Goblet Squat vs Side Lunge

Which one fits your Leg workout plan?

Contents

Planfit users log Goblet Squat more often — 7,693 sessions vs 2,121. Compare Leg form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Compare the benefits of Goblet Squat and Side Lunge and pick the one that fits your Leg workout.

Goblet Squat vs Side Lunge: Which Do Planfit Users Choose?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Goblet Squat more often — 7,693 sessions compared to 2,121 for Side Lunge.

What most people do isn't always what fits you. Goblet Squat and Side Lunge differ in the muscles they work, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Goblet Squat and Side Lunge Differ

What differsGoblet SquatSide Lunge
Muscles workedquads, hamstrings, and glutesquads, glutes, and outer thighs
Equipmenta dumbbellbodyweight only
One side at a timeNoYes
Difficulty2 of 52 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users7,693 sessions2,121 sessions

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How to Do Goblet Squat

Goblet Squat demo video

Goblet Squat Muscles Worked: Leg

Form

  1. 1. Tighten your abdomen and keep your waist straight, then bend at the hips to lower your buttocks down.
  2. 2. Lower yourself until your knees naturally bend and your thighs are parallel to the ground.
  3. 3. Push strongly through the center of your feet to rise up.
  4. 4. As your buttocks rise, straighten your knees and hips in sequence, returning to the starting position.

Coach's Tips

  1. 1. Please be careful not to lean your upper body too far forward.
  2. 2. Keep your chest up and engage your core to avoid bending your waist.
  3. 3. Don't excessively bend your waist while trying to keep it straight.
  4. 4. Please do not stick your hips too far back.
  5. 5. Make sure your feet do not lift off the ground.
  6. 6. When standing up, please ensure your knees do not come together.

For a full Goblet Squat guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Goblet Squat exercise guide.

Want to learn more about Goblet Squat?Exercise Guide

How to Do Side Lunge

Side Lunge demo video

Side Lunge Muscles Worked: Leg

Form

  1. 1. Move one foot to the side and shift your weight.
  2. 2. Bend the knee of the moved leg and keep the opposite leg straight.
  3. 3. Apply pressure to the center of the bent knee and slowly rise back to the starting position.
  4. 4. Repeat the same on the opposite side.

Coach's Tips

  1. 1. Please be careful not to lean your upper body forward.
  2. 2. Please make sure that your center of gravity does not shift too much to the side.

For a full Side Lunge guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Side Lunge exercise guide.

Want to learn more about Side Lunge?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Leg, Goblet Squat or Side Lunge?

Planfit users log Goblet Squat more often — 7,693 sessions against 2,121 for Side Lunge. Both train Leg, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

Do Goblet Squat and Side Lunge work the same muscles?

Not quite. Goblet Squat loads quads, hamstrings, and glutes, and Side Lunge loads quads, glutes, and outer thighs.

What equipment do Goblet Squat and Side Lunge need?

Goblet Squat needs a dumbbell, and Side Lunge needs bodyweight only.

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