If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best leg press machine for home gym workouts are, then I’d recommend the Bodycraft F660 Leg Press/Hip Sled as the best one.
As long as you have the room for it, a leg press machine can make an excellent addition to your gym.
Since it’s a worthy investment, it’s important to have the best leg press machine for home gym use so your workout area is designed to last a long time.
We came up with a buyer’s guide and five products we feel deserve a place at the top of your list.
Here are the top leg press machines we’ll be reviewing:
- Body-Solid Powerline Vertical Leg Press
- Body-Solid GLPH1100 Leg Press/Hack Squat Machine
- Powertec Fitness Leg Press
- Bodycraft F660 Leg Press/Hip Sled
- TDS 4-Way Hip Sled for Leg Press
Leg Press Machines – Buyer’s Guide
Before you go out to grab any leg press machine, there are some considerations to keep in mind.
These characteristics not only help determine what is the best leg press machine for home gym, but they may also help you better understand these heavy-duty pieces of exercise equipment a bit more.
How Beneficial is a Leg Press Machine?
If leg press machines can take up some space in your home gym while also being quite the investment, you may be wondering why it’s worth it.
First of all, a leg press machine can be a useful alternative to the traditional weighted squats.
It can be especially helpful for beginners as you don’t have to learn proper squat form.
Rather, simply sit or lay on the machine, position your legs where they need to be, and get to work.
This also doesn’t put as much stress on your upper body, which may benefit those of you with any shoulder or neck injuries.
When you exercise with this type of equipment, you can train all of your major muscles at once.
Since it’s a compound exercise, a leg press machine forces your leg muscles to work together.
This may improve your strength and joint stability.
Types of Leg Press Machines
You can find leg press machines made in a couple of different designs: vertical and seated.
Vertical Leg Press Machine
Many workout enthusiasts may choose vertical leg presses as they tend to be the cheaper option.
They can also be useful if you don’t have that much space to utilize in your home gym.
They do tend to be the more difficult type of leg press to use, however.
This is because they utilize gravity more, and with the angle of resistance aligning with the floor, you’re pushing against the weight that’s directly on the frame.
As these machines have a lighter build, they may not be as durable over the long run.
Also, the angle you’re forced into might not be comfortable for everyone.
Seated Leg Press Machine
This is a more heavy-duty leg press machine typically found in the big multi-gyms.
If you opt for this type, you may be considering investing in something more expensive that takes up space compared to the vertical leg presses.
These force you to push forward on the plate, which is attached to a weight stack.
There may be an increase of pressure found on the knees and joints using this type of machine though since it doesn’t rely on gravity and thus requires more weight attached.
However, unlike the vertical leg presses, these have you in a position that’s more anatomically correct to help reduce stress throughout your body.
Weight
One of the other obvious features to focus on before buying a leg press machine is the weight limit.
What will work best for you depends on your current level of fitness as well as the journey you want to go on.
Keep in mind that the vertical leg press machines may not be able to handle that much weight since gravity is more of a factor when it comes to using them.
However, seated leg press machines have room for far more weight considering they need it more.
Movement Length and Adjustability
As there are different types of leg press machines, not all are the same in length either. The height your leg press machine in question supports is vital.
Some work better for taller individuals, while some will only serve those who stand shorter.
The best leg press machine for home gym use is one that may accommodate various types of movements and heights.
Perhaps more than one person is going to use the machine. It should be relatively simple to adjust accordingly.
Also, if you aren’t seeking to fully extend with this machine, then it should support shorter movements as well as offering you full range of motion.
Durability
Leg press machines can easily get expensive.
It makes sense that you would want your investment to hold up for a long time over the years.
Even though vertical leg press machines may not have the same reliability as seated ones, they aren’t exempt from featuring high-quality construction.
Check for machines made from sturdy material such as heavy gauge steel.
This not only adds to its durability, but can also make the machine more stable and safe overall.
Safety and Comfort
How smooth a leg press machine is has much to do with its comfort.
We know that working out isn’t supposed to be the easiest thing in the world to do, but it shouldn’t be awkward either.
Struggling to use a leg press machine may lead to injury to the back, neck, legs, etc.
So, equipment that features smooth action may indicate you won’t have unnecessary stress applied throughout your body.
This might impact those of you looking to push heavier weights rather than use the machine for low-impact exercises.
Also, be sure that you feel at ease lying back on the machine regardless of what type you’re using.
The foot pad should also provide enough of a grip-like texture that you don’t feel worried about slipping.
Best Leg Press Machine for Home Gym – Top 5 Reviewed
Body-Solid Powerline Vertical Leg Press
The Body-Solid Powerline Vertical Leg Press is a straightforward machine to bring into your home gym.
It doesn’t take up much of a footprint, so you may be able to set it up easier.
The construction overall is rather stable as it’s made with an alloy steel frame. An added touch of durability may be found with its powder-coated finish.
There is some quality safety features found in the stability of the frame.
Alongside that, the foot pad is built extra wide and features a no-slip design so you may better maintain your footing.
