For quad growth
For quad growth, single-leg leg press rates higher on our research criteria: easier on the joints.
Both are good choices that train the quads the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.
The research score comes from these, scored by hand from the studies. Lifter scores appear once an exercise has 10 ratings. How scores work
Single-Leg Leg Press. One leg at a time on a stable sled: a deep knee bend, no balance demand and easy to load in small steps.
Smith Machine Squat. A squat on rails, so you can place your feet forward and push the quads hard without balancing a bar.
For quad growth, single-leg leg press rates higher on our research criteria: easier on the joints. Both are good choices that train the quads the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.
About the same: both are easy to learn.
Single-leg leg press needs a machine, so for most people it’s a gym exercise. Smith machine squat needs a Smith machine, so for most people it’s a gym exercise.
Single-leg leg press: it rates Excellent for joint and recovery cost in our research rubric, against Strong for Smith machine squat.