Body-Solid GPR378 Adjustable Pro Power Rack
Editor’s Conclusion
The Body-Solid Power Rack is one solid piece of equipment. Just one look at this beast and you just know that it is built to withstand a good deal of weight. If you are in the market for a good quality base-level rack that is primed and ready for accessories to build out your home gym, this is a great place to start.
It is composed of high-end steel with a sleek powder-coated finish that fits well in most indoor spaces. What makes this design slightly different than other racks out there on the market is that it is slightly shorter, which means that it will work well in basement gyms with a lower ceiling. I also love that this rack has high-quality J-hooks and catch bars that are made to withstand a good deal of weight, and are also super simple to adjust when needed.
Below, I wanted to take a deep dive into all of the features that make the Body-Solid GPR378 Power Rack a great addition to any home gym.
It is composed of high-end steel with a sleek powder-coated finish that fits well in most indoor spaces. What makes this design slightly different than other racks out there on the market is that it is slightly shorter, which means that it will work well in basement gyms with a lower ceiling. I also love that this rack has high-quality J-hooks and catch bars that are made to withstand a good deal of weight, and are also super simple to adjust when needed.
Below, I wanted to take a deep dive into all of the features that make the Body-Solid GPR378 Power Rack a great addition to any home gym.
Body-Solid GPR378 Adjustable Pro Power Rack Review Facts
Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Key Features
MATERIALS
By simply looking at the beefy frame of this design, you know that it is built like a tank. The frame is composed of durable 11-gauge steel that boasts a powder-coated finish to resist rust when placed in a musty and humid basement or garage. The frame also boasts 3x3 inch steel posts, which is slightly teacher than some of the other designs out there. I also love that it has very clean welded seams that enhance its overall durability and weight capacity.
When assembled, this frame weighs in at almost 230 pounds, which makes it one of the heavier designs when compared to more budget-friendly options. The heavier weight, welded seams, and high-quality steel won’t wobble or shake even under high weights. All in all, this is likely the last rack you will ever need to buy.
USE
This rack can be used for all three of the big powerlifting lifts. It’s a great rack for bench presses, squats, and deadlifts. The quick swivel of the J-hooks and catch bars makes moving in between lifts quick and easy. I also love that it has resistance band hooks along the top and button that allow you to add a higher intensity to all of your basic lifts. These hooks run along the top and bottom that can be used in your pull-up routine as well!
One thing worth noting, however, is that the bottom bar that runs along the back makes it a little difficult to line up your bench to the perfect position. Many lifters find that they need to pull their rack out from the wall slightly in order to push their bench to the right position under the bottom stabilization bar. It doesn’t mean that benchwork is off the table, it just means that you will need to do a little tinkering to make this rack compatible with your bench.
ADJUSTABILITY
One of the things that I love most about the Body-Solid Power Rack is that it allows users to make quick and nappy adjustments. While other racks have catch hooks that have to be completely pulled out, this rack utilizes swivel catch hooks that can be easily moved up and down the bar as needed. The J-hooks that are included with the purchase also utilize this same swivel mechanism that allows you to move it quickly and really lock it in place when you are ready to lift.
Another feature worth mentioning is the top pull-up bar. Personally, I love the quality of the pull-up bar that is included with the purchase. However, if you are looking for a bar with an angled grip or one that omits the knurling, this pull-up bar isn’t bolted onto the frame like most models out there on the market. It is able to be easily swapped out and replaced with a bar more suited to your personal needs.
One downside to this rack is that it only has 20 adjustment holes for J-hook placement, and these holes are spaced pretty far apart. While it may not be much of an issue when engaging in bench presses or squats, the bottom pegs are just a little too far spaced to find that perfect launching position for deads. Most racks have tapered hole spacing towards the bottom of the rack, and the Body-Solid power rack has consistent spacing throughout.
ADVANCED FEATURES
This design is pretty basic and doesn’t have a lot of extra bells and whistles included with the purchase. This design ships with the basic necessities that include catch bars and J-hooks, and that’s it. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s not compatible with extra tools. One of the things that I really liked about this model is that it has extra holes and hooks that are primed and ready to be used with extra Body-Solid machines such as a cable system or a fly deck. Plus, these attachments are offered at an affordable price point from Body-Solid.
