5 Best Upright Vertical Leg Press Machines in 2023

What’s great about a vertical leg press machine is how you can get a killer quad workout in such a small area. For example, our top pick, the Titan Fitness Vertical Leg Press only has a 48″ by 38″ footprint.

But with the different features, builds, and price points, which overhead machine is right for you? Well, we did the research and found the top models so you don’t have to.

5 Best Vertical Leg Press Machines Reviewed

If you want strong, beefy legs without the hassle of a gym membership, look no further! We’ve curated this list of the 5 best vertical leg press machines to add to your new home gym.

1. Best Overall Vertical Leg Press Machine: Titan Fitness Vertical Leg Press
2. Best Vertical Leg Press for Height Adjustments: Body-Solid Powerline Vertical Leg Press
3. Best Vertical Leg Press for Max Weight Capacity: TDS Vertical Premier Leg Press
4. Best Stable Vertical Leg Press: Yukon Fitness Angled Leg Press
5. Best Vertical Leg Press with Easier Assembly: Alek…Shop Vertical Leg Press Machine

Why You Can Trust My Review

Why can you trust what you read here? Because I’ve done my homework.

I’ve spent over 4 hours researching vertical leg press machines, comparing features across multiple brands, evaluating a range of customer feedback, and considering weight capacities and ideal dimensions for your home gym.

I know what it’s like to be overwhelmed by all the options out there, so I’ve done the legwork (pun intended) to narrow down the choices and present you with the best options. I’ve considered every aspect of these machines to ensure that you get the best product for your money.

When it comes to these unique machines, our top pick is the Titan Fitness Vertical Leg Press. With its compact size of 48 x 38 inches, it’s perfect for even the smallest home gym spaces. But don’t let its size fool you – this machine is built to withstand heavy loads with a solid steel design and dual post construction.

At a lightweight 95 lbs, the Titan Fitness Vertical Leg Press is easy to move and store, making it a convenient addition to your home. And with a maximum lifting capacity of 400 pounds, you’ll have plenty of room to challenge yourself and continue making progress.

But it’s not just about the weight you can press – the adjustable footplate ensures a comfortable and customizable fit for users of all heights. And with hand grips to stabilize you during your lifts, you can focus on isolating and strengthening your quads, hamstrings, and glutes.

3. Best Vertical Leg Press for Max Weight Capacity: TDS Vertical Premier Leg Press

The TDS Vertical Premier Leg Press Machine is a solid choice for those looking to increase their leg strength and size with a machine they can use at home. With a 1000 lb. capacity, it can handle even the heaviest of loads, making it suitable beginners and advanced lifters.

The extra wide steel deck foot plate and 3″ thick stitched padding provide a comfortable and stable base for leg pressing, helping to target the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes effectively. The safety stoppers are a useful addition for those who may be concerned about the risk of injury, as they allow for a quick and easy way to halt the movement if necessary.

However, there are a couple drawbacks to this machine. The assembly instructions can be confusing and time-consuming, making it frustrating for those who prefer to get right to their workouts. Additionally, some users have reported that the movement of the press may not be as smooth as expected, which can be frustrating when trying to perform precise, controlled movements.

Pros:

• Impressive 1000 lb. capacity
• Extra wide steel deck foot plate
• 3″ thick stitched padding
• Safety stoppers

Cons:

• Complicated assembly instructions
• Movement may not be as smooth as anticipated

4. Best Stable Vertical Leg Press: Yukon Fitness Angled Leg Press

The Yukon Fitness Angled Leg Press Machine is another good option for anyone looking to add a leg press to their home gym. With an impressive 800 lb. capacity, this machine can handle some intense training sessions.

The 175 pound assembled weight and 49 x 65 x 68 inch dimensions make it a more stable option than the others. One of the standout features of this angled leg press is its white finish, which adds a sleek and modern touch to any space.

However, one con to consider is the complicated assembly instructions, which may require some extra time and effort to put together. Another issue is the smaller foot pad, which can make pressing not feel as stable, especially if you have bigger feet.

Pros:

• 800 lb. capacity
• Smaller footprint
• Sleek white color

Cons:

• Heavier machine than most
• Complicated assembly instructions
• Smaller foot pad

5. Best Vertical Leg Press with Easier Assembly: Alek…Shop Vertical Leg Press Machine

The Alek…Shop Vertical Leg Press Machine is a high-quality piece of equipment with several beneficial features for your legs. The 400 lb. capacity allows for heavy weight lifting, which is essential for building strength in the quadriceps and hamstrings.

