Thinking about using the Planet Fitness Hack Squat but unsure whether your club has one, how it works, or what the machine actually offers? This guide brings the key details together in one place.
You will learn about current Hack Squat availability, Planet Fitness’s newer plate-loaded strength rollout, the Magnum Hack Squat name, and the main muscles involved.
We also cover starting resistance, weight capacity, machine setup, foot placement, loading, safety mechanisms, and the difference between a Hack Squat and a Smith Machine or traditional barbell squat.
Because equipment can vary between clubs, the article also explains how to verify your specific Planet Fitness location and machine model. Keep reading for clear, practical information before your next lower-body training session.
Does Planet Fitness Have a Hack Squat Machine
Yes, many Planet Fitness locations now have Hack Squat machines. Planet Fitness added the plate-loaded Magnum Hack Squat as part of its newer strength-equipment expansion.
By early 2025, the company reported that its new plate-loaded strength equipment was available in more than 1,700 locations, although that rollout figure should not be treated as proof that every club now has identical equipment.
Current official club pages confirm Hack Squat availability at individual locations. For example, Planet Fitness Hope Mills, North Carolina lists Hack Squat, Leg Press, and Calf Raise under its plate-loaded strength options.
Planet Fitness was also still featuring the Hack Squat in its 2026 plate-loaded strength guidance. However, equipment inventories can vary by club, so having a Planet Fitness Hack Squat machine at one location does not guarantee that another location has the same setup.
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What Is the Planet Fitness Hack Squat Machine
The Planet Fitness Hack Squat machine is a dedicated lower-body strength machine that lets you perform a supported squat-style movement while the machine guides the resistance.
Instead of balancing a free barbell, the user positions against the machine’s support and lowers and raises the loaded carriage through the squat movement.
Planet Fitness officially introduced a “Magnum Hack Squat” as part of its newer plate-loaded strength-equipment expansion and identifies it primarily with quadriceps and glute training.
Current club pages also confirm Hack Squat machines in the plate-loaded category. For example, Planet Fitness Hope Mills, North Carolina lists Hack Squat alongside Leg Press and Calf Raise under “Plate Loaded Options.”
However, individual club pages generally say “Hack Squat” without specifying an exact manufacturer or model number. Therefore, the “Magnum Hack Squat” rollout should not be used to claim that every Planet Fitness club has precisely the same machine model.
Is the Planet Fitness Hack Squat a Plate-Loaded Machine
Yes, the newer Planet Fitness Hack Squat documented in its strength-equipment rollout is plate-loaded. Planet Fitness explicitly categorizes Hack Squat under plate-loaded equipment on current club pages, including Planet Fitness Plano, Texas.
A plate-loaded machine does not use a built-in weight stack for selecting the working resistance. Instead, the user manually places compatible weight plates onto the machine’s loading points before exercising.
Matrix, which manufactures Magnum strength equipment, likewise categorizes its Magnum Hack Squat as plate-loaded.
That differs from selectorized, or pin-loaded, equipment, where resistance comes from an integrated weight stack and is selected with a pin. Planet Fitness club pages list selectorized and plate-loaded equipment as separate categories.
The exact loading arrangement and machine specifications should still be checked on the Hack Squat at the individual club.
Which Muscles Does the Planet Fitness Hack Squat Work
Planet Fitness describes its Hack Squat as targeting the quadriceps and glutes. In its official strength-training guidance, the company groups the plate-loaded Hack Squat under a “Quads/Glutes” circuit and separately describes the movement as lowering into a squat and pressing back up.
That description is consistent with squat biomechanics. During the upward phase of a squat-style movement, the knees and hips extend together, so the knee extensors and hip extensors both contribute.
Research on squat mechanics identifies the vastii of the quadriceps as important knee extensors and the gluteus maximus as an important hip extensor.
The Hack Squat should therefore be described as a compound lower-body exercise rather than a machine that perfectly isolates one muscle.
Does the Planet Fitness Hack Squat Work the Quads
Yes. The quadriceps are a major muscle group involved in the Hack Squat. Planet Fitness specifically identifies the quads as one of the primary targets of its plate-loaded Hack Squat.
The quadriceps produce knee-extension force, which is important as the knees straighten while the user presses upward from the bottom portion of a squat.
Experimental squat research shows substantial contribution from the vastii to knee-extension moments during the movement.
