Body-Solid GSCL360 Leverage Squat Calf Machine

Let me start by saying I have been lifting in gyms for about 30 years and even qualified for Nationals as bodybuilder when I was 27....I'm 43 now. Still going at it strong but wanted a home calf raise machine and an alternative to barbell squats. I've probably lifted on just about any and all commercial grade equipment out there. Here are my thoughts on this piece of equipment and why I only gave it 3 stars. I hope it helps.1) As others have stated...there are no directions and let's be serious...how irritating is that? If you can't bother giving your customer assembly instructions how much can you really honestly care about your customer? Just my two cents.2) The contents are ill packaged and yes, I understand that Fed Ex shakes the boxes. But both boxes looked like they were packaged by a 5 year old. Just a total mess...screws...bolts...washer...thrown around in the box with shredded styrofoam and broken tight downs. I can't possibly see how any shipper could have created this total mess. Again, extreme sloppiness leads me to believe there is a lack of concern for the person receiving it.3) 50% of the reason I purchased this piece of equipment was for the standing calf raise, my local gym only has the seated calf raise. I've had this exact same piece of equipment before by PowerTec....and I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the rounded calf raise platform versus the flat one that power tec made and every other commercial grade piece of gym equipment uses. Now I know why they don't use a rounded platform. U have less contact material with your foot when you raise up. Is it the end of the world? No...but I'm just not a huge fan of the rounded platform. I much more prefer the standard flat platform that feels natural and more comfortable on the feet.4) The step up from floor level to the calf raise machine is a bit hairy once you get some heavy weight on the machine...3 to 4...45's on each side. I wish the platform was designed differently so all that weight is not stacked onto on leg and your back is torqued when you step up. Commercial grade equipment is made in such a way that the platform is directly under you....you start on the calf platform...you don't load the weight and then step up. This machine is set up so that in order to have the weight directly on your shoulders...where it needs to be....you are standing one step behind the calf platform. Then in order to do the calf raise...you have to step up onto the platform...one leg at at time with all the weight on your back and one leg down...and one leg taking a step. Not good in my opinion.5) The angle of the squat. Ahh...its okay....makes you feel like you are doing a deep squat but in reality even a deep squat on this machine is not even a parallel squat. If you have someone else do a deep squat and watch their lower leg in relation to their upper...you will see that the deepest squat on this machine is still a high squat in reality. Your leg is simply at a different angle and gives the false sense that you are performing a deep squat...when in fact you are not.Will this take the place of a regular squat?Yes, and No.If you are a gym rat and you perform squats correctly than this piece of equipment will never take the place of or produce the same results.If you are like 95% of the guys in the gym that never ever reach parallel when they squat because they were too busy stacking on the weight instead of learning good form at the beginning...than yes...this piece of equipment will keep you squatting a bit high and allow you to keep stacking the weight on and the ego flying high.Can you get a good calf workout on this machine?Absolutely. Even with the rounded platform that I do not like...you can still get a great calf workout.Would I buy it again?I'm on the fence with this one. I wouldn't cry if it was removed from my home...but I wouldn't send it back either.I use the squat portion in addition to my leg workout....not as my primary piece of equipment...and I think that is what it is good for...and addition to regular squats....leg press...lungs...extensions...curls...etc. etc.Hope my review helped somone.

