Body-Solid Leverage Squat/Calf Machine

Arrived ok, inside the only issue was that it wasn't packed neatly and properly. i had few screws loose in box and surprised hadn't been lost in the process of delivery. instructions poor since there isn't a step by step method, its more a look at pic and sorta just figure it out. Mind u I'm a guy that has no issue figuring stuff like this out so for me wasn't a huge deal but for someone else less inclined may be tough. overall the item is awesome, was worried about the rounded bar for calf raises since i do agree flat is easier on foot but i admit I'm glad i got this, smooth solid construction. I freaking think this machine is perfect. a def buy this if u want a nice leg call machine without any strain on back while can go heavy. A++++

Very solid piece and quality manufacturing. Saw a couple reviews complaining about the design and claiming that it's difficult to get under the arms and into the rack to use...I'm 6'0" and I can understand the issue they are referring to, but it is what it is. It's not that difficult to enter and exit the rack and only requires squatting down to do so. It's a solid design and good concept that provides ergonomic lifts that target multiple areas of the legs...particularly like the calf stand.

I just received this machine, a week ago... I will give you "MY" pro's and con's list of what I liked and what i do not like and I'm going to include pictures. In my opinion, reviews from people who have not bought the machine, and never used the machine and not have had to go through the hassle of setting this monster up - then not sure why you're writing. I am rating this 4 stars. The one star I removed I'll detail why - but it's purely because of packaging and if the packaging would get cleaned up, given this is a very heavy and sturdy unit and metal being shipped - it would come without any bends or scratching or chips.First - the Con's...1. Installation Manual - probably the worst I have ever received. It comes packaged in plastic, you take it out and it's a bunch of very loose pages. You have Assembly diagram #1 and Assembly diagram #2. It is a high-level parts view of the various components and where they go. Best of luck figuring out which you should assemble first. There is no "step 1, step 2, step 3, etc.". They need to get this down pat. If you do not put the plastic components on the bottom of this piece right from the beginning as well as the legs - which normally on other pieces of equipment you do last then you're in a world of hurt. I took off one star and probably should have taken another off for the fact that this manual and directions are awful.2. Loose bolts in the container. Be very careful not to throw out loose bolts - some come assembled and some come in a bolts/parts bag. Take some time before you begin this endeavor and LAY OUT EVERYTHING - INCLUDING THE BOLTS, NUTS, AND WASHERS!!! Look on the part table and see what they have coming with the unit (pre-assembled bolts/nuts) and what they are supposed to ship you in the bag. I normally don't do this, but looking at the directions and since they were awful I knew to be extra cautious. Some of the bolts will be floating around the box, I found 2 bolts that were supposed to be pre-assembled with the nuts after I found the nuts and washers, I found both bolts in different pieces of foam that were stuck in there probably knocked and rammed in during shipping.3. The foam padding - is so loose that you will see in the pictures that the metal beats on each other during shipping. I realize they ship paint - but for almost $600 cost I'd rather receive something I'm not going to have to repaint and sand down etc. I want it to look nice out of the box. This is not packaged extremely well.4. Bent bottom support. Due to the foam blocking not being secured against the metal - some of the metal is able to be bent - be cautious of this when you're tightening the bolts down on pieces where they're bent you may have to help it with a screwdriver or pry it the opposite way to get it to go. Again - take your time.Here's the Pro's...1. Very rugged machine for $600. It is well built and I can tell already in the few uses that I have done already that it will be in my garage gym for quite some time. Out of all the machinery I have gotten it is sturdy - which is why it's critical that at the factory they make sure to secure the parts better and pad them with secure-foam blocks that aren't moving around. The metal is very heavy - this isn't light weight by any stretch.2. Fluid motion of the exercise - I really like the adjustable safety and being able to go A2G almost on this. The one downside which isn't that bad that I can list it as a con is that I'm 6' tall - and I have to really go low, or you have to get in via the side of the unit, meaning come in from the side and get under it, get snug/secure and then put your feet up on the metal plate and lift up. Once you do that though and get the hang of it - it does take a while then this will burn your butt off. You are going to feel it bigtime in your quads the next day. That I will assure you. I can already see the muscle popping out after a few uses during the week and incorporating with leg press, and extensions and lunges.3. HEED THIS PORTION OF ADVICE - Take the crappy diagram #1, and diagram #2... and when you start - go with obviously Diagram #1 - and lay all base parts out... lay your nuts and bolts out beside them - this is going to take you an extra 20 minutes. In reality - I have seen where people wrote on review sites that this took them a long time to install. This took me about 3 hours to install - that includes putting my tools away and cleaned up. If you get everything ready - you will develop a mental picture in conjunction of the diagram and can figure out yourself how best to get everything assembled. The pins will trick you - there is a bag with 3 in it - and the diagram is very "not-friendly" to telling you whcih one is what. That will probably take you some extra time as well.So to wrap up - it's an awesome piece of machinery, I like it very much. I just wished that for $600 - the factory would be much more careful in not shipping something that has the potential to be damaged. I mean the scratching and chipping I'll paint over eventually - but it's just the point. I wouldn't buy a new car with a bunch of scratches all over it, nor would I do it with a piece of exercise equipment. I think if you're looking to really develop your hamstrings, or you lift alone and want to lift heavier weight by yourself - this is the ticket.Unfortunately I cannot comment on the calf portion - becuase I have not used it but one time and I already have a donkey calf machine and also use my leg press that I have. Once I do it on the next round of exercises I will make an update on my experience. Thanks.

I bought this squat machine with the intent of getting some serious leg and buttock exercise while taking it easy on my knees which had gotten more painful in recent years. For that goal, I am pleased with the machine. It's reasonably sturdy and has enough weight capacity for a decent workout. That said, it does have some shortcomings and nuisance issues that decrease its potential value. While I find the angled platform great for reducing knee stress, it's a little too narrow in my opinion and I am taking the entire width up while wishing for the ability to take a slightly wider stance. Another 12 inches of width and a slightly more solid mount would have been greatly appreciated. The lever used to lock the shoulder assembly in the upper position is, as someone else reported, a real hassle to operate easily. After 8 workouts with the machine, I still have trouble releasing the lever. Replacing the lever at the end of a set is a little better but still far from being as simple and smooth as it should be. Although some of the information I saw indicated that the weight capacity was as high as 800 lbs, the bars holding the weights are far too short for that unless you have some 100 lb. plates. There's no way to load more than six 45 lb. plates on each side so 540 lbs. is about all you can expect. That's probably more than enough for me as I only use 250 lbs. currently but it's still a major limitation in my mind. Another 3 inches of bar length on each side would be about right. As for the calf capability, it's a little too limited in stance and exercise options to be a really capable calf machine. It's definitely better than nothing and gives you a lot of stability but it's not anyhing to rave about.All in all, I will continue to use the machine as I think it does have good value for those people like me who need to be careful of avoiding knee stress but I'm sure glad I got it at a great Amazon price as I don't think it's worth any more than that.

This unit is great ... a little overwhelming at first to assemble but just take it a bolt st a time and it all makes sense .... only complaint is it is not packed great and got scratched up in transit , ( comes with touch up paint though) . And the platform seems to wobble a bit even though it is cranked tight ... other than that it's great ... little tricky to get into and out of ( I'm 6'1) but I just grab handles and swing in /out. Ergonomically it is great .... worth the money ...