If you’re looking to add some size and strength to your lower body, the leg press machine is a great option. It allows you to push heavyweight and overload your muscles, leading to impressive gains. This piece of equipment is perfect for working your quads, hamstrings, and glutes.
If you’re ready to invest in a great-performing leg press machine, the Powertec Fitness Leg Press tops our list. This fitness equipment is one of the most compact vertical leg press machines available in the market today, is made from a heavy-duty steel frame, and comes with nylon reinforced wheels for maximum stability. It also supports standard weight plates.
But of course, it is not the only option. Let’s get to our expert list.
Best Leg Press Machine at a Glance
The Powertec Fitness Leg Press is compact yet offers a large footplate for widespread support. It features a heavy-duty steel frame and has four weight horns built into its carriage and carries a notable 1,000 lbs. of weight.
The Body-Solid leg press has a 1000-pound maximum weight capacity and quad track roller system for even weight distribution. Its back pad also utilizes a quick flip-and-lock mechanism to ensure comfort when in use.
Although affordable, the Valor Fitness Vertical Leg Press doesn’t lack features. It comes in a heavy-duty steel frame, offers three weight storage pegs, and can be used as a calf raises machine.
Powertec Fitness Leg Press – Best Overall
What we like
- Supports 1000 pounds
- Comes with two safety levers
- Offers multiple carriage positions
- Well-padded seat
What we don’t like
- Expensive
- Assembly is difficult
The Powertec Fitness Leg Press is undeniably the best leg press machine of 2022. For one, it’s the most compact leg press machine in this review, with measurements of 79” x 36.6” x 54”. This makes the Powertec Fitness Leg Press ideal for a compact home gym or small workout space.
Another thing that makes the Powertec Fitness Leg Press superior to other leg press machines is its maximum weight capacity. This gym equipment can support up to 1000 pounds of weight, which means you can perform leg exercises while using Olympic weight plates.
We also love the high-quality materials used in the Powertec Fitness Leg Press. It’s built with a heavy-duty steel frame, comes with stainless steel weight horns, and improved padding materials. It also has two safety levers on each side of the bench, so you can easily adjust the pins to release or secure the weight sled.
The Powertec Fitness Leg Press is more expensive than other vertical leg press machines but is clearly worth the investment. This equipment already offers all of the features you’re looking for in a solid leg press machine.
Body-Solid GLPH 1100 – Best Weight Capacity
What we like
- Thick double-stitched back and shoulder pads
- Adjustable backrest and footplate
- Three lockout positions for safe and easy pressing even during workouts
- Fairly priced
What we don’t like
- The footplate isn’t as wide as the top leg press machines
- The adjustment pin to switch from leg press to hack squat is in a difficult position
If you want to target your lower body while using several weight plates, the Body-Solid GLPH 1100 is perfect for you. This leg press machine can support up to 1000 pounds and offers three lockout positions so that you can lift heavy weights safely.
This leg press machine comes with heavy-gauge diamond plate foot platforms and is made with heavy-duty 11-gauge steel. This leg press machine’s high-quality materials and construction allow it to operate smoothly even during high reps.
The Body-Solid GLPH 1100 is an adjustable leg press machine as you can rotate its back support and adjust the position of its footplate to use it as a hack squat machine. With these features, you can perform several reps of hack squats and tone your glutes, hamstrings, and hip flexors.
If only the Body-Solid leg press had a wider footplate, it would definitely earn the spot of being the perfect leg press machine for 2022.
Valor Fitness Vertical Leg Press – Best Budget
What we like
- Affordable and doesn’t require a lot of floor space
- Supports up to 400 pounds
- Ideal for calf raises, leg presses, and squats
- Solid and sturdy 2”x2” solid steel frame
What we don’t like
- Its bar feels and looks low-quality
- The instruction manual is hard to follow
The Valor Fitness Vertical Leg Press proves that you don’t need to break the bank just to own one of the best leg press machines today. Although priced lower than other leg press machines, the Valor Fitness Vertical Leg Press is tough to beat because it’s made from 2”x2” solid steel, can hold up to 400 pounds of weight plates, and only measures 54.75” x 48.25” x 60”.
