You can pick from a variety of squat racks for your home gym. Titan, REP Fitness, and Fringe Sport offer some fantastic options.
But if you’re looking for something more compact, there is no better option than a half-rack, and the HR-2 by Rogue Fitness is the best one money can buy.
Stick around to read my review of the Rogue HR-2 half rack and learn what makes it great, what you can expect, and why it’s such a fantastic option.
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What Makes the Rogue HR-2 Half Rack Great
- Westside hole spacing
- Two height options
- No need to bolt it to the ground or wall
- Sturdy build with 11-gauge steel 3” by 3” uprights
- Pull-up bar included
- Weight storage option
- Compact size
- Beautiful design
It works as a full squat rack while taking up less space and having a smaller footprint.
Let’s take about each of these points in more depth. I’ll also go over a couple of things I think could have been done better on the HR-2 half rack.
8 Fantastic Things About the Rogue HR-2 Half Rack
1. Westside Hole Spacing
Westside hole spacing means the space between the holes on the two uprights is one inch or 25 mm.
The HR-2 half rack comes with Westside hole spacing in the middle area, where you would place your J hooks for the barbell on bench presses. The hole spacing below and above that area is standard––2 inches or 50 mm.
That might not seem like much, but one-inch hole spacing provides greater flexibility for placing the barbell at the perfect height.
2. Two Height Options
The Rogue HR-2 half rack comes with two height options, which makes it more useful for a wider variety of people.
For example, the shorter version would work better if your home gym is in your basement and you’re working with a low ceiling. In contrast, if height isn’t an issue and you don’t mind paying more, go with the taller version.
Rogue lists the two options like so:
- Short - 90” / 70”
- Tall - 108” / 90”
The first number represents the height of the two front uprights, whereas the second is for the rear uprights.
3. No Need to Bolt It Down
Have you ever set your sights on a product but decided not to purchase it because it required installation?
For instance, I wanted to get a pull-up bar for my home a few years ago but ultimately decided not to because I wasn’t sure I could bolt it to the wall correctly. Plus, I didn’t want to drill holes into my freshly-painted wall.
Well, that’s not a problem you have to worry about with the HR-2 half rack. The product weighs 225 to 255 lbs (102 to 115.7 kg), depending on the height, and even more if you get it with weight storage and keep your plates on it. As a result, it is pretty sturdy even when doing more dynamic exercises.
4. Sturdy Build
One of the primary concerns people have when shopping around for a half rack or squat rack relates to its overall stability.
Many products on the market simply don’t provide the support and assurance you need to go heavy, improve your 1RM, and develop muscle.
Fortunately, that’s not the case with the Rogue HR-2 half rack. The uprights are made of steel (11-gauge) 3” by 3” uprights that provide excellent support and contribute to a sturdy build. The base consists of 2” by 3” steel bars.
Unlike some flimsy racks, this one feels incredibly stable and can handle a lot of weight.
5. Pull-Up Bar Included
The HR-2 half rack comes equipped with a quality Rogue pull-up bar. Customers report that the half rack feels incredibly sturdy even when doing more dynamic activities on the pull-up bar.
6. Weight Storage Option
A drawback of most squat stands and half racks is the lack of weight storage, which presents a couple of issues:
- You must purchase a separate weight stand for your plates;
- Racks might not feel as stable because they don’t weigh much and don’t have anything to hold them down;
The good news is that the HR-2 comes with a ton of weight storage capacity, making it even more versatile. Plus, adding a few hundred pounds of weight to the half rack would make it as solid as a rock.
Each 13” pin can hold up to 180 lbs (81.7 kg), and the HR-2 can support eight of these. You can purchase these in pairs.
7. Compact Size
What’s perhaps most impressive about the HR-2 is that it provides all of the advantages and functions we discussed above in a compact size.
