Fitness Reality 810XLT Super Max Power Rack Review

When it comes to equipping your home gym with what will probably be its largest single investment, you need to make sure that you’re getting a unit that is up to the job. One of the most popular power racks for home use is the Fitness Reality 810XLT Power Rack. This quality rack gives you the confidence to perform heavy power moves like squats, deadlifts, and rack pulls safely, even when there’s no one else around to spot you.

In this article, we’ll get up close and personal with the 81oXLT. We’ll also compare the 810XLT with three other popular models so you can make the most informed buying decision possible.

Our Recommendation

The Fitness Reality 810XLT has really impressed us. It is truly one of those budget priced products that over-delivers in terms of sturdiness, functionality and style. We recommend it for beginner and intermediate lifters. Those who are into seriously heavy lifting in excess of 500 pounds on the bar, will probably want to step it up to the Fitness Reality X Class.

Fitness Reality 810XLT Overview

The Fitness Reality 810 XLT Super Max Power Rack is a power rack weight bench combo that is both solid and affordable. With 2 x 2 inch square steel, 11 gauge framing and hardcore bolts and nuts, you can feel secure when under this rack. It provides you with a max weight capacity of 800 pounds.

The Fitness Reality Power Rack has an optional 12-position adjustable bench. This bench is well padded and secure, while also being able to be folded for ease of storage. Your safety is assured with two 3 ¼ inch long chrome lock-on safety bars, along with two 23 -inch long chrome dual mounted safety bars. The rack gives you a large walk-on space, with plenty of side to side movement ability. On the uprights, you get 19 hole adjustments. The bench provides you with an impressive 12 seat adjustments positions. The bench can also be folded for easy storage.

Pros

  • 2 x 2-inch square steel framing
  • 12 position adjustable bench
  • Multi-position pull-up bar

Cons

  • No Westside hole spacing

Features

Solid Construction

For a budget home power rack, the 810XLT is an impressively solid unit. It is made from two-inch square steel tubing, providing a solid, stable, robust base from which to perform your heavy lifting movements. The chrome plating on the frame adds an extra dimension to the strength of the unit. The base is extremely stable and you won’t have any problems with lateral movement when you’re doing your heavy rack pulls. Pull-ups are also very solid on the 810XLT. A pair of stability bars at the back end of the bench enhance the sturdiness of the unit.

The bench that comes with this rack is also very solidly constructed. It is made from durable, powder coated tubular steel. The bench sits very solidly and will not give you any instability problems when going heavy with the bar or dumbbells.

Walk In Space

The amount of walk-in space inside of a power rack is a crucial buying consideration.  It has to be sufficient to provide you with freedom of movement to not only do the big moves such as squats and deadlifts, but also flat incline and decline work on the bench with barbells or dumbbells. With the 810XLT, you get the room that you need to do the side movements that you desire. The walk-in area is 50.5 inches in length by 46.5 inches in width by 83.5 inches in height. Of course, this does make for quite a large footprint, but, so long as you have the room for it, it is space that is well utilized.

Assembly

This power rack is relatively straightforward to put together. Even though it doesn’t come with the directions, it’s pretty obvious as to which piece goes where. With just a wrench and socket you should be able to get the job in under an hour (though you might want to have a friend assist you).

Safety Features

A key reason as to why you would have a power rack is to keep yourself safe when you are performing your heavy lifts, so the safety features are a vital buying consideration. This rack provides you with plenty of it, starting with the two 23 inch dual mounted safety catches, back up by a pair of 3.25-inch safety pins. Both of these pieces are made from durable steel.

Hole Spacing

The 810XLT provides you with 28 hole spacings up and down the length of the uprights. This gives you plenty of options as far as bar placement goes, from low deadlift height to high overhead pressing. However, the rack does not follow the Westside hole spacing pattern of inch distancing during the bench press zone and 2 inches above and below that zone – it has standard two-inch distance throughout.

Pull Up Cage

This power rack features an overhead pull up cage which gives you plenty of variety in terms of doing your chin ups and pull ups. You get a range of hand spacing, including neutral, wide narrow and medium grips.

