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Leg strength is an important factor to overall strength, flexibility, and mobility. Lacking lower body strength and power may even have a direct relationship with chronic diseases like osteoarthritis, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease for older adults1.
If you’re someone who’s not a fan of squat variations but still wants to add strength and power to your legs, owning a machine for leg extensions and curls could be pivotal in your fitness journey. In this Gronk Fitness Leg Extension and Leg Curl review, we’re going to look at how this combo machine functions and what our testers have to say about it.
We’re Strength and Conditioning Pros
If this Gronk Fitness Leg Extension and Leg Curl review is your first time visiting Garage Gym Reviews, we’re glad you’re here. Our expert product testers have more than two decades of collective experience and hold the industry’s top credentials to back it up. We use our experience to help you find the best home gym equipment for your goals and budget.
For our Gronk Fitness combo machine review, GGR Founder Coop Mitchell tested the strength machine for both functions: seated leg curls and extensions. Not only did Coop test this piece of equipment, he also used our in-depth fitness equipment testing methodology to assess and score a variety of categories from 1 to 5 stars. Categories include durability, construction, versatility, and overall value.
Gronk Leg Ext/Curl
Gronk Fitness Leg Extension/Leg Curl Machine
Product Highlights
- Dual-function machine
- Perform leg extensions and curls
- Plate-loaded
- 23 adjustments
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Provides two lower-body exercises
- Compact footprint
- Budget-friendly compared to competitors
Cons
- Not super smooth transition between exercises
- Optimal tension is difficult to achieve
- Pins are not numbered
Bottom Line
Are you missing the leg extension and leg curl machines from your old big box gym? The Gronk Fitness Leg Extension/Leg Curl Machine allows you to mimic both movements in one footprint. The strength curve makes it slightly awkward to create the ideal tension muscle hypertrophy, but it’s still a solid option for at home workouts.
A Quick Look at the Gronk Fitness Leg Extension and Leg Curl
The Gronkowski name may ring a few bells for sports (and non-sports) fans alike. Rob Gronkowski is a legendary professional football tight end who spent many years playing for NFL teams like the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
However, the Gronkowski family has been in the industry since 1990 with a fitness equipment supply company. Over the years the brand has expanded from solely a fitness supply company—outfitting commercial gyms with brands like NordicTack and Body Solid—to its own manufactured line of equipment including hack squat machines, lat pulldowns, adjustable benches, and functional trainers.
The Gronk Fitness Leg Extension/Leg Curl combination machine is a budget option for home gym owners. Leg curl and leg extension machines are typically seen in commercial gyms (as two separate machines) and are not cheap to buy for your own space. However, the Gronk Fitness brand aims to make this combination machine one of the best budget options on the market.
Before You Buy
- This combo machine is plate loaded and has an Olympic-size sleeve for weight plates.
- The current sale price is $689 marked down from $1,099. However this markdown may stay fixed, as this is a common sales tactic we see among fitness brands.
- Gronk Fitness offers free shipping.
Gronk Fitness Leg Extension and Leg Curl Full Video Review
Is the Gronk Fitness Leg Extension and Leg Curl Worth It?
Investing in a dual leg extension and curl machine is worth it for two types of folks: Those who have room to spare in their home gym or folks who want to build leg strength without using the best dumbbells and barbells.
Most home gym owners aren’t going to start building a home gym with machines. It’s more likely you’ll start with some of the best home gym essentials like a squat rack, adjustable dumbbells, and resistance bands. However, if you have the space and some extra spending money, the Gronk Fitness Leg Extension/Leg Curl offers isolation exercises for both the hamstrings and quads (in one footprint).
Alternatively, if you’re someone who can’t squat or deadlift due to health concerns, joint problems, or injury, this combo machine is an ideal way to strengthen your legs without loading weight on your spine.
The regular price is $1,099 and at the time of writing this review, the price tag was reduced to $689. While this is not an ultra-budget leg extension option, we think if you can buy it on sale, it’s well worth the investment. Coop scored the value of this leg-extension/leg-curl machine 4 out of 5 stars.
Great for:
- Home gym owners with plenty of space
- Folks who want to train legs without squatting
- Athletes and recreational lifters
Not recommended for:
- Folks who want a lying hamstring curl machine
- People who prefer a power rack attachment
- Gym owners who prefer selectorized weight stacks
Gronk Fitness Leg Extension and Leg Curl Specs
| Footprint | 45” L x 45” W x 45” H |
| Rollers | 6” diameter; 17” L |
| Seat | 6 adjustments; 19” W |
| Weight | 170 lbs |
| Weight sleeve | Olympic sleeve, 10” loadable length |
| Transport wheels | Yes |
| Materials | 11-gauge steel frame |
Using the Gronk Fitness Leg Extension and Leg Curl
Coop Mitchell has been testing, reviewing, and gracing us with gym equipment YouTube videos for almost a decade. While this is not the only leg extension and curl machine he’s tested, he was eager to give it a try. Coop has also tested the same style machine from Titan Fitness. Stay tuned because you’ll see a side-by-side comparison later in this review.
