Rogue Fitness is one of the most recognizable brands in the fitness space, and holds huge percentage of the market for home gym equipment. Rogue squat rack and power racks are the choice of many home gyms. However, Rogue has 3 series of squat rack options – Monster, Monster Lite and Infinity. Choosing between the 3 lines can be a difficult task. So, let’s break down the differences between Rogue’s squat lines and compare and contrast the Monster vs. Monster Lite vs. Infinity series.
Our Recommendation on Rogue's Rack Series
Rogue’s squat rack options vary in their upright sizing, hardware sizing and holes. All Rogue squat racks are made 11-gauge steel, which is more than enough for any home gym. For the most part, you are able to find the same or very similar racks, in terms of specifications and sizes, across the 3 series.
The Monster series is Rogue’s most robust, durable and beefy squat rack series. However, you do not need the Monster series for your home gym. Our recommendation is to choose from the Monster Lite series.
Rogue Rack Series Overview
Monster Series
- Upright Side: 3x3"
- Hole Size: 1"
- Steel Gauge: 11 gauge
- Racks Available: Rigs, Squat Stands + Power Racks
Monster Lite Series
- Upright Side: 3x3"
- Hole Size: 5/8"
- Steel Gauge: 11 gauge
- Racks Available: Rigs, Squat Stands + Power Racks
Infinity Series
- Upright Side: 2x3"
- Hole Size: 5/8"
- Steel Gauge: 11 gauge
- Racks Available: Squat Stands + Power Racks
- Further Reading: Squat Rack Basics Explained – a great place to start if you’re just entering the home gym/squat rack world
Rogue Monster Series Racks Explained
The Rogue Monster series is Rogue’s premier power rack line. It is available for all of Rogue’s rack offerings – power racks, squat stands, wall-mount racks and rigs. Most home gyms won’t have a rig in them so we’ll skip over those for now.
All Monster series racks have 3×3” upright tubing that is 11-gauge steel. 1” hardware is used to fasten the Monster series uprights and crossbeams. This combination of steel tube size, steel gauge and hardware size is about as beefy and strong as you will find on the market.
Rack Cost
The size and strength of the Monster series racks comes with a hefty price tag. You’re looking at the $1000-2500+ USD area for most Monster power racks and $600+ USD for squat stands.
Rack Stability
Despite the large footprint and beefy size, Rogue recommends most of the Monster series power racks to be bolted to the floor.
The 6-post power rack (RM-6), RM-390F Flat Foot and Monster Collegiate Half Rack do not need to be bolted to the floor. Similarly, the Monster squat stands do not need to be bolted to the ground.
The Rogue SM-1 Squat Stand is the only Monster Series squat stand that does not have a pull up bar connecting the uprights so it is less stable than the rest of the Monster squat stands. As a result, the SM-1 is not compatible with a number of attachments and rack accessories because there is an opportunity for sway in the system. This could limit your ability to use the Rogue Matador dip attachment, for instance.
Compatible Accessories and Modularity
The 3×3” uprights and 1” holes means that the Rogue Monster series is the most compatible with accessories and attachments from other companies (e.g., Sorinex and Rep Fitness’ P5000 lineup), in addition to the plethora of Monster series attachments available from Rogue. 3×3″ uprights with 1″ hole size is the most modular and accessory-friendly squat rack dimension on the market.
The Monster series is unique in that the side holes on its uprights are keyhole designed, rather than simple circular holes, as shown above. The cool part of this is that the top of the keyhole is 1” in diameter, and the bottom portion is 5/8” so the rack is able to handle attachments that are for both 1” and 5/8” sizing. 5/8” attachments are typically cheaper, so this is an opportunity to save some cash on attachments.
Accessories can be mounted on any face of the Monster series uprights because of the 4-way hole set up on the uprights.
Rogue rack accessories are typically released first for the Monster line of racks, and the accessories trickle down to the other lines later. The Monster accessories also tend to have nicer finishing (like knurled handles) that may not be seen on Monster Lite or Infinity versions. Monster series attachments will also include UMHW (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) plastic on the parts of the attachment that interact with the rack uprights. This provides a tighter fit to the rack and prevents banging or scraping of your uprights.
