Squat Rack attachment so I don't hurt myself?

akindc
akindc Posts: 84 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I just bought a half rack, since my small apartment gym only has a smith and dumbbells, and I really wanted to do 5x5. Came with everything, and I'm a beginner with weight lifting. I've been reading online a lot about safety issues, and I wanted to know if there is something I need to address a couple of concerns:

a) I live on the 8th floor. Completely carpeted, but not very shaggy and I might be buying those soft tiles to go underneath, just so the carpet doesn't get trashed and for balance. I'm not sure if plywood in my bedroom is really an option, so is this sufficient?

b) I'm just starting, so I'm not exactly lifting high numbers here yet. If it came to that, I would probably sell this one and get a better one, or work with what I have at the gym again. Given that, do the short spotter arms work so I don't potentially kill myself? I've been searching online for Weider safety arms to check out bigger ones, but nothing is coming up. Obviously I can't add Rogue ones to these.

Thanks! Sorry for the noob questions. I just really want to use barbells. FYI it's a Weider Pro 355. Bought it for $60 last night with literally everything, plus lat pull + about $200 more in plates.

Replies

  • Shawshankcan
    Shawshankcan Posts: 900 Member
    The arms will work just fine.
    Also, don't get the puzzle pieces, get horse stall mats. They are thicker and cheaper.

    Edit: Just googled what you bought. You are really going to need to know your limits since you don't have a safety bar it looks like.
  • akindc
    akindc Posts: 84 Member
    The arms will work just fine.
    Also, don't get the puzzle pieces, get horse stall mats. They are thicker and cheaper.

    Edit: Just googled what you bought. You are really going to need to know your limits since you don't have a safety bar it looks like.

    What kind of safety bar? Is that something I can add on?
  • Loulady
    Loulady Posts: 511 Member
    If you need a safety bar for squats, you can get saw horses at Lowes.
  • akindc
    akindc Posts: 84 Member
    If you need a safety bar for squats, you can get saw horses at Lowes.

    I think my main concern is bench. I'm planning to do front squats, so I think I can just let the bar drop if necessary.
  • Shawshankcan
    Shawshankcan Posts: 900 Member
    The arms will work just fine.
    Also, don't get the puzzle pieces, get horse stall mats. They are thicker and cheaper.

    Edit: Just googled what you bought. You are really going to need to know your limits since you don't have a safety bar it looks like.

    What kind of safety bar? Is that something I can add on?

    Not with your set up. Look at my avatar, you can see the safety bars just below the barbell.
  • akindc
    akindc Posts: 84 Member
    The arms will work just fine.
    Also, don't get the puzzle pieces, get horse stall mats. They are thicker and cheaper.

    Edit: Just googled what you bought. You are really going to need to know your limits since you don't have a safety bar it looks like.

    What kind of safety bar? Is that something I can add on?

    Not with your set up. Look at my avatar, you can see the safety bars just below the barbell.

    Got it. I'm looking into getting Spud Suspensions, or TDS Safeties. Or just upgrading, we'll see.

    In the meantime, I have those small barbells that work as dumbbells, so i guess I could use those to bench. I was trying to avoid that, but the main thing I wanted barbell for was squats and deadlifts anyway, so I'll modify how can I safely.
  • Shawshankcan
    Shawshankcan Posts: 900 Member
    Don't get too hung up on bb vs db. Both have a lot of benifits. And I prefer dumbbells in a lot of ways because I can workout my muscles unilaterally. With a bb bench, my right will
    Compensate. With db, it is every muscle for them self.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    If you need a safety bar for squats, you can get saw horses at Lowes.

    I think my main concern is bench. I'm planning to do front squats, so I think I can just let the bar drop if necessary.

    dropping the bar is an option for back squats too. but neither is an option I'd want to attempt in a upper floor apartment
  • MercenaryNoetic26
    MercenaryNoetic26 Posts: 2,747 Member

    dropping the bar is an option for back squats too. but neither is an option I'd want to attempt in a upper flow apartment

    I agree with this! Dropping stuff upstairs? The complaints you'll receive. hmmmm

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