Nike Squat Cage Review: A Former Competitive Lifter Weighs In On This Equipment

Looking to invest in high-quality fitness equipment? Here’s what to know before buying the new Nike Squat Cage, according to a certified personal trainer.

Author:
Anna Marie Clear, MS, RD, CPT
Feb 8, 2024

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Whether you are looking to build your own personal home gym or are a commercial gym owner looking for an upgrade, Nike Strength has you covered, thanks to the company's durable gym equipment. The Nike Squat Cage stands out amongst Nike’s vast array of fitness equipment due to its sleek design and functionality; this squat cage is engineered for versatility and can be used for a broad range of exercises.

As a certified personal trainer and former competitive weightlifter, I am passionate about high-quality fitness equipment, as I have trained with various types of squat racks and cages. In this review, I explore the pros, cons, cost and effectiveness of the Nike Squat Cage.

Nike Squat Cage at a Glance

Dimensions: 40.8 inches D x 53.5 inches W x 93 inches H
Weight: 300.5 pounds
Max weight capacity: 1,100 pounds
Material: 11-gauge steel tubing uprights and bright zinc hardware
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Price: $950

What Is a Squat Cage?

A squat cage (also called a power rack) is a durable and user-friendly piece of fitness equipment designed for barbell strength training and bodyweight exercises, such as pull-ups. In order to safely complete the barbell lift, a heavy-duty squat rack is needed to place your barbell and weights effectively. Additional equipment including a barbell and weighted plates are required for optimal use; a squat cage isn’t much use without equipment to squat with. Whether you are a competitive athlete or a regular gym-goer, the Nike Squat Cage is designed for any individual looking to use a barbell on a secure and dependable unit designed for a home gym.

Nike Squat Cage Features at a Glance

The Nike Squat Cage stands out with a max weight capacity of 1,100 pounds, which is greater than most residential squat cages on the market. For example, the REP Fitness PR-5000 rack can support 1,000 pounds, and the average weight capacity for squat cages and power racks designed for home use is generally between 500 and 800 pounds, according to Fringe Fitness.

The Nike Squat Cage is also compatible with additional attachments, such as the dip station and spotter arms, so you can customize your squat rack to accommodate your preferred exercises.

For example, the Nike dip station is a great addition for chest and arm workouts, thanks to angled, comfort-grip handles. The Nike spotter arms are useful for a safeguard while solo lifting. Unlike the other Nike racks, the squat cage already includes safety bars to ensure safety while lifting; I would only recommend purchasing the extra spotter arms if you are looking to lift with two barbells at the same time: one barbell in the middle of the cage and one barbell in the front of the cage.

You’ll find hole spacing every two inches along the uprights, making it easy to find the right barbell height, and laser-engraved numbers denoting every other hole simplifies lining up the J-cups.

Working Out with the Nike Squat Cage

Testers Cooper Mitchell, Lindsay Scheele and Brandon Lunsford trained with the Nike Squat Cage for a few weeks, performing barbell exercises including bench press, back squats and pull-ups. Based on its durability and stability, the testers felt comfortable to load any amount of weight onto it; they added 500 pounds to the barbell and felt the rack supported the weight well. The testers were also able to testify to the rack’s safety after testing the safety bars on the squat cage.

Overall, our testers believe the Nike Squat Cage is well designed to stand up to different workouts and movements. During testing, they moved it around multiple times and have not yet noticed any wear and tear. The testers also noticed the Nike J-cups—the small rig attachments that hold barbells—moved with ease and securely locked in place. However, they did note slight scratching on the rack coating after moving the J-cups to change the barbell height.

Exercises To Do With the Nike Squat Cage

The Nike Squat Cage allows users to perform compound exercises including barbell squat, barbell bench, barbell rows, barbell bench press, barbell overhead press, barbell reverse lunges, rack pulls, pull ups and more. As a personal trainer, an example leg day workout I would give clients using a squat cage may include barbell back squats, barbell front squats, rack deadlifts, barbell good mornings and barbell reverse lunges.

