This product is offered on the market beginning July thirteenth, 2020. I’ve had it for months although; in case you might be questioning how my overview predates its official launch.
This can be a overview of the Rep Health Belt Squat Attachment – a $279 rack accent that may flip an influence rack right into a fully-functional, plate-loaded, belt squat machine in minutes. That’s proper, belt squats in your storage health club for beneath three payments. Not too dangerous, proper?
Properly, earlier than you get too excited and go add one to your procuring cart, bear in mind that you simply’ll must personal a really particular energy rack with a view to use this attachment; both the PR-5000 V2 or the PR-4000 Energy Rack. You’ll must personal the Lat Tower Attachment on your rack as effectively, as that’s what the Belt Squat Attachment ties into for resistance. So sure, it’s a really inexpensive, handy accent, however you do have to be closely invested in Rep tools already (or be prepared to change into so) to make use of it.
For that motive, when you personal a PR-5000 (V2) Energy Rack or PR-4000 Energy Rack (otherwise you’re planning to buy considered one of these racks), then this overview is for you. If you happen to personal just about another energy rack and don’t have any intention of switching to a Rep energy rack, effectively, then this overview most likely received’t be all that useful or attention-grabbing to you. Be happy to nonetheless learn it although, or my PR-5000 V2 Evaluate.
Anyway, on this overview I’ll clarify how this accent works, how simple it’s to arrange, the way it performs, and I’ll go over its execs, cons, and little quirks. I’ll additionally tackle some questions I’ve obtained concerning the Rep Belt Squat Attachment following the overview abstract.
Please take into account that I’m reviewing this attachment from a PR-5000 perspective. I’ve no expertise with this attachment on a PR-4000.
Belt Squat Attachment Evaluate – Desk of Contents
- Temporary Description of Belt Squat Attachment
- Set up and Storage
- Performance / Efficiency
- Beginning From the Gap
- Reaching Depth
- Lat Tower Difficulty
- Belt Squat Attachment Professionals and Cons
- Evaluate Abstract
- Solutions to Random Questions I’ve Obtained
Rep Belt Squat Attachment – Fast Rundown
Rep’s Belt Squat Attachment is fairly easy in its design. It consists of a single, ~25″ lengthy, 11-gauge, 3″x3″ metal tube with aluminum pulleys on each ends, a nylon-coated metal cable, and two connecting items with fully-welded, right-angle brackets that permit you to join the accent to your PR-5000 Energy Rack. When put in, the attachment sits straight on the ground inside your energy rack.
The entire attachment is held in place contained in the rack through (4) 1″-diameter metallic pins that get pushed by means of the holes in your low front-to-rear crossmembers, and the attachment itself. The raised pulley within the again is the place you join the attachment’s cable to your lat tower (the excessive pulley, particularly), and the entrance pulley is the place you’ll connect your belt.
The 4 metallic pins that safe the attachment to the rack are completed in a black zinc. This may assist maintain rust on the pins at bay for some time, however the technique of pushing the pins by means of the holes of your crossmembers and the attachment will destroy that end over time. That’s simply what occurs when you may have metal-to-metal contact however I’m nonetheless glad the end is there.
The brackets do sit flush in opposition to your low crossmembers when the attachment is put in, however they’re UHMW-lined, so that you don’t have to fret about damaging your rack’s end.
The cable is your normal ¼” braided metal cable and caribiners are included for each ends of that cable. Set up of the 2 pulleys and that cable are a part of the meeting course of, as is attaching the 2 connecting items. It’s a fairly easy accent; nothing all that mysterious about it.
Rep Belt Squat Attachment – Set up/Storage
So how easy is it to connect and un-attach Rep’s Belt Squat to your PR-5000? Seems it’s fairly fast and straightforward. I’d say that it takes about three minutes to pull it into your energy rack from the place ever you retailer it in your storage health club and to get it secured to the rack, and about half that point to get it again out of your rack whenever you’re achieved utilizing it.