This is why the Planet Fitness Hack Squat can reasonably be described as quad-focused, while still acknowledging that it remains a multi-joint movement involving other lower-body muscles.
Does the Planet Fitness Hack Squat Work the Glutes
Yes. Planet Fitness also identifies the glutes as a primary target of the Hack Squat. Its official Hack Squat guidance specifically pairs the quadriceps and glutes when describing the exercise.
The gluteus maximus contributes to hip extension during the upward phase of squat movements. Primary biomechanical research has found that the gluteus maximus contributes to hip-extension moments during loaded squatting, alongside other hip-extensor muscles.
That supports describing the Hack Squat as a useful exercise for loading the glutes, but it does not establish that it is universally the “best” machine for glute growth. Muscle development depends on the broader training stimulus rather than the machine name alone.
Planet Fitness Hack Squat Availability by Location
Hack Squat availability should be checked at the individual Planet Fitness club level. Current official club pages confirm the machine at multiple locations, where it is listed specifically under plate-loaded strength equipment.
| Planet Fitness Location | Hack Squat Listed? | Plate-Loaded Equipment Listed | |
| Planet Fitness Plano, Texas | Yes | Hack Squat, Leg Press, Calf Raise, Supine Bench Press, etc. | |
| Planet Fitness Hope Mills, North Carolina | Yes | Hack Squat, Leg Press, Calf Raise, Supine Bench Press, etc. | |
| Planet Fitness Chicago (Logan Square), Illinois | Yes | Hack Squat, Leg Press, Calf Raise, Supine Bench Press, etc. | |
| Planet Fitness Manhattan (Herald Square), New York | Yes | Hack Squat, Leg Press, Calf Raise, Supine Bench Press, etc. |
These examples confirm that Planet Fitness Hack Squat machines are available at real, current clubs, but they should not be interpreted as proof that every Planet Fitness location has one.
If your specific club does not list a Hack Squat online, treat its availability as not confirmed online rather than automatically assuming the machine is absent.
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Do All Planet Fitness Locations Have a Hack Squat Machine
Not necessarily. Planet Fitness has expanded its plate-loaded strength lineup substantially, but the company does not currently publish a chain-wide guarantee stating that every Planet Fitness club worldwide has a Hack Squat machine.
In February 2025, Planet Fitness said the new plate-loaded equipment—including the Magnum Hack Squat—was in more than 1,700 clubs, with plans to expand to 2,700+ locations by the end of 2025.
Current club pages confirm the machine at many locations. For example, Planet Fitness Plano, Texas explicitly lists Hack Squat among its plate-loaded options.
Planet Fitness reported 2,896 clubs worldwide as of December 31, 2025, while its February 2026 Hack Squat guidance still does not state that every individual club has identical equipment.
Therefore, seeing a Hack Squat at one Planet Fitness should not be used as proof of availability at another.
If your club page does not list a Hack Squat, treat that as not confirmed online, not definite proof that the machine is absent.
When Did Planet Fitness Add Hack Squat Machines
Planet Fitness’s Hack Squat expansion was already underway during 2024, as the company increased strength equipment at existing clubs. Its 2024 year-end financial results later confirmed additional strength-equipment sales to franchisee-owned clubs during the fourth quarter of 2024.
The clearest public rollout announcement came on December 31, 2024, when Planet Fitness reported that more than 1,700 clubs nationwide had introduced new strength equipment, including the Magnum Hack Squat, Magnum Supine Bench Press, and Seated Calf Machine.
At that time, Planet Fitness expected the new plate-loaded equipment to reach nearly all of its 2,600+ locations during 2025.
By February 2025, Planet Fitness described the equipment as available in more than 1,700 locations and planned expansion to 2,700+ clubs by the end of 2025.
This explains why older articles claiming Planet Fitness does not have Hack Squats can now be outdated. However, the rollout occurred across many clubs over time, so it should not be interpreted as every location receiving the same equipment simultaneously.
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What Type of Hack Squat Machine Does Planet Fitness Use
Planet Fitness’s newer strength-equipment rollout identifies its Hack Squat as the Magnum Hack Squat, a plate-loaded lower-body machine.
Planet Fitness introduced it alongside other new plate-loaded equipment and describes the machine as focusing on the quadriceps and glutes.
Current individual club pages usually provide less model detail.
For example, Planet Fitness Hope Mills, North Carolina lists simply “Hack Squat” under its plate-loaded options rather than publishing a manufacturer or model number.
