6 Best Outdoor Squat Racks in 2024

A squat rack is the centerpiece of any good gym setup. A good quality, versatile squat rack can be used as a pull-up bar, bench press area, squat stand, and dip station. Alongside a pair of dumbbells and cardio equipment, lifters of all abilities can perform an effective full-body workout in their home gym.

Whilst most squat racks are used in indoor commercial and home gym settings, outdoor settings can also provide ideal lifting locations. Larger open spaces and more ventilation are just some of the added benefits of outdoor lifting.

Certain precautions need to be taken when buying outdoor gym equipment to ensure it’s suitable and can last outside with different weather conditions and temperature changes.

In this guide, I’ll take you through 6 of the best squat racks that are well-suited to outdoor spaces.

Top 6 Best Outdoor Squat Racks Reviewed

1. Sunny Health and Fitness Power Zone Squat Stand – Top Pick
2. Fitness Reality Squat Rack Power Cage – Runner Up
3. Rogue V2 Castro Rig – Premium Pick
4. REP Fitness SR-4000 Squat Rack – Best Budget Pick
5. Steelbody Strength Training Monster Cage Squat Rack – Best Squat Rack + More
6. Titan Fitness T-3 Series Short Squat Stand

Product	Total	Material Quality	Durability	Adjustability	Stability	Value for Money
Sunny Health and Fitness	49	10	9.5	10	9.5	10
Fitness Reality	48.5	10	9.5	9.5	10	9.5
Rogue	48	10	10	9	10	9
REP Fitness	47.5	10	9.5	9.5	9.5	9
Steelbody	47.5	10	9	9.5	9.5	9.5
Titan Fitness	47	10	10	9	9	9

1. Sunny Health and Fitness Power Zone Squat Stand – Top Pick

Sunny Health and Fitness have been widely recognized as a premium brand offering health and fitness products for over 20 years.

They believe a high-quality workout experience and healthy lifestyle should be within reach of anyone who wants it, regardless of their experience level.

Their customer service team is dedicated to providing customers with high-quality products and the best customer service. 

• Color: Black/ red 
• Weight: 83 lbs, 805 lbs weight capacity
• Length: 38″
• Width: 58″
• Height: 87″
• Footprint: 38″ L x 58″ W x 87″ H
• Steel Notes: Alloy Steel
• Variations of Positions: 7

The Power Zone Squat Stand from Sunny Health and Fitness is a fully customizable squat rack with a heavy-duty frame that can handle up to 805 lbs of weight. The rack combines durability with versatility to offer a great power rack option that’s my top pick weatherproof squat rack for an outdoor gym. 

The squat rack features an adjustable pull-up bar, 6 exercise band attachment points, and 18 adjustment options, providing a range of exercise options for a wide range of lifer sizes.

The frame is constructed from heavy-duty, powder-coated steel, designed to protect the frame from rust and changes in the environment.

The main selling point of the rack is the number of customizable options. The included pull-up back can be adjusted to 8 different positions and angled for wide and narrow grip pull-ups. The spotter arms are secured with safety lock latches to ensure you feel safe at all times when lifting.

The weight plate storage racks offer a convenient storage option and add to the rack’s stability. The rack can be easily combined with the Sunny Health and Fitness barbells, benches, and lat attachments so you can perform a full-body workout.

The rack has a 1-year warranty and comes in a black/red color.

2. Fitness Reality Squat Rack Power Cage - Runner Up

Founded in 2007, Fitness Reality is committed to providing high-quality, innovative products that are designed to last. 

They offer good value fitness products that are tailored to meet the needs of a wide range of fitness enthusiasts. The brand has over 10 years of fitness experience and has sold over 1 million pieces of gym gear.

• Color: Black/Grey
• Weight: 20.4 lbs, 800 lbs weight capacity
• Length: 50"
• Width: 50.4"
• Height: 81.3"
• Footprint: 50" L x 50.4" W x 81.3" H
• Steel Notes: 2x2" Steel Frame
• Variations of Positions: 7

The Fitness Reality Squat Rack Power Cage is a space-saving, heavy-duty outdoor gym rack that's fully customizable featuring a landmine attachment and extra space for the weight bench. It also comes with an adjustable weight bench.

The squat rack is constructed from 2x2" Steel that can be adjusted to 19 different height levels. The durable frame can handle up to 800 lbs, providing a suitable range of weight options for most lifters.

The included safety spotter arms come with rubber padding, which protects the barbell’s knurling during repeated use.