Optional Bench

The 810XLT allows for a number of optional accessories which have the capability of transforming it into an all in one home gym. The most impressive among these is the Fitness Reality adjustable bench. The fact that it has an 800-pound weight capacity speaks volumes about its toughness and durability. It provides you with a wide seat that is well padded with a 1 3/4 inch foam backrest that gets the right balance between comfort and functionality. The seat is adjustable to twelve positions, allowing you to customize your angle adjustment when working your chest and front delts. The angle adjustment ranges between -20 degree and 80 degrees, meaning that you can set the bench for decline, flat and incline work.

The bench also provides you with a detachable 3 position adjustable leg hold down bar. This provides a high degree of stability, especially when you are doing decline work on the bench.

What’s Not So Great

There’s not a lot to complain about when it comes to the Fitness Reality 810XLT.  It is a rather large unit, so those with low ceilings will struggle to accommodate it. It also had a wide footprint. It would have been great if it had used the Westside hole spacing, but few budget racks do so. Another nice touch would have been to have printed number beside the holes to make it easy to line and adjust the safety bars.

810XLT Alternatives

Best Fitness Power Rack

The Best Fitness Power Rackis a budget-priced home gym rack for beginner and intermediate weightlifters. It provides you with a surprisingly solid frame, at 2 x 2 inch, 14-gauge steel uprights. You get a single pull up bar overhead. Each of the four uprights has 23 bar adjustment holes to allow you to customize your bench press, squat and deadlift positioning. However, the holes are set 3 inches apart, rather than the one-inch spacing you get with Westside hole spacing.

This rack provides you with a good measure of safety when training alone thanks to the two adjustable lift-offs and full-length safety bars that come as standard. The power rack has a 500-pound capacity, which is considerably less than that provided by the Fitness Realty 810XLT.

Pros

  • 2 x 2 inch, 14-gauge steel framing
  •  23 bar adjustment holes
  • Safety pins

Cons

  • Max weight capacity of only 500 pounds

Fitness Reality X-Class Olympic Power Rack

The Fitness Reality Olympic Power Rackis a heavy duty, highly versatile system. You get a very solid frame, with 2-inch by 3-inch square steel tubing. The maximum weight capacity of the unit is a very impressive 1500 pounds. You also get a pair of rubber encased 600-pound capacity dip handles as standard.

A pair of height adjustable, multi-grip pull up bars are provided with this rack. You also get an Olympic lat pull-down and cable row attachment with this impressive unit. Your safety is assured with two 11.5 safety bars and two 35.5 dual mounted safety bars. The dimensions of the rack are 86.5 inches long by 52 inches wide by 86 inches high. Your purchase of the Fitness Reality Olympic Power rack comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

Pros

  • 2 x 3-inch framing
  • 1500 pounds max weight capacity
  • Lat pulldown

Cons

  • No Westside hole spacing

Akonza Athletics Fitness Power Rack

Image of the Akonza Fitness Power Rack Cage Olympic Squat Pull Up Dip Station Workout Lift Barbell w/Lat Attachment Kit

The Akonza Athletics Fitness Power Rack is a solid, wide rack that gives you plenty of frame rigidity. It comes with a whole host of attachments, including an overhead pull up bar, plate loaded lat pull-down and low cable row attachment. You also get four plate storage pegs to keep your gym tidy, while also adding to the structural integrity of the frame.

The power rack features 17 adjustment hole spacings. This gives you fewer spacings and does not feature the Westside hole spacing system. You get safety spotter bars that range in height from 17.5 to 68 inches. The unit is finished in a stylish silver matte finish. The max weight capacity of the rack is 700 pounds.

Pros

  • Lat pull-down
  • Low cable attachment
  • Safety spotter bars

Cons

  • Max weight of only 700 pounds

Conclusion

The Fitness Reality 810XLT power rack packs a lot of punch in its budget price. It provides the wide open walk-in size, the rugged stability, the hole spacing variety, the safety features and the pull-up options that you want in a unit that will be some of the best fitness equipment for home gym use. It also provides you with plenty of options in terms of adding on to the unit later. We recommend it as a great budget home power rack for beginner and intermediate lifters.

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