Unlike other leg press machines, the Valor Fitness Vertical Leg Press is designed with comfort in mind. It features different high-density padding to support your neck and back and three weight storage pegs to help you achieve your fitness goals. This vertical leg press can hold standard and Olympic weight plates.
The bar where you plate your feet looks skinny and doesn’t feel durable. If only the brand improves this area, the Valor Fitness Vertical Leg Press will rank higher on our next review.
Titan Fitness Vertical Leg Press – Best Vertical Press
What we like
- Supports 400 pounds of weight
- Small footprint
- Heavy-duty construction
- Comfortable hand grips
What we don’t like
- Time-consuming assembly
- One-color option
Are you looking for the best vertical leg press machine? If you are, then the Titan Fitness Vertical Leg Press is your best bet. Thanks to its solid steel design and dual-post construction, this leg press machine is clearly built to take on frequent and high reps of upper body and leg press exercises.
The Titan Fitness Vertical Leg Press has a maximum weight capacity of 400 pounds and a 48” x 38” footprint. This fitness equipment only takes up a little space, which means that it won’t cramp your home gym or workout space.
One thing we love about the Titan Fitness Vertical Leg Press is its adjustable footplate. This ensures your comfort and enables the equipment to support users of different heights. This vertical leg press machine also has three weight posts so that you can work out with more weights.
The Titan Fitness Vertical Leg Press requires a lot of time and effort for its assembly. But as long as you have someone to assist you, this shouldn’t be a deal-breaker.
Yukon Fitness Vertical Leg Press – Best for Small Spaces
What we like
- Supports 600 pounds
- Can be used with standard and Olympic weight plates
- Saves a lot of space with its narrow footprint
- Cradled neck rest guarantees maximum comfort
What we don’t like
- Requires regular lubrication
- Tends to wobble, especially when used with Olympic weight plates
Thanks to the Yukon Fitness Vertical Leg Press, toning your leg muscles will become a breeze if you have a small home gym. This leg press machine has a narrow design and only measures 42” x 32” x 50”, ideal for individuals who lack space in their home gyms or don’t have a workout space at all.
Although the Yukon Fitness Vertical Leg Press is compact, it doesn’t lack quality. This leg press machine is made with a heavy 12-gauge 12”x12” steel frame and comes with nylon brushings to ensure smooth operation when used for vertical leg presses.
As an angled leg press, the Yukon Fitness Vertical Leg Press offers a 7-degree slant, which means that your range of motion when doing exercises isn’t completely vertical. It also has an ergonomically designed cradled neck rest, so you’ll feel comfortable and supported when working out. Plus, it can hold up to 600 pounds and is very easy on the budget.
The Yukon Fitness Vertical Leg Press needs to be lubricated regularly to prevent it from making noise. This shouldn’t be a problem as this task only requires two minutes of your time.
TDS 4-Way Hip Sled – Best Versatility
What we like
- Holds up to 1000 pounds
- It comes with safety lockouts
- The platform has an adjustable angle (30, 40, and 45-degree)
- Suitable for users of all heights
What we don’t like
- Doesn’t come with Olympic plates
- The base feels undersized
The TDS 4-Way Hip Sled is one of the best leg press machines today because of its versatility. This leg press machine supports full-body workouts, including hack squat, leg press, forward thrust, and calf raise. All of the workouts you need for your leg day can be performed in the TDS 4-Way Hip Sled.
The TDS 4-Way Hip Sled is also an adjustable leg press machine as it allows you to do leg raises from three different angles. As a result, you can get a good angle for effective calf raises and other leg exercises.
Being one of the top leg press machines in this review, the TDS 4-Way Hip Sled can also support up to 1000 pounds of weight and measures 37″ X 80″ X 52″. It features heavy-duty side frames, 2” square steel tube construction, and solid steel deck plate. Using this leg press machine will also ensure comfort because it has double-stitched shoulder pads.
