Category: Exercise Alternatives

Nothing targets the three heads of the shoulder quite like the Arnold press, which is my favorite exercise across the board.  However, the Arnold press cannot be the sole exercise of an effective shoulder routine and can prove to be redundant if implemented year-round. Luckily, this is a minor hurdle since there is an abundant … Continue Reading14 Best Arnold Press Alternatives (With Pictures, How To’s, and Technique Tips)

The hack squat is a machine-based squat accessory exercise that works your quads and glutes while eliminating the stabilization requirement seen in a barbell back squat. Unfortunately, not all gyms decide to invest in a hack squat. Machines tend to carry higher price tags than free-weight equipment, so it’s possible that you might not have … Continue Reading9 Best Hack Squat Alternatives (With How-To Videos)

Machine leg curls are an exercise we all love to hate. Lying face down on the machine and curling light to moderate weights for high volume can be exhausting and even liberating, but they’re not right for everyone.   That’s why we’ve put together a list of the 17 best leg curl replacements to better suit … Continue Reading17 Best Leg Curl Alternatives (Dumbbell, At Home, Cable)

The leg extension machine is a popular addition to any regular gym-goer’s workout routine. It’s a great way to work the big muscles in the front of your legs, known as the quadriceps.  I like to incorporate leg extensions toward the end of my workouts. And what really sets them apart is that they are … Continue Reading15 Leg Extension Alternatives (At Home, Bands, Free Weight)

The decline bench press can be an effective exercise to improve the development of your lower pecs. However, there are several reasons why you might need an alternative to the decline bench press, including your gym doesn’t have a decline bench, you find the decline bench awkward to set up, you want to isolate the … Continue Reading10 Effective Decline Bench Press Alternatives (With Pictures)

Squat variations can help you build lower body strength if you cannot do this foundational exercise. Maybe you have knee or back pain or a lack of range of motion to perform a squat correctly. Or you don’t have the right equipment. Even so, there are plenty of alternative squat exercises you can do. The top … Continue Reading50 Squat Variations To Grow and Strengthen Your Legs

Pull-ups are among the most popular back exercises for building strength and muscle mass around the lats and biceps. They can also be used to test your relative strength and muscular endurance. However, not everyone can do a pull-up, and there are a ton of variations that are arguably superior to the pull-up.  Here are … Continue Reading14 Pull-Up Alternatives To Do With Machines or at Home

Out of all the core exercises, the ab rollout is one of the most effective and highly used in developing core strength. However, the ab rollout alone may not be optimal enough in developing core strength. Fortunately, there are ample core exercises to program in addition to it or in its place. The 10 best … Continue Reading10 Best Ab Rollout Alternatives (With Pictures)

The Russian twist is a very popular exercise for training the abdominal and oblique muscle groups. Most beginners will likely do Russian twists in their core workouts. However, this can get boring and cause lower back discomfort over time.  So what are the best alternatives to the Russian twist exercise? The 10 best Russian twist … Continue Reading10 Best Russian Twist Alternatives (That Work Better)

The side crunch is a popular oblique exercise in the weight room. But to me, there are much better exercises for targeting the obliques. The 10 best side crunch alternatives are: Side plank Russian twist Banded wood chop Lying heel touch Landmine oblique twist Yoga ball stir the pot Plank pull-through Dead bug Mountain climber … Continue Reading10 Best Side Crunch Alternatives (With Pictures)