MAJOR FITNESS Lightning F35 – Our Review

Being able to work out in your garage is…like…the best thing you can ever do (I’ve tried just about everything so you can trust me on this). I mean, it’s so great, we created an entire website devoted to telling you how to do this exact thing.

…but what happens if your garage is too small to accommodate a legit garage gym setup? Heck, what happens if you don’t have a garage at your disposal?

(if you’ve been looking for an excuse not to work out and were letting any of these issues serve as your “barrier to entry”, please stop reading…now!)

Thankfully, the fitness gods have bestowed on us a device that greatly enables the garage/home gym experience…

…the folding rack!

While folding racks aren’t some brand new invention on the scene, they haven’t evolved at the same pace that other home gym racks and related items have. Most of them will facilitate your most important lifts (squatting and benching), but not much else.

The MAJOR FITNESS F35 says “screw that” and essentially creates a comprehensive, half rack experience that you can tuck away into your wall (making for a surprisingly nice piece of abstract art, I must say!) With the added benefit of a cable pulley system, it stands apart from most of its competitors…but is it worth the price?

Shipping/Delivery

I haven’t had too many problems receiving shipments from MAJOR FITNESS in the past and this time was no different. Shortly after confirming all of my details, I received FedEx tracking information and, a few days later, it was waiting outside my front door when I came back from running some errands.

Although it is slightly lighter (~235 pounds) than many other racks of its kind, each packaged box is still a bit heavy (the added weight of the included tools and other hardware items adds to this mass). However, maneuvering them around my mostly empty and wide-open garage wasn’t particularly difficult.

Unboxing was smooth and besides that always somewhat daunting array of pieces staring back to me upon tearing open the last box, the process was perfectly easy and straightforward.

Shipping/Delivery Rating: 100

Assembly

This is one of those areas where you can definitely go one of two ways:

• If your wall is ready and able for a folding rack to take up shop in it, literally screwing into its surface, this assembly isn’t much more difficult than other, similar racks.
• If your wall is not ready…well…get ready to familiarize yourself with stringer boards (or something similar) ASAP.

Obviously, a rack that attaches to the wall is going to add an additional degree of complexity to the process. However, if your wall is primed or you have your stringer boards ready, I found that it only added a small amount of time (in my case, affixing 12 bolts) to the total process.

Regarding the actual rack assembly portion of the process, I found that it was easier to complete everything on my own. Because the top portion/pull-up bar is removable, it is something that I needed a second set of hands to help me affix anything that is out of my reach.

As usual, the instruction manual was primarily comprised of a number of pictures (no written instructions). This is standard for these racks, but the pictures and steps to follow are pretty intuitive. Even alone, I was able to knock out the build in less than 5 hours.

I always suggest that you get your hands on a drill with a socket attachment or at least a socket wrench. This will greatly speed up the process. Otherwise, most of your time will be spent (endlessly) tightening bolts!

Assembly Rating: 85* (contingent on how “rack-friendly your wall is)

Construction/Steel

Nor surprisingly, the F35 is constructed of 14-guage steel. On a “lower is better (thicker)” scale, this doesn’t rate particularly high. However, in comparison to the plethora of other home gym rack options, this is very much in line, if not slightly lower, than what we see from many of them.

In addition to the relatively thin steel, the uprights are of the 2×3-inch configuration. Again, this is in line with:

1. what we see in many home racks

2. what is oftentimes paired with 14-gauge steel racks

The smaller and thinner uprights are generally a little bit less robust than the more common 2×2-inch and other varieties. Also, do to their lower overall popularity, it can be more difficult to find after-market accessory items to fit the 2×3 configuration.

Construction/Steel Rating: 65

Stability

Wow.

Now I know that my F35 is, like, literally attached to my wall. Nevertheless, I am still extremely impressed with how stable it is.

I have tried everything from letting go of the pulleys from the top of reps (In principle, I don’t suggest this!), dropped my barbell onto the safety bars, and swung around on the pull-up bar like I’m Donkey Kong or something…the rack barely budges.

Granted, at 235 pounds, the F35 is heavier than most other folding racks (and is even in the same league as similarly designed non-folding half racks) which likely adds to its overall stability.

Overall, I feel incredibly comfortable moving weight out of and back into the rack and don’t have concerns when performing pull-ups (no, I don’t ever really perform “kipping pull-ups”, but I’m sure that you’ll be fine if you do them!)

