When it comes to building a serious home gym, you eventually hit a point where you want to add a dedicated machine for a specific muscle group. And for a lot of people, that means a leg press. But with most machines being bulky and taking up a ton of space, it can feel like a compromise.
That’s where the Force USA Compact Leg Press & Hack Squat comes in. I’ve had the chance to thoroughly test this machine and make it a regular part of my weekly leg training routine.
| Model | Pros & Cons | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Pros:
| Rated 4.6 out of 5 |
In this review, I’ll walk you through everything I’ve learned about this machine, from the shipping experience to the performance of both the leg press and hack squat functions, to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your gym.
Table of Contents
Force USA Compact Leg Press & Hack Squat Review Video
Force USA Compact Leg Press & Hack Squat review video on YouTube:
Shipping Experience
The machine arrived in three separate boxes, which made it very manageable to get everything into my gym without needing a second person or a dolly. The individual boxes contained the sled, the main platform, and the frame.
Everything was packed well, with components wrapped in bubble or plastic wrap to protect them. The only slight improvement I could suggest is filling some of the extra space in the boxes with styrofoam or a dense filler to prevent parts from shifting during transit.
The only shipping damage I noticed was a small powder coat chip on the calf raise attachment, but all the other parts arrived in flawless condition.
Assembly & Setup
Assembling the Force USA Compact Leg Press & Hack Squat was a surprisingly straightforward experience. The instructions were clear and easy to follow, and the process was made even simpler thanks to some helpful step-by-step assembly videos I found on YouTube. It didn’t take too long to put together; just under two hours.
The only hiccup I ran into was with one of the bolts for the seat pad. It just wouldn’t fully seat. But to Force USA’s credit, they promptly sent me out a replacement pad, which solved the issue completely.
Compact Design
This machine absolutely lives up to the “Compact” part of its name. Measuring just 65 inches deep by 52 inches wide, it takes up a surprisingly small amount of floor space for a leg sled machine. When I set it up in my gym, I was honestly taken aback by how little room it required.
Not all of that 52-inch width is actually on the floor either; most of it comes from the weight horns and the footplate itself, which makes the unit look even more compact than the dimensions suggest.
To put its size into perspective, Force USA’s full-sized leg press and hack squat machine is approximately 70% larger. Yet, this compact version provides the same core functionality. This design makes one of the most popular machines from a commercial gym accessible to home gym owners who don’t have a ton of space to work with. In my book, that’s a huge win.
Sled Angle & Smoothness
The sled rides at a 30-degree angle. Most leg sleds use a 45-degree incline, but thirty degrees is certainly not unheard of. The difference is that you just have to add more weight to get the same resistance.
A 30-degree sled angle means that every two pounds of weight added is equivalent to one pound of resistance that you feel. In other words, a 2:1 ratio.
After adding some lubricant, which comes included, the track motion is exceptionally smooth.
During actual training, I’ve experienced no stability concerns whatsoever. While there might be a bit of sled wobble if loading one side at a time, manually pulling up on a sleeve, or purposefully rocking side-to-side while seated, it’s unnoticeable and doesn’t affect the machine’s performance during exercise.
The smoothness is actually one of the biggest highlights of this machine. I was very pleasantly surprised by it. This high level of smoothness is thanks to a couple of things:
- Force USA’s so-called Hover-Glide mechanism, which is just a fancy way of saying the sled has high-quality rollers.
- It uses cylindrical guide rods. It doesn’t use crappy square tubing rails like you’ll find on cheap knock-offs, which add a lot of friction.
Performance on Exercises
Leg Press
For me, the leg press movement is one of the strongest aspects of this machine. It just works. The design allows for a full range of motion with no depth limitations, even for shorter users.
The handles are at the perfect position to grab, and the locking handle is easily within reach on your right-hand side.
The adjustable angled backrest lets you position your hips at whichever angle feels best with your body mechanics. And when you start with a bend in the hip, this is what virtually eliminates the risk of bottoming out, even when going deep, as compared to hack squats where your hips start straight.
