The Hidden Weight We Don’t Talk About: Why Your Leg Press Weight "Lies" to You
If you’ve ever moved from one gym to another and suddenly felt like your legs turned to jelly using the exact same number of plates, you aren’t getting weaker. The truth is that not all leg presses are created equal—even when they come from the same brand.
In the world of commercial equipment, the Impulse SL7006 and the Impulse SL7020 are two of the most common machines you’ll encounter in 2026. To the untrained eye, they look almost identical. But under the hood, the engineering of these machines completely changes how much you are actually lifting.
The Secret Starting Weight (The Sled)
The most important thing to remember is that the "empty" machine isn't actually empty. The sled—the heavy steel carriage that holds the plates and your feet—has its own significant mass.
The 45-Degree "Discount"
Because these machines are set at a 45-degree angle, you aren't fighting 100% of gravity. The machine’s frame and rails support a portion of the load. In simple terms, you are only pushing about 70.7% of the total weight on the rails. Think of it as a 30% "angle discount." You are still working hard, but physics is carrying a small part of the load for you.
The "6-Plate Test"
Let’s look at what happens when you load three 20 kg plates on each side (120 kg total). Most people would just log this as "120 kg," but here is the grounded math of what your muscles actually experience:
On the Impulse SL7006 (The Lighter Model):
The Bottom Line: Calibration is Key
Even though you used the exact same 6 plates, the SL7020 is actually 35.7 kg (78 lbs) heavier to push. That is a massive difference—nearly the equivalent of adding two extra 20 kg plates to the lighter machine!
Why does this matter?
If you switch gyms and don't account for this, you might accidentally overstrain yourself or, conversely, have a workout that's far too light. To train accurately in 2026:
In the world of commercial equipment, the Impulse SL7006 and the Impulse SL7020 are two of the most common machines you’ll encounter in 2026. To the untrained eye, they look almost identical. But under the hood, the engineering of these machines completely changes how much you are actually lifting.
The Secret Starting Weight (The Sled)
The most important thing to remember is that the "empty" machine isn't actually empty. The sled—the heavy steel carriage that holds the plates and your feet—has its own significant mass.
- The SL7006 Sled: Weighs about 45 kg (99 lbs).
- The SL7020 Sled: Weighs a massive 95.5 kg (210.5 lbs).
The 45-Degree "Discount"
Because these machines are set at a 45-degree angle, you aren't fighting 100% of gravity. The machine’s frame and rails support a portion of the load. In simple terms, you are only pushing about 70.7% of the total weight on the rails. Think of it as a 30% "angle discount." You are still working hard, but physics is carrying a small part of the load for you.
The "6-Plate Test"
Let’s look at what happens when you load three 20 kg plates on each side (120 kg total). Most people would just log this as "120 kg," but here is the grounded math of what your muscles actually experience:
On the Impulse SL7006 (The Lighter Model):
- Physical Total: 45 kg Sled + 120 kg Plates = 165 kg.
- The Feel: 165 kg x 0.707 = ~116.6 kg of actual resistance.
- Physical Total: 95.5 kg Sled + 120 kg Plates = 215.5 kg.
- The Feel: 215.5 kg x 0.707 = ~152.3 kg of actual resistance.
The Bottom Line: Calibration is Key
Even though you used the exact same 6 plates, the SL7020 is actually 35.7 kg (78 lbs) heavier to push. That is a massive difference—nearly the equivalent of adding two extra 20 kg plates to the lighter machine!
Why does this matter?
If you switch gyms and don't account for this, you might accidentally overstrain yourself or, conversely, have a workout that's far too light. To train accurately in 2026:
- Identify the machine. Look for the model sticker (SL7006 vs. SL7020).
- Calibrate accordingly. If you're moving to the heavy-duty SL7020, you likely need to drop at least one plate per side to match your usual "feel."
- Log the total. The most accurate way to track progress is to log Plates + Sled Weight.
Jan 07,2026