At last! A resistance cable system that enables full squats - easily and with no awkward setup! Simply squat down, grab hold of the shoulder pads, lift them to your shoulders, and you're off! Just lean into the shoulder pads, start bounding up and down, and in no time, the elastic cables resistance will have your thighs burning! The backward/downward pull of the harness helps you maintain your balance as you lean into the squats. Either full size resistance bands folded in half, or half-size resistance bands can be used. The Hook Squat Harness is fully adjustable for a custom fit!

I received this today, which is also my leg day -- perfect!

Let me tell you, it is better than I expected!

I tried it out as pictured, and liked it. But I immediately realised that Shen has been too modest about its capabilities! By wearing it the other way and facing the door, you've got something similar to an expensive hack squat machine. The angle that you work the legs totally frys them.

And there is much more! By wearing the harness the other way, you can suddenly do heavy versions of the following:

1. Lunges
2. Sissy squats
3. Hack machine squats (by leaning back slightly)
4. Pistols

Having the resistance in front of the body is perfect. You're pushing away from it at an angle that really activates the quads. Plus -- and this is a massive plus -- by leaning back slightly into the harness, you keep the back in a very safe neutral position.

Here are some pics to illustrate the amazing versatility of the harness.

Lunges

Pistols

Sissy Squats

Hack Squats Middle Position

Hack Squats Bottom Position

SQUATS THAT FEEL SIMILAR TO A HACK SQUAT MACHINE (LEAN BACK SLIGHTLY INTO THE HARNESS. THE MORE YOU LEAN BACK THE MORE IT FEELS LIKE A HACK MACHINE. I COULDN'T LEAN BACK FULLY IN THE PICS BECAUSE I'D HAVE BEEN OBSCURED.

"One thing I have to say, in David Webster's book "Modern Strand Pulling" he states that Cable Squats do not have the same metabolic effect as Barbell Squats. His book was written in the early 50s and his squat set up is a board with 2 eyelets for springs and the handles held at shoulder. I've done them this way and would agree with him.

Your Squat Harness changes the dynamics completely. There is no hand position to worry about and you are not limited by the hands or amount of strands. The Hi Rep Squats with double looped large bands had me winded as much as Barbell Squats. My legs and glutes were sore for a few days and I was able to do more on the second workout."

- Bob Rosenberg, Will to Power

The Hook Isometrics/Suspension Trainer

Expand your HOOK capabilities with The Hook Isometrics/Suspension Trainer! The Hook Isometrics/Suspension Trainer is a 15 foot length of heavy-duty, inch and a half webbing with 6" loops daisy-chained across its entire length. Between both Hook handles, that puts each station at 3" intervals, allowing a position for any level of bodyweight suspension exercises and virtually any isometric exercise you can think of. Each loop is multiple-stitched with industrial thread for ultimate strength, and each loop is conveniently numbered for easy reference, enabling a multitude of exercises to be performed at exact locations each and every time.

Click on the video to to see the Isometrics/Suspension Trainer in action!


video posted with permission by Calisthenicsworks

video graphics produced by Stephen Craner

The Hook Isometrics/Suspension Trainer is an entire gym in itself!

Just drape the strap over the Hook Door Attachment, select your loops, and grab hold of the handles. Facing the door, lean back and brace your feet against the door frames at the floor. From there you can do Back Rows, Biceps curls, Wrist Curls, Shoulder Flyes.

Face away from the door and you can do Pushups, Pec Flyes, Triceps Pushdowns.

The two independent handles allows a great variety of isometric exercises to be performed - from Squats and Dead lifts to Curls and Shoulder Raises, and all the way up to Overhead Presses!

Moving from station to station is a snap! There are no buckles or latches to have to fiddle with. No guess work - each loop is numbered for quick reference. Simply slip the Hooks into any desired loops and you're set to go. This super quick change feature makes the all important 3-point isometrics protocol easily feasible!

Combining resistance bands with isometrics for the chest expansion exercise is an ideal use of the bands with the strap. In a chest expansion movement, stress on your shoulders decreases as your arms are spread out. Set your strap and bands up so that you hit an isometric with your outstretched arms. Give it a good solid push with each rep, and then push out hard on the last rep, holding it for seven seconds.

Testimonials

I'm finding the Isometric Strap to be quite effective, versatile, and enjoyable. One trick I've discovered is that for many exercises that have the strap passing under the feet, it's often quicker and easier to vary the width of the stance rather than changing loops. Even if you do change loops, varying the stance width helps to fine tune the position of effort. I've also found it easier to put more effort into bench presses when you lie down like a regular bench press. Speaking of bench presses, I've found the strap to be perfect for inclines and declines too. Well, I guess the possibilities are endless.

Iso routines are fast enough that they can be done no matter how busy I am. And, with the Iso Strap, isos can be done so that they effectively get to muscles all over the body. Before the Iso Strap, I found doing isos was often awkward, to say the least. Even using various objects -- doorways, sticks, etc. -- it was difficult to really isolate and stress many target muscles. Now I can easily get a full-body workout with isos alone. And an added bonus for me is that isos are easy on the joints.

- M.S., Saitama, Japan


I received the bw/iso strap yesterday when I arrived home. It is easy to use and versatile. I do own the competition's belt and that thing is uncomfortable, hurts my hands, and a pain in the rump to use the buckle and get the right length. Yours by comparison is a dream to use.

- M.N., Michigan


I just wanted to write and tell you how pleased I am with the Hook and Isometric Power Strap. These two pieces of equipment when combined offer an exercise system that is unsurpassed by anything else on the market today. The quality is exceptional and well designed. In the past, I've used chains, ropes, chairs, walls, ceilings, and any and everything to push or pull against. No more hunting, the belt provides an infinite number of angles so that you can quickly and easily target any muscle you want. It offers an endless number isometric holds. The numbered belt loops make adjustments fast, no guessing and experimenting to get the right length. There is no clanking of the chains or pinching of skin from the rope. You can throw it in a suitcase or bag when you hit the road or stores easily on a closet shelf. Your service was quick and I was notified by email from receipt of my order to when it was shipped. Thanks again for customizing it.

- David Ledbetter, Peotone, IL
dl1964@gmail.com