The Bullet Pulley is an affordable option for folks looking to add a low pulley system to their existing squat or power rack.
Consisting of a single pulley, the Bullet Pulley can be added to any size upright, instantly adding an anchor point for a cable (or rope) system.
If this sounds simple, it’s because it is – there’s certainly nothing complicated going on here.
But its simplicity is what makes the Bullet Pulley special.
This straight-forward accessory can essentially add a functional trainer system to any rack you already own… but there are a few downsides.
Most notably, the fact that the Bullet Pulley doesn’t come with everything you need to set up your cable system (you have to purchase the hanging pulley and loading pin elsewhere).
That said, if you’re looking for an affordable way to add a cable system to your squat rack, I think the Bullet Pulley could make a lot of sense.
Before you decide though, keep reading.
In this review, I’ll go over everything this accessory has to offer, as well as where it falls a bit short.
After reading, you’ll know whether or not the Bullet Pulley is the right fit for your home gym system.
The Bullet Pulley
As mentioned above, the Bullet Pulley is a single, mountable pulley that can be added to any sized squat or power rack.
Well, by ‘any sized’, we’re talking racks that have 3″ x 3″ uprights or smaller – if you have some insanely heavy-duty rack with larger uprights than that, you’re out of luck here.
The universal fit of the Bullet Pulley is accomplished through its simple design.
This pulley simply bolts onto any upright by using the existing upright holes already there. And the protective layer on the underside of the pulley’s body creates a snug fit to the various upright sizes.
Once attached, the Bullet Pulley can act as a low/mid pulley, adding a nice range of cable exercises to a squat rack that would otherwise be unable to provide these moves.
And since you can place the Bullet Pulley at any height you need, this accessory basically gives you a simple functional trainer.
Anyway, there’s not a lot going on with this product, so this review will be pretty short and sweet, but let’s start with the most important stuff.
Pros
- Versatile
- Easy to install
- Fits any squat/power rack
- Durable construction
- Swiveling pulley
- Pulley can be installed on left and right uprights
- Affordable
- Can be set up as dual pulley system
Cons
- Doesn’t include hanging pulley, loading pin, or cables/ropes
- Will need different rope lengths for different pulley positions
What’s Included?
If you decide to purchase the Bullet Pulley, keep in mind that it only comes with the mountable pulley itself… nothing else.
Well, it comes with the wrench you need to adjust the pitch too I guess, but that’s it.
The Bullet Pulley does not include any cables, the hanging pulley, or the loading pin necessary to make this pulley system functional.
This means you’ll have to buy these other crucial accessories separately.
And Bullet Pulley doesn’t even offer these other components (yet anyway, it wouldn’t surprise me if they add these important parts to their lineup later) – you’ll have to buy them somewhere else.
Personally, I think this is the Bullet Pulley’s biggest flaw.
It would make the whole thing a lot more convenient if it included everything you need to set up your cable system.
But no, the Bullet Pulley is literally just the low pulley itself – you’ll have to buy the hanging pulley, the loading pin, and the cables/ropes separately.
To be fair, these other components aren’t expensive, you can choose between plenty of options on Amazon (and many sets include both the pulley and the loading pin, as well as other accessories).
Construction
The Bullet Pulley (great name by the way) comes with a steel body and a 3.5″ nylon pulley that can swivel to either side.
The pulley can also be pitched (angled) to either side, allowing for proper cable alignment regardless of which upright the pulley is mounted to.
The conical nut is made out of aluminum, making for a comfortable grip when adjusting.
There’s also a protective plastic layer backing the body of the pulley, ensuring a snug fit against any sized upright, while protecting the upright from scratches.
The Bullet Pulley comes with a 350 lb weight limit, allowing folks to lift against a lot of resistance.
Exercise Options
Technically, you can put the Bullet Pulley anywhere you like along your uprights, but it’s going to work best in the low pulley position.
This means you’ll be able to perform any exercise you can think of with a low pulley.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
- bicep curls
- high rows
- low rows
- shoulder flys
- shoulder press
- overhead triceps extension
- hamstring curls
- squats
Again, you could try placing the pulley higher up on your upright for varying exercises, but keep in the mind the angle of the cable with the hanging pull up pulley – the higher you put the Bullet, the more awkward things could get.
You can check out Bullet Pulley’s blog for more exercise ideas.
Setup
Attaching the Bullet Pulley to your rack’s upright is the easy part, you simple run the bolt through the hole and tighten the nut on the other side.
Done and done… but remember, that’s only one part of the cable setup here.
You still need to hook up the hanging pulley, load the loading pin, and run your cable/rope.
The hanging pulley (sold separately) is easy – the exact attachment may vary a little depending on which one you get, but it simply hangs from a pull up bar or a suspension trainer attachment if your rack has one.
And the loading pin (this is where your weight plates go) simply attaches to your cable or rope, which is then run up through the hanging pulley and routed down to the Bullet Pulley.
The Bullet Pulley can be mounted to either the left or right front upright, but you’ll want to pitch the pulley to the opposite side so it’ll align correctly with the cable coming down to it.
You’ll also have to adjust your cables/ropes to the correct length, depending on where you place your Bullet Pulley.
The folks at Bullet Pulley actually encourage the use of polyester ropes (1/4″) because they’re easy to cut and adjust, but you’ll have to be comfortable with tying the knots to attach ’em.
FYI, you can also setup two Bullet Pulleys for a dual cable system, giving you the option to perform bilateral exercises.
Overall though, setting up the Bullet Pulley system should be pretty easy for most home-gymers.
Cost
As I’m writing this, the Bullet Pulley is on sale for $99 (full price of around $169).
Considering you only get the pulley itself, I think the $99 price range is much better than the full asking price, so let’s hope it stays on sale.
Honestly, I don’t think $100 is a bad price for this product – it’s well made and highly adjustable.
But don’t forget you’ll have to invest in purchasing the hanging pulley, loading pin, and ropes as well.
You can get a set that includes the hanging pulley and loading pin (as well as additional handles and accessories) for like $40.
And you can find 100′ of 1/4″ rope for $20 or so.
So, add it all together and you’re probably looking at $160 or so for the complete set up (Bullet Pulley and all necessary accessories).
You’ll need the actual weight plates themselves too of course, but if you already have a squat rack, you should already have some of these available.
Final Thoughts
Alright, I guess that about does it.
I feel like that went by really fast, but as I said, the Bullet Pulley is a pretty simple device.
Overall, I think this is a clever accessory and I could see it being a nice investment for folks looking to add some cable exercises to their existing rack.
I’m still a little annoyed that Bullet Pulley doesn’t include (or at least offer) the other necessary parts to setup this low pulley system, but at least the other components are affordable and easy to find.
If you already have a functional trainer or other low pulley setup, I see no reason to invest in the Bullet Pulley.
You should also know that this pulley setup is not going to feel as smooth as the cable machines you’ve used at local gyms.
That hanging pulley and suspended loading pin are going to sway as you start lifting – this will make you work harder to stabilize, but it’ll also make the lift feel less smooth.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s important to have realistic expectations.
All things considered though, I think the Bullet Pulley could be a great option if you’re looking for an affordable way to add exercise options to your existing rack.
