The REP Omni Rack is a flat-footed power rack version of the almighty PR-5000 V2. Its ability to sit on a home gym floor unbolted, yet still sturdy while also offering the potential to go from a half rack to full rack is unique. We recommend the Omni Rack just as we recommend the PR-5000. However, the two squat racks are extremely similar–for most people, we feel the PR-5000 V2 is a better option for reasons explained in our review.
Omni Rack Review
REP Omni Rack
Product Highlights
The REP Omni Rack delivers stability and function without compromise. We combined the durability and utility of the V1 HR-5000 Half Rack with the versatility and customizability of our 5000 series power racks to create the ultimate configurable power rack.
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line
Rep Fitness doesn’t have an extensive selection of squat racks, so when they release a new one, there’s a lot of anticipation. This is certainly true for the release of the REP Omni Rack. A rack they claim as “the ultimate configurable power rack” and even went as far as to say it’s “the best rack for home gyms.” Although we think it’s a good rack and enjoy the half rack capabilities, we’re not sold on the fact that it’s somehow superior to the PR-5000 V2. There are just so many similarities and so few differences between the two.
Should you Add the REP Omni Rack to Your Home Gym?
Before we get into the nitty gritty of the review, let’s answer the question most important: is the REP Omni Rack going to suit your training style, budget, and space? Squat racks are a staple in garage gyms the world over, but picking the best squat rack depends mostly on the trainee. Here are my recommendations.
Who I recommend the Omni Rack for
- Garage gym owners who want a half rack will love the stability of the Omni Rack.If you want a high-quality power rack, but want to start with a smaller half rack, the Omni Rack’s ability to upgrade over time is great for those on a budget.Those that don’t want to bolt their rack to the ground and don’t plan on adding weight posts will like the flat foot design of the Omni Rack similar to the REP SR-4000 Squat Stand we’ve reviewed.
- If you want a lat pulldown attached to your rack, REP is offering the best option currently and it works with the Omni Rack.
Who I don’t recommend the Omni Rack for
- I’d steer those that want to start with a full 6-post power rack towards the PR-5000 V2 from REP or a different rack from our best squat racks guide.The Omni Rack has a large footprint even when only used as a half rack, so if your home gym is a small space, I’d look elsewhere.If you’re on a strict budget, there many less expensive racks we’d recommend.
REP Omni Rack Setup
Before we dive into the details and performance, let’s talk about the unboxing and assembly.
As with most REP products, the Omni Rack showed up in front of my garage in boxes secured to an extra-long pallet. My delivery guy was gracious enough to bring it all the way through the snow and drop it off as close to the gym as possible.
The boxes were all in good shape with no visible damage to the packaging or even the saran wrap. We removed the boxes from the pallet and brought them into the garage and began unboxing. Pulling out the uprights revealed the familiar light red that REP has chosen for their racks and best weight benches. Total assembly time took about 35 minutes, but we used power tools that sped up the process. Assembly was very similar as other modular racks except instead of having individual bottom cross-members, the Omni Rack sits on flat-footed 3”x3” beams to which the uprights are bolted to. We made sure to leave all the bolts unfastened until fully erect and then went back and secured them all.
I was a little disappointed to see the feet use a metallic black instead of a textured black that would match the arch logo and the cross-members I ordered. However, you only really notice it when you’re up close.
With the rack setup, it was time to get to work.
Using the REP Omni Rack
The first exercise that must be done on any new power rack in the garage gym is squats. Despite reviewing hundreds of racks, I have yet to do anything other than squat as the first movement within a rack. It just feels right. Be sure to see the best weightlifting belts guide here.
As soon as I placed the barbell in the j-cups, it became clear just how stable the Omni Rack is, which is one of it’s biggest strengths.
A flat foot rack is designed in such a way that allows it to be stable without having to be bolted to the ground. In the past, many power racks had to be bolted to the ground. One of the first squat racks I had was the Rogue R-3 Westside Power Rack and to keep me from having to bolt it to concrete, I bolted it to myDIY Weightlifting Platform.
As with many modern racks, the Omni Rack uses 3”x3” 11-gauge steel uprights (although they’re slightly smaller due to using the metric system instead of imperial) and has 1” holes. This means it works with most Rogue Monster and Sorinex attachments. It’s also 47” wide which is preferable by many so the barbell sleeve collars don’t hit the rack during the walkout of a squat or the lift-off on a bench press.
Before I made the rack into a 6 post power rack, I decided to try it out as a half rack with four posts, using the back posts for storage for the best bumper plates. Although the Omni Rack is the name REP chose, it really is the second version of our previously reviewed HR-5000 and I wish they would have stuck with it. The name ‘Omni’ is cool and conjures up visions of superheroes, which is what we build in garage gyms. However, it’s confusing as the Omni Rack is best suited as a half rack in my opinion.
The problem that is solved with the Omni Rack that many half racks miss is its stability without being bolted down or even without having weight stored on the back. For the same reason we liked the SR-4000 Squat Stand, the Omni Rack’s ability to be sturdy under heavy load or during dynamic movements like muscle-ups and kipping pull-ups are done on the multi-grip pull-up bar is outstanding.
The flat foot base makes it easy to connect uprights and grow over time, but it’s not that much different to upgrade on from the PR-5000 V2.
One nice feature we tested on the Omni Rack is the band pegs that slot into the bottom feet. Due to how heavy the rack is, you can use heavy tensioned bands without worrying about it moving or lifting up. I like throwing some bands over my shoulders and grabbing the multi-grip pull-up bar on the fat grip side and knocking out a set of chest-to-bar pull-ups. Or, even using the band pegs like a deadlift platform for accommodating resistance.
