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Quick Review – Rogue Socket Pull-Up Bars

Rogue’s Socket Pull-Up Bar is a replacement pull-up bar for Rogue power racks and squat stands. It’s meant to replace the straight, powder-coated pull-up bars that comes standard with all power racks.

So why would anyone want or need to replace one straight pull-up bar with another? That’s what I’m going to talk about in this review.

Please note that each line of Rogue power racks (Infinity, Monster-Lite, and Monster) does have their own Socket Pull-Up Bar. Choose the right product for your particular rack.


Advantages of the Socket Pull-Up Bar

There are four major selling points for the Socket Pull-Up Bar. The first two will not impact your training in the least, but the final two may (although certainly not drastically.)

  1. Customization. Currently there are nine different Cerakote options and one stainless steel option to choose from. If you’ve ever had any desire to add some flare (color) to your otherwise black powder-coated gym, this is one way to do it.
Rogue currently has 9 Cerakote colors and one stainless steel option
  1. Interchangeability. Because of how the Socket Pull-Up Bar attaches to brackets rather than directly to the rack, you can change the pull-up bars out at will. I don’t see anyone buying multiple bar colors just for the hell of it, but I can certainly understand going from knurled to unknurled in some situations.
  2. Knurling. All ten Socket Pull-Up Bar options are available with or without knurl, making this one of the only ways to have a knurled, straight pull-up bar on your Rogue rack.
  3. Feel. The Rogue Socket Pull-Up Bar has a 28.5 mm shaft; a familiar diameter to us all.

Are these selling points enough reason to spend $100+ on an accessory that you already have? That’s up to you, but before deciding let’s look at the pros and cons of this product.


Pros of the Socket Pull-Up Bar

  • The bar diameter is 28.5 mm versus the nearly 32 mm of standard powder-coated pull-up bars. As barbell veterans, it should feel more familiar in your hands than the thicker pull-up bars. It’ll also be more accommodating to those with smaller hands.
  • The Socket Pull-Up Bars can be ordered smooth like any other pull-up bar, or they can be ordered with knurling. The knurling definitely makes for a better grip.
  • The Socket Pull-Up system does allow you to add a small level of color customization to your rack, and you can switch between knurled and smooth bars as needed.
  • A stainless steel option is available. I believe this variant offers the best grip, and it also has no branding on it.
  • All variants are superior to the black powder-coated pull-up bars in terms of their grip, at least in my opinion. It’s not a huge improvement; as we all know that the standard pull-up bars get the job done; but it’s an improvement nonethless (especially in the case of the stainless steel version. )
  • Easy installation. Just as easy as any other Rogue rack accessory.
  • It’s made in the USA.
Rogue Socket Pull-Up Bar for Infinity Power Racks

Cons of the Socket Pull-Up Bar(s)

  • I believe the knurled variant should be completely knurled. I’ve yet to discover a benefit to having IWF and IPF marks on my pull-up bar. If there is one, why aren’t these marks present in some fashion on the unknurled variants?
  • The knurled version could probably stand to be a hint less abrasive. It is not aggressive by any means, but on something like a pull-up bar a little knurl goes a long way.
The stainless steel Rogue Socket Pull-Up Bar - knurl detail
  • The Socket Pull-Up Bar is technically an unnecessary expense. You already own a pull-up bar that will get the job done, so in a way this is kind of an extravagant purchase.
  • I personally don’t care for the branding found on the Cerakote variants, but perhaps you do, in which case this wouldn’t be a con to you.

Is the Socket Pull-Up Bar Worth it?

To be completely honest, when I first saw the Socket Pull-Up Bar on Rogue’s site I thought it was kind of ridiculous. Why spend over $100 plus shipping to replace one pull-up bar with another? I mean, is it just a cash-grab product? Is it actually worth the money?

Well, I can certainly understand wanting to upgrade that default, powder-coated pull-up bar with a knurled version of the Socket Pull-Up Bar, and I can even personally attest to the grip advantages of owning a knurled pull-up bar (especially when it comes to weighted pulls and chins.) There is just no doubt that a knurled bar is easier to hold on to.

I do, however, think that the smooth variant is a bit too similar to what you already have on your rack to bother unless you’re simply buying it for the color. Now, I would never suggest to you that buying different color pull-up bars is a good use of your funds, but they are your funds after all, and there is no shortage of reviews where it’s made crystal clear that people bought a Socket Pull-up Bar to match their power rack – so have at it.


