So you’re in the market for a power rack but not quite sure which one to buy. You’ve heard all about the expensive, high-end racks, but that’s just not in your budget.
Or maybe you’re just starting out and don’t want to spend a fortune on something you might not use all that often. Well, have I got the answer for you: the light commercial power rack from Bells of Steel.
Our extensive experience with power racks, including the Bells of Steel brand, has equipped us with valuable insights. In particular, our founder and expert tester, Ryan, thoroughly assessed the Light Commercial Power Rack in his personal garage when it was initially released. Every aspect was meticulously examined, leaving no stone unturned.
With a team comprising certified trainers, weightlifting coaches, and competitive athletes, we possess a diverse range of expertise in the fitness industry. This allows us to provide you with the most reliable information about home gym equipment. Through our collective knowledge and rigorous testing, we aim to offer you detailed and comprehensive insights that will enhance your understanding and facilitate an informed purchase decision.
Light Commercial Power Rack from Bells of Steel Review
Let’s take a deep dive into this power rack and see if it’s the right choice for you.
What is the Light Commercial Power Rack 5.1?
The Light Commercial Power Rack, also called the Power Rack 5.1, is a mid-sized power rack made by Bells of Steel. It is made for people that are looking for a good mid-sized power rack that isn’t too huge but also isn’t a small and wimpy rack that can’t handle heavy weight and could easily tip over.
This rack fits right in the middle, it isn’t massive, but it’s definitely big enough that you won’t have to worry about it tipping over, and you won’t have to bolt it down either, although you can if you need to.
Who is Bells of Steel?
Bells of Steel is a Canadian company that makes high-quality, durable fitness equipment. They have been in business since 2009 and have an excellent reputation for producing quality products that will last a long time. They ship worldwide, and shipping on the Light Commercial Rack was free to the USA, which is fantastic.
Assembling the Rack
The rack comes in two boxes, one for the main frame and one for the accessories and cross-members. The mainframe is relatively easy to assemble. It comes with instructions that aren’t in great detail but are straightforward enough.
I assembled it all by myself, as you can see in the time-lapse video below. It took me just under 2 hours. I would recommend you use two people to assemble it to make it easier on yourself, but as you can see, I put it together all by myself without too much trouble.
I should mention there is a video on their website that shows you how to assemble it but I did not use that video, just the instructions.
First Impressions of the Light Commercial Rack
My first impression of the rack is just its size and stability of it. This bad boy is big and super stable.
As I mentioned, you can bolt it down, but I won’t be doing that. It would take a lot to knock this rack over.
I was also impressed with the standard equipment that comes with the rack. You get a set of j-cups, roller cups, safety straps, and a multi-grip pull-up bar. Many other racks will charge extra for the extra set of j-cups and the straps. They also charge extra for a pull-up bar of any kind, let alone a nice multi-grip bar. I’ve seen some racks that won’t even give you a pull-up bar unless you pay extra.
This rack is a really nice value for what you get.
Key Features for the Light Commercial Power Rack 5.1
Flat Feet
One of the best features of this power rack is the flat feet. The rack is big and stable on its own, and the feet just add extra stability making it nearly impossible to know over.
I weigh 220lbs and tried to do some kipping pull-ups to see if I could knock it over, and I didn’t even come close. Granted, my kipping pull-ups are pretty sorry since I had never done them. The flat feet add more stability to an already stable rack.
Fat/Skinny Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar
One of my personal favorites is the multi-grip pull-up bar. This bad boy features a fat and skinny bar as well an angled grip and a neutral grip option. I absolutely love the angled grip. It allows me to perform pull-ups much more comfortably than a straight bar with a lot less stress on my joints.
I do wish the neutral grips were closer together. They are so wide they are not as usable as I would like. The fat and skinny bars are nice, I am not really a fat bar fan, but if you are you will be happy.
Safety Straps
It comes with safety straps that have a weight capacity of 4,400 lbs. These straps are actually sourced from an actual tow strap factory. I guess that means if your car breaks down, you could tow it with one if these safety straps if you are in a pinch. I’m kidding, obviously…maybe.
These straps give you peace of mind if you are lifting alone, which you should not do, but if we are being honest, a lot of us do. If you get stuck on a set of heavy squats, the safety straps will keep you from getting crushed, and not being a pancake is good.
