| Unit | Dimensions | Assembled weight | Weight capacity | Possible exercises | Accessories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcy SteelBody STB-98005  Check Discounted Price | L:74" W:65" H:95" | 295 lbs | 500 lbs catch/safety 350 lbs dip & pull-up handles 100 lbs storage pegs | 30+ | Dip bars, Pull-up bar, Safety bars, J-hooks, Storage pegs, Dumbbel tray |
The Marcy SteelBody STB-98005 is a pretty standard power cage offering a pretty decent load capacity. It’s basically the more inclusive version of the Steelbody Squat Rack STB-70105. It’s important to mention, though, that this Marcy power cage cannot be upgraded with a lat machine. Marcy doesn’t offer any lat attachment compatible with it.
Key Features and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions cage: 74L x 65W x 95H inches (188L x 165W x 241H cm)
- Assembled weight: 295 lbs (134 kg)
- Weight capacity:
Maximum weight for pull-up bar and dip station: 350 lbs (159 kg)
Maximum weight for bar catch: 500 lbs (226 kg)
Maximum weight for storage post: 100 lbs (45 kg)
Maximum weight for dumbbell-kettle weight tray: 270 lbs (122 kg) - Compatible weight plates: Olympic & Standard
- Possible exercises: 30+
- Warranty: Frame 10 years / Parts 2 years
Frame construction
The Marcy SteelBody STB-98005 Monster Cage features a heavy-duty construction consisting of 16-gauge
rectangular steel bars. The main pillars of the unit are pretty thick, 3″ x 3″ (7.6 x 7.6 cm) offering superior sturdiness. All the main joints of the cage feature reinforcement plates for a secure connection. It’s also important to mention that the rear base section of the cage is equipped with oblique reinforcement bars while the two short upright bars at the back also connect to the middle uprights with two extra bars. This considerably improves the overall sturdiness of the unit.
All the bars in its construction are coated with a corrosion-resistant and chip-resistant paint finish. The main upright bars feature a brown finish while the rest of the bars and accessories are black, these being the only colors available for this power cage.
The fully assembled cage is fairly large. It is approx. 74″ (188 cm) deep, and 65″ (165 cm) wide. The inside is spacious as well, approx. 62.5″ (159 cm) deep, and 42″ (107 cm) wide, so the cage offers plenty of space for the correct execution of all exercises. The main upright bars feature 15 positions for the safety and bar catches; the distance between them is approx. 5″ (13 cm).
This Marcy power cage is pretty tall. With the top chinning bar attached, it measures approx. 95″ (241 cm) in height. Without this bar attached, it is approx. 86″ (218 cm). So, either way, it won’t fit in a room with a ceiling height of only 7′. You will need a ceiling height for it of at least 8 1/2 feet for the correct execution of all the pull-up/chin-up exercises.
Needless to say, the fully assembled cage, without any bars or weight plates attached, is fairly heavy. Its net weight is approx. 295 lbs (134 kg). This weight alone provides excellent stability which can always be improved by adding weight plates, dumbbells, or kettlebells on its storage pegs and tray. This being said, the cage shouldn’t require anchoring to the floor and its base bars do not have pre-drilled holes for this purpose.
Other parts and accessories
The Marcy SteelBody STB-98005 Monster Cage includes a set of safety bars with bar catches on their ends, 
and an additional set of bar catches. These are all rated for a load capacity of 500 lbs (~226 kg).
The short rear bars of the cage are equipped with two weight plate storage posts each. They have Olympic (2″) sleeves for Olympic plates, but these can be removed so you can store Standard (1″) plates on them as well. Each post can be loaded with plates up to 100 lbs (45 kg). Also, the storage tray in-between the two rear bars can support loads up to 270 lbs (~122 kg).
Apart from the cage itself which provides a training setting for squats and other exercises, the Marcy SteelBody STB-98005 includes two extra workout stations. One of them is the chinning bar. This can be attached to the rear top bar of the cage. It features a multi-grip design, with curved lateral grips and parallel grips. However, attaching this bar to the cage is not entirely necessary. The front upper section of the cage features a simple cylindrical bar which also offers the possibility to perform chin-ups, pull-ups and variations of these exercises. The chin-up bars are rated for a weight capacity of 350 lbs (~159 kg).
The other attachment or workout station included with the Marcy STB-98005 is the dip station.
This consists of two short bars (1.5″ in diameter) with rubberized grips. They can be attached to any of the 15 positions of the upright bars for the execution of dip exercises and variations. Similar to the chinning bar, the dip bars are rated for a weight capacity of 350 lbs (~159 kg).
The cage also includes a set of resistance band pegs. These can be attached to the base bars of the cage and serve as support for various resistance bands.
Last but not least, it is important to mention that this Marcy power cage does not include any weight plates or any barbells. You will have to purchase these separately or use the ones you already have. Also, the cage is meant for Olympic (7′) bars.
Possible exercises
- Pull-ups
- Wide grip pull-ups
- Muscle pull-ups
- Behind head pull-ups
- Around the world pull-ups
- One arm pull-ups
- Cliffhangers
- Weighted pull-ups
- Chin-ups
- Close grip chin-ups
- Wide grip chin-ups
- One hand chin-ups
- Weighted chin-ups
- Dips
- Weighted dips
- Band-resisted dips
- Dip to leg raise
- Side-to-side dips
- Gironda dips
- Reverse Gironda dips
- Hanging knee raises
- Hanging leg raises
- Push-ups
- Deadlifts
- Calf raises
- Squats
- Wide squats
- Twisting squats
- Chest presses
- … and more
Of course, exercises such as chest presses require a bench, which is not included.
Assembly and Maintenance
The Marcy STB-98005 Monster Cage requires full assembly. Although the task isn’t too complicated, it may take several hours. You will basically have to put the base together first, then add the vertical bars, the reinforcement plates and bars, close the cage with the top bars, and connect the rest of the accessories. The included manual provides pretty clear assembly instructions and schematics. Tools for assembly are not included, though. You will need an adjustable wrench, an Allen wrench, and a rubber mallet.
Once the cage is assembled, maintenance doesn’t require much. All you need to do is periodically inspect the joints and bolts to re-tighten them if it’s the case, or replace any potential broken parts. It’s also important to mention that this cage is for indoor use only.
The Pros
- Sturdy frame, 16-ga steel;
- Dip bars included;
- Multi-grip pull-up bars;
- Pull-up and dip handles included, rated for a weight capacity of 350 lbs;
- Solid steel safety bars with catch bars rated for 500 lbs;
- 15 adjustment positions for the safety bars, J hooks and dip handles;
- 4 weight plate storage posts with removable Olympic (2″) sleeves;
- Dumbbell tray attachment included;
- Elastic band pegs for the base bars;
- Over 30 possible exercises;
- Easy to assemble;
- Little maintenance required.
The Cons
- Assembly tools are not included;
- No lat attachment option available for this particular Marcy cage.
Summary
The Marcy SteelBody STB-98005 pretty standard power cage featuring a pull-up station with multiple grips, a set of safety bars with catches attached, and an extra set of catches. The rack also includes a set of dip handles. It’s a sturdy piece of equipment offering the possibility to perform more than 30 exercises, and offers a fairly decent weight capacity up to 500 lbs for its catches and safety bars.