Stability Rating: 100

Functionality

So…think about all of the different exercises you can do with a normal half rack…

Squats? Check (you have J-hooks and safety bars)

Bench? Check (get you a bench to pair this with and you’re good to do)

Shrugs? Check (remember those safety bars…they work just fine here)

Pull-ups? Check (some half racks are actually missing this capability)

You can knock all of these exercises out with the F35…just like you can with most other folding racks. However, this is where a lot of these other racks tap out…

I don’t contend that a pulley system is some type of “earth-shattering” addition to a power rack/cage. If you’re looking at purchasing a non-folding rack, it should pretty much be a non-negotiable…they are that common.

With that being said, when it comes to foldable racks, the addition of the pulley system really puts the F35 in pretty exclusive company.

All of a sudden, I have an exponentially-wider array of exercises, up to an including lat pulldowns to complement the heavy compound exercises I perform with a barbell or with my bodyweight.

(on the topic of bodyweight exercises, I am pretty bummed that there isn’t, of all things, an included dip bar, especially when this is more of a standard inclusion on home racks these days).

I have a love-hate (but mostly love) relationship with the dual-pulley system. I like that I can control each pulley’s resistance individually. This allows me to do more of unbalanced and “odd-object” types of exercises (which, in my opinion, better mimic real-life movements).

On the other hand, I feel like most people probably prefer to just keep things evened out, making a centralized system (where weight is placed between the pulleys and is automatically distributed evenly between them). This is simpler and also prevents accidental mis-matched pulleys.

Another thing I really appreciate it the ease of removing the pull-up bar. As a shorter guy (~5’6″) I’m not concerned with hitting when I’m doing movement closer to the wall. However, being able to quickly move it on and off does add a bit more functionality, particularly if you are a bit taller and are at risk of bumping your head.

Like many home gym half racks, the inclusion of safety bars is certainly appreciated (even if you only end up using these to rest the bar on before starting a set of rack pulls or shrugs).

Unlike many home gym half racks, the safety bars actually extend a few feet, making them much more functional in my opinion. Instead of worrying about being in the “perfect” position to squat (far enough away from the J-hooks, close enough actually be over the ~6-inch long safety bars), I can just unrack, take a step or two back, and go to work…

With that being said, the safety bars are reported to only have a 280-pound capacity meaning that you’re pretty much on your own once you get into the 3-plate-per-side territory.

Finally, I think it’s important to discuss how well the F35 folds and how easy it is to move from one position/arrangement to another. In all honesty, I thought this was going to be a lot more complicated than it actually is. Instead, I can easily fold and unfold my rack (as in, go both ways) in less than a minute.

That’s awesome.

To me, this makes the F35 that much more functional. I’m way more inclined to actually extend my workout knowing that it only takes a few seconds to clear everything up. I know to many people, this is what makes the rack.

Overall, there is a lot of functionality and things to like with the MAJOR FITNESS F35. Outside of the missing dip bars, I would say that it has as much functionality as most non-folding half racks (and better safety bars than even most of them!)

Functionality: 95

Accessory Compatibility

The F35 doesn’t really leave you hanging when it comes to included accessories. Granted, it doesn’t really provide a ton of exercises, either, but it definitely comes with enough to get you started.

The base package includes a single-hand handles for cable crossovers, one-arm cable raises, etc., a short, straight bar, and a longer straight-ish bar (for lat pulldowns and the like). With these items, you’re ready to put the cable pulley system to use immediately.

As mentioned earlier, the F35’s 2×3-inch uprights allow you to purchase some off-brand/after-market accessories, but not as many as you could if it were the more popular 2×2-inch upright size.

Accessory Compatibility: 75

Price

I hate to have to dock the F35 on price, but in the realm of folding power racks, it’s base price (which includes all of the hardware and many of the accessory items we have discussed so far) is…a bit higher than most others. Because we’re not differentiating between price and affordability here, objectively speaking, these options would, hypothetically, score a bit higher in this area than the F35 does.

With this being said, it is important to note that most competing racks are essentially the equivalent of free-standing squat racks. You can squat, bench, and do similar barbell exercises, but there are no pulley or other capabilities. Some of these racks offer accessories that facilitate these movements as add-ons, in some cases doubling the price of the rack…but…they’re not part of the base price.

If you use HELLOMAJOR you can knock another 5 percent off any product…definitely suggested if you go this route!