I just received this machine, a week ago... I will give you "MY" pro's and con's list of what I liked and what i do not like and I'm going to include pictures. In my opinion, reviews from people who have not bought the machine, and never used the machine and not have had to go through the hassle of setting this monster up - then not sure why you're writing. I am rating this 4 stars. The one star I removed I'll detail why - but it's purely because of packaging and if the packaging would get cleaned up, given this is a very heavy and sturdy unit and metal being shipped - it would come without any bends or scratching or chips.First - the Con's...1. Installation Manual - probably the worst I have ever received. It comes packaged in plastic, you take it out and it's a bunch of very loose pages. You have Assembly diagram #1 and Assembly diagram #2. It is a high-level parts view of the various components and where they go. Best of luck figuring out which you should assemble first. There is no "step 1, step 2, step 3, etc.". They need to get this down pat. If you do not put the plastic components on the bottom of this piece right from the beginning as well as the legs - which normally on other pieces of equipment you do last then you're in a world of hurt. I took off one star and probably should have taken another off for the fact that this manual and directions are awful.2. Loose bolts in the container. Be very careful not to throw out loose bolts - some come assembled and some come in a bolts/parts bag. Take some time before you begin this endeavor and LAY OUT EVERYTHING - INCLUDING THE BOLTS, NUTS, AND WASHERS!!! Look on the part table and see what they have coming with the unit (pre-assembled bolts/nuts) and what they are supposed to ship you in the bag. I normally don't do this, but looking at the directions and since they were awful I knew to be extra cautious. Some of the bolts will be floating around the box, I found 2 bolts that were supposed to be pre-assembled with the nuts after I found the nuts and washers, I found both bolts in different pieces of foam that were stuck in there probably knocked and rammed in during shipping.3. The foam padding - is so loose that you will see in the pictures that the metal beats on each other during shipping. I realize they ship paint - but for almost $600 cost I'd rather receive something I'm not going to have to repaint and sand down etc. I want it to look nice out of the box. This is not packaged extremely well.4. Bent bottom support. Due to the foam blocking not being secured against the metal - some of the metal is able to be bent - be cautious of this when you're tightening the bolts down on pieces where they're bent you may have to help it with a screwdriver or pry it the opposite way to get it to go. Again - take your time.Here's the Pro's...1. Very rugged machine for $600. It is well built and I can tell already in the few uses that I have done already that it will be in my garage gym for quite some time. Out of all the machinery I have gotten it is sturdy - which is why it's critical that at the factory they make sure to secure the parts better and pad them with secure-foam blocks that aren't moving around. The metal is very heavy - this isn't light weight by any stretch.2. Fluid motion of the exercise - I really like the adjustable safety and being able to go A2G almost on this. The one downside which isn't that bad that I can list it as a con is that I'm 6' tall - and I have to really go low, or you have to get in via the side of the unit, meaning come in from the side and get under it, get snug/secure and then put your feet up on the metal plate and lift up. Once you do that though and get the hang of it - it does take a while then this will burn your butt off. You are going to feel it bigtime in your quads the next day. That I will assure you. I can already see the muscle popping out after a few uses during the week and incorporating with leg press, and extensions and lunges.3. HEED THIS PORTION OF ADVICE - Take the crappy diagram #1, and diagram #2... and when you start - go with obviously Diagram #1 - and lay all base parts out... lay your nuts and bolts out beside them - this is going to take you an extra 20 minutes. In reality - I have seen where people wrote on review sites that this took them a long time to install. This took me about 3 hours to install - that includes putting my tools away and cleaned up. If you get everything ready - you will develop a mental picture in conjunction of the diagram and can figure out yourself how best to get everything assembled. The pins will trick you - there is a bag with 3 in it - and the diagram is very "not-friendly" to telling you whcih one is what. That will probably take you some extra time as well.So to wrap up - it's an awesome piece of machinery, I like it very much. I just wished that for $600 - the factory would be much more careful in not shipping something that has the potential to be damaged. I mean the scratching and chipping I'll paint over eventually - but it's just the point. I wouldn't buy a new car with a bunch of scratches all over it, nor would I do it with a piece of exercise equipment. I think if you're looking to really develop your hamstrings, or you lift alone and want to lift heavier weight by yourself - this is the ticket.Unfortunately I cannot comment on the calf portion - becuase I have not used it but one time and I already have a donkey calf machine and also use my leg press that I have. Once I do it on the next round of exercises I will make an update on my experience. Thanks.

I got this 3 days ago, the quality is great, properly package, and sent quickly by the authorized reseller. I have a full in my basement.

Great product. I use it for leg exercises as well as shoulders.

Arrived ok, inside the only issue was that it wasn't packed neatly and properly. i had few screws loose in box and surprised hadn't been lost in the process of delivery.

So I love the footprint of this machine and it... works? Let me explain. The machine is pretty small in my basement gym (a Plus), and it does give you a pretty good pump (a Plus),...

Easy assemble. Works great

I would have given this 5 stars except for the instructions. Wow. The instructions are pretty much non existent. Took hubby and me almost 1.5 hours to put this together.

A good sturdy machine that helps older lifters like myself squat heavy while minimizing stress on the lower back.

I am a 42 yo who have been doing triathlon for almost 20 yrs and have been triathlon personal trainer for the last decade as well.

I love this machine. Excellent leg builder that can take some serious weight.

Great machine no pressure on my bad knees or my lower back yet I still feel the movement in my entire leg region and glutes very satisfied