This is one of the nice parts of using the Omni Rack as a half rack. The ability to lift outside the rack while still using the functionalities of the feet that extend out and below the bar on a deadlift so you really don’t need a platform is fantastic and a feature many overlook. Banded deadlifts and squats are some of my favorite lifts (banded box squats are the G.O.A.T, in my opinion.)
I don’t want to downplay the use of the Omni Rack as a 6-post rack. It works pretty much equally as well as the PR-5000 V2 for that purpose. But, the Omni Rack has fewer options and lower future upgradeability at this juncture as it currently only comes with 93” tall uprights.
Everything about the Omni Rack is as I’d say with the PR-5000 V2. It’s a great value, high-quality, modular power rack that most home gym owners would love to have. The problem is, the PR-5000 V2 checks the same boxes and has the potential for a smaller footprint.
REP Omni Rack vs REP PR-5000 V2 Power Rack
The question we’ve been getting most often while teasing the Omni Rack is, “what separates the Omni Rack from the PR-5000?”
Omni Rack vs PR-5000
REP PR-5000 Power Rack V2
Product Highlights
- Virtually limitless configurations and attachment setups
- 3×3″ 11-gauge steel
- Oversize 1″ diameter hardware
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The Rep PR-5000 Power Rack V2 is Rep Fitness answer to the Rogue Monster and Sorinex XL Series Racks.
- Despite the racks being imported, the quality and features are on a similar level as the USA made competition.
- Due to the racks being imported, the prices are overall cheaper.
- The racks use 1" hardware throughout the rack that look incredibly beefy and allow for a variety of attachments.
- There's a seemingly endless amount of accessories and add-ons for the rack that can be purchased on-page, which is a great feature for easy checkout.
- Coming in a variety of colors, there's a look that will suit anyone's taste, including stainless steel. If you want a rack that won't corrode, get stainless.
- The arch logo stands out and adds a great look to a premium rack.
- The width of the rack is 47" outside upright to outside upright. This makes racking the bar easier and is one reason people love Sorinex and don't like Rogue's Monster series.
- There are strap safeties, flip-down safeties, and more available for the rack as well as over 5 different pull-up bar options.
- There is optional weight storage available for the back.
- The rack has an optional lat pulldown attachment that is reasonably priced as well as a future innovative belt squat option that we think will be rather popular.
- If you want to never have to upgrade a rack again, this is an awesome option at a better price than the competitors.
Cons
- Despite all of the great features and options, the rack is imported. We haven't noticed much of a drop in quality between Rep and Rogue lately, but it is something to be wary of if you want made in the USA equipment.
- Although cheaper than competitors, it's still an expensive rack for what will essentially hold the same amount of weight as racks much less. Something to consider if you're just looking for functionality.
Bottom Line
The new Rep PR-5000 Power Rack V2 is one of the best value, high-end squat racks that we've reviewed. It features many of the same characteristics of racks like the Rogue Monster Series and Sorinex XL Series, but at a bit of a discount. Buying a rack at this level should take a lot of thought and consideration as it should be the last rack you'll ever have to buy. We'll hold off on suggesting one or the other until we have them all in-house to compare, but we are very impressed by the first look and features and foresee many trainees having this in their garage gyms soon.
The main reason we’d recommend the Omni Rack over the PR-5000 is if you wanted the half rack functionality with the long base or we’re scared of using the PR-5000 without bolting it down.
Both the Omni Rack and PR-5000 can use all of the REP accessories including the ISO Arms that we’ve reviewed as well as the Monolift Attachment that we’ve also reviewed.
The only attachment that doesn’t seem to work is the REP Belt Squat, although its current iteration had so quirks that we didn’t love.
For most people, we’d prefer the PR-5000 V2, although they’re so similar I think you could go either way.
My Final Thoughts About the REP Omni Rack
If I could sum up the best and worst of the Omni Rack, this is what I’d say.
My favorite things about the Omni Rack
- I think the Omni Rack is tremendous as a half rack that also has a large footprint. Honestly, it’s one of the best half racks available.
- The stability offered by the flat foot design makes it so it doesn’t have to be bolted down, even if the weight storage isn’t used. The bolt can even boost with the right and best home gym flooring.
- Most all of the REP attachments work well on the Omni Rack.
My complaints about the Omni Rack
- In my opinion, the Omni Rack is best suited as a half rack and I’d prefer the PR-5000 V2 in the 6-post variety. The other thing that’s a complaint and is really just a requirement to have stability is the footprint of the rack as a half rack. The footprint doesn’t change no matter how many uprights are connected, which means it’s going to have the same depth as a squat stand, half rack, or full rack.
Full Rating
REP Omni Rack
The REP Omni Rack is a flat-footed power rack version of the almighty PR-5000 V2. Its ability to sit on a home gym floor unbolted, yet still sturdy while also offering the potential to go from a half rack to full rack is unique. We recommend the Omni Rack just as we recommend the PR-5000. However, the two squat racks are extremely similar–for most people, we feel the PR-5000 V2 is a better option for reasons explained in our review.
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 934
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.3
REP Omni Rack FAQs
What is the REP Omni Rack?
The REP Omni Rack is a flat-footed variant of the PR-5000 V2 power rack. Its ability to sit unbolted on a home gym floor while being stable and giving the option to convert from a half rack to a full rack is remarkable. The Omni Rack is recommended in the same way as the PR-5000 is. However, because the two squat racks are so close, we believe the PR-5000 V2 is a better option for most people, as stated in our review.
What are the safety features for the REP Omni Rack?
You will be able to choose your safety style with the OMNI rack. If you buy either the safety straps or the flip-down safeties, I strongly advise you to do so. Both are more convenient to use and provide more protection for your barbells than the less expensive pin and pipes. They also include UHMW safety spotter arms for the front of your rack, which I appreciate because some individuals (like myself) prefer to lift outside of our racks.
