Body Champ PBC530 Power Rack Review

Spartan – the perfect way to describe the Body Champ’s recent power rack – a basic design with tried and tested elements.

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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.
​I recommend body builders or those lifting heavy weights to take a look at some of the other power and squat racks we reviewed here.
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​Features

​You can expect a lot of good, basic features from the PBC530, and this is apparent from the first glance.

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.

Body Champ Power Rack System PBC530
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on https://www.amazon.com/ at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.


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.
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​Build

​A power rack as simple as this one requires some important solutions, and a sturdy, robust construction is perhaps the main one.

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.

Body Champ Power Rack System PBC530
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on https://www.amazon.com/ at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.


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

  • Affordability plays a great role in the power rack market, and that’s the one part where Body Champ excelled. Largely due to its simple design, the PBC530 comes with a light and affordable price tag. It’s no secret that a lot of beginner users simply cannot afford pricey, high end power racks, and that is where the PBC530 comes into play – its price allows everyone to have a good workout.                        
  • Simplicity can be a double edged sword. Sometimes it works, sometimes not – and for this power rack it’s a bit of both.  But good aspects are in the majority here, with everything about this piece of equipment being toned down to a minimal design. As stated above, it’s straight forward, but still provides you with the essential possibilities.                                                                                    
  • Size is crucial and variations in design can make or break a good power rack. Advanced, complex, and large designs rarely cater to the beginner buyer, and that is what makes the slender PBC530 a good choice. Narrow and slim, this power rack is fairly small, and thus  fits great in small apartments, garage gyms, and basement workout areas.

​Cons

  • As we mentioned, a crucial flaw of this power rack is the lack of welds in the construction. While it comes inherently with the low price tag, the welds are still an important aspect for stability and quality of construction. Being almost purely a “nuts and bolts” type of design, the PBC530 leaves a lot to be desired in terms of stability.          
  • Sturdiness ties in directly with the above, and this lightweight and slender power rack could use some more robustness. While not wobbly, the rack has its obvious limits that put experienced bodybuilders at a clear disadvantage.

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.

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