Although the TDS 4-Way Hip Sled doesn’t include any Olympic weight plates, we still think this equipment is worth investing in.
Body-Solid LVLP Leverage Horizontal Leg Press – Best Leverage Leg Press
What we like
- Supports up to 1000 pounds
- Comes with commercial-grade, double-stitched padding
- Commercial grade construction
- Extra-wide 24” footplate
What we don’t like
- Lacks versatility
- Olympic weights not included
The Body-Solid LVLP Leverage Horizontal Leg Press is an excellent option if you prefer a horizontal press. This leg press machine comes with a large footplate that pivots and helps you enjoy a proper range of motion while maintaining your foot position.
Aside from being functional, the Body-Solid LVLP Leverage Horizontal Leg Press is also durable. It’s constructed with 11-gauge steel and covered with silver powder, which means it can take on high reps of leg exercises. It can also support up to 1000 pounds of weight and comes with industrial-grade linear bearings.
Another noteworthy feature of the Body-Solid LVLP Leverage Horizontal Leg Press is its adjustable back, allowing you to correctly position your body weight while its pivoting footplate maintains a natural range of motion. These will prevent injuries and fatigue as you work out.
The Body-Solid LVLP Leverage Horizontal Leg Press only supports leg press exercises. But if you have resistance bands, you can make your leg press workouts more challenging.
Body-Solid Powerline P2LPX – Best Splurge
What we like
- Durable construction
- Quiet and smooth when in use
- Comes with a weight stack
- Supports 600 pounds
What we don’t like
- Time-consuming assembly
- The seat and back tends to slide
You’ll be getting your money’s worth when you buy the Body-Solid Powerline P2LPX because it’s multifunctional. It provides six workout stations, including lat pull-down ab crunch, multi-press arms, leg curl, leg extension, seated row, and functional pulleys. This ensures total-body training in the comforts of your home gym.
The Body-Solid Powerline P2LPX can support up to 600 pounds and measures 71” x 66” x 83”. And because it comes with an adjustable seat and back pad, this leg press machine is suitable for small home gyms or workout spaces.
When it comes to safety features, this Body-Solid powerline vertical leg press has many. It has a non-slip footplate and three locking points for complete safety while working out. Its thick neck and back pads also ensure comfort and provide extra support.
The only drawback of the Body-Solid Powerline P2LPX is that its seat and back tend to slide when in use. Fortunately, this problem can be minimized by pulling a spring-loading pin.
TDS Premier Vertical Leg Press 1000-LB – Best for Beginners
What we like
- Simple but functional design
- Supports up to 1000 pounds
- More stable than other vertical leg presses
- Offers several safety features
What we don’t like
- Uncomfortable seat
- Tends to shake when doing fully extended leg presses
With the TDS Premier Vertical Leg Press 1000-LB, you can tone your lower body muscles even if you have no experience using a leg press machine. This premier vertical leg press is perfect for beginners because it comes with an easy-to-engage safety mechanism, offers eight rollers for smooth workouts, and has a padded backrest for maximum comfort. The TDS Premier Vertical Leg Press 1000-LB also features an extra-wide footplate, so you won’t have to worry about your foot position when doing leg presses or targeting calf muscles.
The TDS Premier Vertical Leg Press 1000-LB is our favorite because it has eight heavy-duty rollers that ensure a smooth operation. The machine is made from heavy-duty steel and supports up to 1000 pounds. It only measures 49” x 47“ x 75”, which means it doesn’t require much space.
If only the TDS Premier Vertical Leg Press 1000-LB produced a better quality seat, this leg press would earn a better position on our review.
