Rx3 tornado vs manticore: which power rack fits your home gym

Rx3 tornado vs manticore: quick verdict

Rx3 tornado vs manticore comes down to format, not just price. The RXD RX3 Tornado is a rack built around a 200 lb weight stack with switchable 2:1 and 1:1 resistance ratios, priced at $3,378.00 for the 86-inch version and $3,398.00 for 94 inches. The Bells of Steel Manticore Flat Foot Power Rack is a prebuilt, true 3x3-inch power rack at $1,546.89 with no cable stack, built for plate and bodyweight training instead.

If you want one machine that covers squats, presses, and cable work like lat pulldowns and low rows without separate cable attachments, the RX3 Tornado’s built-in stack does that job. If you want a straightforward power rack with a pull-up bar, J-cups, and safety straps at under half the RX3 Tornado’s price, the Manticore fits that role. The sections below compare specs, price math, footprint notes and what each package includes, based only on the maker pages checked September 23, 2026.

Specs side by side

The table below lists every spec the maker pages give for each rack. Several fields are marked “not listed” because our product research does not include them; check the current product page for anything missing here.

Spec	RX3 Tornado Rack (RXD)	Manticore Flat Foot Power Rack (Bells of Steel)
Price	$3,398.00 (94in) / $3,378.00 (86in)	$1,546.89
Resistance system	200 lb stack, 2:1 or 1:1 ratio, up to 300 lb via Tornado X Arm	None listed; loaded with plates via J-cups
Upright tubing	Not listed on our product research	True 3in x 3in (76.2mm), 1in holes
Base	Not listed on our product research	54in flat foot supports, reinforced
Pull-up bar	Not listed on our product research	43in straight bar included
J-cups	Not listed on our product research	Sandwich J-cups, 1 pair included
Safety equipment	Not listed on our product research	30in safety straps plus connector set
Stock status	Both sizes listed in stock	Listed in stock

Price and value (our calculation)

The Manticore rack costs $1,546.89, and the RX3 Tornado starts at $3,378.00 for the 86-inch version. That is a difference of $1,831.11 (our calculation), or the Manticore running about 46% of the RX3 Tornado’s starting price (our calculation).

Going from the 86-inch to the 94-inch RX3 Tornado adds $20.00 (our calculation), a small jump for eight extra inches of height if your ceiling allows it. Neither maker page in our product research lists a per-pound or per-attachment cost breakdown, so those price-per-feature figures aren’t available here.

The RX3 Tornado’s price includes a built-in 200 lb weight stack and cable system, something the Manticore package does not include at all. If you priced a separate cable attachment and stack for the Manticore, that would add to its $1,546.89 base, though our product research does not list Bells of Steel add-on pricing to calculate that gap.

Build and capacity

Only the Manticore’s build spec appears on our product research: true 3-inch by 3-inch tubing with 1-inch holes, described by Bells of Steel as a genuine 76.2mm measurement rather than a rounded imperial approximation. That distinction matters for attachment shopping, because the maker page states plainly that only Manticore attachments or third-party parts made precisely for 76.2mm x 76.2mm uprights with 1-inch holes will fit.

The RX3 Tornado’s upright gauge, steel thickness, and hole spacing are not listed anywhere in our product research. What is listed is its resistance mechanism: a 200 lb stack that, through the dual 2:1 and 1:1 ratio system, can deliver up to 300 lb of resistance. The maker page explains that 2:1 gives smoother movement, longer cable travel, and smaller weight increments, while 1:1 unlocks the full stack weight for heavier work.

Weight capacity for barbell lifts, such as a max load rating for squats or bench, is not listed for either rack on our product research. If that number matters for your training, confirm it directly on the current product pages before buying either rack.

Footprint and space

Neither maker page in our product research lists a footprint, depth, or width dimension for either rack. What is known: the RX3 Tornado comes in two heights, 86 inches and 94 inches, so ceiling clearance is a real factor when choosing between them. The Manticore’s flat foot base uses 54-inch flat foot supports, which suggests a wider footprint than a standard four-post rack, but our product research does not give an exact width or depth to confirm that.

Because neither page lists full footprint dimensions, measure your available floor space and compare it against the current listed dimensions on each maker’s site before ordering. If ceiling height is tight, the 86-inch RX3 Tornado or checking the Manticore’s upright height (built from 84-inch uprights per the parts list) may fit better than assuming either rack suits any room.

Features and attachments

The RX3 Tornado’s standout feature, per the maker page, is its built-in cable system. It lets you set up lat pulldowns and low rows directly from a single Tornado X Arm and weight stack, adjusting trolley height and arm position toward center without needing to connect both sides or add extra pulleys. The page also highlights improved cable tracking and smoothness, though it does not quantify that claim with a spec.

The Manticore’s included parts list is detailed: a pair of 54-inch flat foot supports, two sets of reinforcement brackets (four each), two pairs of 84-inch uprights, one 43-inch crossmember, a pair of sandwich J-cups, one 43-inch straight pull-up bar, a pair of 30-inch crossmembers, a set of safety strap connectors (four), and a set of 30-inch safety straps. The maker page also notes the rack is compatible with all Manticore rack attachments, including what it calls the Manticore Lat Pulldown, sold as a separate add-on.

Neither maker page in our product research lists dip attachments, spotter arms, or landmine attachments as included parts for either rack. If you want those, check current attachment listings on each site; general buying guidance on rack add-ons is covered in the /best-rack-attachments/ and /best-spotter-arms/ guides.

Warranty

our product research does not list warranty terms for either the RX3 Tornado or the Manticore Flat Foot Power Rack. Confirm current warranty coverage directly on the RXD and Bells of Steel product pages before purchase, since terms can change.

Choose the RX3 Tornado if

Pick the RX3 Tornado when you want a rack that doubles as a cable machine, with a 200 lb stack and switchable 2:1/1:1 resistance built in. It suits lifters who want lat pulldowns, low rows, and other cable movements from the same footprint as their squat rack, without buying a separate cable crossover attachment. Budget for $3,378.00 at minimum, and confirm your ceiling clears either the 86-inch or 94-inch version.

Choose the Manticore if

Pick the Manticore when a straightforward power rack at $1,546.89 covers your needs and you already have or plan to buy plates. It includes a pull-up bar, J-cups, flat foot base, and safety straps in the box, with true 3x3-inch, 1-inch hole uprights that open up a wide range of Manticore and precisely matched third-party attachments.

Other options we researched

our product research covers only these two racks in detail, so no additional model comparisons are available here. For broader rack shopping, /best-power-racks/ and /racks/ round up other options, and /titan-t-3-vs-x-3-power-rack/ and /bells-of-steel-hydra-vs-rep-pr-5000/ cover other head-to-head comparisons. See /how-we-research/ for how these fact-checked comparisons are built.

Bottom line

The RX3 Tornado and Manticore serve different training setups more than they compete directly. The RX3 Tornado costs more but folds a 200 lb cable stack into the rack itself, while the Manticore costs $1,546.89 for a prebuilt, true 3x3-inch power rack with a pull-up bar and safety gear, leaving cable work to separate attachments. Match your pick to whether you want an all-in-one cable-and-rack system or a lower-cost rack you build out over time with plates and add-ons.