Etenon R5509 belt squat with the spine unloaded

The Etenon R5509 is a belt squat: the load hangs from a lumbar belt instead of sitting on the shoulders, so the spine carries none of it. That single change is what keeps members with back complaints squatting instead of quietly dropping leg training altogether.

The problem is familiar in any club with a mature membership. Lifters in their forties and fifties still want to load the legs, but the lower back becomes the limiting factor long before the quadriceps do. A belt squat routes the load through the hips to the platform, leaving the legs to work and the spine unloaded. It also gives a coach a way to rebuild lower body strength after a back injury without starting from zero.

An ergonomic lumbar belt is supplied with the machine and clips on with a carabiner. The foot platform is wide, textured and deep enough for several stances, including split squats and lunges, and high handrails give a stable hold. Loading is by discs, so the resistance ceiling is set on site. The frame is reinforced steel with an epoxy paint finish, manufactured in Europe by Etenon.

Technical specification

Who the belt squat keeps in the gym

Three groups use this station heavily: experienced lifters managing a back that no longer tolerates barbell squats, physiotherapy and return to play programmes rebuilding the lower body after a spinal injury, and older members who want to keep loading the legs safely. Cross training boxes also use it for volume work that would otherwise accumulate spinal fatigue.

A differentiating machine is only worth buying if the floor knows how to use it, so we supply usage material covering positions and exercise variations for your coaching team alongside the 3D layout showing where the station sits in your strength area. Dimensions, clearances and the delivery weight are confirmed in the free siting study issued with the quotation. We deliver to France, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg, quote export per project, and dispatch within five to ten working days from stock.

Frequently asked questions

Does the belt squat replace the barbell squat?

No. It replaces the spinal loading, not the exercise. Clubs typically keep both so members can move between them according to how their back is behaving.

Is the belt comfortable at heavy loads?

The supplied belt is shaped to spread the load around the hips rather than pulling on a single line. Members usually need one session to find the right position on the pelvis.

What else can be done on the platform?

Split squats and lunges, using the same belt loading, which is why the platform is deeper than a squat position alone would require.