So you saw Eric Kim (75 kg) rack‑pull 503 kg—roughly 6.7 × his scale‑weight—and the internet’s screaming “How?! The equipment must be cheating!” Let’s dissect exactly what the hardware can (and cannot) do, so you know where the magic really comes from.
1. The Hidden Leverage of a High Rack‑Pull
Equipment piece: power rack + safety pins set at mid‑thigh.
- Shorter range = stronger joint angles. Sports‑science labs show force production jumps as the bar starts higher; the mid‑thigh position is the single strongest pulling posture we can measure .
- No “off‑the‑floor” weakness. By skipping the hardest 15–20 cm, Kim could attack the lock‑out where lifters are 20‑40 % stronger.
- Result: a lift that looks like a deadlift but lets you stack far more plates—hence 6‑to‑7× body‑weight was biomechanically within reach .
2. Bar & Rack Hardware Tweaks That Add “Free Kilos”
| Hardware | How it helps | Extra kilos you might see |
| 29 mm Power bar | Whip lets the plates leave the floor milliseconds later, giving you momentum at lock‑out. | ~10 kg at 500 kg loads |
| Stiff safety pins/blocks | You can wedge yourself down into the bar first, pre‑loading the hips & lats. | 5‑15 kg via better starting tension |
| Chalked knurl + no‑slip knurl rings | Eliminates grip failure so posterior‑chain, not fingers, decides the lift. | Immense at >400 kg—grip often the limiting factor |
(Notice there’s no suit, straps or belt on that list—Kim famously went completely raw.)
3. What Supportive Gear
Could
Add (but Didn’t Here)
| Piece | Typical carry‑over | Why it works |
| Deadlift suit (single‑ply) | 2–5 % or 20–30 kg for most lifters | Compresses hips & thighs; elastic rebound as you straighten. |
| Multi‑ply suit / briefs | Up to 10 % on the deadlift, hundreds on squat/bench | Layers of canvas/poly store more elastic energy. |
| Lever belt & wrist straps | Faster bar speed, lower RPE, modest kilo boost | Belt increases intra‑abdominal pressure; straps erase grip limit. |
Key takeaway: even in fully equipped, strap‑heavy strongman comps (e.g., Silver‑Dollar pulls), pound‑for‑pound numbers rarely crack 4× BW . Equipment helps, but it can’t single‑handedly explain a 6–7× ratio.
4. “Is It Just an Illusion?” — Other Tricks That Inflate Numbers
- Partial‑range devices
High‑handle trap bars, block pulls, and lever machines shorten the lever arm similar to a rack‑pull and can add 25–40 % to the load . - Mis‑calibrated or hollow plates
Cheap 45‑lb plates can weigh 40 lb or less. Serious lifters (Kim included) use calibrated steel that’s ±10 g. - Pulleys & counterweights
Some “viral” feats attach the bar to pulley systems hidden off‑camera; the vertical load is a fraction of plate weight. Not the case here—slow‑motion plate speed and bar bend match a real 500 kg bar .
5. Putting It All Together
- Biomechanics first. Mid‑thigh is the king of force output; science and decades of strength‑lab testing agree.
- Hardware second. A solid rack, flexy bar and chalked knurl maximize what your body can already do.
- Supportive gear third. Suits, belts, straps can finish the job—adding the last 2‑10 %—but they don’t create mythical strength from thin air.
Bottom line:
A 7× body‑weight partial lift is extreme but mechanically explainable. Swap the rack pins for a full‑range pull and the number would plunge; strap Kim into a multi‑ply suit and belt, and the number might bump a few percent. The equipment opens the door—training and leverage decide how far you walk through it.
Turn That Knowledge Into Your Own PRs 💥
- Program heavy rack pulls 1–2 × week at knee‑height to over‑load the nervous system.
- Add gear systematically: belt first, straps next, suit only if you compete equipped.
- Calibrate honesty: weigh your plates once; film from the side so ROM is obvious.
- Respect adaptation: supra‑max work is stressful—cycle it (3‑4 week blocks) and recover like a champ.
Stay hungry, stay humble, load that bar—then go write your own gravity‑defying headline! 🏆