Five Gym Machines That Work Hamstrings Like Nothing Else

Walk into most commercial gyms and you’ll usually find a seated leg curl and a prone. They cover the basics.

But if you actually want to build serious posterior chain strength, the basics aren’t always enough. You need multiple machines that work hamstrings from different angles, resistance profiles and loading styles.

That’s exactly what we’ve built in our dedicated leg room at Le Coach Fitness.

Why Hamstring Machine Variety Matters

Your hamstrings cross both the hip and the knee. That means different positions change how they’re trained.

• Lying curls bias the shortened position.

• Seated curls load the hamstrings in a lengthened position.

• Kneeling and plate loaded variations increase stability and eliminate cheating.

Different angles train different stimuli which equals better development.

Most gyms give you one or maybe two hamstring options if you’re lucky. 

We’ve built an entire lineup of machines that work hamstrings from every meaningful angle.

And when paired with targeted glute training, you create the kind of lower body development most gyms simply can’t support.

Cybex Classic Prone Leg Curl

The Cybex Classic Prone Leg Curl is a true industry staple.

Its divergent hip and chest pad angle reduces lower back strain, allowing you to load heavy without forcing lumbar hyperextension. The narrow chest pad design gives you solid handle access, and the adjustable calf pad ensures proper alignment from the start.

If you’re serious about hamstrings, prone curls aren’t optional.

Cybex VR2 Seated Leg Curl

The Cybex VR2 Seated Leg Curl uses a belt driven system, creating an exceptionally smooth resistance curve.

Seated curls place the hamstrings in a more lengthened position, where a huge amount of growth stimulus happens. At Le Coach, we’ve even fitted this machine with a seat belt to lock the hips down, keeping tension exactly where it should be.

This is where hamstrings get built properly.

Cybex Plate Loaded Kneeling Leg Curl

The Cybex Plate Loaded Kneeling Leg Curl is rare and highly sought after.

Think of it as a bicep curl for your hamstrings. The design makes cheating almost impossible, and the iso lateral arms allow you to correct imbalances side to side. Being plate loaded means you control the exact progression.

Very few gyms in the UK have this.

Flex Fitness Hamtractor

The Flex Fitness Hamtractor is arguably one of the best seated leg curls ever made.

The tilted seat creates a precise line of pull that keeps tension exactly where it should be. The pre-start lever allows you to lift the stack into position without awkwardly fighting the weight, and the multiple lower leg adjustments make it easy to dial in your setup properly.

We hunted this machine for 10 years. It’s rare, highly sought after, and once you use it, you understand why.

Star Trac Prone Leg Curl

The Star Trac Prone Leg Curl (formerly Flex Fitness) is a commercial grade staple built for serious training.

The movement is exceptionally smooth, the stack is heavy, and the pad positioning supports a neutral spine while bracing. Adjustable calf pads allow users of all sizes to set up correctly and load the hamstrings without unnecessary lower back stress.

Prone curls are non-negotiable in proper hamstring training and this one delivers every time.

Live or work near Cambridge and want to experience these machines for yourself? Grab a discounted day pass and train on some of the best hamstring gym machines in the business.