Best belt squat out there? Which one should we review nex?t

This is one of your best reviews of the year. Just the right amount of childish humor, crap talking, and honesty. 👏

Great review and I love your snarkiness. Ordered mine yesterday and I'm glad I did because it is out of stock again. Old guy here and to have a much safer squat alternative has me pretty damn excited.

One of the things I appreciate you mentioning is that some users Will potentially bottom it out. It is related to user height but also squat mobility, I’m 6 foot and if I set up my belt on the top loop I hit the bottom at damn near my max range so it’s acceptable for me, however if I try change that too much then I end up pulling the loading pin off the guide rod at the top of the squat. I have found it work’s acceptable for me and get a happy medium on my range of motion. Overall I’m happy with it! Enjoyed this review!

Solid review!

As a ranking member on the Sub Committee for Gluck's Arms (SCOGA): this episode gets a 3/10. Minimal arm coverage, t-shirt on for most shots, one nice instance of a curl but not enough based on a 21 minute video

Great video. Titan stepping up their game. Glad to see they partnered with the designer instead of just stealing his design.

Thanks for the great review. I wish I had space for something like this, but its not in the cards for now. I appreciate all the time and effort you put into all this.

Great review!

Thanks for the review 💪

great review!

The great thing about this belt squat machine is that it opens the doors in the market for other to make home based machines and the prices will eventually become competitive and affordable for more people who can’t afford this variant. Also others can add different options not provided here, such as the ability to adjust the height of the assisted handle bars.

great review. Im a big fan of the squatmax, i have the previous gen with narrow stance riser, which lets you do close stance

Great video Gus. ~ FC

@6:56, I remember when your neighbors stopped you during a sled workout to ask what you were doing Gluck. I would love to have seen their reaction to this 🤣

Good review. Another positive review of the squatmax....I wish I had room for one. Will you be keeping this squatmax?

[15:38] Thanks Gluck. Interesting point about the holes not going all the way through. Coop posted his review recently and didn't mention that. Love his stuff, but slightly worried about increasing inaccuracies, and omissions, in his reviews of late. That's why we come to you, to see the full truth, installed back to front legs and all. Oh, and the cake of course.

Wish I had room for that . Been wanting one for a while .🏋️‍♀️🏋️‍♀️🏋️‍♀️

Man I love the rhino but I was thinkimg about getting squat max md since it's smaller and it has the seat which can come in handy for my bad knee. Also love the permanent pad to do supported rows and other exercises and also can do legit hip thrust. Also thinking etween the squat max and k box flywheel

6:53 had me rolling 😆

Well done! First time seeing the Squatmax in the middle of the road 🤓

I do most of these workouts a dip belt ,2 cinder blocks and a loading pin.

Does it have an option for a toilet seat? Hahaha. Reminds me of squatty potty commercials. I really really want that squat max though, that thing is sweeeet!! Good job again Adrian

Can you leave the SquatMax-MD loaded with weight plates, or do you have to unload it after every use to avoid damaging the machine? I leave my loading pin loaded with weight plates and just dead lift it on top of a plyo box before using it for belt squats. If I have to keep unloading it, I rather just keep using my loading pin and plyo boxes for belt squats.

I have the rack mounted SquatMax MD from when Rogue was selling it a couple years ago. I like the rounded handles on this one better than the square handles it use to come with. The only thing I like the Rhino better for is marches. The width of the 45 plates / hole makes it hard to do marches without the plates whacking you in the ankles. I use mine a lot for volume work as it keeps the spine load down. I also find if you have herniated discs like I do it works wonders just standing there relieving compression as part of a rehab / stretching routine.

This does seem like it is the best machine for doing actual belt squats. I say that as a Rhino owner. I however love the versatility of the Rhino, especially dropped in a rack. Plus, there is no way I could use the Squatmax in my basement because of the height. But I love this collab and I love a good Gluck review 🙌

Informative. Nice video. Wonder if something will ever be available in Australia. The rhino looks amazing but more expensive than more power racks.. were there some hansu chrome plates I saw as well? Does Brandon know u stole his? 😅

Looks like a quality collab which I’m excited for. Am I jealous, only a little. I still love my OG version but I’m happy that more people have the opportunity from a better price point to get the best belt squat into their spaces. Can you still use it in a situation with 8’ ceilings?

The baby in the bag was great!

Very Cool Gluck, I told you if you keep doing what you've been doing, (Great work), the companies will start sending you everything for free. Soon, you're going to be like Coop and have so much equipment you wont enough space for it, you could supply your family and your boys (best friends) with a home gym and you will still have equipment to store or sell. I admit I didnt think Titan would start sending this expensive of a piece this early because as you know you kinda at times you have been pretty critical about them and deservedly so but they surprised with this and you deserve it, now REP and Rogue should fall in line. BTW, did you see Coop's video and a lot of other guy's videos on the Major Lutie's power rack. I knew it was just a matter of time before they caught on and started advertising. The one that surprised me with a Major Lutie review is the lifetime powerlifter Alan Thrall. Never saw him lifting in a 14 gauge steel rack but he says he sat it up at his home. Another Great in depth review and Take Care, Hey to Wynie

Great review, Do you believe the rack mounted would be better for getting greater depth?

