Gladiator GearTrack Vs Rubbermaid FastTrack: Which Is Better?

I am often asked about which garage storage system I use. People are surprised when I say I use Rubbermaid FastTrack, Gladiator GearTrack, and GearWall.

The next question is whether they’re compatible with each other. Spoilers… they’re not.

After some confusion, their next question was why I had both. 

It doesn’t make sense to most people if you can’t share accessories.

The bottom line is that the Gladiator GearWall and Rubbermaid FastTrack are great wall storage systems. However, I use them in different ways and even in different rooms. 

I want to compare Gladiator GearTrack vs Rubbermaid FastTrack.

I’ll explain all of their similarities and a few of their differences. Finally, I will describe their strengths and how you should use them in your home.

This is a quick ‘cheat sheet’ to compare the two systems. I’ll leave links to my two detailed reviews (full of pictures of my installations) at the end of the article so you can dig a little deeper.

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Gladiator GearTrack vs Rubbermaid FastTrack: Quick Comparison

Both the Gladiator GearTrack and Rubbermaid FastTrack systems have a lot of similarities with each other.

Both are based on a single rail track with proprietary metal hooks rather than a slatwall storage system.

The Gladiator GearTrack and GearWall systems are slightly more ‘industrial’ looking. With its decorative plastic cover, the Rubbermaid FastTrack looks slightly more ‘polished.’ 

Which is right for you?

Unless you need some special-purpose hook that is only available from one of them, both are great options for your garage.

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Gladiator GearTrack vs Rubbermaid FastTrack: Quality

Both the Rubbermaid FastTrack and Gladiator GearTrack are incredibly high quality. Still, I have to give the edge here to Rubbermaid.

The Gladiator GearTrack rail is built of heavy plastic. It’s sturdy, and I’ve never had one break on me, even under a heavy load.

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But it’s really not a contest.

The FastTrack has a thick steel rail as its base, compared to the one-piece plastic design of the GearTrack channel. This allows for a much higher weight capacity.

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Rubbermaid vs Gladiator: Warranty

Gladiator wins this round.

The GearTrack channels have a limited lifetime warranty, compared to only a 1-year warranty for Rubbermaid.

There are, of course, exceptions to those warranties, and neither covers product failures due to incorrect installation.

Here’s the text of each warranty so you can compare them:

Rubbermaid Warranty

Rubbermaid warrants to the original owner that this product is free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of the original purchase. If this product is defective when used as intended under normal household conditions within the specified period, Rubbermaid will replace the product, send a replacement part or issue a refund (at our option) when the consumer provides a proof of purchase (either a bill of sale, receipted invoice, or other proof that the product is within the warranty period), along with a full description of the defect

Gladiator Warranty

For the life of the product, when the GearWall™ Accessories are used and maintained according to instructions attached to or furnished
with the product, Gladiator® GarageWorks will pay for repair or replacement of the GearWall™ Accessories due to defective materials or
workmanship.

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Gladiator GearTrack vs Rubbermaid FastTrack: Starter Kits

As the name suggests, Starter kits are one of the best ways to get started with wall storage systems.

Not only do they combine the track and an assortment of hooks, but you can sometimes only get certain accessories or track lengths in one of the kits.

If you’re trying to compare Gladiator GearTrack vs Rubbermaid FastTrack, picking up one or two of the less expensive starter kits may be the way to go.

Gladiator GearTrack Starter Kits

Gladiator has at least nine starter kits, so there are various configurations to get you started. I’ll go into each in detail here.

GearTrack Pack

The basic GearTrack Pack is the one you will find most often in your local big-box home improvement store.

In theory, it offers a nice mix of the more popular hooks. Still, you’ll usually find yourself gravitating to some hooks over others.

Rack GearTrack Pack

The Rack GearTrack Pack has the smallest section of GearTrack available in any starter kit. It’s only 24″ long because it’s designed to mount directly on any shelving units you have.

Entryway GearTrack Pack

The Entryway GearTrack Pack is one of my favorites and the only place to get GearTrack pre-cut in a 3′ length.

It’s wide enough to mount one of the RTA Cabinets but also perfect for storing brooms, dustpans, or anything you want to quickly grab before heading out.

