The GMWD vertical leg press machine saves a lot of space in my garage gym.
I love the leg press hack squat combo machine but not everyone has the 7 feet of space needed for it.
With a vertical leg press machine, home gym owners with small spaces now have an option.
It has a high weight capacity, adjustable head and back support, and weight glides smoothly making it ideal for leg day.
Let’s check it out!
Unboxing
The leg press machine came in two boxes.
All parts were neatly covered in bubble wrap and protected by styrofoam.
Once out of the box here’s what everything looks like.
This takes significantly less time to build than the angled leg press machine because there’s less parts to it.
I put this together in about 40 minutes.
And here’s what it looks like once it’s built.
Specs
- Weight capacity: 550 lbs
- Height: Adjustable from 47.8″ to 62″
- Length: 32.5″
- Width: 43.5″
- Weight horns: Compatible with standard and Olympic sized weight plates (removable 2″ cover).
- Head rest: 10.6″ W x 13.4″ L
- Back pad: 16.1″ W x 31.9″ L
- Pad thickness: 2.2″ H
- Wheels: Easy to move around with two wheels
- Handle: Use the handle behind the head rest to tilt the machine on to the wheels so it’s easily moved
Weight Capacity
This vertical leg press has a weight capacity of 550 lbs which for me is more than enough.
I can fit 3 to 4 bumper plates on each weight horn.
Or I can use thin iron weight plates to stack on more weight.
Height Adjustment
Right below the handles there are 3 holes where I can set the foot plate starting height.
This is good for taller people with longer legs so they don’t start too low.
Or just to have more head clearance when getting in and out of the machine.
I can set the height by inserting a pin through one of the holes.
This is done on both left and right poles.
Linear Bearings
Just like their angled leg press machine, GMWD’s vertical leg press uses linear bearings.
This gives it a smooth, gliding motion every time the weight goes up and down.
There is no jerkiness whatsoever throughout the exercise.
Adjustable
The back pad can be increased and decreased in height.
This allows me to change the height my hips to get my legs closer or further from the foot plate.
The height can be adjusted to 3 positions by using a pull pin.
I pull the pin and raise the back pad to the highest position cause that’s what feels better for my height (I’m 5’7″).
The head rest is already angled so it can only be adjusted horizontally.
It has three holes to move the head piece closer or further to the back pad.
I use the hole closest to the back pad.
Weight Horns
At first, the weight horns look like they only work with Olympic sized weight plates.
But they’re hard plastic covers for the steel underneath them.
After taking a closer look I noticed a small hole on each weight horn.
Here’s where I can insert an Allen wrench to tighten and loosen the sleeves.
Once I loosened them up, there’s a metal horn that fits standard (1″ center hole) weight plates.
So the vertical leg press machine can be used by anyone regardless of the types of weight plates they own.
Here’s what the 3 weight horns look with bumper plates on them.
The bumpers are spaced out perfectly without touching each other.
Foot Plate
The foot plate is diamond plated for better shoe grip.
It’s dimensions are 21 5/8″ long by 10 1/4″ high.
I wear a 9.5 size shoe and this is what my feet look like on the plate.
Here’s a view with my legs fully outstretched and weight on top.
From the side, you can see the foot plate is angled just like the head rest.
I think this is a good idea to accommodate for ankle dorsiflexion but it also forces to push through my heels instead of my toes.
Handles
There’s a pair of rubberized handles coming off each support post.
I don’t feel like I need them when pressing the weight.
They’re just there to have some places to keep my hands busy while I push with my legs.
Here I am holding on to the handles while lowering the weight.
Easy To Move Around
On the back pad side there’s a pair of wheels.
This makes it easy to move the leg press machine around my garage gym.
The handle is on the head rest side.
Vertical Leg Press vs Angled Leg Press Machine
If you’re thinking of a leg press machine for your home gym you’re gonna run into several options.
The angled leg press hack squat combo machine I’m showing you on top works great but you’ll need at least 7 feet of space for it.
It has a 400 lbs weight capacity which is less than the vertical leg press but it does have band pegs to add more resistance.
With the weight coming straight down on the vertical leg press, I feel like I don’t need to add as many weight plates to get a good workout.
When using the angled leg press, the angle takes on some of the weight.
So with the vertical leg press I feel like I’m doing more with less weight.
The vertical leg press machine is also easier to build and costs less than the angled leg press.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No low back compression: With my low back supported, all the weight falls on my legs
- Space saving: Takes up 43.5″ x 32.5″ of space which is significantly less than a 7 feet long angled leg press machine
- Weight plate compatibility: Compatible with both Olympic sized (2″ center hole) and standard sized weight plates (1″ center hole)
- Weight distribution: With the weight coming straight down I feel I don’t need to load up the machine with a lot of plates
- Padding: Both back pad and head rest feel comfortable and spacious
- Stable: Bottom of the machine is lined with rubber pads so there’s no wobbling or sliding around
- Easy to move: Wheels and handle make it easy to move around
Cons
- Short people: I’m 5’7″ and the depth I get feels just right, but may not be enough if you’re shorter than that
- Unloading plates: Going against gravity makes it harder to unload. I suggest using change plates or fractional weight plates in between big plates to make it easier.
Where To Buy
GMWD currently sells their vertical leg press machine on Amazon.
Click here and make sure to click on the coupon code box.
They usually have a $25 discount and they include FREE shipping.
GMWD Vertical Leg Press Machine Review
After using both the GMWD angled leg press and vertical leg press machine, I see this one as more home gym friendly.
It costs less, takes up less space, has a higher weight capacity, and with the vertical weight distribution I can use less weight plates.
With the adjustable head rest and back pad, it’s suitable for people of different heights (unless your real short).
And besides the obvious leg pressing, I can also use it for calf raises.
Check Out The Vertical Leg Press Machine Here
GMWD Vertical Leg Press Machine
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