Worth it if you press, squat or use a bench, because those are the movements where half your foot ends up off the platform. Not worth it if you mostly do standing cable work in a small room. Here is what it adds, which exercises need it, and what else solves the same problem.
What the platform extension adds
The platform extension adds standing surface to the machine, so your feet stay on one level, stable base instead of straddling the edge between the platform and the floor. That sounds minor until you are set up for a heavy press and one heel is on carpet.
In our own ranking of Speediance Gym Monster accessories it sits second, right behind the bench, for the same reason: a stable base is what everything else is built on. The priority order for most owners is a solid adjustable bench, then a platform extension or floor mat for a stable base, and only then cable attachments and straps to expand exercise variety.
It is also one of the accessories with the longest useful life. Attachments come and go as your programme changes, but the base under your feet is the same on day one and in year three.
Which exercises need it
The pattern is simple: anything where your feet want to be further forward, wider, or further back than the standard platform allows.
- Pressing from a bench. The bench takes up platform space, and your feet end up wherever is left. An extension gives them somewhere flat to drive from.
- Squats and other loaded standing work. A wider stance is the first thing to run off the edge of a standard platform.
- Anything where you step back into position. If setting up involves finding the edge with your heel, the base is too small.
And the exercises that do not need it: seated cable work, most arm and shoulder isolation, and lower body work driven through ankle straps, where you are anchored rather than standing and pressing.
GM1 vs GM2 vs GM2s fit
Good news for upgraders: platform extensions are machine agnostic. Benches, platform extensions, floor mats, ropes, handles, straps and belts work the same across Gym Monster 1, 2 and 2s, because they attach to the cable or sit on the floor rather than to model specific ports. If you move from a Gym Monster 1 to a 2 or 2s, the extension moves with you.
The only accessory category that genuinely varies by model is 3D printed parts, since those mount on the frame. Everything you stand on is fine.
Speediance sells the platform extension today as part of the Speediance Pilates Set, so the set is how you buy the part. The extension itself is machine agnostic, so it moves with you between Gym Monster models.
Alternatives
A floor mat is the direct substitute and the one the accessories guide names alongside the extension. It does not raise you to platform height, so you still step down at the edge, but it gives a consistent, non slip surface and it costs less. For a room with a hard floor and no bench work, a mat is often enough.
Rearranging the room is the free option. A lot of the pressure on platform space comes from where the bench sits and which direction you face. Before spending anything, set up your usual session and watch where your feet actually land.
Doing nothing is a legitimate choice if your training is standing cable work and isolation. You will know you need the extension because you will feel yourself hunting for the edge, not because a list told you to buy it.
Verdict
Buy it if you press from a bench or squat with any real load, because that is where an unstable base stops being a comfort issue and starts being a safety one. Buy it early rather than late, since it is second on the priority list for a reason, and it outlasts everything you clip to the cable.
Skip it, or start with a mat, if your sessions are seated and standing cable work in a room where floor space is the scarce resource. You can always add it later, and unlike a printed part, it will still fit whatever Gym Monster you own by then.
Once the base is sorted, the next thing worth fixing is where the attachments live: see Speediance accessory rack and storage.
Platform extension FAQ
Do I need the platform extension for a Speediance Gym Monster? Only if your feet run out of platform. Pressing from a bench, squatting and any wide stance work are the cases where it matters. Seated cable work, isolation and ankle strap movements do not need it, so plenty of owners train happily without one.
Does the platform extension fit Gym Monster 1, 2 and 2s? Yes. Platform extensions are machine agnostic, in the same way as benches, floor mats, ropes, handles, straps and belts, because they sit on the floor rather than attaching to model specific ports. Only 3D printed parts can be model specific.
Is a floor mat a good substitute? For some owners, yes. A mat gives a consistent, non slip surface for less money, and the accessories guide names it alongside the extension as a way to get a stable base. What it does not do is bring the floor up to platform height, so you still meet an edge.
Try GMVoice
Download the app, choose the mic setup you already have, and start training with your voice.
Related guides
- Speediance Gym Monster Accessories: 10 Worth Buying in 2026 (and 2 to Skip)
- Speediance Accessory Rack and Storage: 6 Ways to Organize Gym Monster Attachments
- How to Set Up GMVoice DIY: Flash Firmware on a Speediance Gym Monster Dongle
Planning your next session? GM Manager builds Speediance workouts in your browser.