Captains Chair Leg Raise vs Mountain Climber

Which one fits your Core workout plan?

Contents

Planfit users log Captains Chair Leg Raise more often — 9,849 sessions vs 1,794. Compare Core form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Compare the benefits of Captains Chair Leg Raise and Mountain Climber and pick the one that fits your Core workout.

Captains Chair Leg Raise vs Mountain Climber: Which Do Planfit Users Choose?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Captains Chair Leg Raise more often — 9,849 sessions compared to 1,794 for Mountain Climber.

What most people do isn't always what fits you. Captains Chair Leg Raise and Mountain Climber differ in the muscles they work, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Captains Chair Leg Raise and Mountain Climber Differ

What differsCaptains Chair Leg RaiseMountain Climber
Muscles workedabs and quadsabs, quads, and glutes
Equipmenta machinebodyweight only
Difficulty1 of 53 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users9,849 sessions1,794 sessions

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Not sure whether Captains Chair Leg Raise or Mountain Climber fits your goal? Get a personalized plan

How to Do Captains Chair Leg Raise

Captains Chair Leg Raise demo video

Captains Chair Leg Raise Muscles Worked: Core

Form

  1. 1. Keep your legs straight and lift them up to your waist.
  2. 2. Slowly return to the starting position.

Coach's Tips

  1. 1. Beginners, be careful not to excessively arch your lower back, and slowly lift your legs.
  2. 2. When lifting your legs, do not use momentum, and focus on lifting only with the strength of your lower abdominal muscles.

For a full Captains Chair Leg Raise guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Captains Chair Leg Raise exercise guide.

Want to learn more about Captains Chair Leg Raise?Exercise Guide

How to Do Mountain Climber

Mountain Climber demo video

Mountain Climber Muscles Worked: Core

Form

  1. 1. Spread your arms shoulder-width apart and lie face down, lightly engaging your core to create a straight line with your body.
  2. 2. While keeping one foot off the ground, pull your knee towards your chest.
  3. 3. As you return the lifted foot to its original position, lift the opposite foot and pull its knee towards your chest, repeating the process.

Coach's Tips

  1. This exercise is done quickly to achieve the effects of aerobic exercise rather than slowly feeling the stimulation. Try to perform it at a slightly faster tempo than other exercises.

For a full Mountain Climber guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Mountain Climber exercise guide.

Want to learn more about Mountain Climber?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Core, Captains Chair Leg Raise or Mountain Climber?

Planfit users log Captains Chair Leg Raise more often — 9,849 sessions against 1,794 for Mountain Climber. Both train Core, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

Do Captains Chair Leg Raise and Mountain Climber work the same muscles?

Not quite. Captains Chair Leg Raise loads abs and quads, and Mountain Climber loads abs, quads, and glutes.

What equipment do Captains Chair Leg Raise and Mountain Climber need?

Captains Chair Leg Raise needs a machine, and Mountain Climber needs bodyweight only.

Which is easier to start with?

Captains Chair Leg Raise is the easier place to start. Move to Mountain Climber once your form holds up.

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