The rack includes an adjustable pull-up bar, adjustable weight horns, a landmine attachment, and resistance band posts, giving the user a range of full-body workout options. The adjustable weight horns provide a convenient plate storage option and add to the rack’s stability. 

The adjustable weight bench features 6 backrest angles and 2 adjustable seat angles. The wider backrest provides full support when pressing. The bench can also be folded and conveniently stored away when not in use. 

The rack comes in black/ grey and includes a 1-year limited warranty.

3. Rogue V2 Castro Rig - Premium Pick

Rogue is a well-known leading supplier of high-quality gym equipment, supplying the fitness games, World's Strongest Man, and the USA weightlifting team.

The brand aims to provide high-quality, affordable workout equipment to athletes at all levels.

• Color: Black
• Weight: 474 lbs, 1000+ lbs Weight Capacity
• Length: 70"
• Width: 43"
• Height: 180"
• Footprint: 70" L x 43" W x 180" H
• Steel Notes: 3x3" 11-Gauge Steel
• Variations of Positions: 7

The Rogue V2 Castro Rig takes the key components from the original Castro Rig and improves on them. It's a serious piece of kit, built from 3x3" 11-Gauge steel that's able to handle up to 1000+ lbs of weight. It’s described by Rogue as ‘The Ultimate Backyard Gym’. It's my premium pick outdoor squat rack with pull up bar.

The Castro Rig weighs 474 lbs with a footprint of 70" L x 43" W x 180" H which means it’s able to handle serious amounts of weight from even the most experienced lifters. The unit does need to be bolted to the floor but that shouldn't be an issue for outdoor settings. 

It’s fully customizable, with an adjustable Dirty South pull-up bar, Monster Lite J Cups, and concrete anchors included. It is fully compatible with the full Rogue Monster Lite accessory range which features a great range of additional workout options.

The rack comes in black and has a limited lifetime warranty included as standard. 

4. REP Fitness SR-4000 Squat Rack - Best Budget Pick 

REP Fitness started with two brothers with a passion for fitness who saw a need for quality home gym equipment at an affordable price.

Once the brand was founded in 2012, it focused on exceeding customer expectations by providing high-quality, good-value gym equipment.

• Color: Black
• Weight: 96" = 203lbs , 103" = 237lbs 
• Weight Capacity: 1000+ lbs
• Length: 71.4"
• Width: 52.4"
• Height: 96" or 103" options
• Footprint: 71.4" L x 52.4" W x 96"/103" H
• Steel Notes: 3x3" 11-Gauge Steel
• Variations of Positions: 7

REP Fitness has manufactured the SR-4000 Squat rack as a versatile, durable power rack that comes at a very affordable price point and has two different height options. It gets my pick for the best budget squat rack option.

The solid 3x3" 11-Gauge Steel numbered uprights can handle 1000+ lbs of weight, enough for most lifters. The long, flat-footed base removes the need to bolt the rack to the ground and gives added stability when lifting.

The frame is further reinforced with triangular steel braces and the rear base weight horns give added stability and a convenient plate storage option. 

The uprights feature 1" hole spacing through the bench area and 2" above and below, allowing the lifter to precisely set the bar at the right height.

The rack is compatible with the Monolift, Iso arms, Dip Attachment, and Spotter Arms from the 4000 series giving the user the option to turn the rack into a fully functional gym. 

The standard rack package comes with a 1.25" pull-up bar, PR-4000 J-Cups, and a limited lifetime warranty.

5. Steelbody Strength Training Monster Cage Squat Rack - Best Squat Rack + More

Steelbody is a premium brand of gym equipment that's constructed from high-quality steel, inspired by the equipment found in commercial settings.

Steelbody manufactures a wide range of gym equipment that's designed for home gyms, garage gyms, and commercial facilities. They aim to make economically priced fitness equipment without sacrificing premium features.

• Color: Black
• Weight: 41 lbs, 800 lb weight capacity
• Length: 74"
• Width: 65"
• Height: 95"
• Footprint: 74" L x 65" W x 95" H
• Steel Notes: 3x3" 11-Gauge Steel
• Variations of Positions: 11

The STB-98005 Strength Training Monster Cage from Steelbody is a heavy-duty, versatile piece of gym kit that offers multiple workout options at each part of the unit. 

It features a kipping station, dip station, multi-grip padded pull-up handles, and a storage tray for kettlebells and dumbbells, making it a ready-to-go home gym option. It's my top squat rack pick that offers more.

The heavy-duty frame is finished with a powder coating that's rust-proof and helps to protect the frame against the outside elements. It's made to handle up to 800 lbs of weight on the squat rack and 270 lbs on the storage tray, plenty of weight for most lifters. 