Our pick for the top accessories are:
As mentioned above, the SM-1 Squat Stand is the least compatible of the Monster series racks due to its lack of pull up bar. You can either buy a pull up bar or upgrade to the SM-2.5 or SM-2, which come with a pull up bar.
A key point to consider is that Rogue uses true 3×3” uprights and true 1” holes. Rogue racks are made in USA, so they are built based on the imperial measurements. However, a number of companies build their racks in China, and their racks are marketed as 3×3” and 1” holes, but are actually measured at 2.95×2.95″, and the holes are around 0.98″. This generally does not matter for single hole attachments, however attachments that go through 2 holes of the upright may not fit. So it is important to double check if the attachments you’re adding are imperial or metric measurements if you’re matching non-Rogue accessories to a Rogue rack.
Rogue Monster Lite Series Racks Explained
As the name suggests, the Rogue Monster Lite (RML) series of racks are a lighter version than the Monster series. The uprights are the same size between the series (3×3”, 11-gauge steel) but the hardware and hole sizing on the Monster Lite series is 5/8” vs. the 1” size found on Monster series.
Unlike the Monster series, RML racks do not have a 4-way hole system, as shown below. Instead, the front and back of the uprights have holes either 2” or 1” apart. The 1” spacing is found in the ‘benching zone’ and is referred to as Westside spacing. The tighter space between holes allows for fine-tuned adjustment of J-hook and spotter arm placement, which is more impactful for a bench press vs. a squat.
The sides of RML uprights have holes 6” apart, except for at the very base of the upright. The holes on the Monster Lite series are not numbered.
Smaller and less frequent holes, and no laser engraved numbering means there is actually more metal in the uprights of Monster Lite racks compared to Monster racks.
Rack Cost
The Rogue Monster Lite series comes in at a more affordable price tag than the Monster series, with power racks starting around $900 USD and squat stands in the $400-500 range. RML rack accessories are about $30-100 cheaper than the comparable Monster series attachments too. This can make the RML line significantly more budget friendly than Monster series. Or, you can get ‘more’ rack for a similar price if you go with the RML line.
Rack Stability
RML power and squat racks have a 49-53” wide base of support so they are quite stable. Most of the 4-post RML power racks need to be bolted to the floor. However, a stabilizer bar can be purchased for some 4 post racks, which removes this need.
6-post Monster Lite power racks, the Monster Lite Half Rack and the RML-390F don’t need to be bolted to the floor. Similarly, the SML squat stand versions of the Monster Lite series don’t need to be bolted to the floor.
We have the SML-2 squat stand and notice that we need to put 20kg plates on the corners of it if we do any kipping movements on the pull up bar. It also can tip a bit if we do dips off the sides of the uprights.
Compatible Accessories and Modularity
The Monster Lite series of racks have essentially the same Rogue accessories available as the beefier RM series. However, the RML series attachments are released after they are available on the RM series – there is a trickle down of technology and innovation.
The 3×3” uprights and 5/8” holes found on the RML racks allow it to be compatible with accessory offerings from other major companies. 1” holes are still the gold-standard, so the number of attachments from other companies may also be lower for the RML series compared to the RM series.
Additionally, the uprights for RML racks do not have 4-way hole systems. This can be a drawback in some cases, especially for attachments that require pegs entering two holes, like the Monster Lite Leg Roller. The combination of Westside spacing and variable hole spacing on the sides of the uprights can also affect where attachments can be placed.
The RML-series is unique that it has a rack-mounted GHD available, which does not work with any other Rogue rack series.
Our pick for the top accessories are:
Rogue Infinity Series Racks Explained
There are limited options available for the Infinity series rack lineup. Rumours have been swirling for years that the line will be discontinued – but years later they’re still available. And the Infinity series remains a solid option for home gyms.