The extra thick back and contoured head pads provide support and comfort during your workout, allowing you to focus on proper form and your “mind-muscle connection”. The locking pins ensure no-slip control, which is especially important for safety when training with heavier weights.

However, it is on the more expensive side, which may be a deterrent for some. Additionally, by default it takes standard plates and you’ll need to purchase Olympic adapter sleeves to use Olympic plates, which adds to the cost.

Pros:

• 400 lb. weight capacity
• Extra thick back and contoured head pads for comfort and support
• Locking pins for no-slip control

Cons:

• Expensive
• Requires Olympic adapter sleeves for Olympic plates

Vertical Leg Press Benefits

The Vertical Leg Press Targets Your Major Leg Muscles

The leg press is all about the quads, with additional benefit in the glutes and hamstrings. The vertical leg press can isolate the quads and make them use as much force as possible. By forcing the quads to bear the load of the weight as you lie upside down, it helps you tax the muscles of your thighs, breaking them down and building them up stronger than before.

The fixed movement of the overhead vertical leg press doesn’t require the stabilizing muscles, which are usually the weak link that limits the amount of weight that you can move during a squat. So, you can lift heavy in the safest possible way to maximize muscle growth. You can also adjust the weight you are lifting very quickly.

You Can Change the Focus to the Glutes

Changing the position of your feet on the vertical leg press will isolate different muscles, as different stances target specific muscle groups more intensely. A narrow stance requires strong use of the quadriceps while a wider stance will put more emphasis on the inner thigh muscles.

Vertical leg presses also have the potential to strongly work the glutes. There is significantly more leg and hip flexion on the vertical leg press machine versus a standard squat since you’re pressing upward.

According to a study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, the greater the depth, or flexion, of a squat, the greater the activation of the glutes so this is one of the vertical leg press benefits to pay attention to.

They’re Great for Beginners

Movement in a fixed pattern on resistance machines like the vertical leg press are great for beginners. This exercise helps you master the correct movement pattern in a safe way before moving on to more advanced moves like barbell or dumbbell leg lifts.

They Provide Additional Support

The 90-degree leg press is the perfect guide to proper leg and back positioning while working your quads. Most leg press machines have a padded backrest which promote proper posture while supporting your back at the same time.

This greatly reduces your chance of injury because you are less likely to be in the wrong position (even if it is upside down). And, it makes it ideal for someone who is recovering from an injury or who suffers from back problems.

During a barbell squat, your back must support the entire load you’re lifting. Even during an angled leg press, some people have the tendency to engage their back muscles. The horizontal position of your back during a vertical leg press allows you to keep your back almost completely relaxed during the exercise.

They’re Safe

To work your legs hard on the vertical leg press, you should be loading up the weight and aiming for a high-rep count. Working your lower body with a machine like the vertical leg press gives you a lot more room to fail simply because it’s safer. Pushing to failure on a leg press machine means you can increase the weight without feeling like you are in danger.

When you hit muscle failure, you have hit the point where your muscles can’t contract anymore. If you are doing squats with free weights, you either need a spotter or you will have to ditch the weight in the middle of your rep. On the leg press, there’s a safety catch to stop the machine.

A vertical leg press machine can be used without a spotter, and this allows you the freedom to work out alone at home or avoid having to ask someone to help you out at the gym. You can use the vertical leg press machine to lift as heavy as you want, and you’re able to re-rack the weight yourself.

Vertical Leg Press Machines Buyer’s Guide (What to Look For)

Before we get into the machine picks, it’s important for you to understand how I came up with these choices for vertical leg press machines that you should buy. Here’s how I broke it down.

Solid Build

If you’re going to literally have weight pushing your body into the ground from overhead, you need to make sure your equipment is built well. I tried to focus on machines built with very solid steel frames that are durable for long-term use. So even if you do a lot of pressing, you can feel safe sitting underneath all that weight over and over again while looking upward.

Comfort

This might sound dumb, but who wants to spend a lot of time upside down having heavy weight pressed on them if it’s uncomfortable? Not me.

These sorts of machines tend to have cushioned back pads and head rests, but they’re not always built in the correct ergonomic placement that makes them comfortable. Make sure that the machine you pick is built for comfort with adequate lumbar support.

Price

I can’t just gloss over this point. Machines like this are not typically considered “cheap”. That’s why you need to make sure the price matches the benefits delivered.

Some of these 90 degree leg press machines are rickety and unstable and cost an arm and a leg to add to your home gym. We want to ensure that the equipment you get isn’t a big metal pig with lipstick.

