Racks and Rigs: The Heart of Your Training Area

Racks and rigs are the backbone of every gym: versatile and modular structures, designed to support intensive workouts and heavy loads in complete safety. For this reason, Ironside Armour's research and development department has worked to make them versatile and capable of meeting the highest standards of safety and stability.

What is a Rack

A rack is a sturdy steel “cage” designed to safely perform major barbell movements such as squats, bench presses, deadlifts, military presses and many others, and around which you can build your entire gym.

The structure is made up of four vertical uprights connected by horizontal crosspieces; the uprights feature equidistant holes that allow for the placement of adjustable hooks on which to rest the barbell at the beginning and end of the exercise, as well as other accessories to expand the rack's potential.

Types of Racks

• Power Racks: Four (or more) uprights that form an enclosed cage, complete with numerous attachment points for accessories.
• Half Racks: Two main uprights mounted on a sturdy base, with adjustable barbell hooks. A more compact solution that offers safety and versatility in small spaces.
• Foldable Racks : Space-saving structure designed to be easily folded when not in use, without compromising stability and strength.

What is a Rig?

A rig is a longitudinal structure used primarily for functional training and CrossFit. Composed primarily of vertical uprights and horizontal bars, the rig allows for a wide range of exercises such as pull-ups, dips, squats, muscle-ups, Olympic lifts, and much more.

From this basic element it is possible to create more complex structures, joining multiple modules together and having increasingly larger rigs that adapt to the size of sports centres.

Rig Types

• Wall-Mounted Rig: A wall-mounted rig, ideal for optimizing space. Perfect for home gyms or personal training studios, it offers a complete workout in a compact footprint.
• Free-Standing Rig: A freestanding structure that requires no wall mounting. Offering maximum flexibility and stability, it's perfect for gyms and large spaces. It can be configured with multiple stations for group training.
• Multi-Bay Rig: A modular rig consisting of multiple interconnected stations. Ideal for CrossFit boxes or large gyms, it allows multiple users to train simultaneously at different stations.

Quality construction features

• Scratch-resistant powder-coated steel uprights; for outdoor use, galvanization and anti-corrosion paint are added.
• Pull-up bars with non-slip texture where extra grip is needed.
• Continuous drilling on two or four sides for maximum configuration freedom.
• Wide choice of colors to customize the structure.

Three structural lines for different needs

• Training Series: 6 x 6 cm square uprights with a thickness of 2 mm. Functionally, they feature limited drilling in key areas; ideal for home gyms or personal training studios.
• Pro Series: 3" x 3" reinforced square uprights with a thickness of 3mm. Functionally, they feature full perforations on all four sides of the uprights; ideal for high-end commercial and home gyms.
• Elite Series : evolution of the Pro line, to which further aesthetic improvements and greater attention to detail have been made.
  

The accessories are mostly “on/off”, so they can be mounted and removed in seconds, while some, bolted, remain fixed to ensure rigidity.

How to Integrate Rigs and Racks into Your Training

To truly take advantage of a rack, you need some essential accessories. The first is a barbell, preferably an Olympic or weightlifting barbell, with the appropriate plates, and often a flat bench. This combination is the basis for squats, bench presses, military presses, and other movements typical of competitive training or daily strength training.

The rig, on the other hand, is designed for even broader use and, if necessary, can be completely autonomous. Simply attach a pull-up bar, a pair of rings, or a calisthenics station, and you've got everything you need for pull-ups, dips, muscle-ups, and bodyweight workouts.

Both can accommodate additional modules such as Smith Machines, Leg Presses, Power Arms, or cable systems, transforming the structure into a complete station that replaces multiple traditional machines.
They can also double as your storage hub. Add dumbbell shelves, kettlebell racks, slam ball holders, or disc racks and you'll have a neat area where every piece of equipment is within easy reach.

Steps to choose the ideal structure

• Measure your available space and decide whether you want a freestanding or wall-mounted system.
• Define your goals: powerlifting, cross-training, calisthenics, or mixed functional training.
• Choose the right series based on your spaces and budget.
• Select accessories: extra bars, dip stations, power arms, landmines, storage shelves, platforms, etc.
  

With the right configuration, you can transform every square meter into a complete, secure, and scalable workspace over time.