Leg Press vs Backward Lunge
Which one fits your Leg workout plan?
Contents
Planfit users log Leg Press more often — 39,215 sessions vs 1,292. Compare Leg form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Compare the benefits of Leg Press and Backward Lunge and pick the one that fits your Leg workout.
Leg Press vs Backward Lunge: Which Do Planfit Users Choose?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Leg Press more often — 39,215 sessions compared to 1,292 for Backward Lunge.
What most people do isn't always what fits you. Leg Press and Backward Lunge differ in the muscles they work, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Leg Press and Backward Lunge Differ
| What differs | Leg Press | Backward Lunge |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | a machine | bodyweight only |
| One side at a time | No | Yes |
| Difficulty | 3 of 5 | 2 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 39,215 sessions | 1,292 sessions |
How to Do Leg Press
Leg Press Muscles Worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Please bend from the hip to the knee while keeping your abdomen tight.
- 2. Please lower yourself until your thigh is perpendicular to your body.
- 3. While extending your hip, push only until your knee is slightly bent.
Coach's Tips
- 1. Please be careful not to fully extend your knees.
- 2. Please be careful not to let your knees spread apart.
For a full Leg Press guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Leg Press exercise guide.
How to Do Backward Lunge
Backward Lunge Muscles Worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Step back with one foot and raise the heel of that foot.
- 2. Lower yourself until the angle of both knees is 90 degrees.
- 3. Keep your chest open and your back straight as you return to the starting position.
- 4. Repeat the same with the opposite leg.
Coach's Tips
- 1. Please be careful not to lean your upper body forward.
- 2. When bending your knees, please ensure that the knee of the foot you step forward with does not go beyond the foot.
- 3. Please make sure that your center of gravity does not lean too far forward.
For a full Backward Lunge guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Backward Lunge exercise guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Leg Press or Backward Lunge?
Planfit users log Leg Press more often — 39,215 sessions against 1,292 for Backward Lunge. Both train Leg, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
What equipment do Leg Press and Backward Lunge need?
Leg Press needs a machine, and Backward Lunge needs bodyweight only.
Which is easier to start with?
Backward Lunge is the easier place to start. Move to Leg Press once your form holds up.
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