Do You Even Lift Bro?

So, I broke down and bought something. This was a fairly major, semi-needed (for health?) item.

My home gym is quite well set up and has both new, used, and dumpfound items. I needed (wanted) to add a leg curl and extension machine or cage attachment for more variety in leg workouts. I hoped that I could find something that was : A. Cheap or free B. Available now C. Well made?. I don’t have much room, so I was also looking at the possibility that it could be multi purpose. All of that is a big ask, but possible if you are patient.

My first mistake was thinking that a big box store would have something that remotely resembled quality. Sometimes though you can luck out and the stuff there is cheap and useful. Even though I rarely buy shit items, I will usually buy well researched shit items.

I didn’t research the workout bench very well (WA:KE Athletic Adjustable Bench with Barbell and 100-lb Weight Plate Set from Canadian Tire so YOU can now do the research). After unpacking and putting the thing together without breaking anything, it actually looked not too bad. The bar and weights that came with it are flimsy and almost useless. Actually, weight plates are always kinda useful in a home gym. I had previously found weight plates that match this specific set up and that might have influenced the decision to buy this bench. The main reason for the purchase was the sale price and the gift card I had for Canadian Tire. For those that aren’t Canadian, Canadian Tire is the Walmart of Canada. Hit me up on Mastodon to let me know examples of these big box stores in Europe, Asia, Africa, Aus?. Lidl? Tesco? Seiyu? I can barely remember big box stores being in cities under 100k in any other part of the world. Maybe I just remember markets and niche store through rose tinted shades of travel nostalgia.

So, I get the thing together and test it. The bench is solid and the leg machine is… well…pretty fucking stupid. When the extension hits its lowest point there isn’t enough room for feet (heels or whatever). If you even make it that far without bottoming out your heels and breaking your leg, the front leg of the bench is waiting there to tear your Achilles.

Bro…Do you even lift bro?

Who the fuck engineered this thing? WA:KE Athletics and Canadian Tire, you got some lawsuits coming. I’d recall and re-design these things before you hurt someone. Thank you to the local manager who at least got me a gift card refund. A big FU to the store policy that will not give you your cash back for a defective and dangerous product.