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A hip thrust machine may not be the first piece of equipment you purchase, but if you have the space for one, they’re a fantastic addition to nearly any home gym. They allow you to safely, comfortably perform hip thrusts, one of the best posterior chain exercises, without worrying about a heavy barbell or wobbly bench.
While these machines are fairly common in commercial gyms, there aren’t quite as many options for home gym owners, which is why we make sure to test as many of them as we can. Unlike other pieces of equipment, most hip thrust machines are only meant for one specific exercise, so if you’re going to buy one, it’s important to get the right one for your needs.
In this Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine review, we’ll be looking at one of the best options for home gyms we’ve seen yet. I’ll share exactly what our tester thought of this machine, both the good and the bad, and help you decide if this is worth adding to your home or garage gym.
Note: This review is focused on the first edition of the Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine, which has since been discontinued. An updated version is currently available for pre-order, with orders expected to ship by May 5, 2025. We haven’t tested the V2 yet, but I’ve left notes in relevant areas to highlight some of the new and improved features.
Tested by Certified Fitness Experts
Before writing or filming any home gym equipment review, we make sure to spend plenty of time testing every feature. We spend plenty of time using the equipment for a variety of workouts, carefully noting the pros and cons. After extensive testing, we use our equipment testing methodology to calculate a final score, which helps us rate each product on a scale of 1-5 for a variety of categories, like durability, portability, ergonomics, and more.
For this review, our tester was Lindsay Scheele, CPT, the face of our Garage Gym Reviews Everything YouTube Channel. Lindsay is a certified personal trainer who’s tested countless pieces of fitness equipment over the years, including plenty of glute thrust machines. Based on her extensive experience, she was able to point out her favorite features, as well as a few things that could use some improvement.
Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine
Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine
Product Highlights
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Budget-friendly compared to competitors
- Wide, stable footplate
- Allows for a smooth, wide range of motion
- 17″ sleeves can hold a lot of plates
- Rubber feet to help prevent scratches on the floor
Cons
- Lower weight capacity than other hip thrust machines
- Shorter individuals may have trouble getting the belt tight enough
- Footplate angle is not adjustable
- Sharp edges on the footplate
- No wheels for portability
Bottom Line
While it has a lower weight capacity than other machines, it should still be sufficient for most lifters.
A Quick Look at the Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine
Bells of Steel (B.O.S.) specializes in high-quality yet affordable equipment for home gyms, including power racks, barbells, weight benches, cable machines, and so much more. We’ve tested and reviewed many Bells of Steel products over the years, like the Dreadmill and cable tower, and we couldn’t wait to get our hands on the new hip thrust machine.
While you can always do hip thrusts with a standard weight bench and a barbell, the pressure on your hips can be painful, and the bench doesn’t always feel stable, especially with higher loads or an adjustable bench. A hip thrust machine is specifically designed to provide plenty of back support and stability, allowing you to train safely.
If you’re new to hip thrusts, they can feel a little awkward. But they’re one of the seven fundamental movement patterns that should be included in nearly all workout plans, assuming they’re available to your body.
A 2019 review1 published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Science found hip thrusts promote greater glute activation than other lower body exercises, which had a significant impact on sprint times and athletic performance. For those who don’t like hip thrusts with a barbell, a hip thruster machine is a great alternative.
Bells of Steel has created one of the best pieces of hip thrust equipment we’ve tested so far. It’s stable, durable, and very comfortable to use. While we had a few minor callouts, many of them have been addressed for the updated machine coming in May 2025.
Before You Buy
- This is smooth and comfortable, but it’s large and heavy, and the footplate isn’t adjustable.
- Even though you can fit 5-6 bumper plates on both sides of the machine, the weight capacity is only 405 pounds, which may be too low for some.
- Bells of Steel is currently taking pre-orders for an upgraded version of this machine, set to ship in May 2025, which has made several key updates.
Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine Video Review
Is the Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine Worth It?
While this is one of the best hip thrust machines we’ve tested, especially at this price point, it’s not a great fit for everyone. Depending on your needs, preferences, and workout area, this may or may not be worth adding to your home gym.
Great for:
- Home gym owners with plenty of floor spaces
- Beginner to intermediate lifters who don’t need higher weight capacities
- People who don’t enjoy doing hip thrusts with a barbell
Not recommended for:
- Advanced athletes and lifters
- Anyone who needs to move their equipment on a regular basis
- Shorter individuals with smaller-than-average frames
Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine Specs
The original model has been discontinued, so the following specs are for the upcoming Hip Thrust V2.
| Footprint | 63.11” L x 71.06” W x 35.71” H |
| Weight | 224.87 lbs |
| Weight capacity | 600 lbs |
| Finish | Powder coat frame, stainless steel weight horns |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime frame warranty, 1-year pad and belt warranty |
Experience Using the Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine
Overall, Lindsay loves this machine, especially for the price point. One of the more common variations of hip thrust machines found in commercial gyms is the Nautilus Glute Drive, which costs $3,599, while the B.O.S. Hip Thrust Machine is only $1,199.
