Calf Raise vs Front Squat
Which one fits your Leg workout plan?
Contents
Planfit users log Calf Raise more often — 1,215 sessions vs 417. Compare Leg form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Compare the benefits of Calf Raise and Front Squat and pick the one that fits your Leg workout.
Calf Raise vs Front Squat: Which Do Planfit Users Choose?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Calf Raise more often — 1,215 sessions compared to 417 for Front Squat.
What most people do isn't always what fits you. Calf Raise and Front Squat differ in the muscles they work, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Calf Raise and Front Squat Differ
| What differs | Calf Raise | Front Squat |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | calves, hamstrings, and glutes | quads, hamstrings, and glutes |
| Equipment | bodyweight only | a barbell |
| Difficulty | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 1,215 sessions | 417 sessions |
How to Do Calf Raise
Calf Raise Muscles Worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Please raise your heels as high as possible to contract your calf muscles.
- 2. Please hold while resisting the weight, making sure your heels do not touch the ground.
Coach's Tips
- 1. If it is difficult to maintain your balance, support yourself with your hand on a wall or object.
- 2. Since strain may be placed on your ankle or Achilles tendon (the tendon at the back of your calf and heel), do not lower yourself quickly, and if you feel pain, perform the exercise with just your body weight.
For a full Calf Raise guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Calf Raise exercise guide.
How to Do Front Squat
Front Squat Muscles Worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Tighten your abdomen and keep your waist straight, then bend at the hip to lower your buttocks down.
- 2. Allow your knees to bend naturally until your thighs are parallel to the ground.
- 3. Push strongly through the center of your feet to rise up.
- 4. As your buttocks rise, straighten your knees and hips in sequence, returning to the starting position.
Coach's Tips
- 1. Please be careful not to lean your upper body too far forward.
- 2. Keep your chest up and engage your core to avoid bending your back.
- 3. Don't excessively arch your back while trying to keep it straight.
- 4. Please do not stick your hips too far back.
- 5. Make sure your feet do not come off the ground.
- 6. When standing up, please ensure your knees do not come together.
For a full Front Squat guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Front Squat exercise guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Calf Raise or Front Squat?
Planfit users log Calf Raise more often — 1,215 sessions against 417 for Front Squat. Both train Leg, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Calf Raise and Front Squat work the same muscles?
Not quite. Calf Raise loads calves, hamstrings, and glutes, and Front Squat loads quads, hamstrings, and glutes.
What equipment do Calf Raise and Front Squat need?
Calf Raise needs bodyweight only, and Front Squat needs a barbell.
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