Valor Fitness BD–7 Power Rack with Lat Pull Attachment Review
Why buy a Valor Power Rack ?
What is a Power Rack?
Power racks are contained in practically all gyms. A power rack is a metallic cube. It enables the user to perform a number of different exercises. The main focus of the power rack is that it helps with squats. The squat is a full body movement which works all major muscle groups. That’s why it is a favorite among CrossFit athletes, Powerlifters, and sports scientists. And that’s why if you are interested in performing squats adequately, it is best to have a power rack for safety and performance.
Power racks come with safety latches so that when you are squatting down and lifting the bar across the back of your neck, you have the psychological advantage of knowing that if you can’t complete the maneuver you can simply move backward and the bar will fall into one of the safety latches. This encourages the athlete to perform max lifts as there is no danger, aside from the ever-present danger of bad form. But power racks are not designed just for squats, as this would make them a rather expensive investment. They can also be used to perform movements including the:
And as they practically always come with a pull-up bar attached they can be used for a variety of different pull ups. Some power racks also come with additional features for more movements. And the more advanced power racks almost cross the threshold into an all in one gym machine.
Power Rack Vs Squat Stand Vs All in One Home Gym
An all in one home gym is a piece of equipment that allows the user to engage in multiple exercises on the same machine. The focus of the all in one gym is mainly on isolations exercises as opposed to whole body movements. In these home gyms, you can often do many different exercises which target specific regions of the body. They often employ power rods and use cables and pulleys along with an adjustable seat but there are many, many variations on this. Power racks are, as previously stated, more like a large metallic cube. The focus of these power racks/cages is on whole body movements using a bar, mainly the squat. So, while the movements are not as numerous, it focuses on natural movements which exercise multiple areas of the body at one. With power racks, you purchase your own weights and bar. With all in one home gyms, the weights and pulleys come with the system itself. As the machines get more sophisticated, the differences between the power rack and all in one home become blurry in terms of the movements, but one is still a large cube of metal with a gap in the center, and the other a sit-down device with cables and attached weights.
A power rack is also not the same as a squat stand, though it is much more similar compared to all in one home gyms. A squat stand consists of two metal stands supporting a barbell. It is designed specifically for squats. The barbell is attached to the two stands, put on weight and voila. Complete the squat with little worries. A squat rack is the same, except the barbell is not attached to the two stands. The lifter lifts the barbell off the squat rack, completes a repetition and places the barbell and weights back. This is a little more dangerous but is also better for the lifter in terms of balance and core strength. A power rack/cage is like two squat stands parallel to one another and connected at the top, bottom and middle by steel beams. The squat stand is like a single dimension/plane, the power cage is more like a cube, as it has four upright posts. It basically is more sturdy than the squat rack and allows the lifter to do much more exercises, as the “cube” often comes with a pull-up bar and other accessories that make it more multi-functional.
Should I Get A Power Rack?
A power rack is a great investment for those who frequent the gym regularly and focus primarily on whole body movements. The squat is pretty much the best of the best when it comes to whole body movement, followed by the deadlift and bench press. The power rack accommodates all of these and with the addition of a pull-up bar and other exercises listed above. If you are a serious lifter and serious about your health and your routine, then it makes sense to invest in a power rack. It will save you money in the long run not to mention save you stress and convenience. It is open at all times and all conveniences are nearby. And if you a personal trainer interested in running your own home gym then it is definitely worth the purchase, as the money will be made back in no time at all. It is easily adjustable and suitable for a variety of different clients.
Before buying a power rack it is important to do your research. You need to make sure you have the space necessary to facilitate such a large piece of machinery. They are quite big and heavy. Power come in a range of shapes and sizes, as well as prices. Expensive power racks are more for professional lifters as opposed to beginners. Good power racks can be obtained for less in many instances, and there is simply no need for expensive pieces of equipment. Many lower racks can take up to 600 pounds of capacity, and some even 800 pounds. This is more than enough weight for the vast majority of users. One of the best lower end power racks is the Valor Fitness BD-7 Power Rack with Lat Pull Attachment. The valor bd-7 review will outline why it offers the best that money can buy in terms of power racks.