For that reason, “Magnum Hack Squat” is accurate when discussing Planet Fitness’s documented rollout, but the exact machine installed at a particular club should be verified locally.
Planet Fitness Magnum Hack Squat
Planet Fitness explicitly names the Magnum Hack Squat among the plate-loaded machines introduced during its strength-equipment expansion.
There is a commercial Matrix Magnum Hack Squat, model MG-PL71, and Matrix’s own certified-pre-owned site confirms that model as plate-loaded. However, Planet Fitness’s public rollout announcement does not identify MG-PL71 as the model installed at every club.
Therefore, specifications associated with MG-PL71—such as its starting resistance, maximum training weight, or dimensions—should not automatically be presented as universal Planet Fitness Hack Squat specifications unless the machine at the specific club is confirmed to be that model.
Does Every Planet Fitness Use the Same Hack Squat Model
There is not enough official public information to say that every Planet Fitness uses the same Hack Squat model.
Current club pages typically list the equipment generically as “Hack Squat.” For example, both Planet Fitness Hope Mills, North Carolina and Planet Fitness Chicago (Logan Square), Illinois list Hack Squat among their plate-loaded options without providing a model number on the page.
Planet Fitness’s national materials establish that the Magnum Hack Squat formed part of its newer equipment rollout, but that does not prove identical hardware at every individual location.
If an exact model matters—for example, when determining starting resistance or weight capacity—the model label on the actual machine or confirmation from that specific Planet Fitness club is the more reliable source.
How Much Does the Planet Fitness Hack Squat Weigh
There is no verified universal weight figure for every Planet Fitness Hack Squat. Planet Fitness identifies its newer machine as a plate-loaded Magnum Hack Squat, but individual club pages generally list only “Hack Squat” without publishing the exact model, unloaded resistance, or weight capacity.
When people ask how much the machine “weighs,” they usually mean either its starting resistance before plates are added or how much external weight the machine can hold. Those are different specifications and should be checked for the exact machine.
Planet Fitness Hack Squat Starting Weight
The starting weight means the resistance you move before adding weight plates. In the official Planet Fitness materials reviewed, the company does not publish one chain-wide starting-resistance number for its Hack Squat.
It would therefore be inaccurate to assign one number to every club.
The resistance felt on a guided squat machine is not necessarily equal to the physical mass of its carriage because machine geometry and the resistance mechanism influence the effective load; research on guided squat equipment confirms that equipment inclination can materially change mechanical loading.
If you need the exact unloaded resistance, check the model/specification label on the Hack Squat at your Planet Fitness location rather than relying on a generic online number.
How Much Weight Can You Put on the Planet Fitness Hack Squat
Capacity is also machine-specific. Matrix officially lists its MG-PL71 Magnum Hack Squat as accepting loads up to 540 pounds (245 kg). Matrix’s certified-pre-owned site confirms MG-PL71 as a Magnum plate-loaded Hack Squat model.
However, that 540-pound specification should not be presented as the capacity of every Planet Fitness Hack Squat. Planet Fitness’s rollout materials call the newer machine a Magnum Hack Squat but do not identify MG-PL71 as the model installed universally.
For an accurate limit, find the manufacturer/model label or instructional placard on your actual machine and follow its stated loading capacity.
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How to Use the Hack Squat Machine at Planet Fitness
The Planet Fitness Hack Squat is a plate-loaded machine, so correct setup depends on the specific unit at your club. Planet Fitness’s own guidance describes the basic movement as positioning yourself in the Hack Squat, lowering into a squat, and pressing back upward.
Set Up the Machine
First, confirm that you are using the Hack Squat and read the instructions attached to that machine. Check the foot platform, back and shoulder support, starting position, and any handles, stops, or locking mechanism before adding substantial resistance.
Current club pages, such as Planet Fitness Hope Mills, North Carolina, list the Hack Squat among their plate-loaded strength equipment.
However, Planet Fitness club pages generally identify it simply as “Hack Squat” rather than publishing detailed model information, so controls should not be assumed identical across every location.
Position yourself according to the instructions on the specific machine. If you cannot determine how its starting or locking mechanism works, ask a Planet Fitness trainer or team member; Planet Fitness states that its certified trainers provide instruction on strength machines.