Size

It’s not the size of a vertical leg press that matters – it’s how you use it! Choosing the correctly- sized vertical leg press machine for your home gym is essential, as you need to make sure it fits both your body and space.

Otherwise, you may end up with something that takes up too much room or isn’t adequate for building those powerful legs. So when shopping for a vertical leg press machine, proceed with caution – measure twice and buy once!

How To Use the Vertical Leg Press

Here’s how to use the vertical press machine in 7 easy steps:

1. Set the stop position on the vertical leg press so when you’re lying in place, your knees touch your ribcage.
2. Lie down on the back pad and place your feet centered on the footplate at about shoulder width.
3. Grab onto the hand grips and flex your abs.
4. After taking a deep breath, drive the weight up with your legs as you exhale.
5. To prevent injury, don’t lock your knees at the top.
6. Allow the bar to come back down in a slow and controlled manner to the starting position.
7. When you’re finished with your reps, lock the machine before exiting

Vertical Leg Press Safety Tips and Precautions

• Even though most vertical leg press machines should have safety pins to prevent the weight from crushing you, it’s advised to perform this exercise with a spotter near by.
• Always be mindful of your lower back and focus on keeping it pressed to the back pad so it doesn’t lift up during the movement.
• Focusing on driving the weight up with your midfoot so you evenly distribute the weight across your foot.
• Never load the machine up with a weight that you’re not 100% sure you can lift.
• Even though this appears to be a simple exercise, make sure to warm up your legs, lower back, and hips with some dynamic stretches and mobility work first.
• A person with weak pelvic floor muscles should avoid vertical presses as they may stress the pelvic floor too much.
• If you have any preexisting injuries like in your back or knees, avoid the vertical leg press until you can talk to a physician.

4 Common Mistakes To Avoid With the Vertical Leg Press

This exercise is straightforward, but here are four pitfalls to avoid when doing vertical leg presses:

1. Avoid lifting too much weight and maintain proper form to prevent injury
2. Don’t place your hands on your knees to avoid breaking form. Instead, you can use the assist handles.
3. To perform the leg press properly, ensure you complete the movement and achieve a full range of motion.
4. Don’t hold your breath during the exercise. Instead, inhale as you bend your knees and exhale as you press the weight up.

Vertical Leg Press FAQs

What are the benefits of the vertical leg press?

The benefits of the vertical leg press includes its ability to target specific leg muscles, including the quads, glutes, and hamstrings, and how it allows for quick weight adjustments. It’s a great exercise for beginners and the construction of the machine itself is good for small areas.

Is the vertical or horizontal leg press better?

The vertical leg press is better than the horizontal version because it requires less space to store. However, the horizontal leg press is easier to get in and out of the machine and is actually an easier exercise to perform since the weight isn’t directly overhead.

Is vertical leg press better than squats?

The vertical leg press is easier to perform and less dangerous than barbell squats, but it does not work as many muscles. Squats are considered a full-body exercise, working the abs and lower back in addition to the quads, hamstrings, and glutes, but squats require more technical knowledge to perform and can be more dangerous if not performed correctly.

Is the vertical leg press good for glutes?

Yes, the vertical leg press is good for glutes. It’s one of the primary muscle groups worked when using this lower body machine.

Does vertical leg press work quads?

Yes, the vertical leg press works the quadriceps. They are part of the primary muscles worked with this machine not to mention the hamstrings, glutes/ hip flexors, and calves.

Can you use the smith machine as a vertical leg press?

Yes, you can use the smith machine as a vertical leg press, but it’s not the most ideal option. The smith machine, like a vertical leg press machine, guides the barbell along a fixed path, allowing for similar stability. However, orienting your feet on the bar of the smith machine instead of a dedicated foot plate can be dangerous and risky to perform the exercise.

Is Vertical Leg Press Bad For Your Back?

The vertical leg press is not bad for your back, as long as it’s done correctly. Most people hurt their back because they lower the weight too far and allow their lower back to rise up from the pad creating an unnatural pelvis rotation. Don’t lower the weight so far down and there’s no problem.

Conclusion

The benefits of the vertical leg press are numerous. Not only will it save space in your home gym, but it can also provide a killer quad workout to help you build strong and beefy legs.

After thorough research, considering weight capacity, dimensions, adjustability and other factors, our top pick is the Titan Fitness Vertical Leg Press. It’s compact size, solid steel design, and affordable pirce make it the best overall option.

Overall, investing in one of these machines is a great way to upgrade your home gym for effective leg-training.