Multipurpose GearTrack Pack

Most people start with the Multipurpose GearTrack Pack to organize their garage. The five Scoop Hooks are perfect for storing shovels, other garden tools, or even many power tools and accessories.

• 1 42″ GearTrack channel
• 2 Endcaps
• 6 Color Matched Screws
• 5 Scoop Hooks

Sports GearTrack Pack

The Sports GearTrack Pack and the Sports Caddy GearTrack Pack below are very similar. The only significant difference is the size of the mesh basket.

The Sports GearTrack Pack has a smaller, 24″ mesh basket and three different hooks. If you want to store small sports equipment (baseball or tennis ball size), go with this.

Sports Caddy GearTrack Pack

By contrast, the Sports Caddy GearTrack Pack includes a larger Ball Caddy that is perfect for storing basketballs, footballs, and other larger sports gear.

Gardening GearTrack Pack

In addition to the shorter 32″ GearTrack channel, the Gardening GearTrack Pack includes a multi-pocket removable gardening bag exclusive to this starter kit.

Lawn Care GearTrack Pack

Even if you’re not planning on storing your garden tools on it, the Lawn Care GearTrack Pack might be worth a look.

This starter kit offers the Big Hook and Deep Hooks, which are great for storing extension cords, hoses, and other bulky items.

Bike GearTrack Pack

The Bike GearTrack Pack lets you store two bicycles, one on each type of Gladiator’s bike hooks. There are also two J-hooks for storing helmets or other gear.

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Rubbermaid FastTrack Starter Kits

Rubbermaid has four starter kits that range from a 5-piece kit all the way to a 15-piece kit. Occasionally, you’ll find special kits for specific retail chains brought out around the holidays.

One of the noteworthy advantages of the Rubbermaid FastTrack starter kits is that they come in shorter rail lengths.

While you can cut one of the steel rails, you’d need a table saw. A starter kit offers an easy shortcut to that.

5-Piece FastTrack Starter Kit

The 5-piece and 6-piece starter kits are almost identical except for a slight change in which hooks are included.

The 5-piece kit includes the Multi-Purpose hook, which is excellent for holding stepladders or multiple shovels or rakes on the same hook.

6-Piece FastTrack Starter Kit

By contrast, the 6-piece starter kit swaps out the Multi-Purpose hook, instead including the Utility Hook and an additional One-Handle Hook. The Utility Hook holds larger tools like lawn edgers or hedge trimmers.

15-Piece FastTrack Starter Kit

Unlike other starter kits, the 15-Piece Starter Kit includes full-length, four-foot FastTrack rails.

I don’t recommend this starter kit if you’re just starting out with the FastTrack system. It comes with only three different types of hooks: Multi-Purpose, Utility, and Cooler Hooks.

You give up a little flexibility, but if you know these are the hooks you’ll use anyway, this may be a great option to pick them up at a bit of a discount.

• 3 Four-foot FastTrack rails
• Installation Hardware
• 4 Multi-Purpose Hooks
• 2 Cooler Hooks
• 3 Utility Hooks

Tool Hanging Kit

The Tool Hanging Kit is my favorite of all the Rubbermaid FastTrack starter kits.

It comes with two 32″ rails, and it’s the only one with a Power Tool Hook.

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Wrapping It Up

When I first started comparing the Gladiator GearTrack Vs Rubbermaid FastTrack, I was immediately drawn to the Gladiator system. It was a perfect fit for my garage, and it’s been amazing so far.

But I’ve also grown to love the Rubbermaid FastTrack system in my laundry room. It’s a more sophisticated, upscale-looking storage system that doesn’t look out of place inside the house.

That’s the best thing about owning both systems.

I can see their strengths and weaknesses and use them in the best locations.

For more on Rubbermaid FastTrack, check out my review here. Many images are from when I was testing it in my garage. It’s also been updated with pictures from my permanent installation in my laundry room.

To find out more about the Gladiator GearTrack and GearWall system, you can check out my detailed review here. It’s a long-term review written after I’d been using the system for over two years.

Regardless of your choice, the FastTrack and GearTrack are some of the best wall storage systems. You can’t go wrong either way.