The machine is comfortable, smooth, and easy to use. The padded back pad and waist strap are significantly more comfortable than putting your shoulders on a weight bench and resting a heavy barbell on your hips, even with a bar pad.
Overall, the Bells of Steel Hip Thrust earns a 4 out of 5, combining stability with comfort and function.
Lindsay’s first callout is the weight capacity, which is only 404 pounds. This will be heavy enough for many, but advanced lifters may need more resistance for heavy reps. There are band pegs in the base if you want to add resistance bands to increase the challenge, but some may not prefer the feeling of using banded resistance with heavy weights.
RELATED: Hip Thrust Alternatives
She said, “I think that’s a decent weight, and a lot of people will be able to use it, especially if you’re doing plenty of reps, but you’re not necessarily going to be able to max out on this machine.”
However, Bells of Steel informed us that the new edition, coming in May 2025, has a 600-pound weight capacity. While exceptionally strong athletes may be able to max out the 600-pound capacity, it’s a significant step up from the original machine and should perfectly accommodate most users.
Weight limits aside, this is a smooth, comfortable, and stable hip thrust that we think most people will love to have in their home gym, especially when the updated models start shipping.
Footprint and Portability
For the footprint and portability, the B.O.S. Hip Thrust Machine earns a 3 out of 5.
As with nearly all hip thrust machines, this simply has a big footprint, and weighs nearly 225 pounds without any added load. This is exactly what we want to see for safety and stability, but that means it takes up quite a bit of space, and you’ll certainly need two or more people to move this around.
It’s not very portable, but we expect that from most durable, heavy-duty hip thrust machines, similar to squat racks, leg press machines, and other pieces of heavy equipment. Moving this around may be difficult, but we don’t expect it to be easy.
The same goes for the footprint, as the larger base is well worth the stability it provides. If you have a large garage gym with plenty of space, it may not be an issue. For those working with a smaller area, you’ll definitely want to take some measurements first to make sure it’ll fit with plenty of room on both sides to add and remove weight plates.
Durability and Construction
For durability and construction, we rate this hip thrust machine 4 out of 5.
It’s extremely durable, heavy, and stable. Once this is set up, it’s not going anywhere, and nothing about this machine feels cheap or flimsy.
The main reason we docked a point is the sharp edge on the footplate. Our testers taped the edges for safety, as they felt very sharp and could easily be a safety issue for those with children or small pets. This is an easy fix if you have some heavy-duty tape at your house, but we wish Bells of Steel had rounded the edges or included some sort of padding.
Ergonomics
For the most part, the Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine is very comfortable and smooth, similar to some of the more expensive alternatives you’d find in a commercial gym, and earns a 4-out-of-5-star rating for ergonomics.
The wide footplate is a great feature, and it feels very comfortable and stable to use. However, even though it’s a wide and stable plate, you can’t adjust the angle, which is a feature we’d love to see.
The main callout here is the belt, which goes over your hips to keep you secured to the back pad. Lindsay noticed that for shorter and/or smaller individuals, the belt is a little big and may not feel very secure, particularly when trying to lock out at the top of the movement.
Lindsay said, “If you’re shorter, I don’t feel like the belt is going to get tight enough for you. Because of that, you’re not going to be able to hit full extension the way you want to. You can get close, but it’s just not quite there.”
This is another area that Bells of Steel has addressed. They say they’ve added a better belt with thicker padding to the V2 machine, so we expect the new version to earn a 5 out of 5 for ergonomics.
Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine vs Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD
Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD
Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD
Product Highlights
- 6-in-1 workout functionality
- Nordic hamstring curls
- Glute-ham raise
- Sit-up bench
- Reverse hypers
- Back extensions
- Hip thrusts
- Vertical storage
- Patent-pending
- Lightweight, 105-lb design
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 100-day money back guarantee
- Priced under $1,000
- Perform Nordic hamstring curl progressions
Cons
- Pre-orders only
- Welds are just OK
- Subpar transport wheels
Bottom Line
The Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD has many different uses including Nordic hamstring curls (with 10 different incline progressions), glute ham raises, GHD sit-ups, 45-degree back extensions, and hip thrusts. It’s designed to support folks ranging from 5 to 7 feet tall and offers 12 different positions with easy-to-read laser etched numbers.
