At Stray Dog Strength we are always looking for ways to innovate and create a better mousetrap that delivers more function in a smaller footprint. The Platform Belt Squat is one of the best examples of that approach. It is far more than a belt squat. You can add bands for explosive work, use Split Squat Rollers for single leg training, attach a lat seat for lat pull downs, and perform low rows along with a wide range of high or low pulley movements.
Belt squats are a valuable addition to almost any facility, especially sports performance environments where athletes are often limited or banged up from competition yet still need quality training. They are also a great solution for athletes with shoulder, wrist, elbow, or back and spine limitations since the load is held at the waist through a belt. This removes compression from the spine and eliminates the need to support weight with the upper body. Because of this the belt squat offers a safer and more accessible alternative to traditional back and front squats while still delivering meaningful lower body training.
Why You Want A Cable Belt Squat
Cable Belt Squats are typically designed with a large platform for the athlete to stand on with a hole in the center for a pulley and cable to come out of. This style design allows the athlete to be directly aligned over the pulley, pulling them directly down and not forward and down which applies shearing forces to the knee. The angle that lever belt squat put you in puts extra stress or shear forces on athletes knees and can be dangerous over time. When the weight is pulling you directly down via a cable, it best mimics the resistance path of a normal squat but is a safer alternative due to not compressing the spine.
Multi-Functional Unit
Our New Platform Belt Squat Machine is a cable driven belt squat that is also a lat pull down and low row unit. On top of having both a high and low pulley option to perform various movements from. The unit is made out of 3×3″ tubing with 1″ holes so you can use attachments off it or add storage pieces.
Most Commonly Performed Movements on the Platform Belt Squat
- Belt Squats
- Split Squats
- Lat Pull Downs
- Low Rows
- RDL's
- Bent Over Rows
- Pull Throughs
- Tricep Push Down
- Cable Curls
- Attachment Movements (Seal Row off Lat Seat, Dips, ECT.)
7 Different Variations Available
We offer seven variations of this product which makes it easy to add into almost any facility layout. Options include a Free Standing Unit, an ATR Platform, a Platform Rack Mount and a Platform Attachment. For rooms with limited space we also offer compact versions without the platform so you can still perform belt squats or reduce cost. The Compact Belt Squat comes in Rack Mounted, Rack Attachment and ATR versions, giving you a solution for any setup.
4 way hole system
Our Belt Squat like all our products is made out of 3×3″ tubing with 1″ holes spaced 2″ on center all over. These holes allow you to add storage attachments, regular attachments, band pegs or you may find another use! By having holes all over you could connect Flat or DB Trays or crossmembers for storage to tie it into a Rack, ATR or other Machine. Belt squats/lat pull downs are not done on every day of a program, so why not make the belt squat usable as a station for other attachments?
Custom Colors
Most of the other Belt Squats on the market come in one color option, black, white or silver in most cases. Our Belt Squats are made to order to your specification, we can do custom colors and heights! The platform is always black but the upright, crossmember and accent colors are up to you! When you spend all that money on custom racks and benches, your machines should match too.
Five Reasons Every Facility Should Add a Belt Squat
Belt squat machines from any brand offer real benefits and have a valuable place in sports performance facilities. Below are five key advantages.
- Low back decompression happens naturally with a belt squat because the load is attached at the hips rather than placed on the shoulders. Traditional squats press the spine downward, while belt squats remove that compression entirely by loading from the waist.
- Arms Free Squat: Since belt squats are loaded from the hips, athletes with upper body injuries can still train heavy without putting their injury at risk. I have seen athletes in slings, with broken arms, hands or wrists, and they have all been able to continue lower body training safely because the belt squat removes the need to support any load with the upper body.
- Safer: Belt squats are one of the safest ways to train to failure because the load can never fall on the athlete. If someone cannot return the trolley to the top they can simply lower the belt to the bottom and unclip or step out. This makes it an ideal option for hard sets, high effort work and situations where you want athletes to push without risking a failed rep turning into an injury.
- Ease of Movement: Belt squats remove most of the margin for error. As long as the athlete is positioned over the pulley the movement is very stable and predictable. This lets them put all of their effort into each rep without the same concerns about balance, bar path or safety that come with a traditional squat. The result is more focus on intent and less mental fatigue from managing the lift.
- Versatility: The low pulley on a cable belt squat turns the unit into far more than a belt squat station. It can be used for Lat Pull Downs, Low Rows, Pull Throughs, loaded marches, split squats, good mornings, RDLs and many other movements. This versatility gives coaches a single piece of equipment that can cover a wide range of lower body and trunk training needs without taking up additional space.
Conclusion
There are many benefits to adding a belt squat to your facility but the Stray Dog Strength Platform Belt Squat and Lat and Low Row Unit takes it even further. It delivers the full range of cable movements athletes want and is the only belt squat with low, high and rear pulleys for true low rows. Built from three by three inch tubing with one inch holes it integrates with your storage and attachments for even more versatility. You can customize the uprights, crossmembers and accents to match your facility which gives the unit a finished professional look that stands out.
