Leg Press vs Barbell Wide Squat
Which one fits your Leg workout plan?
Contents
Planfit users log Leg Press more often — 39,215 sessions vs 388. Compare Leg form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Compare the benefits of Leg Press and Barbell Wide Squat and pick the one that fits your Leg workout.
Leg Press vs Barbell Wide Squat: 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 388 for Barbell Wide Squat.
What most people do isn't always what fits you. Leg Press and Barbell Wide Squat 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 Barbell Wide Squat Differ
| What differs | Leg Press | Barbell Wide Squat |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | quads, hamstrings, and glutes | glutes, hamstrings, and inner thighs |
| Equipment | a machine | a barbell |
| Difficulty | 3 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 39,215 sessions | 388 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 Barbell Wide Squat
Barbell Wide Squat Muscles Worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Tighten your abdomen and keep your waist straight, then bend at the hip to lower your buttocks down.
- 2. Lower yourself until your knees naturally bend and your thighs are parallel to the ground.
- 3. Push strongly through the center of your feet to rise up.
- 4. As your buttocks rise, straighten your knees and hips in sequence, returning to the starting position.
Coach's Tips
- 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 come off the ground.
- 6. When standing up, please ensure your knees do not come together.
For a full Barbell Wide Squat guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Barbell Wide Squat exercise guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Leg Press or Barbell Wide Squat?
Planfit users log Leg Press more often — 39,215 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 Press and Barbell Wide Squat work the same muscles?
Not quite. Leg Press loads quads, hamstrings, and glutes, and Barbell Wide Squat loads glutes, hamstrings, and inner thighs.
What equipment do Leg Press and Barbell Wide Squat need?
Leg Press needs a machine, and Barbell Wide Squat needs a barbell.
Which is easier to start with?
Leg Press is the easier place to start. Move to Barbell Wide Squat once your form holds up.
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