Once more, this attachment is secured to the rack with 4 pins. Simply line up the holes on both aspect of the attachment with the holes in your low crossmembers, slam your pins into place, after which connect the belt squat’s cable to your lat tower. Growth! You’re able to go.
If you happen to’re not affected person sufficient to get down in your palms and knees to get all 4 holes lined up completely earlier than partaking the pins, purchase your self a rubber mallet. The pins are tapered on the finish, so actually all it’s good to do is get them principally lined up, then smack them along with your rubber mallet to drive them by means of. It’ll scratch your pins up faster, however it’s kinda satisfying to hit stuff with a mallet, I discover.
Additionally, as a extra tip, push the pin by means of the crossmember first somewhat than by means of the attachment first. In different phrases, push the pins from outdoors the rack in direction of the within and never the opposite approach round. It’s simply simpler (see above picture).
By way of storage, I simply lean mine in opposition to the wall to get it out of the way in which. It takes up little or no ground house this manner. I’d think about you can additionally grasp it from a wall rack when you needed – one thing just like the Quick Monitor. It’s not that heavy actually, so it wouldn’t be too tough to elevate up and on to a few sturdy hooks.
When it comes all the way down to it, no one likes the method of putting in or eradicating an attachment. It’s annoying. However as giant attachments go, this one is just not so dangerous. It’s absolutely not as dangerous as a rack-mounted GHD or Hyper, or the SquatMax MD.
Rep Belt Squat Attachment – Performance
So the massive query is, “does it work?”
Sure, it does! It really works fairly effectively.
Rep’s Belt Squat Attachment is the last word, no frills model of the belt squat. It’s easy in its design whereas being useful and efficient. The cables movement easily by means of the system with no drag; you’ll be able to stand anyplace you’d like relative to the pulley with any stance you’d like; you may make it as heavy as you need; and the attachment is extraordinarily inexpensive.
It’s not all roses although; a minimum of not at first. This attachment has some quirks that require slightly little bit of tinkering if you wish to maximize its effectiveness and ease of use, however fortunately, all of those quirks can be handled, and when they’re addressed you’ve bought a completely useful belt squat that prices a complete lot lower than any standalone unit.
Let’s discuss what these quirks are so you already know what you’re getting your self into.
Beginning From the Gap
The query I get requested probably the most about Rep’s Belt Squat Attachment is, “do I’ve to begin the set from the outlet?”
You possibly can just about inform by this attachment that it has no mechanism inbuilt that permits you to lock the load carriage in a raised place. There’s no latch or lever; there isn’t any Rhino horn. By default, your units can be ranging from the underside of the elevate.
Having stated that, there are workarounds for this that can permit you to begin your units from an upright, standing place somewhat than having to clip in and pull your ass out of the outlet each set, and I’m going as an example one of many methods that is attainable.
My Workaround
All I did was take a series with a caribiner on each ends and fasten one finish to a band peg that faces away from belt squat attachment, and I clip the opposite finish into the caribiner that attaches the belt squat cable to the lat towers higher cable (see the 2 photos beneath).
While you’re on the high of the squat and achieved along with your set, you’ll take the tip of the chain that’s not connected to the rack through the band peg and also you’ll clip it to the decrease caribiner of the 2 that join the belt squat cable to the lat tower cable. When you do that, you’ll have the ability to bend slightly on the knees and the chain will pull tight, stopping the carriage from sliding down the rails any additional. Now you’ll be able to unlatch your belt and stroll away. When it’s time to do your subsequent set, you solely must bend on the knees slightly to latch again in.
You’ll must play with the chain size slightly. You need it in order that it’s important to stand all the way in which upright to create sufficient slack to unlatch the chain. If the chain remains to be taut whenever you’re in a full upright place, it could’t be latched or unlatched.
It’s annoying to have to do that, however it’s higher than beginning every set (particularly the heavier units) within the gap, and a minimum of there are workarounds as a result of, have been there not, I don’t assume this specific attachment would have almost as a lot worth or attraction.
