The RML-390F Rack showcases the build quality and durability that make Rogue the leading brand for home gym equipment.
- Extremely Sturdy
- Won't Damage Your Floor
- Excellent Build Quality
- Highly Durable
- Great Training Options
- Pricey
- Poor Quality J-Hooks
- Pull-Up Bar Not Great
Rogue RML-390F Flat Foot Rack Overview
The Rogue RML-390F Flat Foot Rack is another take on the power cage by Rogue.
This product is distinguished from the RML-490 by the additional height and flat-footed design that provides a little extra stability while distributing weight more evenly across the floor.
The main idea is to remove the need for bolting the rack into the floor and better suit those who are looking to move the rack – or just can’t anchor it with bolts.
This offers a cheaper and more versatile take on the RML-490 but sacrifices some of that top-end stability that you’d get with an anchor kit.
Who Should Buy the Rogue RML-390F Rack
This is a great long-term buy for anyone more committed to their power cage than their home.
It’s for anyone who has a garage they can’t bolt a power cage into, anyone who might be moving repeatedly in years ahead, and anyone who wants a high-quality Rogue rack without needing anchor kit levels of stability.
Why You Should Buy the Rogue RML-390F Flat Foot Rack
Now let’s look at the reasons why you should buy this rack from Rogue.
Extremely Sturdy
The sturdiness of the Rogue RML-390F Flat Foot Rack is ideal for a free-standing cage.
With an effective high-gauge steel construction and purpose-built bracing plates attached to the meeting of upright and horizontal supports, it’s rock solid.
While this is below the actual commercial-grade design of the RML-490, you probably won’t notice.
The sturdiness and stability of the product are great due to the 48” by 49” footprint, 3-sided upper bracings, and obviously the addition of pin-pipes.
These add up to a strong and resilient cage on three sides, with a single skinny pull-up bar adding that final, 4th side support.
Overall, the result is like the RML-490 for most purposes, with differences only showing at the absolute top level.
Won’t Damage Your Floor
The main touted benefit of the Rogue RML-390F is the versatility it offers. You don’t need to anchor it into your floor, which means you’re not going to damage floors, and you’re not going to have to compromise on stability (most of the time).
This also makes the RML-390F a far more travel-friendly alternative. If you’re not expecting to live in one place for years at a time, the 390F is far more forgiving and easy to assemble/disassemble than un-bolting an RML-490.
This is great for people looking for a great rack that they don’t have to over-commit to.
Effective Build Quality, Durability, and Brand
The Rogue RML-390F Flat Foot Rack‘s quality, durability, and small parts are all excellent. Not only are they hardy and well-made, but they’re also under the customer service expectations of Rogue, who are typically great.
The tubing itself is strong and feels great to the touch. Quality assurance is also great and things like internal rusting and other structural issues are incredibly rare.
We can’t remember the last time someone got a Rogue rack with major rust issues.
This is the basic fact that makes a Rogue rack an excellent investment – and especially this one.
The durability of the build is fantastic and, if you do plan on moving it around, you’ll appreciate the quality of machining and steel when you have to take it down and re-build it!
Great Training Options
The training options for this rack are great.
It does everything a rack needs to do – and it performs well. The internal hooks and pin-pipes are great, but it does forfeit a lot of the outer hook qualities seen in the anchored RML-490 simply because of the balance demands.
We recommend keeping it light on the outer hooks, especially on the safety arms. Keep all your heavy lifting inside the cage, and you’ll never notice that it’s not bolted down.
Why You Shouldn’t Buy the Rogue RML-390F Flat Foot Rack
Sounds too good to be true?
Perhaps…
So read our reasons why this might not be the rack for you.
Not Only “Needn’t” but “Can’t” Anchor
One minor issue is that this product not only doesn’t need to be anchored but can’t be. It doesn’t offer the anchor kit, and the actual machining of the product doesn’t provide the necessary footplates to make it work.
This isn’t a huge issue – just get the RML-490 if you want to bolt it down, but it seems needless. There’s only 1” of difference between the two products, and it could easily be added.
