Leg Curl vs Barbell Wide Squat

Maximizing Your Leg Workout Plan

Contents

Planfit users log Leg Curl more often — 39,860 sessions vs 388. Compare Leg form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Customize Your Leg Workout: Explore the Benefits of Leg Curl and Barbell Wide Squat for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Leg Curl vs Barbell Wide Squat : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Leg Curl more often — 39,860 sessions compared to 388 for Barbell Wide Squat.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Leg Curl and Barbell 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 Leg Curl and Barbell Wide Squat Differ

What differsLeg CurlBarbell Wide Squat
Muscles workedhamstrings and calvesglutes, hamstrings, and inner thighs
Equipmenta machinea barbell
Difficulty1 of 54 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users39,860 sessions388 sessions

Related comparisons

Not sure whether Leg Curl or Barbell Wide Squat fits your goal? Get a personalized plan

How to Leg Curl

Leg Curl gif

Leg Curl muscles worked: Leg

Form

  1. 1. Engage your hamstrings and glutes, and lift the ankle pads up to your hips.
  2. 2. Lower down only until your knees are fully extended against the weight resistance.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to fully extend your knees.
  2. 2. Please be careful not to lift your upper body.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Leg Curl, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Leg Curl Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Leg Curl methods?Exercise Guide

How to Barbell Wide Squat

Barbell Wide Squat gif

Barbell Wide Squat muscles worked: Leg

Form

  1. 1. Tighten your abdomen and keep your waist straight, then bend at the hip 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 Comment

  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 come off the ground.
  6. 6. When standing up, please ensure your knees do not come together.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Barbell Wide Squat, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Barbell Wide Squat Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Barbell Wide Squat methods?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Leg, Leg Curl or Barbell Wide Squat?

Planfit users log Leg Curl more often — 39,860 sessions against 388 for Barbell Wide Squat. Both train Leg, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

Do Leg Curl and Barbell Wide Squat work the same muscles?

Not quite. Leg Curl loads hamstrings and calves, and Barbell Wide Squat loads glutes, hamstrings, and inner thighs.

What equipment do Leg Curl and Barbell Wide Squat need?

Leg Curl needs a machine, and Barbell Wide Squat needs a barbell.

Which is easier to start with?

Leg Curl is the easier place to start. Move to Barbell Wide Squat once your form holds up.

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