Spartan – the perfect way to describe the Body Champ’s recent power rack – a basic design with tried and tested elements.
This slender, simple and above all effective power rack has everything a beginner might need. Affordable and simple to use, the PBC530 is a good choice for anyone wanting a standard power rack without a lot of fancy additions – a rack that will give you the option of performing all the crucial exercises.
But, this Spartan simplicity comes at a cost. Most of the advanced users will find this piece of equipment to lack some valuable aspects that can be crucial for complex bodybuilding exercises. Features
Although the construction might seem simple, Body Champ made sure to use every possible bit. The upper horizontal connecting bar doubles as a pull up and chin up bar. They also went a step further and created a curved design which gives you an option of a wider and narrower grip.
The bottom support bar is pushed to the rear and also curved, ensuring a lot of space and unobstructed movement during the exercises. One neat feature is the addition of two vertical Olympic weight plate holders. Arguably much more efficient than horizontal plate holders, these neat bars will come in handy for tidying up your workout space.
As far as the weightlifting capabilities go – the usual stuff is there. The two main vertical beams are useful, offering 12 possible levels, giving you a bit of variation. The power rack comes equipped with four separate pegs for holding the barbells.
One thing to notice is the height of the lower cross supports. Slightly curved, these supports are somewhat too high, and prevent any possibility of a deadlift, and maybe even a bent over row. This is a major design flaw, but still doesn’t hamper the full range of possibilities of this power rack.
Build
While not the sturdiest on the market, the PBC530 still has a fairly strong construction, with a decent maximum load of 300 lbs. A big flaw is the overall lack of welds, so tightening the bolts thoroughly is a must.
When in use, this power rack is fairly stable, with the wobbling and movements tied down to a bare minimum. But even so, we can safely say that this rack has its limits, and was certainly not designed with above average weight lifting in mind. Advanced bodybuilders who lift great amounts will not find uses in this power rack.
Pros
Cons
Summary
When you take your first steps into home exercise and when you attempt to build your own little home gym, whether in your basement or garage, you’ll always look for the best option. While the PBC5340 Power Rack system fits perfectly into the beginners picture, with its size and simplicity, it still leaves a lot to be desired.
Nonetheless, most users will find the basics more than well covered in this design, and a good workout is still guaranteed with this affordable power rack.