Belt Squat Machine

This is top quality rivaling the very best made in America design and manufacturing. I couldn’t be happier with my first new Bells of Steel premium equipment for my home gym. Install in no time once I purchased a 24mm bit for my socket kit. I’m doing more squats with this belt squat machine than with any machine or rack in the gym, and it feels so good!

I included before and after pictures for the modifications I made. It is sturdy, well built, and I put it together with ease in under 2 hours. I noticed right away some issues which I was able to remedy to make it a piece I will use every leg day for years to come.

1- Swap out the center bar and reverse the handles with the band pegs. Bands don’t add much to this and by clearing the center of the machine you can get right over the lever to get the moat out of it’s range of motion. The only downside is that once you separate the handles you may notice they do not lean at the same angle when you release them.

2- Added 4 of the BoS rubber stack mats on each side. The extra elevation plus the open center make for it exactly what I was looking for but does add about $300 to the cost.

Hopes for the next version:

-A better release that does not get in the way of the biomechanics of the user.

-A removable calf raise block.

-Built in option to raise the platform you start the squat from.

Love the piece and I even love the customization I did to it to make it my own. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a compact and affordable belt squat.

Love it. It was odd at first, I have to admit but I'm getting used to it.

Assembly took me close to 3 hours. I would recommend adding labels to the screws & step guide. Also breaking down the steps into smaller sections and listing them in sequence.

Lastly, I would've like to have the arms connected at the bottom, so I can replaced the cross member with band pegs. The problem with doing that as is, is that each side is independent from each other. That way I have room to squat without having yo hang on to the crossbar.

This thing OVER DELIVERED on all my expectations. Takes up much less space than you'd think if you setup the loading pins vertically. Belt is premium and squatting on this hits all legs and no lower back, which is why I got it. No limitations on squat depth. A number of other auxiliary exercises feel great too. Favorites being shrugs and bent over 1 arm Rows.

Having a barbell on my back twice a week for leg training years on end was getting a little old, especially as I myself am getting older. I bought the belt squat so I could still load my legs without loading my spine yet not have the same footprint or cost as a decent leg press.

Absolutely loving this unit. I put a couple stackable pull blocks on the foot plate so I can get ATG and it absolutely fries my legs.

Only suggestions I would make are:

1. Replace the bar with handles and have the two uprights connected at a different point as the bar gets in the way of my face while I’m going down (see the Matt Wenning belt squat for example).

2. Thicker rubber stoppers on the weight horns as my plates still hit against the bolts and I had to order some after market ones from Etsy (the stoppers you have for the manticore weight horns would be perfect)

Overall very happy with this purchase I look forward to using it every week.