Best French Fitness Squat Racks: Review and Comparison

Best French Fitness Squat Racks: Review and Comparison

If you're committed to weight training, a squat rack is an absolute must-have. While it's essential for squats—providing the safety and stability to help you push your limits—it also unlocks a wide range of other fundamental exercises like pull-ups, bench presses, and overhead presses. Investing in a high-quality squat rack can transform your entire workout, making it more effective and versatile.

In this guide, we'll explore the best squat racks from French Fitness to help you find the ideal match for your fitness goals.


French Fitness DHR80 Double Half Rack/Cage New

At the top of the list is the French Fitness DHR80 Double Half Rack/Cage New, which is designed to provide a comprehensive training environment. Made with 11-gauge steel, it is a commercial-grade rack that can handle heavy use. It is designed with two lifting stations for multiple athletes to use simultaneously.

In terms of storage, this rack has twelve premium weight storage horns, helping you maintain a clutter-free workout area. The French Fitness DHR80 has multi-grip pull-up bars that can be adjusted to different angles, allowing you to choose your grip position. The rack comes with dip horns, landmine, jammer arms, power band holders, band pegs, and racks for different equipment, so users can customize their training setup however they want.


Pros
  • Accommodates two athletes at the same time with multiple workout options.
  • Offers a variety of add-ons and attachments for extensive training.
  • Protected from wear and tear with quick-adjust UHMW lined sandwich j-cups.
  • Adjustable spotter arms prolong the safe zone for athlete safety.

Cons
  • The dimensions of the rack might not be suitable for smaller training spaces.

French Fitness SHR80 Single Half Rack Cage New

Next is the French Fitness SHR80 Single Half Rack/Cage New, a heavy-duty, commercial-grade 11-gauge steel half rack. You can extend the use of this squat rack as it comes with a wide range of attachment and storage solutions– all of which can be used to build a diverse training space. The spotter arms and the UHMW inner liners are also adjustable, for added safety and convenience.

The French Fitness SHR80 is versatile enough for personal trainers, coaches, and athletes. It has an open-front design for easy entry, exit, and convenient movement. With its 12 premium weight storage horns, keeping all your accessories organized and reducing clutter is easy. This machine is the same as the French Fitness DHR80, except that the SHR80 has only one station.


Pros
  • Durable construction with heavy-duty gauge steel for long-lasting use.
  • Has adjustable features like the quick-adjust j-cups and spotter arms for convenience.
  • The multi-grip pull-up bars allow varied grip positions for different muscle groups.
  • Offers multiple lifting stations and accessories to match different kinds of exercises.

Cons
  • Limited to one station to accommodate a single athlete at a time.

French Fitness R30 Monster Power Rack New

Another great option is the French Fitness R30 Monster Power Rack New, constructed with 11-gauge steel. This squat rack has a specific hole spacing, making it sturdy and versatile for different strength training needs. Plus, you can attach various accessories with laser-cut holes for a custom workout experience.

These accessories include a dip horn, power band holder, jammer arms, dumbbell rack, ball rack, step-up platform, band pegs, bumper plate rack, and kettlebell rack. It also comes with bar catches to support your free weight workout. On top of this, the j-hooks can be positioned at various levels, according to your preference. For long-lasting use, the squat rack is designed with a power-coating finish. If you want a rack extension, consider the French Fitness R30-RE, which is next on our list.


Pros
  • It supports different workouts, including upper-body exercises with straight pull-up bars.
  • Highly durable with 11-gauge steel and powder-coated finish.
  • Comes with bar catches, which reduces the chances of dangers in exercise.
  • Customizable setup with laser-cut holes that can accommodate different accessories.

Cons
  • It has large dimensions, which may require significant space.

French Fitness R30-RE Monster Power Rack New

For something more advanced than the French Fitness R30, consider the French Fitness R30-RE Monster Power Rack New. It builds upon the strengths of the standard French Fitness R30 model and incorporates a rear extension for stability and accessibility. Both the French Fitness R30 and R30-RE models are the same except that the latter has a rack extension. The sturdy framework can accommodate intense workouts, and the rear extension provides stability during heavy lifts and easy access to spotters.

With the laser-cut holes spaced 2” center to center, the squat rack is flexible enough for different accessories, including spotter arms, landmine attachments, and dip bars. Eight weight storage horns allow you to organize weight plates and other equipment. It also has two straight pull-up bars for upper-body workouts. The rack has adjustable j-hooks, which can be positioned inside and outside at various heights and take different exercise setups.