XMARK Leg Press & Squat Hack XM-7616 – Best Comfortable Safety Features
What we like
- Supports 1000 pounds
- Reliable and stable construction
- Ensures safety and comfort of the user
- Easy to operate
What we don’t like
- Supports 1000 pounds
- Reliable and stable construction
- Ensures safety and comfort of the user
- Easy to operate
The XMARK Leg press & Squat Hack XM-7616 is one of the safest leg press machines available today. It features four adjustable settings on the footplate and backrest, allowing you to set it for natural pressing motion and a suitable angle depending on your height. This leg press also has non-slip feet for maximum stability while preventing floor damage.
The XMARK Leg press & Squat Hack XM-7616 has padded shoulder braces designed with sufficient cushioning. This leg press machine’s headrest and back pad are constructed with ultra-thick 3” split cushioning and tear-resistant vinyl. All of these features guarantee maximum comfort even when you’re bearing weights.
This leg press machine clearly deserves a spot on our review because it has an 11-gauge and 2” x 2” steel mainframe that provides optimal strength and stability. It can support up to 1000 pounds of weight and only measures 82.5” x 17” x 9”. Its scratch-resistant powder coating finish will keep the equipment looking new even after prolonged use.
One minor issue we’ve noticed with the XMARK Leg press & Squat Hack XM-7616 is that it tends to make grinding noises when in use. This setback can be easily remedied by applying some lubricant or oil.
Our Verdict
After looking into countless reviews and comparing features of several leg press machines, we find the Powertec Fitness Leg Press the best. It’s durable, safe, comfortable, and ensures smooth operation when in use — you won’t have to look for another leg press machine after getting this one!
The Body-Solid GLPH 1100 is our second runner-up because it has something most leg press machines lack — its 1000-pound maximum weight capacity. It also features adjustable back support and footplate to ensure comfort and lessen your risk of fatigue or injury.
Buying Guide: How To Choose The Best Leg Press Machine
Finding a good leg press machine is tough because the market offers options — too many that you’ll find yourself clueless on how to narrow down your options. We understand how challenging this situation can be, which is why we’ve created this buying guide for you.
If you don’t know which factors to consider when buying a heavy-duty leg press, this leg press buying guide can surely help.
Available Floor Space
How big is your home gym? How much floor space will you have for your leg press machine? Take the time to measure the area where you’re planning to place it. Make sure there is still room for you to move around your home gym once you’ve set up your leg press machine.
Quality of construction
Performing leg press exercises can result in accidents and injuries if you ignore the equipment’s construction quality. The best leg press machines are made of at least 10-gauge steel at least 2” wide.
Weight Capacity
Most leg press machines can support up to 500 pounds, while some can support more, even up to 1000 pounds. To determine the right leg press machine for you, consider your body weight and how much weight you’re going to lift when doing leg exercises. The perfect leg press machine can support your body weight and the weight plates you’re planning to use.
Smoothness of operation
This factor correlates with the construction and quality of the leg press machine materials. It’ll be challenging for you to tone your upper and lower body with a leg press machine that gets stuck during your workout or grinds on its intended path.
Check reviews of different leg machines and stay away from machines that gained complaints because of jerky operation. The best leg press machines use bearings on the gliding track to ensure smooth operation.
The Type of Leg Press You Prefer
Leg press machines come in three different types. To find the best leg press machine suitable for your fitness goals, it’s crucial to determine the difference between the three.
Vertical
Vertical leg presses are usually the most affordable and compact. The weight sits directly above your hips in a vertical leg press machine. You’ll have to lay on a back pad and headrest (located near the floor) as you push your legs straight up vertically.
Horizontal
A horizontal leg press will require you to sit upright. This leg press machine gets its resistance from a lever or cable attached to the weight. You need to push the sled outward in this position, not upward.
Most leg press machines today require a weight stack to add resistance. You can use standard or Olympic plates to meet this requirement.
Leverage
Leverage leg press machines allow you to target your quads and glutes. Its plate-loaded weight supports a different progression and customization and is ideal for improving leg strength.
Price
Come up with a realistic budget and stick to it. Many leg press machines are available today, which means you can easily find high-quality gym equipment that suits your budget. The Valor Fitness Vertical Leg Press is a great example because it’s a solid leg press machine and budget-friendly.
