To make things clear, this unit DOES have safeties. The band pegs ARE the safeties. In order for them to keep you safe, you have to put them in the right position when using this as a leg press. It's the same with safeties on a rack. In order for them to keep you safe, you need to put them in and in the right position. They do no good on the floor or in the wrong spot. The reason they work like this is that in order for the hack squat to have full range, you need to get the leg press safeties out of the way. Again, just like changing exercises inside of a rack. That said, it's not my favorite thing about this machine, it's just kind of the way a combo machine like this has to work. Also, it looks like 270 lbs is the magic number to get the flip down safeties to push the springs down and seat the set screw so they can't accidentally be pushed down like I show in the video. I'm guessing that spring will break in over time and less weight will work.
I own 4 home gyms, and I own many leg exercise machines, which includes a hack squat/leg press machine that I have stored in my son's basement. It takes up too much space for any of my four home gyms: a basement gym, an extension room gym, a garage gym, and a backyard patio gym. IMO, far and away, the best leg exercise machine is the Titan Fitness SquatMax MD.
Yep, they are gigantic! Once I'm done filming content with them, they won't be in my gym anymore. Too big for just 4 exercises for me. That said, there are a surprising number of people who want a leg press machine (at least surprising to me), so I want to review a couple so people can see if one of the lower priced ones will work for them.
I emailed my contact at Major and they said it's 660kg. On their site it says "weight post capacity 600 lbs." 600 lbs seems more in line with this machine. I wouldn't put 660kg on it ever, that's 1455 lbs! I'm testing the RitFit right now too and it definitely does NOT work for tall people.
Glad those band pegs can act like a safety - but i would pass on home equipment like this without safety's - something for the company to consider for the next iteration
The band pegs are the safeties. It's meant to be that way. To have a combo machine like this, you need to be able to remove the leg press safeties to allow full range on the hack squat. That said, I can totally see people being too lazy to put them in every time they change the exercises. It's not something I like about this unit. But it does have safeties if it's used correctly. I look at it like safeties in a rack. You have to take the time to set them up for them to be helpful. they do no good in the wrong position or laying on the floor.
Honestly, a regular garage gym or basement gym won't have the space for this so 95% of people are out. No safeties, not "if but "when" someone gets hurt. How does it get made without safeties. What I've seen on these machines is there either is a limited ROM or there is nice ROM without safeties. Just tooooo darn big. People are forgetting that you will get a whole workout in just lugging all the plates you will need to do these 2 exercises. Tim, I don't see how youre getting that huge piece in your gym. You are sacrificing a Lot of area if you keep it in there. I Live Hack Squats, they are my favorite leg move but it is just toooo big for my gym. That one machine is taking up a 4th or 5th of your gym space. Be Careful, I hate things without safeties!!!!!
I'm going to add a pinned comment... I'm not sure where multiple people are getting that there are no safeties, but that's not the case at all. The band pegs ARE the safeties. They have to be able to be removed to allow full range on the hack squat. You physically can't install a permanent safety and have it be a combo machine. That said, I don't like that you have to remember to put them on when you leg press, but there ARE safeties. You also have the side bars that flip up as well. As for size, I now have two of these in my gym, but they take up a ton of space, especially considering they only allow 4 exercises (all of which I can do with a landmine, barbell, dumbbells, or other implements. Neither one is staying in my gym. They are here for review only. That said, I run into a ton of people who want a leg press and are more than happy to use up the room they have. People just don't want to learn to squat. It's difficult for many people, impossible for others, and seemingly dangerous to most who aren't familiar or don't have a cage. I learned a few years ago to stop trying to talk people out of Smith machines and leg presses. People want them, are used to using them in commercial gyms, and feel safe using them. It's more a matter of helping people buy a decent one (which is why I accepted some for review).
@@GymCrafter Oh, sorry man, I misheard you about the safeties, I thought that was crazy. Yeah, they are huge, hacks are my favorite but I cant take up that much room just for hacks. Yeah, soon you will have your rack, some kind of selectorized cable system, adj. dumbbells, and room to deadlift. The rest will be Gravy but I don't see a leg press combo machine in there, just not enough room. Take Care
Now you're getting expensive equipment sent free, you are gonna need a bigger gym. Major Fitness is not a main player but hey they're a start. Got you a nice rower, decent rack and now this piece. It is said and is mostly true that their is no such thing as unbiased honest review when free equipment was received by the reviewer. Yeah it's mostly true but I know your honest although you may be compromised a little to juggle the truth and continuing to get free stuff. That is the game though and one good thing to being a reviewer is they get their home gyms for free, and more equipment to sell. The thing is to be a reviewer one has to get free stuff or they wouldn't have anything to review. Just keep telling the truth and you will be fine but you're gonna have to recommend people to buy each piece you're reviewing to stay in the game. It's just a part of the game, I will be tuning in to hear the truth about each piece. I saw Coop on Massenomics video talking about you. Two things are for sure, you said what thousands of us was thinking but have no voice as we dont have a channel and Coop will never forget you Take Care I like the direction your channel is moving!!!!!
Yeah, I saw he was still talking about it. I've long since moved on. It's hard when someone tells a hard truth you don't want to accept. People tend to continue to deny it very loudly (like Shakespeare once said, "Me thinks thou dost protest too much"). As for the reviews. I call out everything in this video I don't like about this machine. The Smith machine is gonna be tough for Major because there are a bunch of things I don't like about it too. But to their credit, they have been fine with all constructive feedback across the board and haven't asked to me take a single thing out of the reviews. I'm honestly anxious to get past the RitFit and Major gear I've agreed to review. It's important to show these pieces in an honest light so people can make good buying decisions, but I'm excited to move to the stuff I have planned to buy for myself and my new larger gym!
@@GymCrafter It won't be long now and REP, Fringesport, etc. will come calling and you are gonna have a dream gym for free and make some money on the back end selling the excess. I got no problem at all with people like you getting all the rewards of being a reviewer but. I admit it angers me when these so called reviewers who are just sales reps for whatever company sends them free stuff tries to influence people and just we should buy every piece sent to them. Some of those guys who hardly have any subs and get under 300 views every video are begging for free stuff and they say anything to keep the free stuff coming. My problem with Major Fitness is they are sending those guys everything free. Gluck told me what Major Fitness wanted him to do and say or they would not send him anything free, he said he would not do it and they have not sent him anything. I admit I was not thrilled when I saw you reviewing their stuff but I know you're channel is not as big as his and you have to play the game to stay in the game. Just remain honest and don't sell out like Coop It can be done I know because Gluck had done it Take Care
@@bobbyhunt3009 Interesting. There is only one thing Major Fitness required of me and that's that I don't say anything bad about China or the CCP. Since that has nothing to do with reviewing the product, I agreed, personal political feelings aside. They were 100% fine with all the negative points I made about the leg press. We'll see how they feel thins week about the initial impressions video on their rack. I have some serious issues with it, especially for someone my size.