Adjustable safety catches are included in the standard package to ensure you can safely push your limits when lifting. The convenient weight plate storage horns help to save space alongside the weight storage tray, a feature not often seen on most racks.

The rack also features attachment posts for resistance bands and fits a standard weight bench, turning it into the ultimate home workout power cage.

It comes in black and includes a 90-day warranty.

6. Titan Fitness T-3 Series Short Squat Stand

Titan Fitness follows one rule - to provide their customers with high-quality customer service.

They provide high-quality, affordable fitness equipment designed to help lifters of all levels achieve their goals. Their motto is ‘Premium Fitness Equipment Without the Premium Cost’.

• Color: Black
• Weight: 144lbs, 1000+ lbs weight capacity
• Length: 48"
• Width: 47"
• Height: 72"
• Footprint: 48" L x 47" W x 72" H
• Steel Notes: 2x3" 11-Gauge Steel
• Variations of Positions: 3

The T-3 Series Short Squat Stand manufactured by Titan Fitness is a well-designed, space-saving outdoor weight rack option that offers the same durability as some of the bigger squat racks. 

The uprights are constructed from 2x3" 11-Gauge steel and bolted to a stable base that's able to handle 1000+ lbs, a big weight capacity for the rack’s overall footprint.

The uprights feature Westside hole spacing throughout the entire length, allowing the T-3 Series J-Hooks to be attached easily at the correct height. The UHMW padding on the J-Hooks protects your barbell knurling from scratches when it's being racked. 

Whilst the rack doesn't feature many extra accessories, there's enough room to fit a weight bench easily between the uprights. 

It comes in black and includes a 1-year warranty.

How to Maintain Squat Racks Outdoors?

Outdoor conditions can be tough. If you want to put your squat rack outside and for it to last a long time, make sure to follow these tips:

1. Galvanize the Metal

Probably the most important factor when it comes to maintaining an outdoor squat rack is galvanizing the metal. It helps to protect the frame against rust.

This is where the steel is dipped in molten zinc to cost the entire external rack surface. This includes the inside which isn't covered with the normal powder-coated protective finish. 

2. Grease the Hardware 

Coating the hardware with a decent lubricant before building the rack helps to preserve the function of the bolts and increases their lifespan. Make sure your rack contains stainless steel or rust-resistant hardware as well to prevent rust when it's stored outside.

3. Touch It Up

If the frame gets chipped, make sure to touch it up with outdoor paint as soon as possible. This helps keep the metal surface away from the elements and stop it from rusting.

4. Cover It Up

Equally important to maintaining the rack is how you store it. When it's not being used, a suitable squat rack cover such as a tarpaulin or other suitable outdoor covering should be placed over it to limit rainfall exposure.

FAQ

Is It Okay to Put a Squat Rack Outside?

It's totally fine to put a squat rack outside as long as the above tips are followed. Once you've made sure your rack is suitable for the outdoors, get lifting.

How Do You Cover an Outdoor Gym?

When covering an outdoor squat rack, make sure to use a tarpaulin or other suitable outdoor covering.

Make sure to cover the full rack and secure it down so it doesn't move during heavier wind and rain.

Do Squat Racks Rust?

Squat racks will rust if they are not properly maintained. Most rack frames are covered with a protective powder coating to stop them from rusting.

Ways to prevent rust include covering the rack when not in use, touching up the paint, galvanizing the metal, and using rust-resistant hardware. 

Which Outdoor Squat Rack is the Best?

Putting a squat rack outside is a great idea if you're limited with indoor gym space and want more freedom to move around. The products I've reviewed above are some excellent outdoor power rack choices that provide you with a full-body workout.

The Sunny Health and Fitness Power Zone Squat Stand gets my top pick for the best outdoor squat rack. It's durable, versatile, and well suited to the outdoors. 

Have you thought about having your home gym outside? Let me know your thoughts down below.

Also read:

• Best Half Racks for Home Gym
• Best Power Rack With Cable Crossover
• Full Rack vs Half Rack
• Power Rack vs Squat Rack
• Smith Machine vs Squat Rack
• Squat Rack in Apartment
• Squat Rack Types
• Best Smith Machine

References:

1. 6 Things You Need to Build an Outdoor Home Gym // Gym Flooring:
   https://www.gym-flooring.com/blogs/news/6-things-you-need-to-build-an-outdoor-home-gym
2. Can You Put a Squat Rack Outside? // Peckmeout: https://www.peckmeout.com/can-you-put-squat-rack-outside/