Add a Manageable Amount of Weight
Because the newer Planet Fitness Hack Squat is plate-loaded, resistance is added using weight plates rather than selected from an integrated pin-loaded stack.
Planet Fitness currently lists Hack Squat within its “Plate Loaded Options” at locations such as Planet Fitness Chicago (Logan Square), Illinois.
Add plates evenly according to the loading instructions on the machine and choose resistance you can control through the movement. There is no useful universal recommendation such as “start with one plate” because individual strength, experience, and the machine’s unloaded resistance differ.
Before beginning, confirm that the plates are properly positioned on the intended loading points and that you understand how to return the machine to its resting position.
Perform the Hack Squat
Once positioned correctly, begin from the machine’s designated starting position. Planet Fitness instructs users to lower into the squat and then press back upward, describing the exercise as targeting the quadriceps and glutes.
Keep the descent and upward movement controlled rather than allowing the carriage to move abruptly. Your body should remain supported by the machine in the manner indicated by its instructions.
Avoid treating one foot position or squat depth as universally correct for every person and every Hack Squat model. Planet Fitness’s published Hack Squat guidance does not prescribe one detailed stance or depth for all users. Follow the machine-specific instructions and use a range of motion you can control.
Re-Rack or Engage the Safety Mechanism
Before exercising, learn how the particular Hack Squat starts, stops, and returns to its resting position. Do not assume its locking system works like a Smith machine or another Hack Squat you have previously used.
Planet Fitness’s individual club listings confirm the Hack Squat as plate-loaded equipment but generally do not publish detailed operating mechanisms or model numbers.
Therefore, the safest accurate guidance is to follow the instructional placard on the actual machine.
At the end of the set, bring the carriage to the machine’s designated stopping position and engage its locking or support mechanism as instructed.
If you are uncertain how that mechanism operates, ask a Planet Fitness trainer or team member before adding heavier resistance.
How to Adjust the Planet Fitness Hack Squat Machine
Hack Squat adjustments can depend on the specific machine installed at your Planet Fitness club, so there is no verified universal setup for every location.
Planet Fitness confirms the Hack Squat as plate-loaded equipment but generally does not publish club-level model or adjustment specifications.
Before exercising, check the machine’s instructions and identify its starting position, locking or safety mechanism, foot platform, and plate-loading points.
Load the plates only on the designated horns and make sure you understand how the carriage is released and secured before beginning.
Planet Fitness’s own Hack Squat guidance instructs users to position themselves in the machine, lower into the squat, and press back upward.
Because exact controls may differ, avoid copying another machine’s setup. If an adjustment or safety mechanism is unclear, use the equipment instructions or ask Planet Fitness staff before proceeding.
Planet Fitness Hack Squat Foot Placement
The Hack Squat’s foot platform allows the feet to be positioned for the squat movement, but there is no single Planet Fitness-published foot position that is universally correct for every user or machine.
Planet Fitness’s current public Hack Squat instructions describe the basic squat movement without prescribing one exact stance width, toe angle, or platform position.
Foot placement should also not be presented as a way to perfectly isolate one muscle. Research on squat movements—not specifically the Planet Fitness Hack Squat—shows that changing stance width and foot angle can alter hip and knee joint mechanics and muscular demands. Another controlled squat study found that stance width did not selectively isolate individual quadriceps muscles.
Use a position permitted by the machine instructions that allows you to perform the movement with control, rather than relying on a universal “high,” “low,” “wide,” or “narrow” prescription.
Planet Fitness Hack Squat vs. a Traditional Barbell Squat
The Planet Fitness Hack Squat and a traditional barbell squat are different exercises and equipment setups. Planet Fitness describes its Hack Squat as a supported, plate-loaded machine movement in which you lower into a squat and press back upward.
A traditional back squat uses a free barbell rather than a machine-supported carriage.
| Feature | Planet Fitness Hack Squat | Traditional Barbell Squat |
| Resistance path | Machine-guided | Free barbell controlled by the lifter |
| Torso support | Supported by machine | No machine torso support |
| Loading | Plates loaded on machine | Plates loaded on barbell |
| Stabilization demand | Generally lower because of machine support | Greater demand on trunk stabilization |
| Equipment type | Dedicated Hack Squat machine | Barbell and rack |
Research directly comparing hack squats with back squats found greater trunk-muscle activation during back squats, while participants could handle greater absolute loads in the supported Hack Squat.
This does not make either exercise universally better; they provide different training setups.
