Home Gym Hacks: Soft Loop Tiedown Straps - VOL. 3
Introduction
With Volume THREE, I have provided 39 hacks involving the Soft loop Tiedown Strap. These are definely very versatile straps. Further, they are cheap. The Straps that I use in all three Volumes are these:
BUY 8 PACK OF STRAPS HERE: https://amzn.to/3kUglqb
VOLUME 1: https://diyfitnessclub.com/projects/home-gym-hacks-soft-loop-tiedown-straps-vol1
VOLUME 2: https://diyfitnessclub.com/projects/home-gym-hacks-soft-loop-tiedown-straps-vol2
VOLUME 3: See Video Here:
VOLUME 3 HACKS:
Hack 1: Turn Adjustable/Flat Bench into Decline Bench
So most pople know that you can turn a flat or adjusatable bench into a decline by sticking something under the front post. Plates are a great way to be able to incrementally stack something sturdy. You want more teh decline to be more pronounced…add more plates. However, you really should put the plates on a plate pin - becasue if those stacked plates shift while you are pressing some heavy weight…you are going to get hurt. Bye Bye teeth. One thing that a decline bench has (or a FID bench) is something to brace you feet on when you are gettinginto position. If you ar e pressing a barbell - this is not absolutely necessary since you will not be holding naything while you get into positrion (i.e., the barbell remains on your J Hooks). However, if you are pressing Dumbbeells, - these will obviosuly need to be held while getting into posotion. Getting into and out of a decline position while holding heavy weight is not only akward, but potentially dnagerous.
This is where the Soft Loop Tiedown strap comes in. Alternatively, you could use any other strap - or even a weightlifting belt - but the key is to add “something” to the front post of your flat/adjustable bench so that you have something to brace your feet against when you get into and out of position.
Hack 2: Inversion Table
In the video, I did not make the chain lomg enough (but I didn’t have time to reshoot this scene). To goal here is to have the chain long enough that you can fully extend your legs - strainght against the pull up bar.
I use this hack often since I sold my Inversion Table back in 2020. It took up too much room, and with this hack I hardly miss it,
Hack 3: Pendulum Squat
This hack is a great way o burn out your Quads. In the video, I hooked up to the rear crossbeam of my rack. However, this may be too high for some people. If it is, experiment with placing your J Hooks on the BACK of your rear uprights, and then placing a barbell on those J hooks. Then attach your Soft Lop Tiedown strap on the barbell. This will give you more options for how high of a position you want to tether yourself to.
Hack 4: "Bulldog" Pad
Obviosuly having a REAL Bulldog pad is “better.” But this may be all you need.
Having said that, if you are going to pull very heavy weight - even with a Belt Squat belt as comfortable as the Henny Belt - you still may require additional padding between your chest and the Belt Squat Belt. Therefore, you may need to slide a balance Pad or an AbMat in between your chest and the interior of the Belt Squat Belt.
Hack 5: Standing Calf Raises on Dip Station
After recently purchasing a used Body Solid Dip Station (which I love by the way), I discovered that I could also use it for Standing Calf Raises. However, as soon as I wanted to add extra resistance by holding a dumbbell/band, etc…I no longer had the balance. However, once I added a Soft loop Tiedown Strap - BOOM! I now have a new favorite way to do Standing Calf Raises in my home gym.
Hack 6: 3-in-1 Universal Strap Handles
I already covered this topic in a wholly dedicated video. The truth is for this hack and several other hacks (i.e., TRX/Gymnast Rings, Chain Yoke, Barbell Strap) in this video…I started filing those Hacks with the intent of creating a Volume 3 of this Series…but once I started filming I realized that each of those hacks required their own individual videos, so that I could take more time to explain the nuances. This is the reason why so much time has gone by between Volume 2 and Volume 3.
Anyways - no need to beat a dead horse all the additional details for this hack can be found here:
Hack 7: TRX-Style Suspension System & Gymnast Ring Hybrid
Further details here: https://youtu.be/LcQVYWqtrO0
Hack 8: Chain Yoke
Further details here: https://youtu.be/5uybjM8eW3U
Hack 9: Barbell Strap
Further details here: https://youtu.be/h3A6Bn44LiE
Hack 10: Connect Dumbbells to Barbell
As I explain in the video, this Hack is not for everyone. In fact the idea seems kind of cringe. I get it.
However, I have seen people doing this on Instagram with other devices - which provide a RIGID connection to the dumbbells (e.g., The Jayflex Barbell).
While my hack does provide a way for you to attach dumbbells to a barbell - the connection is not rigid. With this hack, the connection is “floppy”. Therefore, they are not really comparable.
I must say I was pleasantly surprised after trying it. I approximates that intentional instability of a something like an Earthquake bar. Actually, It felt great. Give it a shot.
Hack 11: Fractional Plates
These are not pretty, but they do the job. I used washers, but you could literally use anything that you can attached to the strap. Further, make them in any increment that you want.
For something more elegant, consider this: MicroGainz Fractional Plates: https://amzn.to/3X0aXSQ
Hack 12: Incremental Weight on Weight Stack
Not only can you add incremental wieght with this hack, but you can also add additional weight. If your stack is too light - add a 10, 25, 35 or 45 LBS plate. If do this (especially with a 45 LBS plate), you will need to tether two straps together (so make the strap long enough for the larger plate). Just be careful not to exceed the manufacturur’s remommeneded weight limit.
That being said,it can be a little akward trying to hold the 45 LBS Plate in the air while also trying to connect the carabiner to the welded rings. For this reason I did not inlcude this in the video. Don’t get me wrong - it works….but there are more elegant solutions out there - such as this one: MicroGainz Gym Pin: https://amzn.to/3wROlZR
Hack 13: Sissy Squat Attachment
I recently stumbled on this hack shortly after publishing my Sissy Squat Hacks Video. Which you can watch here: https://youtu.be/HjfwMDyE7UA
I wish that I thought of this before I published that video, because this is the easiest setup of for Sissy Squats that I have at my disposal.
SHOPPING
🛍 🛒SHOPPING LIST WHEN SHOPPING, PLEASE CLICK FIRST TO SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: By shopping via any of these links, I get paid a small commission which helps support the Club’s costs such as Web Hosting the website.
BUY 8 PACK OF STRAPS HERE: https://amzn.to/3kUglqb
TDS Power Rack https://amzn.to/3dUvUed
ABMAT Pad
Via Abmat: https://bit.ly/3uWpaWn
Via Rogue: https://bit.ly/3JlRhCq
Via AMAZON: https://amzn.to/3Q3rYIP
Balance Pad Pad: https://amzn.to/3g83fTG
Lashing Strap: https://amzn.to/3PNkIQU
Once you try this for yourself - be sure to let me know how it worked for you! Happy Lifting!
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