While there are a few similar hip thrust machines in the market, we haven’t tested many ourselves, so I’m going to compare the Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine to the Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD.
Unlike the Bells of Steel Hip Thrust, the Nordic Hyper GHD is a 6-in-1 machine that offers much more versatility. Hip thrusts are one of the main movements it’s designed for, and it’s become very popular among home gym owners. This won’t be an apples-to-apples comparison, but if you’re looking to upgrade your home glute training, the Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD should be on your radar.
RELATED: 11 Best Glute Stretches
When it comes to hip thrusts, Bells of Steel takes the crown here. You geta full back pad, along with a padded belt to keep you secure, and a large footplate, as the machine is specifically designed for hip thrusts.
If you want to do hip thrusts on the Freak Athlete, which is one of its main functions, you’ll put your back on a pad and will need an external weight, like one of the best Olympic barbells, to place on your hips.
The Nordic Hyper GHD also allows users to perform five other exercises, including glute ham raises, back extensions, and reverse hyperextensions, all of which target the glutes and hamstrings. It’s also cheaper. However, it doesn’t allow you to add any plates for resistance, so you’ll need to do bodyweight exercises or use your own resistance in the form of resistance bands, dumbbells, or any other heavy objects you have at home.
Ultimately, the Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine is the best choice for anyone serious about heavy glute training who wants a dedicated machine to do the most comfortable hip thrusts. The Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD is better for those who want a smaller, all-in-one machine that can be used for multiple exercises, although it’s designed for bodyweight training.
To learn more, check out our complete Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD Review.
| Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine | Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD | |
| Footprint | 63.11” L x 71.06” W x 35.71” H | 56″ L x 23″ W x 22″ H |
| Weight | 224.87 lbs | 105 lbs |
| Weight capacity | 600 lbs external weight | 500 lb user weight limit |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime frame warranty, 1-year pad and belt warranty | Lifetime warranty |
Customer Experience
The customer experience when ordering from Bells of Steel earns a 4 out of 5. The support team can be reached through chat, phone, or email, and you can return your product within 30 days if you’re not happy.
However, you’ll need to pay for your own return shipping, as well as a 15% restocking fee. We don’t expect free return shipping on heavy items, but the paid shipping plus a 15% fee is why we docked a point from our customer experience score.
Ordering the Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine
At the time of writing, the Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine is only available for pre-order, with orders expected to ship by May 5, 2025.
All orders ship free to the contiguous United States, and Bells of Steel does not ship to Alaska or Hawaii. Orders can purchased with Shop Pay or financed with Affirm.
Customer Reviews
At the time of writing, there are no customer reviews, as the original hip thrust machine has been discontinued, and the new one isn’t shipping yet. We’ll be sure to update this section once we find reviews in the future.
Final Verdict of Our Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine Review
Overall, we love the Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine review. Lindsay Scheele, CPT, even said that this is one of the best products Bells of Steel has created yet. Once the new edition arrives with a few upgrades, it may be the best hip thrust machine on the market for the price point.
We recommend pre-ordering the V2 hip thrust machine, which should be shipping before May 2025, which has addressed many of the issues we had with this machine. It’s not small, but if you’re willing to sacrifice some floor space in your home gym, this is an excellent addition.
- We love the durability and smooth movement of this machine, but the 404-pound weight capacity might be a little bit low for strong athletes.
- The belt we tested was a little bit for shorter individuals, but Bells of Steel had upgraded to a better belt with thicker padding in the updated machine that’s launching soon.
- If you’re placing this in your home gym, you should know that it’s large and heavy, so it’s not something you can easily move around between workouts.
Full Rating
Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine
While it has a lower weight capacity than other machines, it should still be sufficient for most lifters.
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 1199.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
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Bells of Steel Hip Thrust Machine: FAQs
Is the hip thrust machine effective?
Yes. Hip thrust machines are designed to train the glutes and hamstrings, and research confirms1 that hip thrusts result in greater glute activation than other strength exercises.
Do hip thrusts really grow your glutes?
Yes, when used regularly as part of a resistance training program, hip thrusts have been shown1 to provide greater glute activation than other strength training exercises, which can help grow the glutes over time.
Is hip thrust 3 times a week too much?
Depending on your fitness levels, doing hip thrusts three times a week may be too much, or it may be just right. Any strength exercise can provide a stimulus and challenge that your muscles need to recover from, and recovery usually dictates how often you should train a muscle. If your glutes are sore for days after hip thrusts, three times per week may be too much, but if you’re recovering well, it may be perfectly fine.
References
- Neto, W. K., Vieira, T. L., & Gama, E. F. (2019). Barbell Hip Thrust, Muscular Activation and Performance: A Systematic Review. Journal of sports science & medicine, 18(2), 198–206.
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