Is the Planet Fitness Hack Squat the Same as the Smith Machine
No. The Planet Fitness Hack Squat and Smith Machine are different pieces of equipment, even though both can be used for squat-style lower-body movements.
A Hack Squat is a dedicated, supported lower-body machine. At current clubs such as Planet Fitness Hope Mills, North Carolina, Hack Squat appears under Plate Loaded Options, while Smith machines are listed separately.
The Smith Machine instead uses a bar fixed to a guided track. Planet Fitness describes its Smith Machine as having a bar that moves along a fixed vertical path, and the equipment can be used for several exercises, including squats and presses.
So, although both guide resistance during a squat, they work differently:
- Hack Squat: dedicated supported squat machine with plates loaded onto the machine.
- Smith Machine: guided bar system used for multiple exercises.
The Smith Machine should therefore not be treated as another name for the Planet Fitness Hack Squat.
How to Check if Your Planet Fitness Has a Hack Squat
Because equipment inventories can differ between clubs, verify the specific Planet Fitness location you plan to visit rather than assuming availability from another club.
Current official pages can provide useful equipment details; for example, Planet Fitness Hope Mills, North Carolina explicitly lists Hack Squat under its plate-loaded options.
Check the Official Planet Fitness Club Page
Open your exact club’s official Planet Fitness page and review its Strength Equipment section. Look specifically for wording such as:
- Hack Squat
- Plate Loaded Options
For example, Planet Fitness Plano (Coit Rd), Texas currently lists “Plate Loaded Options” that include Hack Squat, Leg Press, Calf Raise, and Supine Bench Press.
If Hack Squat is not individually listed, do not automatically conclude that the club does not have one. An incomplete or broader online equipment listing means availability is not confirmed online, unless the club provides more specific information.
Contact the Specific Planet Fitness Club
If the equipment page is unclear, contact that exact Planet Fitness location and ask about the machine by name.
Useful questions include:
- “Do you currently have a Hack Squat machine?”
- “Is your Hack Squat plate-loaded?”
Using the exact equipment name is more precise than asking whether the club has “leg machines,” since Planet Fitness club pages separate categories such as selectorized equipment, plate-loaded options, and Smith machines.
Direct confirmation is particularly useful when the website groups several strength machines together or does not provide detailed model information.
Check the Machine When You Visit
If you need details beyond basic availability, inspect the actual Hack Squat at the club. Check its equipment label, manufacturer information, model designation, instructional placard, and stated specifications where provided.
This matters especially for questions such as starting resistance, maximum loading capacity, or operating mechanism, because Planet Fitness club pages typically list the equipment simply as “Hack Squat” without publishing detailed model specifications.
For example, Planet Fitness Hope Mills, North Carolina confirms Hack Squat availability but does not identify a model number on its public equipment list.
If the label or setup is unclear, Planet Fitness states that certified trainers can provide instruction on its strength machines.
What to Check Before Using the Planet Fitness Hack Squat
Before using a Planet Fitness Hack Squat, confirm that you are on the correct machine and understand how its plate-loading and locking system works.
Current club pages, such as Planet Fitness Hope Mills, North Carolina, list the Hack Squat as plate-loaded equipment, so setup differs from a pin-loaded strength machine.
Before starting, check:
- The machine’s starting position and instructions.
- How its release, locking, or safety mechanism operates.
- That weight plates are placed securely on the designated loading points.
- That you have selected resistance you can control.
- The machine’s instructional placard before changing its setup.
Planet Fitness also offers Scan & Learn at most clubs. QR codes on equipment can open tutorials in the PF App showing how to use that specific piece of equipment.
If the machine setup remains unclear, ask a Planet Fitness trainer or team member. Planet Fitness states that its certified trainers provide instruction on strength equipment.
Conclusion
Planet Fitness now has Hack Squat machines at many locations as part of its expanded plate-loaded strength lineup, but availability and exact equipment can differ by club.
The machine provides a supported squat-style movement and is identified by Planet Fitness primarily with quadriceps and glute training.
Before using one, confirm the machine’s setup, loading points, starting position, and locking mechanism, and avoid relying on universal claims about starting resistance, capacity, or foot placement.
Check your specific club’s official equipment page for availability, then inspect the machine label or ask staff when model-specific details matter.
This approach helps you use accurate, current information instead of relying on outdated assumptions found online.
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