Here’s what we are working with:
- 48” by 49” (121.9 by 124.4 cm) footprint
- 90” or 108” (228.6 or 274.3 cm) front uprights
- 70” or 90” (177.8 or 228.6 cm) rear uprights
- 17” (43.1 cm) distance between the front and rear uprights
8. Beautiful Design
The last great thing about the HR-2 is somewhat subjective, but I’m confident most people will agree:
Rogue products are some of the best-looking on the market.
The half rack comes in all-black, and the Rogue logo is stamped on the uprights. Coupled with a good-looking barbell and an all-black gym bench, you’ve got a fantastic setup for strength training at home.
What Attachments Work With The Rogue HR-2 Half Rack?
According to Rogue, the Monster Lite Matador Dip Bar and Monster Lite Safety Spotter Arms are compatible with the HR-2.
In addition, the half rack is compatible with the Sandwich J-Cups, Adjustable Monolift, and Rogue Landmine.
None of these are mandatory, but they are cool to have. The landmine opens the door for more exercises, the Sandwich J-cups are a significant upgrade over the standard ones, and the monolift makes it easier to unrack the barbell for squats and bench presses.
3 (Not So) Fantastic Things About The Rogue HR-2 Half Rack
Before wrapping up this review, it’s important to share some information on things that aren’t so great about the HR-2 half rack:
1. The Price
At the time of writing this, the HR-2 costs $765, which is not cheap for a half rack. The taller version costs $800, and any extra adds to the total price.
2. What’s Included
The basic package includes the half rack, as seen in the photos, with a couple of J-cups for your barbell.
Specifically, here is what the package includes:
- Monster Lite J-cup pair
- 43” single skinny pull-up bar
- Two rear uprights (70” or 90”)
- Two front uprights (90” or 110”)
- One base unit 2” by 3”
Of course, that’s still enough to have a fully functional half rack, but there are other things you will likely have to purchase to make it work:
3. The Size
Yes, I know––the Rogue HR-2 is a half rack, so why am I complaining about the size?
Well, I’m not complaining. I’m simply pointing out that it isn’t as large as a full rack. A half rack is designed to take up less space, which is excellent for people working with limited space.
With that said, understand that you will be doing your exercises outside the rack, and you should purchase spotter arms for extra safety. Unfortunately, you don’t get the same training experience as you would with a full rack, but that’s something you get used to after a while.
What Do People Say About The HR-2 Half Rack?
At the time of writing this, the HR-2 half rack by Rogue has a rating of 4.9 out of 5, with more than 200 reviews.
Here are some of the things people have to say about the product:
- “I bought this a month ago, everything came in as expected, equipment works great, no missing pieces, and the one time I did have a question regarding shipping times, the customer service was top tier.” - Cory
- “This rack system is perfect for what I was looking for. It balances space restriction with capability perfectly. I went with the 108-inch height so my son could include his upside-down training for pole vaulting, and it is a perfect height. Most important is the durability. I could not be happier with this rack system, the bumpers, or the Echo bike. Worth every penny.” - Jimmy
- “This is a fantastic rack and has been a lovely addition to my home gym. It looks killer and has a small footprint. What more could I ask for?” - Tommy
- “I bought an HR-2 Half Rack and several attachments. I am very impressed. The rack is extremely sturdy. When I do dips on the matador or pull-ups on the bar, I have zero issues. The rack and all the attachments I purchased were made of high-quality steel. I love my squat rack and wished I had bought it sooner.” - Danny
The Final Verdict On The Rogue HR-2 Half Rack Great
Rogue Fitness isn’t a company known for making cheap products, so if your budget is tight, it might be best to look elsewhere.
But if you’re looking for a compact all-in-one solution that provides excellent support and supports a variety of attachments, you cannot go wrong with the Rogue Fitness HR-2 half rack.
Despite its smaller size, it is a fantastic product that provides an excellent training experience. Even the most basic option will work fine with a barbell and a solid gym bench.
If possible, get the spotter arms to stay safe, especially if you train alone and nobody is around to spot you.
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