8 Best Leg Press Machines 2020 | The Sun UK
WHILE there's plenty of home gym kit for developing the upper body, working the legs can be trickier.
Which is why we've rounded up the best leg press machines - these will get your quads, hamstrings, glutes and calves going.
Squats can help develop similar muscles to leg presses, but won't isolate muscle groups as effectively - or prevent you from throwing out your back.
With a leg press machine, your back is supported (either seated or lying down), and you can work several lower body muscle groups with small movements.
You can buy separate leg press machines for the home, or spend a bit more money upfront and invest in a home gym that has an integrated leg press.
It's all a question of space and how much you're prepared to spend - and use the machine in question.
One way to work the legs without giving up a ton of space and cash is to get a leg curl machine. This primarily works the hamstrings.
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Best vertical leg press: Powerline Vertical Leg Press
- Powerline Vertical Leg Press, for £334.95 on Body Solid - buy here
A vertical leg press is a rarer beast in the home gym - but it's a brilliant piece of kit that's great for isolating muscles and building up your quad strength, as well as glutes, calves and hamstrings.
The reclining position, as well as lumbar and neck support pads, means you won't hurt your back as you exercise.
You can add extra weights onto the three 1" diameter weight posts.
The machine itself won't take up a ton of space, and, as one reviewer notes, it's:
'A really nice piece of kit. Does the job as well as more expensive gym kit'.
Best multi gym with leg press: BH Fitness G152X Global Multi Gym with Leg Press
- BH Fitness G152X Global Multi Gym with Leg Press, for £1,199 on Fitness Superstore - buy here
This multi-tasking piece of kit is great for getting a whole body workout - including those legs.
It has high and low pulleys, a chest press and pec deck, as well as a seated leg press, leg raise and leg developer stations.
The leg press has five length adjustments and features a fold-up seat and ergonomic upholstery.
The home gym measures 174 cm (69 inch) x 200 cm (79 inch) x 212 cm and it has 100kg of resistance.
It's been called 'life changing' by at least one reviewer.
Best gym-equivalent leg press machine: Body-Solid Leg Press/Hack Squat Machine
- Body-Solid Leg Press/Hack Squat Machine, for £1,349 on Fitness Superstore - buy here
If you're looking for a machine that's durable, versatile, glides smoothly and is the best non-commercial equivalent of something you'd find in an actual gym, Body-Solid's leg press is the piece of kit for you.
It has a plethora of five-star reviews and users insist it's 'excellent', 'very solid', 'good quality' and 'easy to use'.
The machine operates on a quad track roller system with three lockout positions controlled by the user, and it offers lots of versatility in the range of exercises you can do, including hack squats.
Use with Olympic weights.
Best leg curl machine: XS Sports Pro Heavy Duty Seated Leg Curl & Extension
- XS Sports Pro Heavy Duty Seated Leg Curl & Extension, for £339.99 on Amazon - buy here
Whether you want to focus on leg curls or leg extensions, this dedicated machine from XS Sports does it all.
The solid design has rubber non-slip feet, adjustable back seat support and adjustable padding, plus it comes with a year-long warranty.
It can hold a plate up to 80kg, and includes a 2" Olympic weight plate adapter.
Reviewers warn that the assembly instructions are terrible - but don't let that put you off this 'five star', 'very good product' and 'fantastic piece of kit'.
'Great way to warm up or cool down. Instructions for assembly are poor as usual but easy enough to work out.
'The machine itself is great for the money and works well for leg extensions and leg curls and works as well as machines many times more expensive', insists one reviewer.
Best value leg press: Marcy HG7000 Home Multi Gym With Integrated Leg Press
An integrated leg press in a home gym can be a space-saving and economical way to invest in this leg-muscle enhancing piece of workout kit.
This well-rated Marcy home gym has multiple attachments for a range of exercises, allowing you to do everything from bench and butterfly presses to pec decks, chest presses and lat pull downs.
For the lower body, you can do leg presses, leg extensions and curls - and the preacher pad can be flipped and used as back support when required.
'I have had this gym for a couple of months now and its an excellent bit of kit.
'There is a good selection of exercises, some of the positions are not perfect from a posture perspective, but this is a multi-gym rather than individual commercial pieces of equipment that costs thousands of pounds each - overall great value for money', writes a fan.
Best sissy squat machine: leikefitness Multi-Function Deep Sissy Squat Bench Black-8400
Look no further than a sissy squat machine for a space-saving contraption that will help you strengthen your glutes, quads, and core.
This challenging machine is an essential tool for increasing lower body muscular growth. While standing squats are one of the most under-appreciated and often overlooked workouts, using this equipment on a daily basis will help build your lower body in no time. The sissy squat bench is also great for back extension exercises. "Easy to assemble, easy to use, essential kit for any home gym", writes a satisfied customer.
Best collapsible machine: New Image MultiGym Collapsible & Adjustable Positioning for Total Body
- New Image MultiGym Collapsible & Adjustable Positioning for Total Body, £179.44 from Amazon - buy here
This 3-in-1 machine allows you to work on your legs using the bodyweight gym mode, ab trainer and even pilates reformer so you're able to work on cardio, strength and flexibility training all with one machine.
The Quad Pad system can be fixed in multiple positions and orientations, helping you to target different muscle groups. The machine also features four different ways to use it: the detachable and adjustable inclination leg to lay flat or pick one of three incline settings, making it perfect for any exercise and exercise level.
The New Image machine also arrives practically built, thanks to its heavy-duty construction made of gym-quality steel. The best part is it can be folded down to 30cm high for convenient storage beneath the bed, against the wall, or in a cabinet.
Best gym quality machine: Power Gym Commercial Leg Press Machine F-Line
- Power Gym Commercial Leg Press Machine F-Line, £1,339.99 on Power Gym - buy here
If you're trying to take your home workouts to the next level, this is the machine for you. This leg press machine is intended to perform and made to last, with an ultra-smooth action and a weight capacity of 450kg.
It is built with high-quality materials, including Q235 steel (which is commonly used in bridge building).
For maximum durability and performance, the roller system includes reinforced heavy duty linear bearings. You can also choose the seat pad colour, from red, blue, black/yellow and black.
Users who wish to develop quadriceps, hamstrings, and gluteus will benefit from an angled gravitational boost, which reduces stress on the lower back and knee joints, and the side entry/exit provides for easy access, which is especially beneficial after a hard workout.
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This article and any featured products have been independently chosen by The Sun journalists. All recommendations within the article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click a link and buy a product we may earn revenue: this helps to support The Sun, and in no way affects our recommendations.
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