DIY Landmine Belt Squats: Affordable Home Gym Setup and Gear Guide

Welcome back to the Kaizen DIY Gym community! Today, we’re diving into one of the most cost-effective and accessible belt squat options for home gym owners—landmine belt squats. Let’s explore everything you need to know about building and optimizing your own setup.

What Are Landmine Belt Squats?

Landmine belt squats are one of the least expensive and most accessible options for anyone looking to incorporate belt squats into their home gym routine. The best part? Most people already have a barbell and a landmine setup. If you don’t own a landmine yet, don’t worry—landmine attachments are easy to build and even easier to buy. Just make sure your landmine is bolted down securely, as bumper-post style landmines won't cut it for this movement.

Products featured in this video:

Essential Gear for DIY Landmine Belt Squats

The next essential piece of gear you’ll need is a good belt. Personally, I use a Spud Inc Belt, tucked into an AbMat Belt Squat Cover. While the spotting belt works well for lighter weights, it can become uncomfortable under heavier loads. Adding the belt squat cover adds extra cushioning, making it feel like a "cloud" around your waist.

If you're looking for an all-in-one option, I highly recommend the Henny Attachment Hip Belt. The padding is thick, comfortable, and there are multiple loops to accommodate people of all sizes. This will make your DIY belt squat setup a lot more comfortable during your workouts.

Where to Buy:

How to Attach the Belt to the Barbell

There are a few ways to connect the belt to the barbell. The simplest method is to wrap chains around the barbell to attach the belt. However, I’m not a fan of wrapping chains around the knurling on the bar, as it can cause wear and tear. Instead, you can use U-clips, which work great and don't cause damage to the bar.

For a while, I was using a T-bar row collar, but it pulled me forward during my belt squats. Ideally, the connection point should be directly under your body to ensure proper form and maximum efficiency. After discussing it with Jim Pin, we came up with a design that combines their D-handlebar with their landmine attachment. This design works perfectly for belt squats, T-bar rows, and everything in between.

Where to Buy:

DIY Landmine Belt Squat Platform

Once you've got everything set up, it’s time to belt squat directly on the ground. You can use smaller floor boxes or a platform plate, like 25-pound plates, to give yourself enough space to squat deep. Elevating the squat with bumper plates or plyo boxes will allow you to achieve a full range of motion and hit those deep squats. I personally like using my T-bar row platform for this, but any elevated surface that helps with depth will do the trick.

Challenges with Getting into Position

A common issue with DIY landmine belt squats is getting into the right position. The chain shouldn’t be too long, as this limits the range of motion. Sometimes you can connect and then step up, but this can be a challenge, especially for people who aren’t that flexible. One trick I tried was hanging chains from the ceiling—while it worked, the setup gave off some eerie vibes (think “serial killer basement”).

Another setup I tried involved adding a post to the platform to help with positioning. This worked better, but I still wasn’t satisfied. I also experimented with a spring-loaded post that would move when the bar was lifted, but I didn’t like how it would hit my leg every time. So, what's the best option for people with a power rack?

The Best Setup for DIY Landmine Belt Squats

In my opinion, the best setup for landmine belt squats is using a rack-attached landmine with a J-cup to set the bar height. This setup is simple, effective, and allows you to control the bar height easily. I’m using Rogue lever arms with the Vendetta attachment and mutant metal handles for added stability. This configuration works like a charm and is one of my favorites.

Where to Buy:

The Resistance Curve: Overcoming the Challenge

One issue that arises with lever-arm belt squats (including landmine versions) is the path of the connection point during the movement. The connection point moves in a semi-circular motion, which means it’s closest at the top and furthest at the bottom of the squat. The shorter the arm, the more noticeable this issue becomes. However, barbell landmines are a good option because the length of the barbell helps mitigate this problem.

Brian Hennessey, a famous ex-NFL player and inventor of the Squat Max MD and Henny attachment, reached out to share his solution. He suggests anchoring the end of the barbell in a Henny attachment strap rather than using a traditional landmine. This design allows the barbell’s end to move freely, eliminating the resistance curve.

Where to Buy:

Final Thoughts on DIY Landmine Belt Squats

Landmine belt squats are an excellent addition to any home gym setup, especially if you’re looking for an affordable, efficient, and space-saving alternative to traditional belt squat machines. By customizing your connection points, adding a few clever tweaks, and using creative solutions for positioning, you can make your own DIY belt squat system that delivers great results without breaking the bank.

Hope you enjoyed this deep dive into DIY landmine belt squats! Keep experimenting and make your home gym experience better with Kaizen DIY Gym.

Equipment I Use in My Gym:

Note: This video is not sponsored. Some of the links are affiliate links, meaning I’ll receive a small commission if you make a purchase through them.

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