Belt Squat Machine

Goldenrod

Goldenrod

Well-known member
Staff member
Morning - does anyone use these machines. I have given up on putting heavy weight on my back due to spine/lower back injuries and the pressure on your the cushions between each vertebrae.

I was sticking to heavy leg presses for my main leg mass exercise. Obviously there are other exercises that help the legs, but I always notice after 2 warm up and 3-4 working sets of leg presses, I need a new T-Shirt which tells me I am working hard.
We have a belt squat machine and you start below parallel and then vary according to leg position/preference but you can fry your legs without the pressure on the spine. I have only used it twice - the first time was a little embarrassing lol. New movement / nervous not used to it and was amazed how low I could go without knee or back pain and how little weight I needed. I did legs again yesterday and pushed it more, well I have significant DOMS today and that is the only main change, other than continual progressive overload with leg presses and the the glute bridge machine. Nothing drastic, just another few reps in the leg press until I hit 15 with entire stack. Glute machine - I add 10-15 lbs each workout as this is a new movement for me and the increases in strength comes pretty fast albeit I know I will hit a wall soon.
Back to belt squats - I am sold and it will replace leg presses as my first main pressing exercise.
Just curious if anyone else uses a similar machine and their take.
thanks
 
The Old Guy said:
Belt squat is good but if they have a pendulum squat I find it puts the lost load right on the squats and allows a really deep stretch in the bottom.

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The gym I go to sort of has something similar which is like a well supported hack squat and it also has pads to put you in a perfect position for RDL's if you turn around and use the other set of shoulder pads. Appreciate the comments @The Old Guy
 
I made a diy lever belt squat attached to my rack. Added a kickstand so i can start at the top position. Thing works really well.
Im not a big fan of spinal loading anymore either. I still do squat with a ssb bar but i dont put more then 3 plates a side on. Used to be 5 plates but getting old sucks
 
I have a belt squat at my gym. Used it alot…won’t anymore. I started bout 6 months ago for the same reason

lower weight it feels great but with heavier weights i find belt puts tons of pressure on the lumber spine…L2-5. Actually in physio now for lower back issue and I believe its due to belt squats

I will stick to hacks, hip press, pendulum squat and extensions now
 
I'm in the same boat GR. Any spinal loading is a gamble for me and I usually end up on the losing end if I push my luck.
We have a bells of steel belt squat at my gym and I have a lever style from bells at my home gym. The biggest detractor for me is the lack of range. I'm a short guy too. I have to add thick bumper plates to stand on to get the depth I want. They are a decent alternative or addition to a leg day. The hip belt can get a bit uncomfortable but that's expected once you start piling on the weight.
You can alter your stance and position to bias the posterior chain with it as well. Give it a try, I'm sure once you get it figured out you'll enjoy it.
 
I also have spinal injuries (2 fusions). I still back squat but never more than 3 plates. Having said that. I have not tried a belted squat. Did a deep dive to learn and am sold its a good idea. The leverage squat OG pointed out is at another branch of the gym chain I use and will try it in the coming months.
I have seen no belted squat machine in the local gyms yet. Might be a home gym addition.
 
Love a belt squat. I pulled my back a month or two ago and tried it out. We have two at my gym. one is an Atlantis and one is a brand called land shark I think? It’s great. So smooth and great contraction.
Don’t need to go super heavy the landshark one I can get up to 5pps the Atlantis one barely 2.5pps. Don’t care much for how much weight just as long as I am pushing myself.

I wouldn’t use it as a first machine. Cause like someone said if you need to push a heavy load it can get a bit uncomfortable with the belt on your waist or sometimes it pinches your love handles. But overall I think I’m gonna keep it in my routine.

I do wide stand also kinda like sumo and go deep. Really enjoy it. I’d say anyone that hasn’t used one should try. Maybe as a midway or finisher exercise.
 
Im curious to know what gyms you guys go to? To be have access to good belt squats and pendulum squats would be awesome.
I have a home gym but i still train at goodlife on the weekends. Goodlife has shit. I want to give up my membership but she already paid for the year and im grandfathered in at 34 bucks a month
 
The Old Guy said:
Belt squat is good but if they have a pendulum squat I find it puts the lost load right on the squats and allows a really deep stretch in the bottom.

View attachment 107862
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Plus one on this, Maybe just the one I use but as someone who is also kinda done with heavy spinal loading I don't feel that with the pendulum for some reason. The ones I use also have a much longer arm than the one pictured fwiw

EDIT - just noticed now but I read "quads" where u said load on the "squats". I assume u meant quads tho?
 
Jussik said:
I love the belt squat to do stiff leg deadlifts! For squats I think they could also work but I personally prefer a hack squat machine or a pendulum squat machine.
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Agree - it is very versatile for RDL's, stiff legged deadlifts, curls, and so on. Just a different machine. I have not used enough weight that the large belt damages any of the vertebrae. I stick with higher reps and go deep. @storman - the machine at the gym you have to start at the lower position if you use it properly, but it has a large steel part for holding it together on both sides. You can lay the starting position / weight on the upper part of the holding bars as they stick out, I always prefer to start standing vs. my ass on the ground. It is a Bells of Steel machine. If you can get past this guy who is paid to talk about Bells of Steel - you can see at the top of where the bar sits, you can use this too. @granpa1959 - if you are squatting 3 plates on your back with multiple spine surgeries, at your age, and I though a problem with one leg - that is a very impressive amount of weight.
Believe it is this one:
 
gondar1 said:
Plus one on this, Maybe just the one I use but as someone who is also kinda done with heavy spinal loading I don't feel that with the pendulum for some reason. The ones I use also have a much longer arm than the one pictured fwiw

EDIT - just noticed now but I read "quads" where u said load on the "squats". I assume u meant quads tho?
Click to expand...
Spot playing coy. You know what I really mean. 🥰
 
storman said:
Im curious to know what gyms you guys go to? To be have access to good belt squats and pendulum squats would be awesome.
I have a home gym but i still train at goodlife on the weekends. Goodlife has shit. I want to give up my membership but she already paid for the year and im grandfathered in at 34 bucks a month
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I’ll take you my gym when you are next in Mississauga
 
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