What’s the verdict? I recommend the stainless steel variant, and while I think the unknurled version of the stainless steel bar probably still feels better than your default, powder-coated pull-up bar, I think it takes buying the knurled version for the impact in overall feel/grip to be substantial enough to warrant the expense. As you no doubt noticed, I did buy the stainless steel, knurled variant and I do not regret my purchase in the least.

If you are interested in this product, remember that each line of Rogue power racks (Infinity, Monster-Lite, and Monster) has their own Socket Pull-Up Bar. Choose accordingly.


 

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{ 16 comments… add one }
  • Joey August 10, 2018, 10:48 am

    Thanks for the review. I’m a Rogue fanboy, for sure, but I just don’t see the point of these. If I want to do pull ups with something that feels like my barbell, I can move my j-hooks up and put my bar up there and bang some out. I tried this… and yeah, I much prefer the powdercoat feel of their standard pull-up bars and thickness over the 28.5mm knurled bar stock. I cannot imagine doing high reps of pull-ups on the knurled bar stock.. it just feels too aggressive for a pull-up bar. I will say, some of those cerakote colors look Great, but I can find about 500 other things to spend money on at Rogue’s site before this. =)

    • jburgeson August 11, 2018, 12:20 am

      I agree. Colors on bars and such do nothing for me. I actually find that Cerakote weakens knurl because of its thickness compared to other finishes, but maybe that’s just in my head.

  • Jess August 10, 2018, 10:58 am

    Looks like they found a way to sell barbell shafts that don’t pass QA.

    • jburgeson August 11, 2018, 12:06 am

      I wondered that myself. If there weren’t so many options I would think that. Of course that’s not to say that any barbell that doesn’t pass gets tossed into that mix. /shrug

  • Brian August 10, 2018, 8:54 pm

    Rogue is going a little overboard with the circus tricks. All the odd branding and special edition this and that just muddies the otherwise fantastic lineup. Wish they would drop the focus on making everything pretty and shift that effort to something like a SS deadlift bar. Just my 2 cents

    • jburgeson August 11, 2018, 12:15 am

      I don’t care for the big obvious branding on products like this either. I also feel like the majority of their new products as of late are just different takes on existing products. I’m ready for R&D to produce something new and interesting.

  • Steve L August 13, 2018, 6:16 pm

    I have the red one and do really like the knurling I just wish as you do that it was completely knurled. I suspect as noted by another commentator If they are just using shafts to keep costs low.

    • jburgeson August 14, 2018, 12:53 pm

      Indeed.. it’s tough to imagine any reason for markings that that would trump the benefits of it being completely knurled.

  • David Kiesling August 18, 2018, 3:05 pm

    Hey, I was wondering when you were going to post again! You’re slacking off this summer, buddy!
    But seriously, looks like the bracket removes easily enough. I wonder how many people were clamoring for a removable pull up bar? Maybe it’s a move to start making more pieces of their racks modular?

  • James Battle August 20, 2018, 3:35 pm

    I looked into this, but got the Bear grips instead. Pretty happy with my decision. I really wish Rogue would make a shorter bare steel bar (Spiel bar).

  • Eric November 5, 2018, 9:57 pm

    There’s a reason to get these. I have an RML 3W. It’s standard pull up bar is a quick release bar with a pin on either side. If like me, you have enough room to keep the unit set up and don’t need to fold it against the wall, you can buy a new pull up bar (hello stainless) for the top and then use the quick release bar at the base for nordic curls. Rogue don’t sell the RML 3W quick release bar separately (and won’t, I’ve asked), so this is a great solution that is way cheaper than buying a GHD.

    • jburgeson November 5, 2018, 9:59 pm

      That’s an interesting point. Thanks!

  • Jacob H December 17, 2019, 2:25 pm

    Recently purchased a Titan T3 short rack. Wondering if two of these could replace the standard bars on the Titan rack which I find lacking in what I am looking for in a pull up bar and give me a wider footprint at the same time.

    • jburgeson December 17, 2019, 10:55 pm

      Is the distance between uprights different on the Titans? I thought they were direct copies of the Rogues. The hole pattern should be the same though. Measure over 2 holes and you should get exactly 6″

  • Jenny Chan October 18, 2020, 10:11 am

    Was wondering about the interchange ability to this. How difficult is it to swap socket bars? Would I have to remove either of the brackets that attach to the rack? Or can I just loosen the Allen bolts?

    • jburgeson October 18, 2020, 10:24 am

      The allen bolts and one bracket so that you can actually pull the brackets apart far enough to slide the bar out.

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