The sled glides smoothly, and the motion feels completely natural. The large footplate is a massive advantage, as it allows you to use any stance width or foot position you prefer without feeling restricted. There are truly no quirks or issues with the leg press. You just load it up and go.
Hack Squat
Hack squats are done with the backrest flat and with the shoulder pad attachment installed.
And they feel great overall. It’s very similar to a real hack squat machine. Range of motion is (generally) good, and I’m able to go deep without problems most of the time. But it’s not perfect.
If I’m going super deep (i.e. ass-to-grass) and I’m not totally controlling the descent, then the bottom of the sled will sometimes tap the bottom of the track.
Not all users will run into a range of motion limitation, but if you do, the best way to mitigate it is by putting the shoulder pad in the lowest setting and using the steepest footplate angle. You can also try positioning your feet lower on the footplate to squeeze out a little more depth.
Whether you’ll have range of motion concerns depends largely on your height. At 5’11”, it’s not perfect, but I don’t see it as a major issue at all. But it can certainly be more of an issue for shorter lifters. My 5’2” wife was only able to get a hair below parallel before bottoming out, which is much higher than where I bottom out:
Beyond adjusting the shoulder pad height and footplate angle, one workaround I’ve found for increasing the range of motion is to adjust the backrest angle just one click up. This gives you a lot of extra depth. I don’t think this is technically still considered a hack squat, but it feels very similar, and you can go deeper.
I did see a pretty clever DIY solution from YouTuber JayBeeeTV, who attached yoga blocks to the shoulder pads to effectively lower them a few inches, which increased the range of motion significantly. This is probably the best workaround that still lets you perform a true hack squat:
Calf Raises
The calf raise functionality is a nice bonus. It’s what turns this machine from a 2-in-1 to a 3-in-1 leg machine – all with a simple calf block attachment that inserts into a square hole in the footplate via a pop pin and a receiver.
It has three height settings, which let you position it further out for greater range of motion. I personally prefer the highest setting since I have very good ankle mobility.
I appreciate that the attachment’s edges are angled down so your foot isn’t pressing directly into a hard edge.
Also, the calf block has a diamond plate texture to prevent slipping.
I did notice that the calf raise attachment wiggles slightly at the highest footplate angle, which can be a bit annoying. However, I found a simple solution: just reduce the platform angle by one setting. This completely eliminates the wobble with minimal sacrifice in biomechanics.
When you’re done with calf raises, the attachment stores neatly under the footplate. You just put it through the bottom of the receiver.
Footplate
Footplate Size & Performance
The footplate on the Force USA Compact Leg Press & Hack Squat is huge for a compact machine, measuring 31.5″ x 27.5″.
However, it doesn’t really add that much to the machine’s footprint, since it’s mostly within the dimensions of the frame.
The footplate’s size is a standout feature because it allows you to use any stance width or position: narrow, wide, high, or low. I’ve never felt restricted whatsoever.
But the cheaper knock-offs I’ve seen have significantly smaller footplates that will definitely limit your foot placement.
Being able to vary your foot position is very important for this machine. It’s how you emphasize different muscle groups:
- Higher or wider placements target the hamstrings and glutes.
- Lower or narrower placements bias the quads.
The surface has an excellent “gritty” style of surface grip, and I never felt like my feet were going to slip, no matter how heavy the weight got. Even when using the super flat settings, my feet still feel firmly stuck in place.
Footplate Angles (5 Positions)
The footplate has five angle settings, which give you a great deal of control over your movements. Adjusting the angle can help you fine-tune the mechanics based on your mobility, training goals, or just for comfort.
- Flatter angles are great if you have limited ankle mobility and want to achieve greater depth. However, be aware that they can potentially increase knee shear, though only when using the very flat angles and especially under a heavy load. Flatter angles can also be helpful for taller users to keep their feet on the platform, in case their feet are overhanging on the footplate at steeper angles.
- Steeper angles provide the maximum range of motion and ensure a solid foot security for stable force transfer. The steepest angle is my preferred setting for both leg press and hack squats. As I mentioned earlier, using one setting down from the steepest is ideal for calf raises to eliminate the slight wobble.