It's such a weird looking piece but looks like a perfect movement pattern. Don't think I'll ever get one due to size and price, but I can dream.

For taller people that won't bottom out under normal conditions, is there a safe way to bail out if needed? Or is the idea that you use the handles and pull yourself up with your arms?

Can you do calve raises?(In a quality way, not a “technically yes” way…)

Hey Gluck, I was wondering if you can answer this for me if you had to pick one to keep forever between the rogue belt squat and titan belt squat what would you pick ???

I have a sorinex j squat and it’s great. I don’t mind not have it 1:1 weight ratio bc the space savings is fantastic.

Hahaha I did the exact same thing with the legs even telling myself make sure wheeled legs are opposite side of the handle and I still messed it up! LOL

LOL you almost made me wake my kids laughing about "Neighborhood alpha".

I am seriously considering getting a belt squat to add more volume to leg day without making my back more sore. Do you guys feel loading with 25s and the smaller stance MORE comfortable and natural? I don't think I normally squat with such a wide stance but also don't own enough 25s to go heavy enough so will have to spend a few hundred more on 25s most likely. The only good news about that is I've always liked Weight it Outs 25s and have a reason to buy them now but I agree with you wish this thing had weight horns on it. What a missed opportunity to do something so obvious!

Any issues with shorter people with the width of the hole? I’m 5’6” and only have bumper plates so I’m wondering if this would force me to take too wide of a stance.

Quick question the final step in assembly says to apply tape but the drawing is useless. Is the tape for the platform for when you step up. When I got mine unpacked I kinda threw the tape aside. I still can’t find it 😂😂

I got it and on my initial test it bottoms out before I even get close to full depth. Even with the extra pin and I'm only 5'11".

I haven't tried the squatmax, but I have the rhino in my home gym. I love it and use it daily. If I had to (and thank goodness I don't), I could get rid of everything but the rhino, an adjustable bench and my ironmasters. Please don't tell my wife I said that.

Great video...What does a failed rep look like? Do you just sit down in shame and unhook?

Looks like only a wide squat stance can be done even with the adapter which seems an afterthought.

As someone that's 6'3" and garage ceiling is 8', is this going to allow me to stand up in my garage?

The only thing I'm surprised about is titan not just making a copy without collaborating with the creator

titan squat max or rhino?

I was wondering why they didn’t put weight horns on the side. Too bad.

The baby in the grocery bag LOL

I know you said it doesnt load the spine but it really looks like its pulling you down by your low back

🥇

I was really excited about this belt squat, but I'm 5'1". Looks like it wouldn't work well for me. Bummer.

I've had this this for a week and its much worse than i expected. The negative rep (When squatting down) feels like a very shitty smith machine where the weight is being assisted and i'm getting about 25% the resistance in the negative, then when i push up its like using the cheapest leg press/smith machine that you'd buy in boscovs or something. The resistance feels horrible. The welds and powder coat were bubbly as a minor effect. The machine was $1300 on sale which comes in at $1500 with taxes and their "shipping protection". Once it's built if you change your mind GL taking it apart and getting it back in the pallet, packing it up, then scheduling freight to come get it. If I could go back in time two weeks I wish i didn't order this, and wish i tried it out somehow first.

Maybe we finally get Gluck to like squats?

Still a WIP, I might have bought it but it's too tall for my 8ft ceiling and too expensive in Canerduh.

Don't forget to reanalyze your frames and QC your exports! Premiere Pro don't care if you like to squat or not! ;)

I knew I needed Winnie. I had a Freemotion cable machine delivered. I offered, begged driver to bring in garage, 20 feet. Nope. Flat out refused. And I offered him $200.

This machine is great BUT you need to get box cutters and remove stupid sound deadening material on guide rod and put 3/4" PVC pipe which also muffles sound and is silky smooth and doesn't add resistance!

I have to ask, the belt and carabineer and loading pin...it all looks like a trap for vital parts of the male anatomy. Is there any discomfort at all?

Thank you! As a former paratrooper, I've always disliked lever-system belt squats due to the pain I get in my knees when using them. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who feels that.

For a basement gym the height of the platform will probably be a problem.

I wish I could fit this in my home gym. I might be able to finally build a 🍑 like the Glucks

Time stamps, what is this?!

I feel like there is a fiber joke I shouldn’t make about the title. Hmmm.

Actually read those studies regarding Rhino VS Squat Max. In particular how the investigators had people use the Rhino. Like feet placement. I won’t send you a $3000 machine for your time, but perhaps you can find 15 spare minutes anyway ❤️

Will bumper plates fit?

Nice concept but for home gyms that footprint is simply too big and not only that, it requires a high ceiling which most basements probably can't accommodate.

New frames need analyzing really threw me off.

rhino is better imo because you can change your squat stance. squat max is only set to one squat stance unfortunately.

Not a fan of that design :/

First comment

Gluck glossing over the huge downside of this system (loading and unloading) by saying there's no other way, and here's another 50$ thing to buy on top... NGL this is as friendly as can be to the manufacturer

Ugh.. It’s tiTan with a T, not Ti - In. It’s imporTant not impo-int 😒

Is there a way to get a full depth squat with this? From everything I've seen the pin stops when the quads are parallel with the ground.