One thing that really stood out to me is the beefy catch bars. Many racks utilize a slim catch bar with a wobbly sleeve, which is a little less than ideal and just doesn’t feel as secure when you fail out on a set. These thick and durable catch bars just feel more solid and secure when failing out on a set.
I also love that this unit comes with a pretty solid pull-up bar. The pull-up bar that is included with the purchase has a knurled grip, which is something that you don’t find in a lot of base model power racks. Also, because this tower is slightly shorter than other designs out there on the market, it makes pull-ups for short stacks (such as myself) a little easier.
ASSEMBLY
Overall, this unit is fairly easy to assemble. It comes with all of the hardware you need to put it together and includes detailed instructions to assemble it right the first time. When working alone, I found that it took most users anywhere between an hour to an hour and a half to completely assemble it right out of the box. To ensure that those bolts are tightly fastened into place, you will need to dig out your toolbox and grab your socket set.
If your handyman abilities are a little lacking, it may be in your best interest to hire the pros to assemble your rack for you. It’s super important that your rack is assembled correctly to ensure that it doesn’t wobble, or that it won’t shift or break on you in the middle of a heavy lift.
PRICE
The price of the Body-Solid GPR378 Power Rack is slightly more expensive than other budget-friendly options out there on the market, but it is nowhere near the most expensive rack that you can get. Generally speaking, the price of this rack runs about in the middle of the road in terms of price. While it is slightly expensive, the high-end materials used as well as the versatility of the frame and ability to make quick adjustments makes this rack worth every penny, in my opinion!
By simply looking at the beefy frame of this design, you know that it is built like a tank. The frame is composed of durable 11-gauge steel that boasts a powder-coated finish to resist rust when placed in a musty and humid basement or garage. The frame also boasts 3x3 inch steel posts, which is slightly teacher than some of the other designs out there. I also love that it has very clean welded seams that enhance its overall durability and weight capacity.
When assembled, this frame weighs in at almost 230 pounds, which makes it one of the heavier designs when compared to more budget-friendly options. The heavier weight, welded seams, and high-quality steel won’t wobble or shake even under high weights. All in all, this is likely the last rack you will ever need to buy.
USE
This rack can be used for all three of the big powerlifting lifts. It’s a great rack for bench presses, squats, and deadlifts. The quick swivel of the J-hooks and catch bars makes moving in between lifts quick and easy. I also love that it has resistance band hooks along the top and button that allow you to add a higher intensity to all of your basic lifts. These hooks run along the top and bottom that can be used in your pull-up routine as well!
One thing worth noting, however, is that the bottom bar that runs along the back makes it a little difficult to line up your bench to the perfect position. Many lifters find that they need to pull their rack out from the wall slightly in order to push their bench to the right position under the bottom stabilization bar. It doesn’t mean that benchwork is off the table, it just means that you will need to do a little tinkering to make this rack compatible with your bench.
ADJUSTABILITY
One of the things that I love most about the Body-Solid Power Rack is that it allows users to make quick and nappy adjustments. While other racks have catch hooks that have to be completely pulled out, this rack utilizes swivel catch hooks that can be easily moved up and down the bar as needed. The J-hooks that are included with the purchase also utilize this same swivel mechanism that allows you to move it quickly and really lock it in place when you are ready to lift.
Another feature worth mentioning is the top pull-up bar. Personally, I love the quality of the pull-up bar that is included with the purchase. However, if you are looking for a bar with an angled grip or one that omits the knurling, this pull-up bar isn’t bolted onto the frame like most models out there on the market. It is able to be easily swapped out and replaced with a bar more suited to your personal needs.
One downside to this rack is that it only has 20 adjustment holes for J-hook placement, and these holes are spaced pretty far apart. While it may not be much of an issue when engaging in bench presses or squats, the bottom pegs are just a little too far spaced to find that perfect launching position for deads. Most racks have tapered hole spacing towards the bottom of the rack, and the Body-Solid power rack has consistent spacing throughout.
