Rogue's New Belt Squat - Monster Rhino - AKA What I wish my nickname was

[Testiclaw]

Has anyone tried to use a double pulley system for belt squats? It seems like you could use a low pulley, such as one set up for seated rows, and attach a belt to it. The other pulley would be high and connected to a loading pin. I'm not sure if the cross member would get in the way of your feet. . . . . I guess you could also just stand on blocks and use the loading pin with smaller plates and skip the pulley complexity.

I've used homemade lever ones, machined/manufactured lever ones, and a pulley one (the original Westside version, not their newer "ATP").

I prefer the lever versions.

The pulley ones just...feels weird.

Could you elaborate on this? I'm thinking of the pulley/cable version as well, cuz then I'd could get a low row (and probably pull down) set up as well.

It's kind of hard to explain, but the line of pull isn't always straight down. Free-weight on a belt will hang and pull straight down, and levers tend not to move over a large enough distance to really arc that much, but the pulley ones seem "easier" to get into a position that has a funny line of pull. It's just more pronounced than the other methods.

It's not a huge deal, and if a cable option is what gives you the most bang for your buck I'd be in favor of it. I'm just being picky.

[damufunman]

Has anyone tried to use a double pulley system for belt squats? It seems like you could use a low pulley, such as one set up for seated rows, and attach a belt to it. The other pulley would be high and connected to a loading pin. I'm not sure if the cross member would get in the way of your feet. . . . . I guess you could also just stand on blocks and use the loading pin with smaller plates and skip the pulley complexity.

I've used homemade lever ones, machined/manufactured lever ones, and a pulley one (the original Westside version, not their newer "ATP").

I prefer the lever versions.

The pulley ones just...feels weird.

Could you elaborate on this? I'm thinking of the pulley/cable version as well, cuz then I'd could get a low row (and probably pull down) set up as well.

It's kind of hard to explain, but the line of pull isn't always straight down. Free-weight on a belt will hang and pull straight down, and levers tend not to move over a large enough distance to really arc that much, but the pulley ones seem "easier" to get into a position that has a funny line of pull. It's just more pronounced than the other methods.

It's not a huge deal, and if a cable option is what gives you the most bang for your buck I'd be in favor of it. I'm just being picky.

Ok just curious, but that makes sense. Still not sure which way to go yet, don't even know if I'd use a cable thing.

[janoycresva]

Has anyone tried to use a double pulley system for belt squats? It seems like you could use a low pulley, such as one set up for seated rows, and attach a belt to it. The other pulley would be high and connected to a loading pin. I'm not sure if the cross member would get in the way of your feet. . . . . I guess you could also just stand on blocks and use the loading pin with smaller plates and skip the pulley complexity.

I've used homemade lever ones, machined/manufactured lever ones, and a pulley one (the original Westside version, not their newer "ATP").

I prefer the lever versions.

The pulley ones just...feels weird.

Could you elaborate on this? I'm thinking of the pulley/cable version as well, cuz then I'd could get a low row (and probably pull down) set up as well.

It's kind of hard to explain, but the line of pull isn't always straight down. Free-weight on a belt will hang and pull straight down, and levers tend not to move over a large enough distance to really arc that much, but the pulley ones seem "easier" to get into a position that has a funny line of pull. It's just more pronounced than the other methods.

It's not a huge deal, and if a cable option is what gives you the most bang for your buck I'd be in favor of it. I'm just being picky.

I use a lever belt squat (Wenning knockoff) and the forward pull is pretty brutal as I get into the hole, it feels like the force vector is mostly horizontal at the bottom, so I think this is hugely machine and anthropometry dependent

it’s awkward enough that I’ve tweaked my knees on it a few times

[CoolColJ]

Everyones hips go backwards at the bottom of the belt squat

So only the loading pin variants will have the load hang directly down from the belt at the bottom.
While the cable, lever arm and landmine versions will all have an angled pull at the bottom, due to the hips moving back as you lower.
And the arc of the levers and landmine will add to that.

Free floating the hinge part of the DIY lever and landmines, with a tie down strap instead of a hard mount will allow the load to move back and forwards throughout the ROM

My lever arm belt squat is attached to my squat stands via two tie down straps hanging off a J-Hook, as it was not made for my stands, and this allows for a few inches of movement horizontally.



I previously had it hanging off a mounting pin it came with on the J-Hook, this felt the best, as the bottom half could freely rotate forwards and back, hanging off a tie down strap.
But it allowed the lever arm to tilt when loading plates
Someone should design a new kind of lever arm belt squat that can do this naturally.....



Also the kick stand this one has is not long enough to start from the top, when using the highest belt hook position for full depth without standing on something ... so I use that red car jack, in the first pic, to prop the lever arm up....

[CoolColJ]

Better pic from the side -

From hinge to belt is 47 inches, from belt to weights is 19 inches - simple division = 0.6 or 60% felt load.
Confirmed with a scale

I added a D shackle and marine S hook to make hooking the belt's clips onto the lever arm easier without using a carabiner.
Much better for hooking on/off when your quads are tired!

After standing up I just reach down and move the car jack out of the way