live, and I want to have the option to work out at home on days when I don’t want to take the drive (or the weather prevents me from doing it.)

In other words, if you’re a serious lifter and you want to get a gym-quality workout at home, you’re the person I wrote this Valor Fitness Power Rack review for.


My Experience with the Valor Fitness Power Rack

For my Valor Fitness Power Rack review, I ordered the product directly from the manufacturer. It arrived as promised and on time. It comes in two large boxes. The first box measured 81: by 12” by 6” and weighed 101 pounds.

The second was 48” by 15” by 6” and weighs in at 81 pounds. In other words, if you’ve got to maneuver this thing upstairs, you might want to have a buddy on hand to help.

Putting the machine together was easy for me. You do need to pay attention – at first glance, I thought all the bolts were the same size, but they’re not. All I needed was two wrenches – no special equipment was needed.

Be aware that the outer dimensions of the Valor Fitness Power Rack mean that you’ll need a fair amount of space for it. It measures 59” by 63” by 86”. Make sure you allow room for the rear foot, which protrudes from the back.

I suggest assembling it in place rather than moving it after you’re done. It’s unwieldy and heavy, so do yourself a favor.

Once it was together, I measured the inside dimensions. They came in at 23.625” deep, 43.25” wide, and 80” tall. I’m 6’1” and about 210. Height-wise I was find, but the relatively shallow depth of the cage did take some getting used to.


Let’s Pump It Up

I was eager to test out how the Valor Fitness Power Rack handled a lot of weight. I started with 380 pounds and it was a breeze. (Well, not a breeze, but you know what I mean – the machine held up!) I upped the weight to 200 – same thing.

Then I had my buddy try it – he’s bigger than I am and can lift 500 pounds easy. No problem. The machine can handle it.

Next, I tried pull-ups. Not a problem for me, but my buddy, who’s taller than I am, found it a little cramped. He also noticed that small interior dimensions and found it more of a problem than I did.

The thing I liked best was the wide variety of exercises I can do with this power rack. The Valor Fitness BD-7 Power Rack has three workout stations:

  • A high pulley station with a lat pulldown bar, perfect for working your back, shoulder, and arm muscles
  • A low pulley station with a straight T-bar for stand-up curls, triceps kickbacks, squats, stand-up rows, and so on
  • A pull-up station

You can work your whole body on this thing because, of course, the cage itself offers a set-up for different positions and exercises. I had my wife try it out too and she loved it. Since she’s a lot smaller than I am, she didn’t find the interior size of the cage to be an issue.


Pros and Cons of the Valor Fitness BD-7 Power Rack

I wouldn’t want to end my Valor Fitness Power Rack review without running through the pros and cons of the product. There’s no such thing as perfect! There are a few things that I think could be improved. So, here’s what I think are the pros and cons of this product:

Pros

  • The frame of the Valor Fitness Power Rack is strong and sturdy, and it works great for pull-ups
  • The machine is very easy to assemble – it comes with clear instructions and all you need is two basic wrenches to get the job done
  • The catch bars can handle heavy lat pull-downs
  • You can do a wide array of exercises, especially if you add the lat pull attachment and the dumbbell holders

Cons

  • The dimensions of this power rack mean that it may not accommodate your weight bench – make sure to measure before you buy
  • The pulley mechanism is a bit chunky

Ultimately, you’ll have to make the call about whether the Valor Fitness Power Rack is right for you.


My Final Recommendation

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Our Rating: 4.5 Star Rating 4.5 / 5

Now, it’s time to conclude my Valor Fitness Power Rack review with a recommendation. I think if you’re looking for a versatile lift cage to use at home, you can’t go wrong with this product. It’s remarkably easy to put together and it works exactly as advertised.

My one potential caveat is for really big guys – I think anyone over 6’5” might have an issue with the interior dimensions of the cage – and shorter guys who are burly might have the same problem.

If you would prefer something of a full-commercial quality, then check out Fitness Reality X-Class power rack.


Last Updated on October 18, 2023