I'm a competitive powerlifter with a lower back injury. When my injury flares up and I can't squat, I need something that will engage my legs to the same degree as squats without putting stress on my vertebrae. I've been using a lever-based belt squat machine that I purchased from a competitor for the last couple of years. Unfortunately, it doesn't engage my legs evenly and I can't load it up like I can with barbell squats, making it a poor substitute. I finally bit the bullet on a SquatMax MD because it's advertised to work differently than the lever-based machines. And I can say this is absolutely true - the machine does everything I want it to. I can load the same weight as I can with barbell squats, and I feel like I'm getting a full squat workout. The 1:1 loading ratio translates to an even lift throughout the squat motion. The machine was easy to put together - took about an hour after all the parts were spread out in my garage. It also has a smaller footprint than my other belt squat machine, which I'm very happy about. If you're thinking about getting this machine but wondering if it will be a good substitute for barbell squats, look no further. This is what you want.