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TITAN leg press hack squat machine vs TITAN vertical leg press

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Dec 29, 2020 9:00:00 AM

TITAN leg press hack squat machine vs TITAN vertical leg press

This is a comparison between the TITAN leg press hack squat machine and the TITAN vertical leg press including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview and review of the TITAN Vertical leg press $349

Overview of the TITAN vertical leg press

 
The vertical leg press is a low budget approach on a barbell squat or leg press machine. IT uses two uprights to and three plate pins to deliver something similar to the classic leg press machine you see in every gym. It also has a smaller footprint than most other machines which train the legs. The full specifications of the TITAN vertical leg press are:
 
- Takes the stress off of your back and isolates your lower body.
- Three weight posts for plenty of room to add weight.
- Adjustable footplate starting height to suite different size athletes.
- High quality steel construction and pads for a solid, comfortable design. 
- Dual post design lets you feel the weight on either leg. 
 
- Footprint: 48" x 38"
- Footplate Starting Height(s): 26.5", 32", 35", 38".
- Full Extension Height: 52.5" 
- Footplate Dimensions: 21.5" x 5"
- Back Pad Dimensions: 32" x 15"
- Head Rest Dimensions: 10" x 6"
- Weight Post Length: 8.75"
- Weight Post Diameter: 1.95"
- Weight Capacity: 400 LB
- Weight: 94 LB
 
This is a great machine if you want to save some space and money. It has its little flaws and I would not recommend it if you are massive yourself.
 

Pros of the TITAN vertical leg press

 
The pros of the TITAN vertical leg press are:
 
  • Small foot print
  • Small price
  • Easy to transport
 
This leg press does not cost much and also saves space in your gym. For any home gym that is pressed for space this can be a good solution to still get a leg press into a crammed space. If you take it apart there is also not a lot to transport. This makes it a good option for someone who moves around a lot and wants to take their gym with them.
 

Cons of the TITAN vertical leg press

 
The cons of the TITAN vertical leg press are:
 
  • Small footplate
  • Small area to lie on
  • No security pin
 
This machine has all kinds of issues of you are the type of person that leg presses several hundred kilos of plates.  Even though the position is less advantageous than in other leg presses, the small design without any security stops can be scary. I would not recommend this machine to anyone who already barbell back squats north of 150kg for repetitions as this machine has too many options to harm yourself in a serious way if the weight is too heavy.
 

Alternatives to the TITAN vertical leg press

 
 
The TITAN smith machine is another option in the TITAN portfolio to do squats and other exercises. While this machine comes in at a much higher price than the vertical leg press, you can also store plates on it and do more than just squats. I am personally not a huge fan of smith machines as I think that a rack with a barbell does the job better and safer once you learned how to use it properly.
 
The titan hack leg press is a good option for a home gym with a bit of space as it doubles up as two machines. The design is also closer to the common leg press machines which you see all over the world. While it is still a bit flimsy compared to other leg presses in the market, i would recommend it over the vertical leg press, if you have the space for it.
 
If you are considering a leg press machine mainly to get more squat volume in, than a TITAN belt squat machine might be the better option for you. This machine also puts less pressure on your spine than a regular barbell squat, but you are still standing on your won feet rather than laying on the ground. This is a great option for anyone who want s to blow their quads.
 
The Rogue Rhino is the current gold standard in the fitness industry for belt squat machines. This is the best you can get in terms of build and functionality if you want to get a leg machine. That also comes with a bigger price tag as the Rogue Rhino is very close to the $2000 mark which plays in a completely different league than the TITAN vertical leg press.
 
The Rogue leg press is a $4000 dollar monster of a leg press machine that even Ronnie Coleman could not break.  In addition to the large weight capacity and the amount of metal you would need to build a car it also offers the option to train each leg separately. The footplate can be unlocked in the middle and each platform runs on its own lever system.
 

Conclusion for the TITAN Vertical leg press

 
The TITAN vertical leg press is a good machine for a crammed space at home to get a leg press. Be careful when you use and do not load it up too much. It only weighs 94lbs so you might not want to put 1000lbs on top of it when all that separates you and the floor is your legs.
 
 
 

Overview and review of the TITAN Leg press Hack Squat machine $1055

This is an overview of the TITAN Leg press hack squat machine including pros, cons and alternatives. This article was originally posted in Which gym machine to get from TITAN. Follow the links for additional information.

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Overview of the TITAN Leg press machine

 
A leg press machine is a classic in gyms all over the world. In any bodybuilding movie montage you will find someone sitting in a hack squat machine pushing the equivalent of a small truck around. It has also become quite popular to get all of your friends to hop on one and post the video on Instagram. If you want to get instafamous you might still be able to afford the bikini models to hop onto the machine when you buy the TITAN leg press.  A great additional design is that this machine also doubles up as a hack squat. This makes it a two for one machine which saves space in a commercial or home gym setting to train your legs hard. The full feature list includes:
 
- 2-in-1 Machine features leg press and hack squat positions
- High quality steel construction for a solid, stable design
- Safety hand rails for complete control and easy bailout no matter what position you're in
- Fits Olympic weight plates and features two loadable weight posts and two additional posts for weight storage
- Comfortable and adjustable for any size athlete
 
- Footprint Dimensions: 40-in W x 7 FT L
- Overall Height: 53-in.
- Leg Press Footplate Dimensions: 21-in W x 15-in L
- Leg Press Back Pad Dimensions: 10.5-in W x 31-in L
- Hack Squat Footplate Dimensions: 26-in W x 22-in L
- Hack Squat Footplate Positions: 4
- Hack Squat Shoulder Pad Spread: 7.5-in W
- Hack Squat Shoulder Pad Dimensions: 4.5-in W x 8-in L
- Hack Squat Back Pad Dimensions: 20-in W x 15-in L
- Weight Post Length: 11.25" per side
- Storage Weight Post Length: 11.75-in per side
- Weight Post Diameter: 1.95-in.
- Weight Capacity: 875 lb.
- Weight: 325 lb.
 