Pros

  • The rear extension promotes safer lifting and rack stability.
  • Made with heavy-duty steel and a powder-coated finish for longevity.
  • The adjustable j-hooks can be mounted at different heights for flexibility when working out.
  • Includes eight weight horns for accessible and organized plate storage.

Cons
  • The large footprint with the rear extension increases the rack’s size.


French Fitness R20 Full Squat Rack Power Cage New

Finally is the French Fitness R20 Full Squat Rack Power Cage New, another high-quality squat rack made with a heavy-duty steel frame reinforced with a durable powder-coated finish. With its small footprint and height of 89”, it can easily fit in home gyms, garages, and anywhere with limited space.

It comes with spotter arms that can be adjusted to different heights for safety. This allows you to do your workouts safely and will protect you if you drop the barbell while lifting. The various height adjustments can provide increased stability while working out. You can also mount the j-hooks at different heights to create a bench press or squat rack.


Pros
  • The small footprint allows it to fit well in smaller spaces like home gyms and garages.
  • It includes adjustable j-hooks and spotter arms for convenience and safety.
  • It accommodates versatile workout options, including a straight pull-up bar.
  • Offers sturdy construction with heavy-duty 11-gauge steel.

Cons
  • The 89” height restriction might not suit those who prefer higher clearance.


Criteria to Consider when Choosing the Best Squat Rack

There are different factors to consider when choosing the best French Fitness squat rack most suitable for your needs. It’s important to keep the size, weight capacity, storage space, safety features, accessories, and user-friendliness in mind. Considering the five options, they have the same steel tubing, hole sizes and hole spacing, so they fit the same rig attachments.


Size & Dimensions

The French Fitness DHR80 has a robust design, so it’s more suitable for larger spaces. It also has dual lifting stations, which makes it better for gyms with ample room. Meanwhile, the French Fitness R30 also has a sizable footprint for stability and accessibility. With the French Fitness R30-RE, you get a rear extension requiring even more space.

For home gyms or places with limited space, the French Fitness R20 is designed for smaller areas with a shorter height clearance. The French Fitness SHR80 only has one lifting station, which makes it a more space-efficient design than larger racks.


Storage Space

The French Fitness DHR80 has twelve premium weight storage horns to accommodate different accessories. The same goes for the French Fitness SHR80 model, so there’s no need to get separate weight trees.

The French Fitness R30 has many storage features that accommodate its different accessories while the French Fitness R30-RE has eight weight horns for efficient weight plate storage. Finally, the French Fitness R20 has a more compact design, which limits storage capacity.


Weight Capacity

The French Fitness DHR80 and French Fitness R30 are built from heavy-duty 11-gauge steel and accommodate high-weight capacities for serious lifting. On the other hand, the French Fitness R30-RE has the same specifications, but the rear extension makes it more secure with heavy lifts.

The French Fitness SHR80, meanwhile, has robust construction but is designed for lighter use since it has a single station. Finally, the French Fitness R20 is sturdy with 11-gauge steel but has a smaller footprint to support less weight.


Safety

The French Fitness DHR80 and the French Fitness R30 have adjustable spotter arms, and bar catches for secure support during lifts. The French Fitness SHR80 also has adjustable spotter arms.

The French Fitness R30-RE has a rear extension for easier access to spotters. The French Fitness R20 has adjustable spotter arms and bar catches but with a more compact design.


Accessories and Attachments

The French Fitness DHR80 includes landmine attachments, dip horns, power band holders, and various racks for customizable needs. The French Fitness R30 and French Fitness R30-RE have numerous attachments, including a rear extension.

The French Fitness SHR80 also has a variety of attachments, but it’s not as extensive as the French Fitness DHR80 or the French Fitness R30 models. Finally, the French Fitness R20 has basic attachments like pull-up bars and adjustable hooks.



Final Take on the Best Squat Racks

To take your workout to the next level, investing in a top-quality squat rack from French Fitness is a game-changer. These squat racks aren't just for squats; with the right accessories, they transform into versatile all-in-one machines, allowing you to perform a wide range of exercises while maximizing space and efficiency. Explore the best squat rack models that suit your specific fitness goals and experience the difference in your training regimen.