J-Hooks
The j-hooks underperform, and Rogue needs to upgrade them. The flat, roll-y, needlessly large surface just isn’t good enough for a rack that is nearly $1000.
There are better j-hooks on worse products, and it shouldn’t require extra purchases or effort for a rack this good.
Price
It’s not quite a thousand-dollar rack, but almost. While cheaper than the RML-490, you’re still reaching deep into those pockets for a power cage.
Pull-up bar
The pull-up bar is just not great. Not bad, but not up to the hallmark quality and standards that Rogue has shown elsewhere on this rack (and their other products).
Rogue RML-390F Flat Foot Rack Options & Accessories
There are no interesting options or accessories. You can get the safety arms and straps but they don’t expand on the quality of this product in a major way.
Even further, if you’re looking at using either of those functions, you probably want the mega-stable anchored RML-490 anyway.
It also comes as a conversion kit for existing Rogue squat stands, which is a great buy if you’re looking to upgrade your existing home gym setup.
This product has access to the wide range of Monster Lite accessories Rogue offers, such as our favorite, the Landmine attachment.
Unfortunately, many of the accessories are not as effective due to the anchorless design – so heavy-duty options like the GHD are probably not a great choice.
However, smaller options like the multi-grip crossmember or sandwich J-cups are perfect. Check out our guide to the best power rack attachments and accessories.
If you are looking for a power rack with more functionality, check out our article on the Best Power Racks with Lat Pulldown.
Rogue RML-390F Flat Foot Rack Specifications
| Brand | Rogue Fitness |
| Made In USA | Yes |
| Product Weight | 295LB |
| Length | 48″ |
| Width | 49″ |
| Height | 92.375″ |
| Foot Print | 48″ x 49″ |
| Steel Notes | 3×3″ 11-gauge steel uprights, 2×3″ 11-gauge steel bases |
| Other Product Specs | Westside Hole Spacing |
| Monster Lite Compatible | Yes |
More Rack Reviews & Guides
- Rogue RML-490 Power Rack Review
- Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Wall Mount Rack Review
- Rogue RML-90 Slim Rack Review
- Rogue SML-2 Squat Stand Review
- Best Wall-Mounted Folding Squat Racks
- Best Budget Power Racks
- Best Squat Stands
- Best Power Rack Accessories
- Best Power Racks with Lat Pulldown
- Best Half Racks
Rogue Monster Lite Rack FAQs
What is the Rogue Monster Lite Rack range?
The Rogue Monster Lite Power Racks are a hybrid of their R Series Racks and Monster Series.
Basically, the Monster Lite Racks include 3×3″ 11-gauge steel uprights with 5/8″ hardware and Westside hole spacing.
The Monster Lite range is super popular in the home gym community due to their versatility. Rogue offer dozens of compatible add-ons and attachments, such as the Monolift or Landmine attachments.
The Monster Lite series is also super customizable, with a wide range of configurations to choose from. The range includes stand-alone units of varying depth and height, fold back wall-mount racks, and different color options.
Are Rogue Fitness Racks Worth the Money?
When choosing quality fitness equipment, you will never get it wrong if you opt for Rogue Fitness.
Our motto at Home Gym Boss is “Buy Once, Cry Once”. Rogue are certainly not the cheapest, but anything Rogue produces is top of the line and will last you a long time.
Rogue Fitness prides itself to be a local, Columbus, Ohio, run business. They always look to source locally, and quality is their #1 priority.
If you decide to choose any Rogue rack (or any other piece of fitness equipment they make), be sure you have made the right choice; there’s no mistake about it.
What is the Difference Between Half-Rack and Power Racks?
A power rack, also known as a full rack, has two pairs of vertical bars, with two safety catches between each pair. Safety catches are secured to the vertical bars on both sides. The two pairs of vertical bars are connected at the base but also at the top with two horizontal bars. One of the horizontal bars is usually a pull-up bar, which is very convenient.
A half rack, also known as a squat rack, on the other hand, has only one pair of vertical bars, with some models having safety catches connected to each bar only on one side. The two vertical bars are connected at the top with a single horizontal bar, which usually serves as a pull-up bar.