Valor Power Rack with Lat Pull Attachment
The valor power rack is one of the more reasonably priced power racks available. However, you still have to identify whether the rack is perfect for you, as each product is only as good as it meets the underlying purpose. The valor fitness bd-7 power rack comes with:
The dimensions of the valor fitness bd-7 are 47 x 63 x 82 (W x L x H) and it weighs 135 pounds, so is not overly heavy for a power cage. Some of these monsters can weight over 300 pounds so that when they are set up they really don’t budge. The max weight capacity of the valor bd-7 is 500 pounds, with a max weight of 250 pounds for the lat pulls. The rack comes with 6 standard size plate holders, two for the lats and four along the side.
The valor squat rack is relatively simple to assemble due to the detailed instructions that come with diagrams. It should take a little over an hour to assemble. When assembling all the bolts are not the same size, a fact that could save you some time. All that is needed to assemble the product is two wrenches, no screws, glue, duct tape, hammer, nails, drills or anything of the sort. One wrench holds the bolt while the other wrench tightens. That’s it. It is very straightforward. The issue with this and a lot of other power rack products is simply that the nuts and bolts are not labeled, and are not organized. If manufacturers got a handle on this, it would save the consumer quite a lot of time and difficulty.
The dip bar is an accessory that can be bought with the product and is not included but is a solid purchase for those interested in this type of exercise. The valor bd-7 works with a seven-foot Olympic bar and is not suited for six- foot long bars. The lat attachment is super smooth on the pull-down. It is one of the perfect bars for beginner and intermediate level power rackers and ideal as a first-time purchase, its main rivals being the Atlas Power Rack Squat Deadlift Cage and the Powerline Power Rack Ppr200x. While the valor fitness bd-7 is a little more expensive it makes up for it with its superior build quality, durability and lat attachment. Though it has a 500-pound weight capacity, many have contended that the machine is still perfectly solid with total weights of over 600 pounds.
Valor Athletics BD-7 Power Rack with Lat Pull Criticisms
There are relatively little criticisms of the valor power rack. Some reviewers have contended that the packaging on the product is bad and scrapes have appeared on the product when first opened. The welding on the Valor Athletics Bd-7 Power Rack is done by hand and not with perfect craftsmanship, which leads to bubbles of paint and may lead to issues down the line. And the instructions, while accurate and clear, do come with quite a lot of types, but we won’t hold this against valor athletics too much. The lay pulley system cables sometimes twist in on themselves, which can be very annoying, and the pulley system is said by some to get in the way of squats. And finally, the grips on the lat pull down bar are cheap and not “grippy” enough, and the pull up bar itself is hollow. But these are not major criticisms of a good quality product that does what it is supposed to. And these criticisms are not reported by all, just by a minority.
One genuine criticism of the Valor rack that cannot be denied is that the pulley system that comes with the bd-7 leaves much to be desired. It is very stiff and cheaply designed. The spindle that is attached to the pulley is not up to speed, and the cord can be pulled off the pulley if jerked at an awkward angle. While cheaply designed the pulley system is smooth, it’s just that the cables get in the way and the parts are not of the highest quality. Some additions could possibly be made to the pulley system.
Final Thoughts About Valor Fitness BD-7 Power Rack
The valor fitness bd-7 is a solid piece of equipment and there have not been many complaints, though the pulley and chain system, as well as the accessories, could be better designed, and take away from an otherwise high-quality rack. The only real issue with the valor fitness bd-7 power rack is that it does not seem to beat its competitors, the Power Rack Squat Deadlift Cage and the Powerline Power Rack Ppr200x, and is more expensive. They do the same thing, but are cheaper, and aside from the lat attachment on the valor fitness bd-7, there is not much else to justify the rise in price. In Addition to this you can find more information about PowerLine PPR200X Power Cage.
