The 3 Power Rack Attachments You Need for Powerlifting

I’ve been working out in my garage (or currently barn) for over 25 years, since I was 15.  It wasn’t till about 13 years ago I really found and fell in love with powerlifting.  It was something that worked not only for how I lifted, but also because the training programs needed minimal equipment.  I could do all the basics and then some with just my barbell, plates, bench, and rack. But there seems to be a growing number of gym equipment companies offering an ever broadening assortment of Power Rack Attachments. 

So the question arises: “What rack attachments do you really need for powerlifting?”.  Today, we’ll answer that question for you with the 3 power rack attachments you need for powerlifting.

Nice Rack

Starting out, we’re assuming you own a power rack of your own.  What is a power rack?  It is a piece of gym equipment to help you safely lift especially when it comes to barbell related exercise movements such as squat and bench.  If you don’t have a power rack and need some guidance, check out this article to help make your decision.  Then hop back here to be sure you have the 3 rack attachments you need for powerlifting. 

Jcups

The first rack attachment you need for powerlifting is Jcups. Jcups are J-shaped attachments that attach to your power rack to hold your barbell.  Most would say they are essential for power racks as without them your rack is just a big, tall rectangle of steel.

Jcups come in an assortment of styles and designs from basic coated steel, to Sandwich Jcups (metal lined with thick plastic or rubber to protect the power rack frame and knurling on your barbell), to premium roller Jcups which allow the barbell to easily be centered when massive amounts of weight are loaded (Check out Mutant Metal’s Snap Back Roller or Bells of Steel Roller JCups).  The standard is usually the Sandwich Jcups, but you can pick what is best for you. 

Safeties

Powerlifting is all about chasing those big one rep maxes.  Pushing the limits of what your body is capable of.  Going for those big new personal bests can be dangerous at times as it tests the absolute limits of what our bodies can lift which brings us to our next rack attachment for powerlifting: safeties.  Safeties are an attachment which can be set at a specific height where the barbell will be caught if a lift is failed, therefore keeping you safe from being crushed.  Granted, they need to be set at an appropriate height, but you get the gist. 

Safeties come in a variety of styles and designs.  The most basic are pin-pipe safeties.  These metal pipes slide between two uprights and are usually secured via a pin.  Some are padded, but most old school pin-pipe safeties are just bare metal. 

Next up are Spotter Arms.  These usually attach to the upright and extend out ½ to ⅔ to the back upright.  Spotter arms are usually similar to Sandwich Jcups as they have a thick layer of plastic or rubber to protect your rack and barbell when you bail or fail.    These can come in a variety of sizes and designs and recommend checking out which one would be right for you.  Personally, I like a spotter arm which takes up the fewest holes and space on my uprights like Bremmy Spotter Arms. 

Last in the safeties category are Strap Safeties.  These are usually reinforced nylon straps secured to the uprights via a bracket and sometimes a pin or bolt depending on the manufacturer.  Strap safeties are quieter when you drop your barbell as they land on nylon instead of hard plastic or bare metal.

They can also be adjusted at differing heights so if you bail from a squat, the barbell rolls away from you rather than towards you.  Check out Dialed Motion’s Strap Safeties for a low profile and unique safety build.  When it comes to squats, I tend to lean towards Strap Safeties as they allow a little play when I am working on squat depth.  I’m not jolted to a stop like when I am using the sturdy, solid spotter arms. 

Cables

While some would argue you don’t NEED cables for powerlifting, they are a big help in hitting some good accessory movements.  Especially if you’re running any of the programs from Juggernaut AI app, having some type of cable option can maximize your training and gains. As the years have gone by, more and more companies are offering cable attachments for your rack.  Gone are the days of the only cable options being a stand alone cable tower. 

If you’re starting out and just need something basic, here is a good DIY option that is relatively cheap.  Or if you don’t want to hassle with making your own, Bells of Steel has a cheap option as well.  If you’re looking for something more substantial that can give you access to more cable exercise options, there is the IBEX 2.0 from Dialed Motion, Surplus Strength’s UPS, or go with the Premium cable machine, the VOLTRA from Beyond Power.

Be sure you first see what you really need and want from your cable options along with your budget.  Then go from there to make your decision and purchase.  If you want to do a deeper dive, check out this article for the best cable machine for your garage gym. 

While there are so many other rack attachments, bells, whistles, doo dads, and options available, you really just need these 3 rack attachments for powerlifting: Jcups, Safeties, and cables.  Other attachments can be useful for gains and accessory work like Mutant Metal’s Ultimate Dip Attachment, but for powerlifting, you really just need those three. If you want to do a deeper dive into rack attachments, check out this article.  Below we’ve included some options from two of our Garage Gym Competition Sponsors, Rep Fitness and Bells of Steel. 

What To Buy

REP Fitness

PR-5000

1. Jcups: Standard, Sandwich
2. Safeties: Pin-Pipe, Spotter Arms, Safety Straps
3. Cable Option

PR-4000

1. Jcups: Standard, Sandwich
2. Safeties: Pin-Pipe, Spotter Arms, Safety Straps
3. Cable Option

Bells of Steel

Hydra

1. Jcups: Standard, Sandwich
2. Safeties: Pin-Pipe, Spotter Arms, Safety Straps, Safety Strap Connectors
3. Cable Option

Manticore

1. Jcups: Standard, Sandwich
2. Safeties: Pin-Pipe, Spotter Arms, Safety Straps, Safety Strap Connectors
3. Cable Option

This article was written by Christian Ernst.