Have you ever discovered a greater/simpler approach to do that? Depart a remark, please. I’m certain we’d all love to listen to what you probably did.
Bottoming out
Devoted belt squat machines (just like the Rogue Rhino) have a raised platform with the cable and the pulley being housed beneath that platform. With all these elements beneath the ground somewhat than sitting on the ground, there’s a higher distance between your hips and the place you clip in to the machine. Better distance equates to extra cable journey, which in flip equates to extra depth potential.
The way in which that the Rep Belt Squat Attachment is designed with all of the {hardware} sitting on the ground somewhat than beneath a platform, there’s a possible drawback on the subject of hitting depth since there’s much less distance for the cable to journey earlier than bottoming out. Relying in your construct, the size of your belt squat belt’s chains or straps and your required squat depth, you might backside out earlier than you hit correct depth.
So what do you do about this? Properly there are two methods to deal with this. The primary is to easily make certain your belt matches you correctly and isn’t excessively lengthy. If you happen to don’t have a belt that hangs midway to the bottom whenever you’re standing straight up, you’ll not have points with depth. Let me repeat that earlier than you get all labored up over the second choice.. in case your belt matches correctly and isn’t excessively lengthy, you’ll not have points hitting depth.
The opposite choice; which I did earlier than I bothered to check completely different belts (wah wah); is to construct a few blocks that go on both aspect of the attachment’s pulley. Blocks get you additional off the bottom which mainly accomplishes what the platform of a devoted machine does; it places the pulley beneath ground stage, creating extra distance for the cable to journey. This equates to extra depth potential.
Blocks will certainly offer you extra depth; little doubt about it; however I strongly recommend that you simply make certain your belt isn’t the issue when you’re really having points hitting depth.
If you happen to don’t personal a belt squat belt whenever you order this attachment (or any belt squat machine), I’d extremely advocate that you simply order the Spud Inc.Adjustable Belt Squat Belt, not one of many standard-sized belt squat belts. Spud’s normal belt squat belt is wonderful, however I’m of the opinion that the regular-sized belt; the one meant to suit most individuals; is approach too lengthy for some belt squat machines; together with the Rep Attachment. It’s what I owned initially, and it’s what made me assume I wanted a platform for one of these belt squat machine.
One-size-fits-all belts of any form are more likely to be a difficulty for all however the thickest and tallest of lifters. If you happen to’re anyplace close to common peak and construct (or smaller), purchase a belt that you would be able to regulate to your body.
Smaller Footprint vs Straightforward Entry
If you happen to don’t have the third row of uprights with plate storage, you’ll be able to ignore this part, because it doesn’t apply to you.
If you happen to do have the third row of uprights and you may have chosen to put in your lat tower behind that third row, your clearly have loads of house in your storage health club, and you can also ignore this part.
Nevertheless, when you do have the third row of uprights with plate storage and you may have chosen to put in your lat tower on the center row of uprights (which you just about must do when you don’t need your energy rack to be so long as a crew cab), you’re going to seek out the method of loading and unloading plates on the lat tower’s carriage to be an actual ache within the ass.
The rationale for that is poor positioning of the lat tower’s carriage relative to the rear uprights (and plate storage horns) of the facility rack. The carriage is nearer to being inside the rack than behind it so there isn’t any actual house to maneuver again there. To place that each one one other approach, it’s simply actually cramped with this set up, and the nearer your energy rack is to the wall the extra cramped it’s and the tougher it’s to get weights on & off that carriage.
The plain repair is to maneuver your crossmembers and lat tower one row again, however that’ll make your rack tremendous lengthy. Too lengthy, when you ask me; however it does remedy the issue.
The opposite method to resolve this could be to maneuver your rack an additional foot or so away from the wall in order that the carriage might be loaded from the rear somewhat than the aspect. This feature is just not significantly better than the primary, as you continue to find yourself consuming plenty of house, however it’s nonetheless a barely higher choice as a result of it nonetheless technically requires much less ground house.