Shoulder Pad Attachment
I want to discuss in greater detail the shoulder pad attachment, since it’s a big part of hack squats.
Comfort & Feel
The padding is supportive but cushiony, and it’s thick enough to ensure you never bottom out on the wood base. It provides excellent comfort and support during heavy sets, which is exactly what you need when you’re pushing your limits.
There are four different shoulder pad height settings. As mentioned already, I always use the lowest to maximize my range of motion since I like to squat deep.
Stability at Higher Positions
If you raise the pads to the higher positions, something that taller lifters will need to do, the attachment develops a noticeable amount of wiggle because it’s not as deep in the receiver.
It’s not dangerous, and it is stable during actual use because you’re pressing into it. But it’s something that could definitely be improved.
Handle Ergonomics
The handles are well-placed and intuitive to grab, giving you solid stability because they let you brace hard during the movement. The rubberized grips feel great, providing plenty of traction even when your hands get a little sweaty. So far, I’ve seen no loosening or deterioration.
Pinch Risk During Adjustment
This is a minor point, but it’s worth mentioning. When you’re lowering the shoulder pad and pulling the pop pin, it’s pretty easy to accidentally pinch a finger between the pad and the post. Just something to be aware of and to avoid.
Room for Improvement
Even though the hack squat range of motion is generally adequate for my height, a bit more depth would be nice, even for me, but especially for much shorter lifters who like to go fully ass-to-grass.
One potential solution would be a redesigned shoulder pad attachment that sits lower, either through a thicker pad or a cambered frame that allows the pad to travel farther down. Of course, this could come at the cost of reducing the max pad height, which would affect taller users.
Ideally, the pad height range would be more dynamic in both directions. But that’s a design challenge beyond my wheelhouse.
Weight Sleeves & Weight Capacity
The weight sleeves are 13.5″ long, which is enough for most lifters who use cast iron plates. However, if you’re a home gym owner who only has bumper plates, you’ll find that you can max out the sleeves pretty quickly, especially for the leg press.
When I first got this machine in my gym, I only had bumper plates, so I had to get some cast iron plates to load enough weight for my heavy sets.
And speaking of adding weight, the weight capacity is 660 pounds, which refers just to the weight added to the sleeves. This doesn’t include your bodyweight, nor the weight of the sled, which is 38 pounds.
If you ever get too strong for the max weight, you can always do single-leg variations.
But for most people, including myself for now, it’s more than enough. That said, if you are already much stronger than the average lifter, you may be better-suited for a full-sized leg press/hack squat machine, assuming you have the space for it.
Band Resistance Capability
One cool feature that some people will love, and others will simply never use, is the built-in band peg holes. There are four holes near the front of the frame, allowing you to add band pegs to attach resistance bands.
But band pegs don’t come standard, which is too bad. Luckily, they’re pretty cheap to buy. However, not just any band pegs will do. They need to have a pin (or be magnetic) for securement and a lip to hold the band; otherwise, the band will slip off. I personally just use hitch pins, which work great.
If you do end up using bands, I recommend one per side, folded in half, and anchored from the band peg (or hitch pin) to the weight horn.
The band resistance kicks in hard at the top, so I recommend using bands along with plates if you want a more consistent challenge throughout the rep.
Safety Features
Safety Lever
At the start of an exercise, you just push the sled up slightly with your legs, and it releases the safety lever automatically, which is convenient. Once you’re done with your set, you grab it and pull it up to lock the sled in place.
It works well, but my only gripe is that it can be a bit challenging to reach the lever during hack squats, since you’re lying flat and the shoulder pad is pressing against your shoulders, so it takes more effort to get to it, but it’s still very doable.
Safety Pin
The other safety feature is the removable safety pin. It stops the sled from going down too far in case you fail at the bottom of a rep.
It inserts into any of the eight different holes in the middle tube, between the guide rods. It’s simple but effective, though I don’t use it on hack squats since that would reduce my depth.
I only wish there were a convenient place to store it when it’s not installed.