This is a great machine for a home gym as it does two things for the price of one. In a commercial gym you might want to provide two stations instead of one so that more people can train at the same time.
 

Pros of the TITAN Hack squat leg press machine

 
 
  • Price
  • Space efficient
  • Big storage capacity
 
As usual the price is almost unmatched in the market for a product that would deliver the same or similar specs. Especially if you take free shipping and customer service into account. TITAN manages to provide the same material at roughly half the cost of their competition. If you want to build a massive gym, especially in your own home where you dont mind minor quality issues, TITAN makes your money stretch further.
 
As this is a two in one machine it will save you floor space. If you want to equip a small commercial gym or a home gym with a leg press and hack squat, this is the ideal solution sothat you can keep some floor space for other machines or strechtes.
 
This leg press machine can also be the centerpiece of an entire weight room, as you can store a lot of plates on this machine.  If possible i would place it close to the middle of any arrangement so that you can save on some plate trees. Making plates readily available in your gym can cut waiting time considerably and create a better experience for your customers. In your home it is nice to not have to haul your own plates too far and just able to throw them on the machine at the end of your workout.
 

Cons of the TITAN Hack squat Leg press machine

 
The cons of the TITAN hack squat leg press are:
 
  • 2 in 1 design
  • Structure
  • TITAN instructions and shipping
 
While 2 in 1 designs are always great when there is a single user, it can become problematic for multiple users. Not everyone will understand and use the machine in the way that it is intended. Especially in a commercial setup this bears a higher risk of this machine breaking or becoming a health hazard. While 2 in 1 is great for a single users who knows what the functions are, you need proper instructions when you use such a design in a more public space.
 
While the TITAN hack squat leg press is definitely sturdy it is a small leg press. You are giving up space for placing your feet and shoulders based on the two in one design. Also it would not feel comfortable using this leg press fur multiple tons of weight as it is flimsy for a leg press. It is great for the average joe, but if you do 4 - 6 plates easily for reps on a leg press, you might want to get a dedicated machine for that purpose.  
 
As with all complex assemblies from TITAN I put a caveat out that manuals and little bits are one of TITAN's major shortfalls in quality. When you offer your products for such a low price you have to cut corners in the creation of manuals and employee training. You just hear more often about tough assemblies or missing parts with TITAN than from comparable brands like Eleiko or Rogue fitness.
 

Alternatives to the TITAN Hack squat Leg press machine

 
Alternatives to the TITAN hack squat leg press machine are:
 
 
If you want to do lunges and do not want to do them with a barbell or kettlebells, a smith machine can also be a good choice. The TITAN smith machine is also closer to free weight training than a leg press or hack squat. I am personally not a huge fan of smith machines as they eat up a lot of space and are not that versatile. Still, most commercial gyms have one, so you might have to bite the bullet to provide the same as the guy next door. For any home gym I personally think that a smith machine is a waste of space and money.
 
The TITAN belt squat machine is another option to train your legs hard and still keep the exercise closer to free weight training. A belt squat machine is a great tool for weightlifters and power lifters as it takes pressure of the spine for volume work on the squat, while still not restricting your body as much as a leg press. Usually leg presses are a little more prominent with bodybuilders, so it depends on your training style for your home gym or what kind of clients you have in a commercial gym, if a belt squat is the better fit for your place than a hack squat leg press.
 
The Rogue Rhino is the current gold standard in the industry when it comes to belt squat machines. Rogue has combined their recent push into the world of machines with their tryouts for pulley systems and created a belt squat that is safe, easy to use and has almost a 1:1 ration for weight to exercise. The only downside to this machine is that it comes in at $1.750 which considerably sets it apart to the higher end compared to other machines.
 
The Rogue leg press is the beefiest and biggest machine of its kind I have personally seen. An added feature is that this massive leg press can also be used to train each leg separately or in a type of bicycle motion. Everything about this machine is massive; the seat, the plate to put your feet on, and the plate storage included. So is the price. This leg press will put you back about $4000 so you could get 4 TITAN Hack squat leg presses for the price of one Rogue leg press. The Rogue leg press is the right machine for anyone who train athletes at top levels who do not have to worry about budget. If you are massive, this is the leg press for you. 
 

Conclusion for the TITAN Hack squat Leg press machine

 
The TITAN hack squat leg press machine is great for a spacious home gym for the average joe. The price is great for what you are getting. In professional environments a dedicated leg press and a hack squat machine are probably the better choice to serve more customers in a shorter amount of time. Professional bodybuilders, powerlifters, and huge athletes might steer away from this machine due to the space constraints on the metal plates and the fact that for a leg press, it is a very light and small machine.
 

Topics: Squat, Powerlifting, TITAN, Garagegym, Home Gym