Rep Belt Squat Attachment – Professionals and Cons Abstract
Professionals
- Properly, you certain can’t beat that value. It doesn’t get significantly better than a belt squat at house for less than $279; although to be truthful that’s not the place the spending ends contemplating that you simply want considered one of solely two very particular energy racks. Nonetheless, its a terrific value for the attachment itself, and Rep’s racks are priced competitively for certain.
- It really works as marketed. That’s to say, it will get the job achieved, and it even does that job effectively. Rep’s attachment can deal with loads of weight; you’ll be able to place your self inside the rack anyway you need and with any foot place you’d like; and every thing feels clean; no dragging or catching of the cables.
- Supplies and development are good. The attachment is nearly fully welded, and the elements are 11-gauge, 3″x3″ metal similar to the rack itself. The pulleys are aluminum somewhat than plastic, and the 2 locations the place the attachment meets the rack are UHMW lined to guard the end of your decrease crossmembers.
- Straightforward to arrange and break again down. Takes mere minutes to get arrange in your rack and even much less time to get it again out.
- Takes up little or no treasured ground house when not in use. You possibly can merely lean it in opposition to a wall, and also you’re about 2 sq. toes of ground house being consumed.
- Very versatile machine that permits for extra than simply belt squats; issues like lunges and Bulgarian cut up squats, varied rows, deadlift, RDLs, weighted pull-ups, curls (after all) and lots of extra.
- By utilizing Rep’s Utility Horns and even band pegs within the uprights, your belt squat now has handles like a standalone belt squat machine. If you happen to personal lever handles, you can even use these too.
Cons
- Use of this accent requires you to personal a really particular energy rack and that rack’s lat tower attachment; a heavy funding all informed.
- Lacks the bells and whistles of a standalone belt squat. Requires some tinkering to set it up in a approach that permits you to begin units from the highest of the elevate.
- The position of the lat tower inside some rack configurations makes the loading and unloading of plates fairly tough. The workaround to this drawback entails you commit-ing more room to the rack; which goes to be lower than preferrred for most individuals. That is simply my largest drawback with this set-up btw, and it’s attention-grabbing that my largest problem is with a totally completely different, but completely-required attachment.
Rep Belt Squat Attachment – Evaluate Abstract
Let’s face it, a standalone belt squat machine can be preferrred in just about each approach. I’m certain I wouldn’t get a lot in the way in which of argument from you on that.
Properly, we don’t all have the cash for that although, and even lots of you who do don’t have the required house. Hell, a Rogue Rhino is about $2000 shipped, and the Pit Shark begins at $3400, and each take up a boatload of treasured health club sq. footage. Even economic system belt squat machines just like the B.o.S. Belt Squat will price you two to a few occasions as a lot as a Rep attachment and would nonetheless require 20+ sq. toes of everlasting ground house.
In case you are somebody who lacks both the house or the required funds for a standalone belt squat machine (or each?) and also you personal a PR-5000 or the PR-4000 Energy Rack (or intend to purchase one, then I feel you’ll be able to undoubtedly be very happy with Rep’s Belt Squat.
Sure, controlling the carriage peak so that you simply don’t have to begin your units from the underside requires tinkering, and sure, it’s a rack attachment, so it does have to be arrange to be used after which eliminated when it’s not in use, however it works very effectively, requires little or no ground house, and it’s inexpensive. And if ever you find yourself someplace with an even bigger storage, otherwise you discover that you’ve more money to throw at tools, by all means, seize a Rhino or one thing.
Personally, I feel that it’s a stable product. I’ve used the hell out of this attachment since I bought it a pair months in the past. No bullshit both. I completely love accessing belt squats, and I really like that I don’t must commit 20-25 sq. toes of house to a devoted machine or have to face on pulling blocks with a loading pin hanging between my legs. I look ahead to coaching days that embody belt squats, or days that may embody them!
