The ‘Original’ Leg Press Has FINALLY Been Upgraded…

Outside of barbell squats, leg press variations have always been a recognised tool for developing the lower body.

Prior to the invention of the leg press machine, strength training enthusiasts would lie on their backs, place a loaded barbell across their feet, and then press the weight with their legs.

Whilst this provided an effective stimulus for lower body development, it obviously came with a huge risk of the weight falling off and causing severe injury.

This led to the creation of the vertical leg press machine in the 1950s, and enabled lifters to build their legs, without having to balance a weight on their feet.

In the 1970s, the angled leg press entered the training scene. This device enabled users to work from a mechanically stronger position, and allowed them to use far greater loads to build their lower body.

Sadly, the rise in popularity of the angled leg press meant that the benefits of the vertical leg press were soon forgotten about…

Until now.

3 Benefits Of The Vertical Leg Press

  • Lighter loading

One issue with the angled leg press is that strong lifters require a huge quantity of weight in order to get a decent training effect.

Whilst necessary for building strength and size in the legs, such heavy weights place increased stress on the joints and connective tissue, which may lead to injury. Furthermore, loading up the machine with so many plates can be time-consuming and take up a significant portion of a training session.

Finally, many lifters can ‘outgrow’ the machine by running out of space to put additional weights, meaning it’s no longer as effective for developing the lower body.

But the vertical leg press is capable of delivering an equal training effect with lighter loads.

Not only do lighter loads subject the body to less stress and reduce wear and tear on the joints, but it also takes a fraction of the time to load up and de-load the machine. Therefore, it helps prevent wasting time and energy in the gym.

  • Safer for the back

Since the vertical leg press requires the user to lie on their back, their lower back is in a more relaxed position, and receives minimal stress during the exercise.

With the angled leg press machines, some users will find their lower back straining as they lower back rounds during the descent. In some instances, this can lead to agonising back injury.

  • Better Muscular Development

Many users find they are able to use weight through a much longer range of motion.

This enables them to more effectively target their glutes and hamstrings when using a wide stance foot position, or their quadriceps when using a narrower foot placement.

The One Downside To The Vertical Leg Press…

The main downside to the vertical leg press experienced by users is simply that it’s an uncomfortable machine to use.

Narrow foot platforms at a fixed angle make it hard to position the feet in a way that feels safe…

Fixed back positions can mean some people round their lower back when lowering the weight…

Being unable to brace the upper body on the bench means less effort is made by the legs to lift the weight as you try and stabilise on the bench.

At Watson Gym Equipment, we knew the downsides to the vertical leg press were simply due to design issues, and with a little ingenuity, we could create the most user-friendly device on the planet…

So, with the help of IFBB bodybuilder, and owner of world-renowned Mi40 gym, Ben Pakulski, we left no stone unturned in improving every single aspect of the vertical leg press machine in order to give our customers the best device on the market today.

Introducing The Watson Animal Vertical Leg Press

The Watson Animal Vertical Leg Press is a plate-loaded machine and a fantastic way to develop your lower body muscle size without risking injury to your lower back.

Furthermore, we’ve designed the machine to make it adjustable as possible to the user, so unlike other machines, you can set it up exactly how you want it.

  • Adjustable Foot Plate

Adjust the footplate angle according to ankle mobility. Allows you to work through a complete range of motion without your heels lifting off the footplate.

  • Adjustable Back Rest

Adjust the back rest angle according to leg length and mobility so you can work through a complete range of motion without your lower back rounding on the machine.

  • Shoulder Pads

Absent from many vertical leg press machines, we placed shoulder pads on the back rest so you can brace yourself as you lower the weight.

This prevents unnecessary upper body movement on the machine and allows you to put more emphasis on pressing with the legs.

  • Safety Bars

Safety stoppers are included on the machine’s rails, so you don’t have to worry about getting stuck if you fail mid-rep.

  • Weight Storage Pegs

Save yourself from multiple trips across the gym with heavy plates, and store the weights you need on the machine ready for when you need them.

  • Indestructible Design

Ultra heavy-duty machine that’s been built to last no matter how much abuse you through at it.

  • Super Smooth Movement

The weight carriage runs on Thompson Linear Bearings, giving it a super smooth movement throughout the whole range. This makes it easy to maintain constant tension on the working muscles, no matter how much weight you use.

Using The Animal Vertical Leg Press In Your Training

There are a number of ways you can use the Animal Vertical Leg Press in your training, including, but not limited to: –

Pre-Fatigue:

Use it to get a solid leg pump when you’re ‘fresh’ at the beginning of your lower body session.

Eccentric:

Slow down the eccentric phase to maximise muscle damage.

Unilateral:

Use one leg at a time to fix imbalances between sides

Partials:

Set the safety bars up to reduce the range of motion and perform heavy partials to really overload the leg muscles.

Finisher:

Thrash your legs at the end of your session with nauseating sets of high reps to spark additional muscle growth.

The Watson Guarantee

Now you can have peace of mind when ordering gym equipment.

Watson Gym Equipment is built with longevity in mind.

Unlike other manufacturers who construct machines with a short life expectancy that deteriorates rapidly with frequent use…

Our equipment is built to last, no matter how much it’s used and abused.

As we are so confident our equipment will last you forever, we are more than happy to offer you a lifetime warranty on all framework and a 5-year warranty on all moving parts.

If any part of the machine should ever need fixing or replacing, please feel free to contact us immediately.

Build A Pair Of Thick And Strong Legs TODAY