Build Quality & Materials
Strength Where It Counts
The Force USA Compact Leg Press & Hack Squat is not commercial-grade, but it’s clearly a step above budget-tier equipment. It feels solid where it matters most. The frame is stable and the sled track is smooth.
The footplate is well-made and generally sturdy, but you will notice some flex with each rep, particularly with heavier weights. Not a danger, but it does highlight one of the compromises of a compact, non-commercial piece of equipment.
Build Quality Quirks
This machine does have a few minor quirks, like the shoulder pad wiggle at higher settings and the calf raise wobble at the steepest platform angle. The sled can also rock a bit if you pull it manually, but again, none of these are noticeable or an issue during exercise.
Powder Coat Finish
The powder coat finish is standard and functional. Nothing premium, but it gets the job done. As mentioned, there was a minor chip on the calf raise attachment, but otherwise, the finish is holding up well.
Upholstery
The upholstery on the back pad is thick and high-quality. After a lot of use, I’ve seen no scratches, rips, or premature wear. It’s more cushiony than firm, but still provides support and stability.
It’s also easy to clean, and the tasteful embossed “Force USA” logo adds a nice touch of polish.
Handle Grips
The rubberized grips on the handles feel great. They haven’t shown any signs of movement or wear, and they contribute to the overall comfort and control of the machine.
User Height Range & Fit
Force USA claims the machine works for users from 4’8″ to 6’6″, and based on my testing, that seems mostly realistic.
However, I think that users at or above average (male) height will have the best experience. As mentioned, shorter users won’t be able to hit full ass to grass depth on hack squats without modifications.
Price & Value
Retailing at $999 at the time of this review, the Force USA Compact Leg Press & Hack Squat delivers an impressive amount of value for its price. While it’s not a commercial-grade machine, it’s a significant step up from the budget-tier options you might find, both in terms of build quality and functionality.
The value here lies in its near-perfect performance as a leg press and its more-than-capable hack squat function, all wrapped up in a compact footprint.
For a home gym owner who is serious about leg training but doesn’t have the space or the budget for a full-sized commercial machine, this is an excellent compromise.
It has undoubtedly earned a space in my home setup for the foreseeable future, and I plan to continue using it weekly.
My Rating
Force USA Compact Leg Press & Hack Squat
The Force USA Compact Leg Press & Hack Squat Machine is a space-saving 3-in-1 lower body unit that combines a leg press, hack squat, and calf raise in one compact footprint. Featuring a smooth 30° sled angle, a massive adjustable footplate, and a 660-lb weight capacity, it’s optimized for home gym use. The sled glides on cylindrical guide rods with high-quality rollers for a frictionless feel. It includes a calf raise block, adjustable backrest and footplate angles, and a removable shoulder pad attachment with four height settings. Stable, versatile, and surprisingly compact, it's built for lifters who want full leg-day functionality without sacrificing space.
4.6
Pros
- Compact footprint for a leg sled
- Super smooth sled motion
- Large footplate allows for any foot position
- Excellent leg press performance
- Great calf raise performance
- (Mostly) good hack squat performance
- Great adjustability
- Band peg holes
- Great value
Cons
- Potential ROM limitations on hack squats, especially if shorter
- Shoulder pad attachment could be improved
- Calf block wobbles at steepest footplate angle
- Footplate flexes slightly with heavier weights
- No band pegs included by default
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for a compact, versatile leg machine that delivers great performance without taking over your gym, I truly think the Force USA Compact Leg Press & Hack Squat should be at the top of your list.
The leg press is virtually perfect. And hack squats are very good, albeit with some potential range of motion limitations depending on your size and depth preferences. And you get an excellent calf raise setup as a bonus.
Are there quirks? Definitely.
But at $999, this machine punches above its weight. There are cheaper knock-offs out there, but I’d advise strongly against those since they have a much smaller footplate and square guide rails that add friction and make the motion way less smooth.
If you do decide to buy this machine for your home gym, then you can consider using my affiliate link and coupon code below. Not only will it save you extra money, it’ll also help support my website and YouTube channel – I really appreciate the support!
If you have any questions on this piece, be sure to leave your question in the comment section at the bottom of this article.
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