An example of an upper body workout may include pull-ups, barbell rows, barbell shoulder press, barbell bench press, barbell upright row, barbell bicep curl and inverted barbell row. Based on my client’s goals, mobility and functionality, I may also incorporate different full-body, explosive movements including the barbell power clean, barbell thruster, barbell push press and hanging leg raises.

Nike Squat Cage Construction and Durability

Standing 93 inches tall, 53.5 inches wide and 40.7 inches deep, the Nike Squat Cage is crafted to withstand the rigors of both commercial and residential weight training. The three-by-three-inch-thick 11-gauge steel tubing and high weight capacity ensures stability and safety when lifting heavy weights. It’s fully equipped with four vertical uprights, a 1.25-inch diameter pull-up bar, crossmembers, safety spotter pins, J-cups, hardware and anchor sleeves.

Benefits of the Nike Squat Cage

A squat cage is my personal favorite piece of gym equipment due to its functionality; it allows training of different muscle groups through various compound exercises, so you can perform a whole workout on a single piece of equipment. Compound exercises are effective because they feature multi-joint movements requiring more than one muscle group to be utilized, working to improve strength, cardiovascular endurance and flexibility.

Proper form and mobility are essential in order to receive the benefits of training compound movements with the Nike Squat Cage. If you are new to the weight lifting and fitness space, I recommend working with a certified personal trainer to learn correct form to avoid injury and optimize health and performance benefits.

How Much Does the Nike Squat Cage Cost?

The Nike Squat Cage costs $950, excluding barbells, plates and other accessories. In order to train various barbell movements, barbells and weight plates are necessary but will increase your total unit cost. Nike Strength barbells range from $250 to $325 depending on weight and color. Nike Strength rubber bumper plates range in price from $35 to $100 each depending on the weight. You can purchase barbells and plates in a bundle to save on costs. You can also diversify your use by purchasing accessories, such as a dip station for an additional $150 and spotter arms for $200.

While Nike Strength equipment is comparable to competitors, the Nike apparatus is on the pricier side; amongst all three Nike Strength squat rack options, the squat cage is the most expensive. I personally believe the Nike Squat Cage is worth the additional cost due to its extra adaptability, functionality and the safety it offers during workouts.

Nike Squat Cage pros:

Rack and K-cup weight capacity of 1,100 pounds and pull-up bar weight capacity of 660 pounds
Hole spacing every two inches for optimal barbell placement height
Sleek design with laser-engraved numbers denoting every other hole
Made with 11-gauge steel tubing for stability and durability

Nike Squat Cage cons:

May not be suitable for smaller gym spaces
Must be anchored to concrete floor
Only one color and height option available

Who the Nike Squat Cage Is Best For

The Nike Squat Cage is designed for athletes, fitness enthusiasts and gym-goers who feel confident with the basics of strength training and can safely complete barbell movements with proper form. This piece of equipment is not recommended for those new to weight lifting with no prior experience. New exercisers should consult with a certified personal trainer to learn how to use a barbell safely. The Nike Squat Cage would be an excellent addition to a home gym, though users would likely need to buy a barbell and weight plates, too.

Who the Nike Squat Cage Will Not Work For

The Nike Squat Cage will not work in small spaces or in environments without the right gym flooring for anchoring or where the squat rack can't be anchored to the floor for transporting reasons. If you have limited gym space or want flexibility for moving your equipment, the Nike Squat Rack may be a better fit for you. A folding squat rack may also be more suitable for those looking for a versatile and movable home gym.

What Customers Say About the Nike Squat Cage

The overall star rating on the Nike website is 2.3/5 stars; however, this is based on only two customer ratings. The 5-star review states the Nike squat cage has “very good construction” and is made with “thicker-gauge steel” in comparison to other manufacturers. This customer also recommends the Nike squat cage due to the quality. The second rating gives the Nike Squat Cage 2 stars, commenting only on “shorted hardware.”

Since Nike Strength was launched late October of 2023 the company site is currently lacking ample customer reviews to help potential buyers make informed decisions. Nike Strength is also sold at Dick’s Sporting Goods and Scheels, but there aren’t any customer reviews on the squat cage on these websites yet.

