IsoTib LT Review: Single Leg Tib Bar

The HGG Performance IsoTib LT launched and I’m excited to see what’s new.

I previously reviewed the original IsoTib but this new design comes with a heel loop for more versatility.

With this single leg tib bar I can isolate a ton of muscles and joints in my lower body.

This lets me train my ankles, knees, shins, hamstrings, quads, hip flexors, and glutes.

I train to stay lean and fight father time but this also helps athletes improve sprint speed, explosiveness, jump height, and deceleration time.

Let’s check it out!

This way you exercise your ankle through every plane of motion (plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, eversion, inversion, and circles).

UPDATE

HGG Performance went out of business so the IsoTib-LT is no longer available at their website.

Check out the Tib Bar Guy Solo Tib Bar as an alternative by clicking the red button below.

Unboxing

First thing I noticed about the IsoTib LT is that it’s made out of hard nylon plastic.

The original IsoTib is steel.

There’s two other pieces in the box: a detachable stainless steel loading bar and a weight clamp.

And here are all the pieces out of the box.

I’ll give you a closer look at the boot and loading bar (the clamp is just like any weight clamp)

Here’s the boot by itself…

From left to right, there’s a heel hoop, a ratchet strap, and 3 hexagonal holes.

Heel Hoop

The heel hoop is a new addition to the IsoTib and this is where my heel sits.

I think this is a good addition to prevent the boot from slipping off my foot.

Here’s what the heel of the boot looks like.

On most of HGG’s products you’ll find their mustache logo, this time they went with their initials.

Ratchet Strap

This is the top of the ratchet strap.

On the right you’ll see a dual buckle that works to tighten and release the strap.

I’ll show you how that works later on.

And here’s the underside.

Both top and bottom of the strap are made of plastic.

Adjustable Strap Position

On each side of the boot there’s 5 holes.

The strap comes attached to the middle hole by a bolt.

These holes are there so anyone can use the IsoTib LT regardless of shoe size (I had to adjust mine).

Loading Bar Adjustments

The hexagonal holes on top of the IsoTib boot are there to change the position of the loading bar.

And the reason they’re hexagonal is because that’s the shape of the bolt head that goes through them.

That bolt then screws into the loading bar.

This is what it looks like when I stick the bolt through one of the holes.

And here’s what the loading bar looks like once it’s screwed on.

Features

• Material: Heavy duty nylon plastic

• Loading bar: Stainless steel 2″ diameter (50mm) loading bar with locking clamp

• Adjustable loading bar: Bar can be moved to 3 positions to change the weight distribution

• Adjustable strap: Ratchet strap fits shoes of all sizes plus it can be moved to several positions on top of the foot

• Heel hoop: Supports heel for more stability and to be able to do exercises like hamstring curls

• Detachable loading bar: Loading bar is detachable (screws on) to make it easier to store and travel with

How To Use The IsoTib LT

Load The Bar

First thing I do is turn the boot over and add my Olympic sized weight plate.

Then I clamp it down so it stays in place.

I’m not sure what the weight limit on the clamp is but it has a strong grip.

Ratchet Strap

The dual buckle has a big and small tab.

To loosen up the strap I pull the small tab to the left.

That releases the strap from buckle so that I can insert my foot in the boot.

To tighten the strap I use the bigger tab.

I pull this to the right until it feels tight on top of my foot.

Heel Touches Heel Hoop

I always make sure that my heel touches the heel hoop so that my foot stays in place at all times.

This is what the set up looks like and now I’m ready to work out.

But before I show you exercises I use this for, let me show you the differences between the new IsoTib LT and the original.

Differences Between IsoTib & IsoTib LT

I know you’re wondering what the differences are between both IsoTib’s so I’ll break it down for you.

Aside from the material they’re made of (LT is nylon, original is steel), there are several differences between the IsoTib and the IsoTib LT.

I have three arrows pointing to major differences on the original IsoTib…

• Bottom arrow: No heel support, the LT has a hoop heel so it’s easier to use with exercises like kick backs and leg curls

• Middle arrow: Adjusting knob, the LT has a ratcheting adjustable strap that makes it faster to tighten/release than a knob

• Top arrow: Loading bar below the toes, the LT has 3 adjustable settings to change weight distribution

Straps and Heel Support

Here’s a view from the top of both products.

The IsoTib LT (left) uses an adjustable ratcheting strap that’s made of plastic and has a heel hoop.

Original IsoTib (right) has foam that sits on top of the foot and doesn’t have a heel hoop.

