Valor Fitness Seated Calf Raise Machine – Adjustable Plate Loaded Leg Exercise Equipment for Strength Training Workout Calves Home Gym Equipment

I have a Valor BD-7 power rack with cable/lat pull attachment that I bought in 2015 and have used multiple times a week with heavy weights since, with no degradation in stability or deformation. This CC-5 calf raise machine appears to be made to the same high standard. The padding on the seat and knee bar is very thick and well stitched. The range of motion is excellent with no side-to-side wobble. The olympic sized plate posts are extremely sturdy and have domed plastic end-caps to help guide the weight on. I can put 3 Rep Fitness 45lb bumper plates on either post (270 lbs) with room to spare for collars. The adjustments have sufficient range for both for me (6'3") and my wife (5'0") to dial in the perfect setup. Adjustment knobs are clearly labeled and easy to grip. The machine arrived in a single box with every piece coated and bubble-wrapped. Assembly tools are supplied, but do yourself a favor and make sure you have two ratchets and/or wrenches at 17mm and 19mm (or a ratchet and an adjustable wrench capable of 17-19mm) for easier assembly. Many parts (e.g. the handles with the handgrips and handgrip caps) are already assembled when shipped, but Valor still supplies the tools needed for these elements as well. All assembly hardware arrived in a single blister pack with a few spare pieces. All bolts had the appropriate amount of washers and all nuts were self-locking. Assembly time was less than 30 minutes. I don't know how well it would hold up long-term in a commercial setting, but it's ideal for my home gym setup.

Ok, so I’ve had the chance to use this for a couple weeks now. I am a 43yo male and I’m 6’3”. As a result, the seat feels a bit low. I am also on the final adjustment for the leg pads, so I’ve maxed it out. Since I can’t raise the seat, I have to be careful because it puts a bit of stress on my meniscus. The other issue is the leg pads. They aren’t centered, it will wobbly back and forth. For example, if you’re not really paying attention, one leg will take over. You really have to make sure you’re keeping those pads stable. Not a huge deal but it does require more balancing than a standard calf press you’d find in a commercial gym. Other than that, I’m very happy with it. It’ll just take a bit more time for me to lock in my form. Overall I would say this is a really good deal.

Great machine. Well built and solid without being too heavy. Works just as I hoped it would in working my calves.

Valor Fitness always had the right kind of machine that I needed. This one really burns my calves so well. I am getting old and lifting plates on the squat rack just to do my calves is not fun for me anymore. I used 25 pounders on both sides and was enough to get me the right kind of pump. The knee foams are a little bit soft but I am quite sure it will last. The seat cover has the embossed VALOR logo which is new from their previous products. Knee bars can be adjusted to your comfort and desired distance. The leverage has a low angle allowing your calves a good stretch. Most of all it is good for your back because you are sitting holding on to the grips on top of the knee bars. Ergonomic design. The price is very reasonable.

I've been pleased with Valor fitness in the past and I finally saved up the money to order the seated Calf raise machine from them. For those that have read horror stories about shipping, remember, it's the shipping company's fault for bad shipping; not Valor Fitness. I've posted some pictures of my unpacking for reference. The equipment arrived safely and still packed well. Each part is wrapped in bubble wrap and some in bubble wrap and foam. I'm missing an end cap for one of the weight supports (weight support on the right side of the picture) and one of the knee cushions had a hole in it. I'll be contacting Valor fitness help line for support and I will report their response soon. The Instructions are straightforward, simple sockets and Crescent wrenches make it quite simple. They do include very elementary tools to get the job done, but since I have tools already I used mine. The welds are neat and tidy and the coating appears to be strong. So, for the price, the quality is superb. It would be nice to have optional rubber feet for the base legs though. I'm sure the bare metal ends of the legs will dig into my gym mat over time but I won't lose sleep over it. I'll come back and report Valor Fitness' response to my tiny issues. Customer service is key and will drastically affect any review updates I have; if needed. UPDATE: Seller/Valor Fitness responded fast and sent the small replacement parts quickly. The machine works fantastic. Highly recommend it.

The instructions are terrible and mine doesn't line up straight with the base but it works good and is pretty comfortable.

Product came quickly in two well packed boxes which was alittle awkward to carry to my basement gym area...after which upon unpacking them I found that everything was neatly packed and the parts were easily identified, both visually and by the printed assembly instructions. Took about alittle more than an hour to assemble the calf raise machine and was very impressed with the overall quality and the sturdiness of the unit, and the price as well !

Package missing 2 backing plates and leg adjustment column pin adjustment was welded in crooked so no way to secure the correct setting. Unusable until Valor responds.