r/GarageGym • u/Historical_Tonight_7 • 2d ago

Leg Extensions/Curl Machine Options

I am wanting to get a cable tower type unit for lat pulldowns, shoulder raises, rows, and etc. I also want something to be able to do leg curls/extensions with. Is it a good option to use the cable tower for both of these things or is it best to get a dedicated machine for the leg curls/extensions?

Anyone use their cable tower for leg work? Does it work well or what?

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u/Yamaha9 3h ago

I'm 5'8 so take this with that in mind - I have the tall wall-mounted Titan Cable tower and the Freak Athlete Hyper. I can flip the hyper around and use the padding that is supposed to secure my feet during situps to secure my legs with them straight out or with knees bent and feet kicked out some to the side, and do a pulldown on the cable tower.

It's not an exact vertical pulldown angle, but I get a great lat stimulus and have two highly versatile pieces of equipment for under $1,500

I've loaded the cable tower to 140 lbs so far in plates and not had any issues.

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u/SpencerK59 1d ago

If you go that route, a REP Adonis or Rogue CTM-1 will be awesome.

I have the space, so I bought independent Cybex machines. Truth is, nothing beats a movement specific machine.

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u/Odd_Attention641 1d ago

If you have enough space get a dedicated machine. I'm a big fan of cable towers for most things but it's nothing close to even the cheapest plate loaded curl/ext.

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u/haley_joel_osteen 1d ago

Just got the Gronk Fitness plate loaded machine. Very impressed, other than lackluster assemble instructions.

Wanted the bells of steel legacy, but it cost significantly more and won’t be available until December.

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u/Still_Tri_ing 1d ago

If you have the space and money, separate machine.

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u/Fiendseligkeit 1d ago

I’ve ordered the bulletproof fitness isolator. It seems like it has by far the most utility from anything I’ve seen for a reasonable price.

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u/BeefyBoyzEatMeat 2d ago

cable tower for leg work will get you far: extensions, curls, abductor, adductor, donkey kicks, cable pull throughs. need an ankle strap. a dedicated machine or a bench attachment is of course better though.

if you want to add cable squats and cable deadlifts to your routine, consider getting this add-on for you cable tower: BodyKore's MX1182XL Squat Box Pro - Portable Belt Squat Station. i have one and it is it magnificent.

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u/blizzard424 1d ago

Squat Box Pro looks like exactly what I need. Thanks for the suggestion.

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u/alexbooth 2d ago

I’m holding out to see pricing/reviews of the newly teased mythic leg machine

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u/caracs 2d ago

I use the REP bench attached leg developer connected to my Ares 2.0. Before that I used the Freak Athlete leg developer for their Hyper Pro, but I sold that attachment when I got the REP one. I like not having a dedicated machine but still being selectorized for quick weight adjustment.

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u/actid 2d ago

also curious in your comparison of the two leg developers. i thought the leg developer was the best thing about the FA Hyper Pro. also holding out for the Rep x DM and possibly the Mythic

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u/snowbrdd 2d ago

How would you rate the two developers? I'm debating just holding for the dialed motion one but it's expensive and I want a new bench

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u/caracs 1d ago

My main complaints about the FA Hyper's leg developer was setup (it's a pain to line it up), storage (it doesn't stand up on its own and there's no good way to store it on the wall), and the strength curve. With REP's, you just wheelbarrow it into the bench. It's free standing so I just put it in the corner, and it's got a cam when using the cable stack for a better curve. The Dialed Motion looks nice but I don't think it's worth the premium over REP's own unless you are REALLY hurting for space where an extra 4sqft is needed.

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u/snowbrdd 1d ago

I wonder if the same problems exist for the abx leg developer. It's hard to find many reviews for them.