Adjustable Loading Bar

While the original IsoTib has a fixed loading bar at the front, the IsoTib LT’s loading bar can be moved to 3 positions.

It’s adjusted by moving a bolt to 3 holes located at the top of the product.

By doing this I can change the weight distribution from the front to the middle of my foot.

For exercises like tib raises I want the weight at the front of the foot.

But for standing hip flexor raises it makes more sense to have the weight directly below the center of my foot.

From the pic above, you can see the length of the loading bars has also changed.

The IsoTib LT’s bar is just under 6″ long while the IsoTib’s bar is 7 1/2″ long.

Detachable Strap

The IsoTib LT’s strap is also detachable and that’s the not an option with the original IsoTIb.

I changed the strap from the middle hole because it was pressing too much on my toes when I fastened it.

It’s an easy change with an Allen wrench.

Here’s what the IsoTib LT looks like after I removed the strap.

I plan to move it one hole closer to my heel so the strap sits more on top of my foot rather than my toes.

This is the strap completely off the boot.

And here’s what it looks like once I re-attached it to the boot one hole closer to my heel.

Exercises With The IsoTib LT

Here I’m doing a hamstring leg curl at the edge of my weight bench so that I can get my leg to hang at the bottom.

I can also do these standing hamstring curls standing on a platform.

The heel hoop on the back of the IsoTib LT keeps my foot secure at all times.

For kick backs I keep one knee on the seat pad and the other is hanging off the side of the weight bench.

Then I swing it back until it’s in line with my spine.

And of course I can do what the IsoTib was originally created for, tib raises to strengthen the tibialis anterior muscle.

If you look at the weight plate, it’s going past the top of the IsoTib.

I moved the loading bar to the front to change the weight distribution so that the weight is more towards the bottom of my toes.

For leg extensions I raise my weight bench back pad slightly and set my knee right above the edge.

Then extend the leg up against gravity.

I have a dedicated leg extension attachment on my Freak Athlete Hyper Pro but if you don’t, this is a great space saving alternative.

To target my hip flexors I stand on my multi step up boards since the loading bar sticks straight down.

This gives me clearance so I’m not hitting the floor every time I come down.

To work the outside muscles of my leg (Peroneals), I set the inside of my leg on the bench.

So if I’m going against gravity, my big toe starts facing down and I rotate my ankle up so the big toes ends up facing the ceiling.

This is ankle eversion.

Ankle inversion is the opposite of eversion so I have to set up the opposite way.

Outside of my leg sits on the bench and my goal is to rotate my ankle up so my little toe ends up facing the ceiling.

This exercise works the Tibialis Posterior muscle.

And the last exercise I can do with the IsoTib LT is ankle rotations (circumduction).

I rotate my ankle clockwise and counter-clockwise to work all the stabilizer muscles of my ankle.

So as you can see, there’s a lot I can do with this leg attachment.

Whether you’re doing Knees Over Toes Guy exercises or just want stronger legs, this tool will bulletproof you lower half.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Versatility: I can do leg curls, leg extensions, tib raises, donkey kicks, hip flexor raises, ankle mobility

• Secure fit: Between the new heel hoop and ratchet strap, it fits tightly around my foot

• Adjustable bar: I can change the position of the loading bar to change the weight distribution from front to the middle of the foot

• Build: Built out of solid nylon plastic

• Adjustable strap: The ratchet strap position is adjustable for different shoe sizes

• Affordable: I can do lower body isolation exercises at a fraction of the cost of bigger machines

Cons

• Strap underside: If I were to change anything on the IsoTib LT, I would add some padding to the bottom of the strap so it cushions the top of the foot especially when going up in weight but as long as my shoe is not thin, it feels ok

HGG Performance Discount Code

The IsoTib LT price is currently at $100.19.

And as usual I’m going to hook you up with my exclusive discount code.

Click here and use coupon code SHREDDED at checkout for a 10% discount.

HGG Performance IsoTib LT Review

I like how HGG made some improvements with the new IsoTib LT.

The heel hoop makes my foot feel more secure especially when doing leg curls and kick backs.

Adding a ratchet strap makes it much faster to get the boot on and off.

And the adjustable loading bar shifts the weight to the appropriate areas for differences exercises.

Check Out The IsoTib LT

HGG Performance IsoTib LT

4.6

Build

4.6/5

Versatility

4.7/5

Adjustable

4.6/5

Foot stability

4.6/5

Affordable

4.6/5

Check Out The IsoTib LT

Shredded Dad

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