They’re not a want. They’re a need. You gotta have J-cups to properly use your power rack.
There’s more to these little barbell holders than you may realize at first glance, and picking the right ones can make a big difference in the success (and comfort) of your lifts.
REP offers five different types of J-cups: Standard, Flat Sandwich, Flat Sandwich 2.0, Round Sandwich, and Lowered. Here’s a quick guide to help you pick the best J-cups for your home or commercial gym.
J-cups at a Glance
Standard J-cups
Pros: Budget-friendly
Rack compatibility (series): 1000, 4000, 5000
Weight capacity: 700lbs for 1000 Series; 1,000lbs for 4000/5000 Series
Landing zone width: 2" for 1000 Series; 3” for 4000/5000 Series
Landing zone height: 5.5”
Finish: Matte black powder coat
Other features: Plastic liners on inside of J-cup and bracket
Standard J-cups 2.0
Pros: Lower profile than original Standard J-cup; nothing beneath J-cup for a clean look
Rack compatibility (series): 4000, 5000
Weight capacity: 1,000lbs
Landing zone width: 3”
Landing zone height: 5.5”
Finish: Metallic black powder coat
Other features: Larger landing zone; more secure plastic liners than original
Flat Sandwich J-cups 2.0
Pros: Plastic on landing zone/bottom; larger opening for big bars; high-end finishes
Rack compatibility (series): 4000, 5000
Weight capacity: 1,000lbs
Landing zone width: 1.2”
Landing zone height: 6.1”
Finish: Metallic black finish with stainless-steel backing that makes the logo pop
Other features: Taller landing zone than original Flat Sandwich
Round Sandwich J-cups
Pros: Plastic on landing zone/bottom; secure resting point (no rolling)
Rack compatibility (series): 4000, 5000
Weight capacity: 1,000lbs
Landing zone width: 1.4” (with 0.8” radius)
Landing zone height: 5.3”
Finish: Matte black with stainless-steel REP logo plate
Other features: Dual-lock wraparound design
Round Sandwich J-cups 2.0
Pros: Plastic on landing zone/bottom; secure resting point (no rolling); taller landing zone than original
Rack compatibility (series): 4000, 5000
Weight capacity: 1,000lbs
Landing zone width: 2.6”
Landing zone height: 6.1”
Finish: Metallic black powder coat with stainless-steel backing
Other features: Easier to install than original
Lowered J-cups
Pros: Larger and lowered by 1”; lining on front, back, and bottom
Rack compatibility (series): 5000
Weight capacity: 1,000lbs
Landing zone width: 3”
Landing zone height: 6.5”
Finish: Matte black
Other features: Allows you to add 1” hole spacing throughout entire 5000 Series rack
Which J-Cup is Right For You?
If you have a 1000 Series power rack …
A Standard J-cup on a PR-1100
The Standard J-cups are for you. These basic cups come with your 1000 Series rack (a PR-1000, PR-1050, or PR-1100), and they’re the only ones compatible with those racks. If you prefer a different style of cup or want to eventually upgrade, you’ll want to order a different series of rack from the beginning.
If you’re on a budget …
5000 Series Standard J-cups
Standard J-cups are the most budget-friendly J-cups, and they work with all REP racks. They’re a little more basic looking than the other options, and the 1000 Series cups are the only J-cups that top out at a 700lb weight capacity (the 4000 and 5000 Series racks can handle 1,000lbs). But with a nice, tall height (5.5”) and a solid landing zone width (2” for the 1000 Series and 3” for the others), these are easy to re-rack onto and get the job done.
If you use an oversized/specialty barbell …
Flat Sandwich J-cups
Opt for the Flat Sandwich J-cups or Flat Sandwich J-cups 2.0, which both have the largest opening and can fit a thicker bar. These cups are only available for 4000 and 5000 Series racks and can handle 1,000lbs. The 2.0 version of these has a higher-end finish – metallic black with a stainless-steel backing. And they have a taller landing zone height than the OG J-cups, which makes re-racking and installation of these cups easier.
If you don’t want your bar to move in the cup …
Round Sandwich J-cups
Flat Sandwich J-cups feature a longer, flat landing zone that allows you to roll the bar slightly to get some momentum before performing a lift. Unlike those cups, the Round Sandwich J-cups have a super secure, tight resting point that holds the barbell in place from moving. No rolling around before the lift.
Plus, these cups have a dual-lock, wraparound design that holds them extra tight on the uprights, so you can have total peace of mind when you’re loading up heavy weights. These gorgeous, round bois are all about security and tightness.
If you want to fully protect your equipment …
Whereas the Standard J-cups only have a protective lining inside the cup and on the bracket to protect your uprights, all the sandwich-style cups feature lining that fully protects your bar. They also have plastic on the cup inside and on the bracket, as well as a liner on the bottom of the J-cups in case you miss re-racking the bar and accidentally hit the underside of the cup. Plus, the hardware is on the side so there’s no metal-to-metal contact with your bar. The Lowered J-cups also have a soft, protective, textured lining on the front, back, and bottom of the cups.
If you want 1” hole spacing on a 5000 Series rack …
Lowered J-cups
The 5000 Series power racks are made with 2” hole spacing, but you can turn that into 1” between the holes if you pair the Lowered J-cups with Standard J-cups. This allows you to have a more precise liftoff height.
The Lowered J-cups are (go figure) lower and larger than the standard guys, featuring a gusseted brace under the bend in the cup for bonus strength. These are only compatible with the 5000 Series racks (the 4000 Series racks have 1” hole spacing throughout the bench press zone anyway, where you typically want the most specific J-cup height).
If you want an elevated look to your gym …
Flat Sandwich J-cups 2.0
The Flat Sandwich J-cups 2.0 are as seggsy as J-cups get. They feature a metallic black finish with a stainless-steel backing, which makes the REP logo pop. Add other high-end finishes, like a laser-cut logo plate, and you’ve got one good-lookin' sandwich.