The Infinity series was really the first ‘home gym focused’ squat rack series – coming in with 2×3” uprights and 5/8” holes and hardware. The racks aren’t bulky, but they’re able to handle anything you throw at them. The Infinity series comes in at a nice price point, but lacks in modularity, accessories, and growth potential (more on that below).
Rack Cost
Rogue’s Infinity series lineup costs less than the Monster and Monster Lite series. The wall-mounted option (R-3 Fold Back) comes in at $500 USD, while 4-post power racks are in the $800-900 range. The R-6, 6 post power rack, is close to $1800. Meanwhile, the Infinity squat stand line is in the $400-460 price range. This means you can get squat stands for a couple of hundred dollars less than the rest of Rogue’s options, and you could save $500+ on some power rack options.
Stability
The Infinity Series line of power racks have a 53″ wide base of support, while the squat racks are 48″ wide. In general, their width is on par with the majority of racks on the market.
The S-1 Squat Stand is the least stable option in the Infinity lineup because it doesn’t have a pull up bar attaching it’s uprights. (the S-2 has that option).
The R3 four-post power rack is the only Infinity power rack that needs to be bolted to the floor. The R4 has flat feet, means it doesn’t need to be bolted to the floor – but Rogue covers their liability by suggesting that it’s still anchored.
The 6-post R6 Power Rack is so large and weighs so much (300 lbs) that it is completely stable without being anchored to the floor. The 80″ x 53″ R6 is a behemoth of a rack.
For the most part, the Infinity series racks follow what you see with the rest of the racks on the market. 4-post power racks should be anchored to the floor, unless specifically indicated that they don’t need to be. 6-post power racks don’t need to be. Squat racks and half racks don’t need to be anchored to the floor, but aren’t as stable as their 4- and 6-post cousins.
Compatible Accessories and Modularity
A quick search on the Rogue website tells the story of the Infinity series accessories. Rogue lists 47 available accessories for the Infinity line, compared to 81 for the Monster Lite and 67 for the Monster line.
Truthfully, the majority of the attachments listed aren’t true accessories. Outside of a few pull up bars, safety spotter arms and the Matador dip bar, the rest are for storage or help with rack assembly. The Infinity series simply isn’t as popular as the other lines, and doesn’t get the innovation and modularity as a result.
The 2×3” tube sizing limits the way accessories are mounted on the rack. The non-uniform size means that accessories can only be attached in one configuration. This potentially limits the ability for two people to utilize an Infinity rack at the same for different purposes.
Simply put, if you are looking for a rack with lots of accessory options then the Infinity series should not be your first choice. The Titan T-3 series accessories is your best non-Rogue option fit the Infinity series.
Wrap Up: Rogue Rack Series
Rogue racks are well-manufactured, strong enough to handle anything you throw at them and will last forever.
The Monster Lite series of racks is likely the Goldilock’s of their 3 options. These racks are beefy enough to hold their own in homes of some of the strongest people in the world, they have a plethora of accessories that will work with their upright and hole sizing (both from Rogue and other manufacturers), and the Monster Lite series racks won’t break the bank. This is why we recommend you choose a Monster Lite rack for your home gym – and it’s why we have 2 in our garage.
Really, though, regardless of the rack you choose, a Rogue rack would be a great addition to any home gym.
Our Recommended Rogue Racks
Best Overall Rogue Rack for Home Gyms
- RML 590 C Power Rack – a 6-post Monster Lite rack option with plate storage. The custom colour options and Rogue nameplate make the 590 stand out. This is a beast and could easily be the last rack you ever have to buy.
- RM-390 Flat Foot Monster Rack – if you want a 4-post, beefy rack then this is the one for you. It’s the best bang for your buck Monster Series power rack.
Best Budget Rogue Squat Rack for Home Gyms
- S-2 Squat Stand – a small footprint, a decent number of compatible accessories and a price that can fit almost any budget – what more is there to ask for. It’s a great starting point for any home gym.
Top Pick for Small Home Gyms
- HR-2 Half Rack – this half rack does it all – a small footprint, plenty of storage and stability and the option to use it as a power rack if you want the added assurance of the safety pins. The HR-2 could be the foundation of your gym for years.
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