Price Score: 70* (if HELLOMAJOR is used for 5 percent off)

Customer Reviews

The F35 is a newer offering from MAJOR FITNESS and, at the time of this writing, there aren’t a ton of reviews on it yet (at least relative to many of the other pieces of equipment we have looked at before). Additionally, it has not been listed on the company’s Amazon page, so it’s difficult to find non-main site reviews for it.

As it is, I would say that a 345-review sample size is plenty high enough to know what you’re getting into with such purchase. Better yet, of these 345 reviews, the F35 boasts a 4.9 collective rating…pretty high/good endorsement from those who have put hands on the rack.

Customer Reviews Score: 99

Customer Service

In some of the initial setup of the rack, we were a little bit unsure on how to best mount it. For many people, this probably isn’t an issue (it’s just going up in some unused/unimportant section of the garage), but for others…well…I understand that you want it to sustain as little damage, scraping, etc. to your walls as possible.

When we reached out to MAJOR FITNESS for suggestions on this, we were actually pretty surprised to received a few different suggestions from the representative, to include both video and pictorial examples of how we could mount the rack and items we could use to facilitate the process. Considering this was after the rack was in our possession was pretty nice.

Customer Service Score: 100

Who is the MAJOR FITNESS F35 really for?

The F35 isn’t a totally niche piece of equipment, but it does possess a number of capabilities that set it apart from other folding rack options. Let’ take a look at which people in the market for a space-saving rack would most appreciate what it has to offer.

Extensive power cages capabilities in a smaller space

Without a doubt, the ideal candidate for the F35 is someone who really appreciates the extensive functionality of full or even half racks/cages, but doesn’t have the space (or doesn’t want to use too much space) to fit one in their garage or home.

If you are adamant about not sacrificing your beloved pulley system (or about not scrimping on a folding rack that won’t meet all of your needs) the F35 may be the way to go.

Those who want a heavier folding rack

It’s understandable that lifting on lighter and, in some cases. less robust/durable racks can be somewhat off-putting. Even when it’s bolted to the wall, any little shake or sway, especially when squatting heavy, can be a confidence buster.

The F35 is well over 200 pounds (many of its competitors are well under 200 pounds). While such a hefty piece of equipment can be annoying during assembly, when moving it, etc., it is appreciated when you’re re-racking your last set of the day.

Not for those seeking a “basic” folding rack

A lot of folding racks might better be marketed as “skinny racks” (or, as Rogue puts it, “slim racks”) that allow powerlifting movements and pull-ups to be performed in small spaces. Many people who opt for these aren’t as concerned with the folding capabilities; they just want something inexpensive that doesn’t take up much space.

If this is you and you’re more concerned benching and squatting than you are with pulley work, one of the more basic folding options might better fit your needs.

How we tested the MAJOR FITNESS F35

To be honest, I wasn’t going to be the one to review the F35. I have adequate space for larger racks and I (…let’s be real, it was my wife!) wasn’t too hot on drilling anything into my wall. As it is, I decided to bite the bullet and give it a try.

Because most of the racks I review have decently similar capabilities and/or have capabilities to complement movements/exercises I’m already doing, I was able to stick to my current powerbuilding regimen.

I get close to the safety bars’ stated max capacity, but only for shrugs (when I drop the weight on my last rep, it only falls a couple of inches) so I actually found that I was pretty much able to complete my workouts as written (minus the dumbbell work), solely working with/on the F35.

MAJOR FITNESS F35 Alternatives

There are a lot fewer options in the folding rack market than there are of more traditional racks. Because of this, it is more difficult to find more of “apples-to-apples” comparisons for the F35, but I think we’ve got a few good options for you here:

Frequently Asked Questions

Everybody has to pick their first folding rack at some point.

Everybody has questions about picking out their first folding rack.

Let’s answer a few for the stragglers:

The MAJOR FITNESS F35…The Most Functional Folding Rack…?

The MAJOR FITNESS F35 isn’t the most multi-functional folding rack we’ve come across…but it’s pretty close. I know a lot of powerlifting bros are cool with “doing the program” with limited space with more basic folding racks, but even Rippetoe says you’re allowed to branch off and do other exercises (even some cable curls!) every once in a while!

Seriously strong lifters who rely on an equally strong pair of safety arms to support them might outgrow this (if they haven’t already), but for the majority of home gym enthusiasts who want to get a pretty full workout while only using a few square feet of space, the F35 is worth a look.