Is buying a leg press for the home gym a bad investment?

[El Diablo Blanco]

I can get a really nice leg press for my home gym for about 25% of the retail cost off of craigslist.  Then I realized that whenever I leg press that I would use a ton of plates on it.  I  have 6 45 pounders a bunch of 25's, 10's and 5's.  This has been plenty for any chest, shoulder or back workout.  Even squats its been great.  But even the average job can push 3 45's a side on a leg press.  I used to go up to 8-10 a side.  So essentially I would need to start buying a shitload of 45s just for one movement. is it worth it?
I think I just talked myself out of buying it. 

[_aj_]

No, it's large, unwieldy, requires too much weight, puts ridiculous pressure on your lower back and is gay.

Squat.

[Grape Ape]

Squat, lunge, bulgarian split squat, goblet squat, RDL........no need for sled.

[TheShape.]

It would make much more sense to just squat with lighter weights

[Donny]

Squat, lunge, bulgarian split squat, goblet squat, RDL........no need for sled.

There ya Go.....  Step ups i like too. Barbell Hacks, one legged squats off a bench,Jefferson lift...

[Powerlift66]

[Julio Ceasar]

Make 3 wooden with different hights. Then start do one leg squats with a 45plate on your head! I did today after my 80min running!

Step up step down, step up step down. Easy HIghest one shoul be like a really deep. Actually one box is enough! THe highest one, if u want to make it more easy just place a plate or two beside it and your startingposition will change!

[Julio Ceasar]

actually u only ned one box with differet measerment 25x30x35 inch! And then turn it around to the hight u want!

[Viking11]

I bought a vertical leg press. I used to used a ridiculous amount of plates on the 45 degree leg press, and honesty never liked them all that much. My vertical is much harder and starts in a very low position, so I have only had 540 lbs on it for my heaviest set of 12 reps. You can pre exhaust with leg extensions, Work those hard and even using 500 is a bitch. Then go squat.

[ritch]

I'd want one for sure. Variety is important, leg extension too. Doing nothing but squat variations would get old and on days you don't feel top shape, would just suck to not have leg press or extension.

Some leg presses make hack squats too, not sure if they're top notch though.

[BB]

I wouldn't mind one, but the foot print and amount of plates you'd need to actually get a work out from the standard angled leg press is a huge thing. A decent old type vertical would probably be best for the average home gym.

[Knooger]

I've thought about it before but never even got to thinking about all the plates you'd require. You'd need Goodrum kind of money to pull that off.

[Donny]

I wouldn't mind one, but the foot print and amount of plates you'd need to actually get a work out from the standard angled leg press is a huge thing. A decent old type vertical would probably be best for the average home gym.

save space too.

[Ron Harrigan]

I can get a really nice leg press for my home gym for about 25% of the retail cost off of craigslist.  Then I realized that whenever I leg press that I would use a ton of plates on it.  I  have 6 45 pounders a bunch of 25's, 10's and 5's.  This has been plenty for any chest, shoulder or back workout.  Even squats its been great.  But even the average job can push 3 45's a side on a leg press.  I used to go up to 8-10 a side.  So essentially I would need to start buying a shitload of 45s just for one movement. is it worth it?
I think I just talked myself out of buying it. 

Try doing more reps with less weight (to maximize leg development and to cut costs).

[Natural Man]

this is what i have.

[Donny]

this is what i have.

I have this at Home too... Northern Lights from Canada. Not bad.

[Coach is Back!]

No, it's large, unwieldy, requires too much weight, puts ridiculous pressure on your lower back and is gay.

Squat.

lol

[Donny]

Got a chin/dip station too and preacher bench. The squat stands were OK but i later bought a pair from SCHNELL Hantel.  Top Kit. Custom cut lower 10 cm so i can do chest work too.

[El Diablo Blanco]

It is a hack/leg press.  Real nice.  Almost brand new
Essentially the image shown below minus the black guy.  he cost $50 extra.




The cost of buying another 6-10 plates would be way too much.  More than what the machine is worth.

[oldtimer1]

I have a home leg press unit. I notice the overwhelming majority of guys go really shallow with their knee bend so they can push a lot of plates. They keep the back board high so their knees hit their chest with barely a bend. If you keep the back board low and really bend your leg going deep you really don't need a 1000lbs of plates.

[SquatsRule]

I do these on a smith machine. I would be afraid to try them like that.

[Tapeworm]

It is a hack/leg press.  Real nice.  Almost brand new
Essentially the image shown below minus the black guy.  he cost $50 extra.




The cost of buying another 6-10 plates would be way too much.  More than what the machine is worth.

Total rock bottom Chinese import for the home gym market.  My rack and multi are of similar quality.  They work fine but I'm not proud of them.  If I were you I'd hold off for a gym's closing down sale or an auction house opportunity.  $.02.

[Henda]

I'd go with a vertical, cheaper, takes up less space and doesn't require as many plates, especially if you press with heels off the platform to hit the lower quads.

Squat
Pause squat
Paused front squat
Leg ext
Leg press

Love this quad routine

[Donny]

I do these on a smith machine. I would be afraid to try them like that.

Jack Lalanne... small man with a big Heart.

[Mawse]

Craigslist is ok but the real go-to is government auction sites.

There's a high school near me selling a decent condition bodymasters 45 degree leg press, leg curl, assisted chin and leg press for $150 in a single package. Hell, I'm getting 1400lb of pro dumbbells from them for $50. High schools practically give their shit away because Tax Dollars are free.

If you live near a major U they often sell off huge amounts of gym equipment for insane prices but be prepared to be outbidded


I ended up paying $700 for mine (delivered), but I bought a Hammer strength leverage press for my home gym and had to go on CL to find one. If you do them correctly (dead stop reps) the HS doesn't need much weight to be super hard

never buy any 'home' shit, it'll be more expensive than pre owned gym equipment and far worse quality