Calf Raise vs Smith Machine Wide Squat
Maximizing Your Leg Workout Plan
Contents
Smith Machine Wide Squat is the easier place to start — difficulty 4 of 5 vs 5. Compare Leg form cues and when to progress.
Customize Your Leg Workout: Explore the Benefits of Calf Raise and Smith Machine Wide Squat for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Calf Raise vs Smith Machine Wide Squat : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Calf Raise more often — 1,215 sessions compared to 636 for Smith Machine Wide Squat.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Calf Raise and Smith Machine Wide Squat differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Calf Raise and Smith Machine Wide Squat Differ
| What differs | Calf Raise | Smith Machine Wide Squat |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | calves, hamstrings, and glutes | glutes, hamstrings, and inner thighs |
| Equipment | bodyweight only | a machine |
| Difficulty | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 1,215 sessions | 636 sessions |
How to 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 Comment
- 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.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Calf Raise, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Calf Raise Guide page of our blog!
How to Smith Machine Wide Squat
Smith Machine Wide Squat muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Tighten your abdomen and keep your waist straight, then bend at the hip joint to lower your hips 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 hips rise, straighten your knees and hip joints in sequence, returning to the starting position.
Coach's Comment
- 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 waist.
- 3. Don't excessively bend your waist while trying to keep it straight.
- 4. Please do not stick your hips too far back.
- 5. Make sure your feet do not lift off the ground.
- 6. When standing up, please ensure your knees do not come together.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Smith Machine Wide Squat, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Smith Machine Wide Squat Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Calf Raise or Smith Machine Wide Squat?
Neither is clearly ahead — Planfit users log both at a similar rate. They both train Leg, so the choice comes down to the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Calf Raise and Smith Machine Wide Squat work the same muscles?
Not quite. Calf Raise loads calves, hamstrings, and glutes, and Smith Machine Wide Squat loads glutes, hamstrings, and inner thighs.
What equipment do Calf Raise and Smith Machine Wide Squat need?
Calf Raise needs bodyweight only, and Smith Machine Wide Squat needs a machine.
Which is easier to start with?
Smith Machine Wide Squat is the easier place to start. Move to Calf Raise once your form holds up.
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