Strength equipment

Leg presses and hack squats

Sleds, leverage machines and selectorised combinations: compare the movement, not just the loaded kilos.

By Mahmoud3 min read

A leg press supports the torso while the legs move a platform or carriage. A hack squat generally places the lifter against a moving back pad beneath shoulder supports. Combination machines change pads or platforms to provide both arrangements in one frame.

Useful termsPlate loaded Weight stack

EQUIPMENT EXAMPLEBody-Solid GLPH1100 leg press / hack squat
A plate-loaded combination sled with a roller carriage, flip-over pads and three lockout positions.
Photo: Cyberfit / Body-Solid. Machine shown without training plates. Plates and collars are separate.

Different machines, different paths

An angled sled runs along rails or rollers. A leverage machine rotates around a pivot. A selectorised machine uses a weight stack and a cable or linkage to supply resistance. “Leg press” therefore describes the exercise arrangement, not one universal mechanism.

On a combination sled, the leg-press footplate and lower hack-squat platform can be different parts. Inspect how the back pad moves, where the shoulders sit and how the start/stop handles work in both modes. The most compact advertised setup may not be the configuration in which you intend to train.

Sources: Body-Solid GLPH1100 Australian listing · BODYCRAFT F660 manufacturer brochure · Impulse SL9539-134 Australian listing

Why plate weight is not the whole resistance

A sled has an unloaded moving mass before you add plates. The rail angle, friction and any counterbalance affect the force along its path. On a lever machine, plate position relative to the pivot matters. On a selectorised machine, the transmission ratio matters.

For that reason, a 200 kg plate load on one machine cannot be treated as the same exercise resistance on another. Keep a log of the exact machine, seat setting and range of motion. For purchasing, find the starting resistance first: it can determine whether the lightest user can use the machine at all.

Sources: BODYCRAFT F660 manufacturer brochure · OpenStax — force and lever geometry

Check fit at the bottom and at the start

Sit in the machine and check the intended bottom position with no added load. Look at foot contact, pad support, knee and hip room, and whether the release handles remain reachable. Try both legs together and any single-leg work you plan to perform. A large maximum capacity does not resolve a poor fit.

Adjustable shoulder pads can help different-height users share a hack squat. Footplate angle changes the setup again. BODYCRAFT’s F660 brochure illustrates this with separately adjustable upper and lower plates and shoulder-pad positions. Those are adjustments to verify in person, rather than assuming every user will fit.

Sources: BODYCRAFT F660 manufacturer brochure · BODYCRAFT F660 owner’s manual

Three local examples

Cyberfit lists the Body-Solid GLPH1100, a plate-loaded roller sled. Elite lists the Bodycraft LF660G, which uses linear bearings and includes a removable calf block. Dynamo lists the Impulse SL9539-134, a stack-loaded combination machine. Their loading methods and purchase requirements differ substantially.

Some local and international pages disagree about assembled dimensions or model revisions. Use a dated drawing supplied for your actual order, including the full moving range, rather than selecting the smallest number found online.

Sources: Body-Solid GLPH1100 Australian listing · Impulse SL9539-134 Australian listing · Bodycraft LF660G Elite Australian listing · Bodycraft LF660G World Fitness dimensions

Delivery and daily access

Measure the assembled machine and the largest packed component. Check the entire route through doors, gates and stairs, plus space to handle plates and service the guide system. Obtain separate prices for freight, placement in the room and assembly.

Keep the assembly manual and use its inspection and maintenance instructions. The F660 manual, for example, requires a level assembly surface and checks of parts and adjustment pins. Ask the supplier about replacement pads, rollers, bearings and stops before treating a heavy machine as a permanent room fixture.

Sources: BODYCRAFT F660 manufacturer brochure · BODYCRAFT F660 owner’s manual