Pair of Nylon Roller J-Cups & Sandwich J-Cups
This power rack also comes with both Nylon Roller J-cups and Sandwich J-cups. Other power racks will only give you one set of j-cups, and some will charge you extra for that, so getting two sets is pretty awesome.
Of the two sets,I would say the sandwich j-cups are a little better than the roller cups simply because they are better at protecting your barbell. There is an area on the roller cups that can scuff your barbell. My barbell is already beaten up, so I don’t really care, but some of you out there with nice barbells might.
Laser-cut Numbers and Holes
All of the holes on the Bells of Steel Light Commercial Power Rack are laser cut, and they even have the holes really close together in the “bench phase” area so you can find the perfect height for benching. The holes are numbered but not every hole. They have every fifth hole numbered in the upper portion, and every tenth hole numbered in the bench portion.
This can make it a little challenging to get both sides lined up. Of course, if you are the only person using it you won’t move the j-cups around that much, and you can put a mark by the holes you usually use with a silver sharpie.
Band Pegs
The Light Commercial Power Rack also comes with band pegs which would be an extra charge with other power racks. I never really use the band pegs, but if I do decide to, it is nice that they are there, and if you use them, it’s nice that they are included.
Add-ons and Attachments
This power rack also has several industry-leading upgrades that’ll make this rack even better.
That is a lot of attachments. I don’t have any of those…yet. I am eyeing up the landmine attachment and the landmine attachment. monolift system and a couple of others for future purchases, though.
Below is a picture of what it could look like fully decked out with most of the attachments. Who wouldn’t like that setup for their home gym?
Shorter Version is Available for Low Ceilings
The standard power rack they sell is 84.5′ tall, which is a pretty normal power rack height. However, they do sell a shorter rack for those with lower ceilings. They offer a 72″ rack which will basically fit anywhere you would want it to go height-wise. The shorter version still works just fine with all the attachments and upgrades except for the cable crossover.
Light Commercial Rack Value
As far as value, this rack is fantastic. It is a nice-sized rack that comes with two sets of j-cups, the multi-grip chin-up bar, the safety straps, the band pegs, and it’s just about impossible to tip over.
On top of that, you get free shipping which is nice because shipping on a good-sized power rack is not cheap.
Every rack has its faults, and while this rack is pretty badass, it isn’t without its faults.
The roller cup can scuff your bar, it doesn’t matter to me because my bar is beaten up, but if you are the type who wants your barbell in perfect shape, you may have to just use the sandwich cups instead.
Also, the hole numbering is too far apart, with numbers for every fifth hole at the top and bottom and every 10th hole in the bench zone. It can be a little bit of a guessing game to get the j-cups in the right holes so the bar isn’t cockeyed.
One last nitpick, I like doing my pull-ups with a neutral grip. Unfortunately, the neutral grips on the pull-up bar are too far apart to use comfortably. Luckily the angled grips are really nice, so that makes up for it. All and all, though, I love the multi-grip bar.
Pros and Cons
I’ve given you all the pros and cons above, but here is a quick summary if you don’t feel like reading the whole thing.
Pros
Very Stable
Free Shipping
2 sets of j-cups, safety straps, band pegs included
Multi-grip pull-up bar included
Close holes in the bench zone
14 upgrades and attachments available
Lifetime warranty on welds and frame
Concrete anchors included
Cons
Largish footprint may be too big for some
Not enough numbers on the posts
Doesn’t use 3×3″ uprights
Conclusion
The Light Commercial Power Rack from Bells of Steel is a really nice rack that is an excellent value. If you are looking for a power rack that won’t break the bank and has many features, this is the rack for you.
I would highly recommend this rack to anyone who is looking for a great power rack at a great price.
It takes up a good amount of space, but if you have the room, this rack will serve you well for many years.
Check out the Light Commercial Power Rack from Bells of Steel today.
Ryan is a former college wrestler and lifelong fitness fanatic. He has run half marathons, done mud runs, placed in body transformation contests, coached wrestling, and now coaches girls’ soccer. Not to mention he has also tried literally hundreds of supplements over the years and has a vast and thorough supplement knowledge. He has written for Muscle & Strength, Testosterone Junkie, The Sport Review and other publications. He is also the editor-in-chief of this website and has over 25 years of experience in the fitness industry. Feel free to connect with him on his LinkedIn page below.
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