Coop tested the Gronk machine over the course of several weeks before giving his final review. He used it during a handful of leg day sessions—for both extensions and curls—and performed single leg and bilateral sets.
Overall, he thinks it’s a solid piece of equipment for home gyms, appreciates that it’s plate loaded, and thinks the process to go from curls to extensions is pretty quick.
RELATED: How to Do Hamstring Curls at Home
Footprint and Portability
At a commercial gym, a leg extension machine and a leg curl machine are two separate pieces of equipment. So when you compare the Gronk Fitness Leg Extension/Leg Curl machine to two separate commercial pieces, it’s a win for home gym owners. The footprint is rather small (at 45 inches wide by 45 inches long), it’s about 170 pounds, and it has transport wheels. This combo machine earns a 4.5-star rating in this category.
Durability and Construction
The Gronk Leg Extension/Leg Curl machine earns a 4-out-of-5-star rating for both durability and construction. Our testers look for heavy-duty materials, quality welds, and stability during use. Overall, that’s what Coop experienced. The 11-gauge steel is on the thinner side for something like a squat rack, but when used for a machine like this it’s a solid choice. The welds are clean and Coop was not concerned with the craftsmanship.
Additionally, the machine did not rock, shake, or tip during exercise. “At 170 pounds, its weight helps the machine stay locked to the floor,” says Coop.
However, the one thing Coop noticed was the weight plates move with every repetition on the Olympic collar. He suggests using one of the best Olympic barbell collars to easily mitigate that problem.
Adjustments and Ergonomics
There are quite a few adjustments on the Gronk Fitness Leg Extension/Leg Curl machine—so much that you’ll want to spend a few minutes watching Coop’s full video review about the strength curve and finding the optimal range of motion for both hamstring curls and quad extensions.
You can expect the following adjustments to fit a wide range of heights and weights:
- 6 back pad adjustments with locking mechanism
- 360-degree lever arm adjustment with pop-pin lock
- 18-degree thigh pad adjustment with pop-pin lock
- Ankle pad on a rotating busing (no pop-pin)
Coop and other expert testers at GGR HQ found the Gronk Fitness Leg Extension/Leg Curl machine to be comfortable with a wide seat and backrest and thick padding. Most of the machine features a grippy vinyl exterior, which has potential to pull at body hair if your skin is exposed, but this feature wasn’t a dealbreaker for Coop.
For adjustability and ergonomics, this dual-functioning machine earns 4 out of 5 stars. Coop docked one point for two reasons. “First, the 360-degree lever arm dial makes it possible to adjust your range of motion for a very personalized fit, however some angles make it awkward to get on the machine once the adjustment is locked in place,” says Coop.
Second, the adjustability is lacking on the height adjustment on the shin roller. The leg roller that sits on your thighs has a ton of adjustments, but the roller on the shins rotates on a bushing. Essentially it just swings and makes micro adjustments while you go through the range of motion.
RELATED: DIY Leg Press
Functionality
When it comes to versatility and functionality, this machine scores 5 out of 5 stars. We know it only performs two specific isolation movements, but for a workout machine to have two functions (and both be executed pretty well) is a win in our book.
Yes, a barbell and a set of dumbbells have more functions than this combo machine, but for this type of home gym equipment it deserves a high score on versatility.
“Being able to do leg curls and leg extensions at home on this machine is awesome,” says Coop. “Plus, this machine allows you to switch from one to the other and only using two quick pins. It’s worth the 3.75 square feet you’ll need to dedicate to this machine.”
RELATED: Best Barbell Exercises
Gronk Leg Extension and Leg Curl vs Titan Seated Leg Curl/Extension
Titan Seated Leg Curl/Extension
Titan Seated Leg Curl/Extension Machine
Product Highlights
- Dual-use machine
- Affordable (for a leg machine)
- More compact than similar machines
- Easy assembly
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Priced around $550, making it a great value gym machine
- Combines two popular machines into one
- Easy to assemble; I put mine together in under an hour by myself
Cons
- It’s more compact than similar machines, but not by much
- Pads aren’t the most comfortable when lifting with heavy loads
- Heavier lifters may find it to be a bit unstable
Bottom Line
A dual-use and compact leg exercise machine offered at a competitive price.