Assembly and Installation

Per our testers’ experience, the Nike Squat Cage was delivered by UPS in a well-packed, easy-to-move box and in a timely manner. They attested the Nike Squat Cage is not overly complicated to build, and it comes with everything you need for a successful rack set up. The Nike Strength website provides detailed assembly instructions for the Nike Squat Cage. When assembling the Nike Squat Cage, it is crucial to follow the directions and anchor the equipment to the floor before use to ensure safety.

Per assembly directions, the sleeve anchors included with purchase are only recommended for concrete floor installations. Nike states that alternative installation techniques and hardware should be used for all other floor surfaces. To ensure proper installation, a licensed contractor or fitness equipment installation expert should perform the installation if you do not have concrete floors.

Warranty and Customer Service

Nike offers a limited lifetime warranty: “Nike Strength Equipment warrants its strength equipment products will be free from defects in material and workmanship for the lifetime of the original purchaser, provided the equipment is used under normal, indoor and non-commercial conditions.”

While Nike Strength’s warranty may be limited under certain conditions, the lifetime warranty is more inclusive when compared to competitors as it applies to all Nike Strength equipment. Rogue Fitness, one of Nike Strength’s direct competitors in the fitness equipment industry, has warranties ranging from 90 days to limited lifetime depending on the product.

If you decide the Nike Strength equipment is not the right fit for you after purchasing, the customer service team will help you return your equipment.

Your return request must be within 30 days of purchase in order to be processed. All equipment must be returned in new and unused condition with its original packaging. You are responsible for paying all shipping costs charged at checkout, in addition to all shipping costs to return any product. Please note that return shipping costs may be more or less expensive than the shipping costs on the original purchase, depending on the shipping rates in effect at the time the return is initiated.

Nike Squat Cage vs. Titan T-3 Series Power Rack

The Titan T-3 Series Power Rack is a brand competitor to the Nike squat cage; however, there are some key differences to note. The first noticeable difference is the price difference: Titan’s power rack is significantly cheaper, ranging from $467.97–$689.99 depending on rack height and depth, whereas the Nike squat cage costs $950. The Titan T-3 Series power rack is customizable: It’s available in two heights and two depths as well as three different colors. The Nike Squat Cage comes in one standard size and black color.

Titan T-3 Series Power Rack has six-inch side hole spacing, while the Nike Squat Cage has two-inch side hole spacing throughout the entire upright; this makes Nike more suitable for finding the ideal barbell height placement. Titan’s Power Rack is made up of two-by-three-inch 11-gauge steel, whereas the Nike Squat Cage is made with three-by-three-inch 11-gauge steel for extra stability and durability. Titan Fitness has the option to protect your product with either a two- or three-year protection, whereas Nike claims its products can last a lifetime under normal fitness circumstances.

Nike Squat Cage FAQs

What’s the difference between the Nike Squat Cage and the Squat Rack?

The Nike Squat Cage is a durable piece of exercise equipment that serves as a positioning apparatus for a barbell within a square cage with adjustable pins and safety bars to promote safety. The Nike Squat Rack is a lighter, less bulky and less stable positioning apparatus for a barbell.

What is a squat cage used for?

A squat cage is designed for training barbell movements and pull-ups in one unit. Individuals must also have the appropriate space and flooring to accommodate any squat cage in order to take advantage of the versatility of movements and safety it can provide when lifting heavier barbells.

Is it worth getting a squat rack at home?

A home squat rack or cage is a worthwhile investment for individuals who don’t have access to a commercial gym, prefer working out alone or training for a specific goal. As a personal home gym owner, having a squat rack at home was critical to my training as a competitive weightlifter and is something I use on a regular basis. I believe the convenience factor and the long-term wellness benefits of having a squat rack at home outweigh the short-term expensive cost.

The Takeaway: Is the Nike Squat Cage Right for You?

The Nike Squat Cage is the right fit for you if you are looking to purchase a high-quality and durable barbell squat rack and pull up bar in one unit. Whether you are looking to expand on your current home gym or build a new gym from scratch, a squat cage is a great addition to any home gym if you have both the finances and space. While the Nike Squat Cage is a newer product, its durability, safety and weight capacity sets it apart from competitors.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.