"The punch starts at the feet and ends at the fist” – a go-to saying for boxing trainers around the world, but one that’s true for pretty much every other full-body movement too.

When you develop the strength of your lower body, this sturdy and powerful base can make a wealth of other exercises so much easier, enable you to reach peak performance, and help to prevent injury.

All this means that as the owner or manager of a gym or fitness centre, you need to offer your members the commercial strength equipment they need to develop their lower body strength.

At GymQuip we’ve spent over three decades helping commercial gyms, hotels and apartment complexes with exactly that.

In this guide we’ll share our expertise, walking you through the lower body equipment options for your gym: leg press machines, hack squat machines, leg curl machines and leg extension machines.

 

Leg press machines: a staple for strength & safety

 

What is a leg press machine?

Leg press machines target the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes and calves. A traditional leg press machine places a user in a seated position, from which they push weight up an incline with their legs.

 

Benefits of leg press machines

  • Joint-friendly strength training that reduces stress on the spine compared to free-weight squats.
  • Adjustable resistance means leg press is suitable for all types of users, from beginners to advanced lifters.
  • Great for enhancing lower body endurance and explosive power.

 

Types of leg press machines

  • 45-degree leg press (sled type): The most common type of leg press. The user sits at an angle and pushes a weighted sled up a track with a 45° incline to work quads, glutes and hamstrings.
  • Horizontal leg press: This machine is slightly easier on the back and knees and has a lower starting weight than the 45-degree press. The user sits upright and pushes the platform directly away from the body, using cables and pulleys to generate resistance.
  • Vertical leg press: Built for those looking for an intense quad workout. The user lies flat on their back and pushes the weight straight up. Form is key as this exercise puts more pressure on your lower back.

 

Tips for gym owners

  • Consider footprint, adjustability and the levels of experience required to operate the equipment.
  • Leg press machines come in traditional plate-loaded and compact selectorised models, so consider which your members might prefer to use, and which is best for your facility.

 

Hack squat machines: unlocking lower body power

 

What is a hack squat machine?

Flip the user on a leg press machine the other way, and you’ve essentially got a hack squat machine, which allows you to do angled squats to reduce spinal compression and maximise lower body engagement.

 

Benefits of hack squats

  • Uses stable, guided movement to strengthen quads, glutes and hamstrings.
  • Adjustable resistance and minimal back strain makes it an option for a wide variety of users.
  • Encourages deep squat mechanics, improving lower body flexibility and mobility.

 

Hack squat vs. leg press

Why choose a hack squat machine over a leg press machine if it’s a very similar exercise? Mainly because a hack squat engages more stabiliser muscles, so offers a more functional type of strength. Leg press, meanwhile, is better for isolating muscles and can be easier on the joints.

That said, all strength-focused gyms should consider investing in a hack squat machine, as it provides a safe alternative to traditional squats. These machines are great for members with mobility limitations, while being hugely popular amongst the bodybuilding and powerlifting crowd.

 

Leg curl & extension machines: targeting hamstrings and quads

 

What are leg extension machines and curl machines?

Leg extension and leg curl machines can be seen as two sides of the same coin, and are often combined into a single piece of equipment:

  • On a leg extension machine a user extends their lower leg from the knees against weight/resistance to isolate and strengthen the quads.
  • On a leg curl machine the movement is reversed, with the user contracting the lower leg from the knee against weight/resistance, isolating and strengthening the hamstrings in the process.

 

Benefits of leg extensions and leg curls

  • Improves knee joint stability and strength by building up the surrounding muscles.
  • Can help with recovery from/prevention of knee and leg muscle injuries.
  • Great for muscle definition and hypertrophy in the quads and hamstrings.
  • Improves lower body balance by strengthening the posterior chain.

 

Tips for gym owners

Realistically your gym should have leg extension and curl machines, as they complement each other perfectly, and neglecting the use of one can increase the risk of injury. The good news is that both exercises are often combined into a single machine.

You should also consider selectorised vs. plate-loaded options. There’s no right or wrong answer, but generally speaking selectorised machines are better for general users, while plate-loaded machines are often preferred by advanced users and gyms with an expansive freeweight set up.

 

Choosing the best lower body strength machines for your gym

Once you’ve settled on the combination of lower body strength equipment you want for your gym, you then need to choose the specific machines that you’ll place on your floor. By considering the following factors, you can ensure you make the right choices:

  • Durability and build quality: Choose heavy-duty, commercial-grade machines that are designed for constant use, and that will last longer while requiring minimal maintenance.
  • Space efficiency: If you run a smaller gym or have limited floorspace, consider multi-use equipment like leg extension/curl machines.
  • User adjustability and ergonomics: Choose machines that can accommodate different body types and levels of user expertise.

 

GymQuip: strength training specialists

At GymQuip we’ve spent 30 years supplying the finest strength training equipment to happy customers. Home to one of Australia’s largest fitness showrooms, we offer a complete range of lower leg equipment from the world’s most trusted fitness equipment brands.

We can help you fit out your commercial gym, we deliver online purchases Australia-wide, and we offer a price beat guarantee: if you find one of our products cheaper elsewhere, we’ll beat that price.

Ready to help your gym members create that strong and sturdy base? Get in touch with our friendly team today.