If you are deciding between a half or a full-rack, make sure to check out our Half Rack Vs. Full Rack article.
Key Takeaway
The Rogue RML-390F Flat Foot Rack is a great rack in its own right.
It showcases the build quality and durability that make Rogue an enduring brand for home gym equipment.
While it suffers many of the same issues as its big cousin, the RML-490, it’s a more versatile and slightly cheaper alternative. So if you’re looking for a great rack that offers reliable quality and can move with you, the Rogue RML-390F Flat Foot Rack is a great choice.
The RML-390F Rack showcases the build quality and durability that make Rogue the leading brand for home gym equipment.
Squat Rack Buying Guide
When you’re making a purchase of this size, it’s important to put your money into the right product and features. Every dollar counts, and it’s crucial to buy right when a rack should really be lasting you for years or decades to come.
What to Look For When Buying a Squat Rack
MATERIALS
The material of a squat rack determines how strong and durable it’s going to be. Almost all of the best squat racks out there are made of powder-coated steel of various thicknesses (gauges).
A better gauge steel will usually be a better choice since it provides better long-term durability and is often more stable. This does tend to trade-off with the rack’s weight, however, so consider that if you’re moving a rack by yourself or placing it anywhere other than on a concrete floor!
Material choice is even more important in the quality and longevity of moving parts and fastening items. Things like screws and bolts are crucially important. If these are weak, the whole thing is unstable and susceptible to falling apart.
STABILITY
Stability is key when you’re using heavy weights, and you want the safety and peace of mind that comes with an unmoving rack. It’s not always essential – you can make do with a less stable rack – but it’s always a bonus.
Stability comes from 3 major factors that you need to consider:
- The size of the rack’s “footprint” – the area where it contacts the floor and its base of support
- The design of the base (e.g., cross-bracing or the balance of weight on the rack)
- The weight of the whole rack
These will determine the stability of a rack – and it’s important to remember you need 3-dimensional stability. Sideways wobble is a real concern for safety, so be sure to look for possible weaknesses in these major areas.
J-HOOKS DESIGN & MATERIAL
Your barbell should be the most “high-end” purchase in a home gym since it’s the main piece of equipment with a moving part (the rotating cuffs). The last thing you want is a squat rack that churns the knurling on the barbell.
Good j-hooks, the sections that hold the barbell, are crucial. Ideally, you want a rounded cup design with a high lip. On top of that, you also want to try and get a rubberized finish or similar, and with a material that is hard-wearing – so thick coatings will be best.
This prevents the barbell from grinding against the squat rack and metal, which degrades barbells rapidly.
SPOTTER ARMS / SAFETY BARS
Safety bars or spotter arms are a great piece of kit for home gyms. They prevent the barbell from contacting the floor, and – if you’re not lifting on a platform with an Olympic-style high-bar squat – they might just save you on a missed lift.
Spotter arms need to be long enough to allow you the space to walk the bar out of the rack and stable enough to handle the weights you’re using. They should fit flush with the uprights of the rack, and they should be rated for lots of weight – the more the better.
Racks should also never have a space between the uprights and the spotter arms.
We see this with some lower-quality squat stands and racks. It’s a real problem because it defeats the point of spotting arms – and there are plenty of examples of this design causing real injury or danger.
HOLE SPACING
Hole spacing is a vote for versatility. The more holes a rack has, the better it can adapt to your height – and the better it will be for multiple exercises.
The only problem is that this increases the trade-off with stability and material quality. It’s not easy to drill many holes through steel and expect it to offer the same durability and stability. These areas become common sites for rust, bending, and they do destabilize the uprights very slightly.
Primarily, you should avoid huge gaps in spacing – you need to be within a few inches of the ideal height to squat. You shouldn’t have to tip-toe a weight out of a rack, but you also shouldn’t be quarter-squatting to get it out of the rack.
Even more importantly, this is why pre-set rack heights are absolutely horrible. They don’t fit many people and can be very fiddly to use, which isn’t great when you’ve got 100s of kilos on your back!