ADVANCED FEATURES
This design is pretty basic and doesn’t have a lot of extra bells and whistles included with the purchase. This design ships with the basic necessities that include catch bars and J-hooks, and that’s it. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s not compatible with extra tools. One of the things that I really liked about this model is that it has extra holes and hooks that are primed and ready to be used with extra Body-Solid machines such as a cable system or a fly deck. Plus, these attachments are offered at an affordable price point from Body-Solid.
One thing that really stood out to me is the beefy catch bars. Many racks utilize a slim catch bar with a wobbly sleeve, which is a little less than ideal and just doesn’t feel as secure when you fail out on a set. These thick and durable catch bars just feel more solid and secure when failing out on a set.
I also love that this unit comes with a pretty solid pull-up bar. The pull-up bar that is included with the purchase has a knurled grip, which is something that you don’t find in a lot of base model power racks. Also, because this tower is slightly shorter than other designs out there on the market, it makes pull-ups for short stacks (such as myself) a little easier.
ASSEMBLY
Overall, this unit is fairly easy to assemble. It comes with all of the hardware you need to put it together and includes detailed instructions to assemble it right the first time. When working alone, I found that it took most users anywhere between an hour to an hour and a half to completely assemble it right out of the box. To ensure that those bolts are tightly fastened into place, you will need to dig out your toolbox and grab your socket set.
If your handyman abilities are a little lacking, it may be in your best interest to hire the pros to assemble your rack for you. It’s super important that your rack is assembled correctly to ensure that it doesn’t wobble, or that it won’t shift or break on you in the middle of a heavy lift.
PRICE
The price of the Body-Solid GPR378 Power Rack is slightly more expensive than other budget-friendly options out there on the market, but it is nowhere near the most expensive rack that you can get. Generally speaking, the price of this rack runs about in the middle of the road in terms of price. While it is slightly expensive, the high-end materials used as well as the versatility of the frame and ability to make quick adjustments makes this rack worth every penny, in my opinion!
Comparisons to Other Versions
The GPR378 isn’t the only rack in the Body-Solid lineup. The BFPR100 is their budget-friendly option, which will save you a few hundred bucks, but it doesn’t have the overall durability or adjustable features compared to this rack. The BFPR100 is fine, but won’t hold up very well over time.
The GPR400 is more closely related to the GPR378. It shares the same price point, the same 3x3 11.gauge steel frame, and many of the same specs. To me, however, the GPR378 earns a slight edge over the adjustability of the catch bars and hooks. The GPR400 has a slightly flimsy set of catch bars and hooks that are more time-consuming to adjust, making the GPR378 the better choice.
The GPR400 is more closely related to the GPR378. It shares the same price point, the same 3x3 11.gauge steel frame, and many of the same specs. To me, however, the GPR378 earns a slight edge over the adjustability of the catch bars and hooks. The GPR400 has a slightly flimsy set of catch bars and hooks that are more time-consuming to adjust, making the GPR378 the better choice.
Verdict
If you are looking for one of the better towers out there on the market and are willing to pay a slightly higher price point, the Body-Solid GPR378 power rack is a great choice. What gives it a slight edge over competitors is the ease in adjusting the catch bars and J-hooks, as well as its compatibility with many of the additional machines and accessories available at an affordable price point from Body-Solid. If you are looking to build a good powerlifting gym that can easily conquer the big 3 lifts, this is a great choice.
The only downside to this machine that I found is that stubborn bottom bar. While it helps in really stabilizing the rack to the ground without bolting it to the floor, it makes pushing a weight bench to the right position a little difficult. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it is something worth considering if you are selecting this rack for bench presses alone.
The only downside to this machine that I found is that stubborn bottom bar. While it helps in really stabilizing the rack to the ground without bolting it to the floor, it makes pushing a weight bench to the right position a little difficult. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it is something worth considering if you are selecting this rack for bench presses alone.
$599.00See Deal 