The Titan Leg Extension and Curl Machine is a remarkably similar product to the Gronk Fitness combination machine. The Titan machine is a bit smaller, weighs less, and has a smaller price tag. However, Coop notes in his full video review that Gronk Fitness products have a higher degree of quality versus Titan fitness. But both brands offer budget-friendly equipment ideal for the savvy home gym shopper.
Both companies have similar sale tactics where the suggested retail price is crossed out and consumers will typically visit the site to see a sale in process. The sale price typically changes, but it’s a common tactic to rarely sell at the suggested retail price.
The prices in the chart below reflect the MSRP, not the sale price. For reference, the Gronk Fitness machine was priced at $689 at the time of writing this review and the Titan Fitness machine was priced at $569.
We have more details about this competitor option in our Titan Seated Leg Curl/Extension Machine review.
| Gronk Fitness Leg Ext/Curl | Titan Fitness Leg Ext/Curl | |
| Price | $1,099 | $699.99 |
| Footprint | 45” L x 45” W x 45” H | 39” H x 42” W x 36” D |
| Rollers | 6” diameter; 17” L | 5” diameter, 17” L |
| Seat | 6 adjustments; 19” W | 24” to 26.5” height; 17” W |
| Weight | 170 lbs | 108 lbs |
| Transport wheels | Yes | No |
| Materials | 11-gauge steel frame | 11-gauge steel |
Customer Experience
If you need assistance, Gronk Fitness has a live chat, phone number, and general inquiry contact form on the website. The brand offers a 30-day return policy and notes that unused and unopened products can be issued a full refund, while open products will be refunded less 15% restocking fee.
The warranty information isn’t super clear on the website, but after confirming with customer service we found out the Leg Extension/Leg curl machine has a lifetime warranty on the frame.
Ordering and Assembling the Gronk Fitness Leg Extension and Leg Curl
Ordering the Gronk combination machine is as easy as clicking the “add to cart” button. You will have the option to buy a package deal of either 105 or 245 pounds of weight plates in addition to the leg machine. At checkout, you’ll have the option to pay with a credit card, use PayPal, or apply for financing.
When your machine arrives, prepare for some problem solving. Coop and the assembly experts at GGR HQ noticed there were multiple boxes and none of them were labeled, so it was a bit of a puzzle during the unboxing process.
Additionally, our team had to contact the company during the assembly process due to a faulty lever arm. However, our team was impressed with the Gronk Fitness diagnostics process. The mishap was quickly resolved and a new lever arm was sent to GGR HQ within three days. Our team replaced the lever arm and got the machine up and working within minutes once the lever arms were swapped.
Customer Reviews
On the Gronk Fitness website the Leg Extension/Leg Curl machine has a 4.6-out-of-5-star average rating. At the time of writing this review, there are only 37 customer reviews but the majority are overwhelmingly positive.
Final Verdict of Our Gronk Fitness Leg Extension and Leg Curl Review
The Gronk Fitness Leg Extension/Leg Curl machine is an ideal way to build leg strength without loading your spine. Whether you’re a competitive athlete, bodybuilder, or a recreational lifter, lower body power is important to maintaining full-body strength and health.
If you can accommodate the space for this combination machine, our experts think it’s an ideal investment to any home gym.
RELATED: Bodybuilding Workouts
Full Rating
Gronk Fitness Leg Extension and Leg Curl
Are you missing the leg extension and leg curl machines from your old big box gym? The Gronk Fitness Leg Extension/Leg Curl Machine allows you to mimic both movements in one footprint. The strength curve makes it slightly awkward to create the ideal tension muscle hypertrophy, but it’s still a solid option for at home workouts.
Product Brand: Gronk Fitness
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 1099.00
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.07
Gronk Fitness Leg Extension and Leg Curl: FAQs
Are leg extensions and leg curls worth it?
From a muscle-building standpoint, leg extensions and leg curls are one of the most straightforward ways to isolate the quads or hamstrings, which can help build both muscle size and strength. When a machine has both functions, it’s an ideal way for a home gym owner to maximize both isolation exercises without having to own two separate pieces of equipment.
What happens if I do leg extensions every day?
Most isolation exercises are not necessary to do every single day, including the leg extension. Performing leg extensions every day could put unnecessary stress on the quads, knee joint, and surrounding tendons. As a CPT, I like to schedule leg days only once or twice a week for adequate recovery for the muscles to rest and repair.
Should I start with leg extension or leg curls?
Isolated movements like leg extensions and leg curls are typically used to warm up the leg muscles or as a high-volume burn out at the end of workouts.
References
- Strollo, S. E., Caserotti, P., Ward, R. E., Glynn, N. W., Goodpaster, B. H., & Strotmeyer, E. S. (2015). A review of the relationship between leg power and selected chronic disease in older adults. The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 19(2), 240–248. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-014-0528-y
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