Using this leg press machine doesn’t seem too strenuous, but it could benefit from having smoother action.
It features a 400lb weight limit, and there are three different starting and stopping positions.
Removing the weights may become a bit of a hassle at times. You may get some comfort and ease out of lying on the pad though.
It’s extra thick, and it even features a contoured head and neck supportive pad.
Pros
- Construction seems sturdy
- Foot pad offers a secure grip
- Contoured head and neck pad
Cons
- Seems to lack smooth action
- Can be difficult removing and adding heavy weights
Body-Solid GLPH1100 Leg Press/Hack Squat Machine
With the Body-Solid GLPH1100 Leg Press/Hack Squat Machine, you get a versatile piece of equipment to stick in your home gym.
You can easily use this for squats as well as you can for standard leg presses.
There are three lockout positions that are fully under your control, which may help you switch exercises and positions with ease.
The machine might benefit from its side stops having handles though.
As you workout, there seems to be a good amount of smoothness. This may be thanks to the Quad Track roller system implemented in the machine.
It not only helps to make things easier on you, but it also distributes your weight better, which can help with safety as well as comfort.
For durability, this machine is made with an 11-gauge steel mainframe. This may help maximize the overall stability found in this leg press.
Something to keep in mind though is that putting this machine together may be difficult due to some hard-to-follow instructions and occasional missing piece.
Pros
- Ability to achieve multiple angles
- Operates with relative smoothness and stability
- Easy to switch between exercises and settings
Cons
- Side stops lack handles
- Difficult and time-consuming to assemble
Powertec Fitness Leg Press
The Powertec Fitness Leg Press seems like a heavy-duty machine that offers a remarkable weight capacity of 1,000lbs.
This may help provide the maximum level of resistance for those of you who have been using these types of machines for some time and perhaps need more of a challenge.
There are four weight horns you can use to add the weights, but putting the weights on may be difficult sometimes considering they feel rough to slide on.
Also, before you get to that point, assembling this leg press machine might be time-consuming and challenging in its own right thanks to low-quality instructions.
As you use the machine, the frame seems to have a good amount of stability. There are safety levers found on both sides of the reclining bench as well.
The footpad seems well-textured and wide enough to offer you some comfort and security while using the machine.
Pros
- Good smooth action
- Frame appears sturdy and stable
- Large weight capacity
Cons
- Instructions seem poor
- Might be tough adding weights to it at times
Bodycraft F660 Leg Press/Hip Sled
The Bodycraft F660 Leg Press/Hip Sled is an expensive addition to your home gym, but it may be worth it considering how high-quality it’s designed.
This features heavy gauge steel as well as industrial-grade linear bearings.
Along with its lifetime warranty, this may be a worthwhile investment for the long haul.
It even manages to hold 1,000lbs so your machine can evolve along with your workout progress.
Unlike some other leg press machines, this features shoulder pads that you can to accommodate a range of different users.
They may seem too wide for some people though.
You can also adjust the foot plate. It moves in several different angles, but if you want to utilize the hack squat function, the foot plate simply folds away.
There’s some lumbar support found in the backrest of this machine.
However, perhaps depending on your height, the support might sit too high and cause some discomfort instead.
All of the features in this leg press machine create something that is slim and takes up minimal space so that you have a host of options when placing this around your home.
Pros
- Foot plate’s adjustable for a variety of angles
- Adjustable shoulder pads
- Takes up a small footprint
Cons
- Shoulder width seems a touch too far apart
- Built-in lumbar support can get uncomfortable
TDS 4-Way Hip Sled for Leg Press
The TDS 4-Way Hip Sled for Leg Press is another costly machine that’s nevertheless built to last.
It features reliable steel construction, but putting it together to start using it might take long. The instructions don’t seem that well, and you may need two people to move certain pieces.
This leg press machine seems to keep comfort in mind. It utilizes contoured padding so that you may rest easier.
Even the shoulder pads are thick.
All of the padding throughout is premium or thick-stitched. This may allow you to relax and push yourself at the same time.
As the leg press can hold 1,000lbs, it may be better either for advanced users or those of you steadily improving your game.
All in all, it appears to be an easy piece of equipment to use and adjust once it’s finally put together. There’s quality stability found in this as well thanks to the 4-side thrust wheels.
Pros
- Shoulder pads are thick and comfortable
- Straightforward to use and adjust
- Construction seems sturdy
Cons
- Some issues with assembly process
- Bottom lift may benefit from more range
Final Thoughts
A leg press machine can add versatility and give you something dynamic to work with to improve your lower body strength while eliminating strain and pressure on the joints.
To choose from the five top-rated products we reviewed, we think the Bodycraft F660 Leg Press/Hip Sled is the best leg press machine for home gym use.
It doesn’t take up much space, and having equipment with a small footprint might allow you to utilize your workout space better.
The machine is made from industrial-grade products so that it can last you for some time considering how expensive it is.
There’s good adjustability found in this too from the shoulder pad height to the foot plate and it’s many angles.
You can perform a number of different exercises using this one machine as well.
