Rogue SML-3 Squat Stand

Rogue SML-3 Squat Stand

The Rogue SML-3 Squat Stand is a popular rack within Rogue’s Monster Lite lineup. It’s built with 3×3 11-gauge steel, 5/8″ holes, and Westside spacing.

If you’re looking for a tall squat stand, this one is hard to beat. It stands at 110″ tall, which makes it the tallest among the SML squat stands. If you’re looking for something shorter, you can check out the SML-1 and the SML-2. Additionally, if you like the idea of having color options, the SML-2C is another one to consider.

Read more below.

Features & Highlights

• Steel Size – The SML-3 Squat Stand from Rogue is a part of their Monster Lite lineup. It’s constructed with 3×3 11-gauge steel and it’s assembled with a bolt-together design. 3×3 steel is popular for its strength, attachment compatibility, and its overall aesthetic.
• Flat Foot Design – One of the biggest benefits of a squat stand is that you don’t have to bolt it down because of the flat foot design. This U-shaped base keeps the rack secure to the floor. During heavy sets when re-racking your bar, you may find the rack will shift slightly. This is normal for a squat stand – the overall stability of the stand is very strong and safe. If you do want to mount this to the floor or a platform for stability, you can purchase the S-Base Mounting Feet separately.
• Hole/Hardware Sizing – This rack uses 5/8″ hardware, which is one of the most common hardware sizes used on power racks. The rack will accommodate most of Rogue’s Monster Lite Attachments/Accessories as well as some from other companies (read more in the compatibility section below).
• Hole Spacing – The SML-3 offers Westside hole spacing, which is a common feature on 5/8″ racks. The holes are spaced 1″ apart through the bench zone, allowing for finer adjustments on your J-cups and safeties. This can be useful for people who are “in-between” sizes. Above and below the Westside section are holes with standard 2″ spacing between them.
• Exterior Rack Dimensions – This rack has a total width of 49″ and a total depth of 48″. A 49″ width is fairly common for 3×3 racks, but one of the downsides is you have less room between the uprights and the plates. This requires a more efficient walk-out/re-rack since there’s a greater risk of hitting the uprights with your plates. This is the tallest of the SML Squat stands, measuring 110″ tall.
• Pull-Up Bar – The SML-3 can be purchased with a single 1.25″ pull-up bar or with a fat/skinny bar directly on the product page. From there, you can upgrade to the socket pull-up bar, which includes different colors, finishes, and options for knurling.
• Safety Options – This stand does not come with any safety options as standard. It is highly recommended that you purchase the safety spotter arms so that you can confidently lift on the rack. These spotter arms can also allow for rack pulls and other movements.
• No Color Options – The Rogue SML-3 is only available in Rogue’s standard matte black powder coat.
• Made in America – The SML-3 is made in Ohio.

What’s Included in the Box

The Rogue SML-3 Squat Stand includes the following pieces as standard:

• (2) Monster Lite J-Cups with UHMW Lining
• (1) 43″ Single 1.25″ Pull-Up Bar OR (1) 43″ Fat/Single Skinny Pull-Up Bar
• (1) Flat Foot Base
• (2) 100″ Uprights with Side Holes

Optionally, you can purchase the wheel bracket for easy portability or the S-Base feet for bolting the rack down. You can also purchase a barbell, a bench, and some plates directly on the product page to create a complete package.

Attachment Compatibility

The Rogue SML-3 Squat Stand is constructed with 3×3 steel and 5/8″ hardware, which is compatible with Rogue’s Monster Lite Attachments.

Here you can add additional accessories to your rack or you can upgrade the ones that come standard with the SML-3.

Some attachments that I think are worthy of consideration include the Adjustable Monolift, the Sandwich J-Cups, the Socket Pull-Up Bar, and the Spotter Arms.

The monolift eliminates the squat walk-out and makes bench setup easier, the sandwich cups are a big improvement over the standard J-cups, the socket pull-up bar is an enhancement, and the spotter arms are essential for safety.

As for attachment compatibility outside of Rogue Fitness, notable places to look are REP Fitness and Titan Fitness. Each of these companies offers attachments that will fit 3×3 and 5/8″ hardware (REP PR-4000 and Titan X-3). One thing to keep in mind is that imported racks use the metric system vs. the imperial system on USA-made racks. This means that hole spacing will be slightly shorter. If you find an attachment that has two pins (or a single pin with a second hitch pin) then it may not fit properly. Single-pin attachments tend to work fine.

What They’re Saying at Rogue Fitness

The Rogue SML-3 Squat Stand receives great feedback from users. With an average rating of 4.9/5, here are some of the things people have said at roguefitness.com.

Positive

• “I’m in my mid-40s. I played sports growing up, I was a weekend warrior, I’ve dabbled in Crossfit, I’ve dabbled in powerlifting, and now I’m just trying to stay healthy and in shape. With that background, this is everything I need. It’s a tremendous value, and I’m a little disappointed I didn’t pull the trigger years ago. This squat stand is worth every penny because it’s sturdy, easy to adjust, let’s me do all the pullup and hanging work I need without any movement, and takes almost all of the extensions. My favorite is the Matador, which let’s me do legitimate dips and core work. And the best part is that I know this will meet all my needs for the next 30 years.”
• “Because I’m 6′ 3″, I wanted the pull-up bar to be high enough for me to be able to do kipping pull-ups and toes to bar. Rogue seems to be the only company making a squat stand like this, so I finally made the purchase recently and have been very satisfied with the result. It was very easy to put together, is super sturdy, and fits perfectly in the area where it needed to go. It rocks slightly when kipping or doing toes to bar, but the plates on the plate storage and some concrete bags at the base have helped that some.”
• “I bought this a month ago and am so happy I did! The quality is fantastic and it’s very easy to assemble. Would highly recommend for anyone looking to get both jacked and tan.”
• “I needed a rack to do squats and presses in the starting strength progression, but don’t have room for full rack. The Monster Lite squat stand is just the right size, and with the addition of spotter arms has the functionality I need. Pieces fit perfectly, and there is no wobble with 400 pounds on the j cups. There is even some space for plate storage pins. The Westside hole spacing is a handy feature, and lets me set up bench presses more precisely. Overall, a great price for a solid, American-made squat stand.”
• “Bought this for family use one month ago and couldn’t be happier with the purchase. Arrived earlier than expected and was incredibly easy to set up – we were up and running in about 30 minutes. The SML-3 gives us just about everything we need at the house – no need to run to the gym for our workouts! In a household with two high school athletes and one Army servicemember, time savings is priceless. Rogue makes a great product – incredibly rugged and great finishing. We’ll be using this for years to come.”
• “As someone that picked up powerlifting about 13 years ago (I’m now 44) – the luxury of having this equipment in my basement is simply amazing. The build quality far exceeded my expectations – wow! My 13 and 10 year old sons want to start lifting – so cool that this equipment will be legacy investment pieces that will take us far into the future! Will be creating a platform here shortly for the rack to sit on.”

Critical

• “The only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars is the fact you have to buy 4 extra floor mounting feet to really secure this a platform/concrete. I bought the spotter arms, so I absolutely needed to secure this. Other competitors have a holes drilled through the top/bottom in so you don’t have to buy extra stuff to the tune of $50.”

Garage Gym Lab Review

Garage Gym Lab has not yet reviewed the Rogue SML-3 Squat Stand.

Other Options

The below racks were picked as alternatives to the Rogue SML-3 Squat Stand.