ACCESSORIES
More versatility from a squat rack is usually a good thing.
Accessories range from landmine attachments to band pegs – but these are optional most of the time. If your squat rack offers accessories – especially ones that you know you would use – then that’s a huge plus.
It’s a great way to get the most out of the investment in the long run and save yourself the addition of buying them after the fact. If you can get a squat rack bundled with genuinely useful accessories, that’s a huge benefit for your home gym.
WEIGHT CAPACITY
It’s important that a squat rack can carry a significant amount of weight. You’re not going to be lifting the same amount of weight in 5 years that you are now – and your rack should account for this upper range.
You want “headroom” – more weight capacity than you need. Better weight capacity speaks to the durability and stability of the product, the strength of the materials, and the ability for it to deal with momentum as well as weight.
A squat rack that can support 2000lbs isn’t just going to be better for holding weight than a rack rated for 1000lbs. It will handle smaller weights better. And is likely built to deal with the long-term use and wear resulting from a lifetime of squatting, pressing, benching, and other exercises.
Better racks can hold more weight and will – usually – age better.
PLATE STORAGE
If your rack offers weight pegs for plate storage, then it’s doing two things with one product. This is worth a significant bump in price, but it’s even better if it comes without a mark-up, of course.
This is a common way of improving your home gym organization and building up more stability in your squat rack. The additional weight – especially in lower pegs – helps keep the center of gravity low and reduces the upright stands’ movement.
Plate storage systems can be expensive on their own, so a squat rack with integrated pegs can be a fantastic choice.
How to Choose the Best Squat Rack For Your Home Gym
How Much Space Do You Have?
You need to be realistic when balancing the size of a rack with the space in your home gym. Remember that the footprint alone doesn’t account for the extra clearance needed for a barbell and plates, too.
This is even more important when you’ve got weight pegs built into the rack, which may add a significant amount of size to the overall rack.
Your home gym should be built around the squat rack, and it’s going to be a centerpiece by virtue of the sheer size. Suppose you have a large, dedicated garage space.
In that case, you can go in for a larger rack which will, generally, be a better investment.
If you are really short on space, check out our guide to the Best Folding Wall Mounted Racks.
What is Your Budget?
You get what you pay for with a lot of gym equipment. Your budget is always going to dictate your options. Entry-level racks from white-label companies can be a real challenge for the new garage gym or home gym.
It’s important to use your budget well but to remember that your budget limits your choices. Focus on getting the best quality for your money on the absolute basics, if you’re on a hard-limit budget, and leave things like accessories for later on.
What Accessories/Functionality Do You Need?
You don’t need any accessories. The functionality you need is adjustable j-hooks and safety arms that work. These offer almost everything you need from a squat rack.
However, more accessories are usually better, as long as you’re not paying for those instead of quality fundamentals like steel construction and high-quality J-hooks.
If you can get weight pegs, those are always good. Landmine attachments, band pegs, and a secure pull-up bar are also excellent. Some expensive racks come with multiple pull-up and chin-up options, which can also be helpful but shouldn’t be a real game-changer.
How Heavy Do You Lift?
The heavier you lift, the more you’re going to need to put time into researching weight ratings. These are more important when weights are heavier, and the forces acting on your rack are significantly higher.
A heavy-duty rack will be rated for 1000-2000lbs, which allows for a lot of weight, moving quickly, to be completely safe. If you’re lifting a lot now, you’re going to be lifting a lot more by the end of your rack’s life. So put this kind of fundamental statistic near the top of your priority list.
Other Rack Reviews & Guides
- Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Wall Mount Rack Review
- Rogue RML-390F Flat Foot Monster Lite Rack Review
- Rogue RML-490 Power Rack Review
- Rogue RML-90 Slim Rack Review
- Rogue SML-2 Squat Stand Review
- Best Wall-Mounted Folding Squat Racks
- Best Half Racks for Your Home Gym
Conclusion
A great rack is all about maximizing what you get out of the space. It’s about a high return on your cash in the form of durability, function, and longevity – features add up, but fundamentals are always king.
