The Landmine System (Pt. 1/2)

Today we will talk about the actual landmine unit itself. Next week we will focus on the different attachments you can get.

So, why are we talking about military explosives?? Lol, while the name is the same, the only “explosion” that will come out of this landmine is your mind exploding at all the cool functionality this tool will offer you for your home gym workouts!

The landmine unit is the actual piece that swivels (as shown in the pictures). This unit allows you to insert a barbell into it so you can then do exercises that require hinging motion with the barbell.

What are some of the exercises you can do?
-Bent over row
-Overhead/Viking press
-Alternating jump lunges
-Goblet squats
-Lateral raises
-Single leg RDLs
and more!

The landmine is a cost effective way (they cost $20-$160) to add additional functionality to your workouts. All you need is an Olympic bar, cable attachments, and plates, most of which are items people already have in their home gym, and you’re good to go!

How do these work? Let’s talk about the multiple different options:

-Option #1: plate insert (pics 2-3). For this option, you insert one end into a bumper plate (or two) and then put the bumpers against the wall
-Option #2: attach to a squat rack (pic 4). For this option it will either come already built into your rack, or you can buy one that attaches to it (usually by going under one of the legs on the base). This reduces your need for the bumpers and increases your available floor space
-Option #3: ball end barbell attachment (pic 5). For this option, you simply put your bar into the sleeve and the ball end acts as the pivot point. I’ve seen mixed opinions on this option and personally I would not recommend.
-Option #4: floor mounted (pic 6). For this option you screw it right into the floor. These are usually a bit more heavy duty and are great if you know you’re keeping the gym permanently in this space (or, at least keeping the landmine where it is)
-Option #5: independent unit (pic 7). This unit is designed to operate by itself. You can put it against the wall, or put some plates on it, if additional support is needed.

So, which option should you choose?
I think option #2 (squat rack mounted) and #5 (independent unit) offer the most options for varied use. I see people lean towards option #2, but personally I think option #5 is better if you’re looking for something you can put in any portion of your gym.

That being said, I’ve noticed most of my customers lean towards option #1 (plate insert) as it is the cheapest option and easy to use with bumpers in any part of the gym. With that being said, one key callout is option #1 is the only one that does NOT have 360 degree rotation. It just moves up and down, not side to side as well. This can be counteracted by simply spinning the pivot arm inside of the bumper, but this is not always a smooth motion. At the end of the day it’s not a big deal, just a small point to take into consideration.

Tune in next week for landmine system (pt. 2/2) where we will focus on the myriad of different attachments you can use for these systems!