We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

Plus, the only 5 barbell squat rack exercises worth doing.

If you’ve read our guide on the best squat racks, you’ll know that we’re big advocates of investing in your own. There are huge pros to incorporating squat racks into your workout routine, and not just when it involves weightlifting. We caught up with strength and conditioning coach Andy Vincent to find out more, including how (and how often) to use a squat rack, what they’re good for, and when you might want to avoid them. He also shares his top five barbell exercises to do with a squat rack, but if lifting isn't for you, we've also put together an edit of the best barbell-free squat rack exercises to try.

‘The squat rack has become a staple piece of kit on gym floors over the last five years, with the rise in the popularity of strength training,’ Vincent explains. ‘It can be used for various exercises, but, as the name suggests, squats are the main exercises you will see performed.’

Read on to discover more squat rack exercises.

Squat racks are a saving grace when it comes to safety. Whether you’re a beginner, or someone looking to lift heavier and achieve a PB, here’s how they could prevent injury.

‘If you’re using a squat rack for weightlifting, barbell exercises can be loaded the heaviest, so you need to respect the fact that your body is under more pressure,’ Vincent tells us. ‘I’d recommend using a squat rack for 1-2 exercises per workout, then accompanied with exercises using dumbbells, kettlebells, cables and machines. I would suggest squatting with a squat rack twice a week at the most.’

He adds: ‘But remember that you can do more than squat with a squat rack.’

Spoiler: ever thought about using a resistance band with a squat rack? Keep reading to find out how that works.

Vincent highlights two circumstances in which you’d probably want to err on the side of caution and avoid using a squat rack:

What should you do instead? ‘Every movement has multiple ways of performing it,’ Vincent says. ‘So if your knees are niggling from squatting with a squat rack, try a goblet squat with a dumbbell.’ To note, these instances apply mostly to weightlifting, but, as you're about to find out, a squat rack can also be used in other ways, including for recovery.

If you haven’t already gathered, squat racks are most commonly used during weightlifting and strength training routines. If that’s where you’re at, Vincent says these are the exercises worth incorporating with a barbell and squat rack.

Weightlifting not for you, or maybe you need to ease off for a while? A squat rack can also be combined with a resistance band which, while it'll still help you build strength, can also aid in recovery and rehab, as it encourages the isolation of singular muscles and helps you to iron out any strength imbalances and pinpoint areas of weakness. Here are our favourite moves.

Position yourself as far away from the squat rack as you can go while still maintaining form, to create the most resistance.