Powertec Belt Squat P-BSQ

I was lucky to find one on Marketplace for a great deal. Couldn’t afford not to. The trolley on mine is red, which really pops. Mine has 2-3 fewer starting positions and safety positions than what RogueCrusher has. The weight horns are also not chrome like his, so I believe mine may be an early version or a prototype. I’ve asked Powertec and never got a response. That said, it still works great and I’m not impacted by the reduced number of starting or safety positions. During use, it’s incredibly smooth. I added a new cable and cleaned/lubricated the trolley and pulleys. I’ve used it for belt squats, split squats, RDLs, and rows. Once I get a front squat harness and cable extender, I’ll be able to do a lot more. I can easily get full ROM on belt squats (I’m 5’9”). I added deadlift tiles to get an extra 1.5”. The starting position/automatic release feature is awesome. You do not have to move the handles like on the Rhino. I think that feature alone sets it above the Rhino as a standalone belt squat option. I’ve used the Rhino a fair amount and you won’t go wrong with either option. If you’re deciding between a Powertec belt squat and Rogue Rhino, here are some things to consider. - Powertec’s is too wide to drop it into a rack (I tried). If that’s what you want to do, the Rhino is a better option. - At the time of me writing this, Powertec does not have a low row footplate attachment. That’s not a movement I’d plan on doing on this, so that’s not a dealbreaker. - You would need to drill holes in the fixed uprights in order to add leg rollers or other attachments. The Rhino already has the holes so it’s more versatile in that way. As a standalone option, I think the Powertec belt squat is superior to the Rhino. But if you want more versatility and the option to drop in to a Rogue rack, the Rhino is a better option. I’m really happy with mine.

There are only about 30 of these out in the wild now (because Rogue slapped a “Cease & Desist” on Powertec) I was very lucky to get in early. Some specs and general info on the Powertec: Overall weight of unit is 364lbs. Its depth and width and height are 55"x 54" (including fixed handles) × 69". Platform dimensions are deeper than Rogue's at 3 feet by 4 feet and it is the perfect size for a 4'x3' horse stall mat to sit on with the need for only a few center cuts to expose platform pulley area. The frame utilizes a combination of 11, 7, and 3 gauge steel, so it is even more robust than the Rogue Rhino even though its overall weight is less (since it doesn't incorporate front extension feet and flanking uprights, like the rhino and the center trolley column is shorter). The carriage/trolley weighs 35lbs and functions very smoothly. It has been tested for over 100,000 cycles, so saying that it is durable is a massive understatement. I've read that over time, with break-in, that the Rogue Rhino gets even smoother and smoother with its pull feel and the same has been true for this unit becoming buttery smooth. The max trolley capacity is 600lbs. The weight horns are 10” long. When I am loading the belt squat up heavier, I just use my ATX Steel Competition Plates and the horns provide sufficient room to get to the max load and beyond. The reason I went Powertec and not Rogue: • the incorporation of a safety-pin • the superior trolley locking mechanism over the Rhino • the very wide range of lockable positions for trolley hook (ease of set up for all types of exercises and ease of getting into and out of belt on the ground, while still being at the perfect level to start any exercise) • the larger platform (better for setup of split squats, Bulgarian squats, using Dune Sand Stepper, box squats) • the fixed handles vs. handle posts that tip I modded mine by adding weight horns, Mutant Metals side facing handles and JD knurled trolley grips.