And critically, it’s actually not sufficient to simply have any belt squat answer. I wouldn’t take care of this attachment if it didn’t work, or it did a shitty job. If it had even one or two shortcomings that had no workaround I wouldn’t be sitting right here and telling you I prefer it. If it was genuinely crap, I’d have achieved a fast overview inside a pair weeks, offered it, and began determining the place I used to be going to get a greater answer.
So sure, I prefer it. I’ll get a standalone machine considered one of nowadays. I do need one. However a minimum of I don’t really feel a way of urgency round that now; due to this attachment.
Random Instagram Questions I’ve Obtained
Is that this factor good for another workouts?
It’s! You are able to do lunges and cut up squats, rows, deadlifts, dips, curls, and all kinds of random ‘off the ground’ workouts. You most likely don’t want a belt squat attachment to do any of those actions contemplating that you simply personal a full-sized energy rack with a lat tower, and I can solely assume a bar with loads of weights, however you most actually can. This attachment mixed along with your lat tower presents up a boatload of versatility.
Critically, there isn’t any scarcity of issues you are able to do with this attachment. Me, I’m all concerning the belt squats, however I’ve been identified to do some calf raises and Bulgarian cut up squats sometimes simply because I can and since they really feel completely different with the cable. However truthfully I’d need this attachment even when the one motion I may do was the belt squats, so the entire different stuff is only a bonus to me.
Would you deliberately purchase a PR-x000 for this attachment?
I don’t assume there’s a single attachment on the market that’s so wonderful that I’d middle my total set-up round it. Manner, far more must be considered when selecting an influence rack; rather more than a single attachment.
That stated, if one or each of the suitable Rep PR racks is already in your quick record and all different wants and desires are being met (as in, all different issues are equal) – then certain, why not go together with one with a belt squat.
Why the excessive cable, and never the low?
Due to the place Rep’s Belt Squat Attachment is put in contained in the rack, it’s too near the low cable for use. You get virtually no cable journey; actually not sufficient to carry out a rep. Whereas the space from the attachment to the highest cable is roughly 7-ft, which clearly permits for loads of distance for the cable to journey.
What about handles?
Purchase a a pair of Rep’s Utility Horns, They will connect to any gap of your uprights, safeties, or crossmembers. They’re 2″ diameter, lengthy, rubber coated, and so they make nice handles on your belt squats.
Band pegs will also be used, and I’ve tried that as effectively, however these Utility Horns simply appear to make a greater deal with due to the bigger diameter and rubber coating. They’re so helpful for different issues too that I’d virtually advocate them whether or not you may have a belt squat or not.
I offered my dip station after getting a pair of utility horns as a result of I hated having that large attachment mendacity on the ground when not in use. Additionally, you’ll be able to customise the deal with distance whenever you use utility horns for dips (you could personal the flip-down safeties to do dips although.) You may as well Utility Horns for storage – chains, bands, belts, plates, and so on.
Does it matter the place on the ground the attachment is put in?
It doesn’t appear to matter. I’ve had it in direction of the again, in direction of the entrance, and in all places else in-between. I personally choose it extra to the rear so I can use my Utility Horn’s on the uprights somewhat than within the security spotters (simpler to maneuver the horns than the spotters).
Is that this suitable with different, non-Rep energy racks?
This attachment is unquestionably not suitable with a Rogue Monster Rack just because the racks are completely different dimensions (Rogue racks are 2″ wider). The rear, low crossmember isn’t lengthy sufficient for a Rogue rack and Rogue doesn’t provide an alternate part that might be suitable. Even when you may one way or the other prolong Rep’s crossmember on your Rogue rack (or make your personal), you continue to have many different elements to retrofit.
I’d really assume zero cross-compatibility with this attachment until you already know your approach round a chopping torch, grinder, and welder.
How did you make your blocks?
My blocks have been tremendous simple to make. It’s simply two, alternating rows of (3) 2x4s with a single layer of three/4″ plywood topped with a chunk of three/4″ stall mat.
You may make the platform of every block as little or as massive as you need, simply so long as they don’t seem to be wider than the house between the middle submit of the belt squat attachment and the body of your rack.
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