Seated calf machine - space killer.

[adamgentile]

I have a small but efficient garage gym. I have a few ways of working calf’s, as you see in my video below. I also can do them standing with a barbell on the shoulders.

My question is do you think a seated calf machine is a waste of money and a space killer for a home gym

https://youtu.be/0DsmNPzhjIY

[401Delta]

If you have other calf machines and need to get rid of something, then yes, I would ditch it (unless you have something even less useful).

As I recall, the seated calf puts more stress on soleus than the gastroc anyway, so it's not an ideal machine for calf work.

EDIT: if you're thinking of buying one, I would find a standing, 45 degree or donkey calf machine instead.

[BenMcLeodNZ]

Put the cash and space towards a leg press, because they do toe press and bent knee toe press just as well.

[gym62richard]

The seated calf machine primarily hits the soleus, it's a very small muscle.

If you're like me, floor space is at a premium, IMO there are better ways to utilise the space.

[Duplicitous]

I've got a seated calf machine, but I have sufficient floor space (for now). If something changed (e.g. I found some new sweet piece of equipment I had to have) and I needed space though, it would be the first item to go.

[Garage Rat]

It could be.
It would depend on how important calve work and this particular machine is to you.
I have one but it has to stay outside my garage gym under a tarp.
I also have other equipment out side on the side of my house.
You may not want to do that but it is an option if the seated calve machine is important to you.

[christin101]

if you have an alternative of it you can dump it.

[TheShadowMan]

When I do em, I sit on a chair, put a flat piece of wood and then plates, dumbbells, or a barbell on top of it while holding the weight in place as I do the motion for the raise. Works pretty well, inexpensive, easy to store, and no welts on my legs from it.

[urbanlifter]

I do calf raises on my belt squat or Powertec now, but before when I only had a rack I just did them off the front. Buy a couple strips of UHMW plastic, adhere them to the front posts of your rack, then lean forward into the rack and do standing calf raises with the barbell sliding up and down the UHMW. Honestly they felt pretty awesome, and no need for dedicated machines.

[rlundregan]

I do calf raises on my belt squat or Powertec now, but before when I only had a rack I just did them off the front. Buy a couple strips of UHMW plastic, adhere them to the front posts of your rack, then lean forward into the rack and do standing calf raises with the barbell sliding up and down the UHMW. Honestly they felt pretty awesome, and no need for dedicated machines.

I use my Safety Squat Bar for standing calf raises--I can step up on a calf block, the hands-free feature of the SSB allows me to grab the uprights in my rack for balance.

I also feel like I get some good work for both soleus and gastrocs when I do Glute Ham Raises. I know this movement is sort of "out of vogue" around here, but I love my GHD and consider it to be an essential piece of equipment.

[jstarcarr]

Standing calf raises much better imo.

[Duplicitous]

Standing calf raises much better imo.

Standing and seated target different muscles. That said, the soleus is the larger of the two, so if it comes down to standing or seated, most would recommend standing.

[adamgentile]

I do calf raises on my belt squat or Powertec now, but before when I only had a rack I just did them off the front. Buy a couple strips of UHMW plastic, adhere them to the front posts of your rack, then lean forward into the rack and do standing calf raises with the barbell sliding up and down the UHMW. Honestly they felt pretty awesome, and no need for dedicated machines.

How ironic, I do have a squat rack and just started doing the same thing you described! It works perfect! I like the idea of the strips, thanks!

[Wildtim]

How ironic, I do have a squat rack and just started doing the same thing you described! It works perfect! I like the idea of the strips, thanks!

Ive never added the strips but I've done them in the rack for years. At this point my rack has "character" but I might add them now just because I worry about grinding through it a little ragged.