Side Lunge vs Leg Press
Maximizing Your Leg Workout Plan
Contents
Planfit users log Leg Press more often — 39,215 sessions vs 2,121. Compare Leg form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Customize Your Leg Workout: Explore the Benefits of Side Lunge and Leg Press for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Side Lunge vs Leg Press : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Leg Press more often — 39,215 sessions compared to 2,121 for Side Lunge.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Side Lunge and Leg Press differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Side Lunge and Leg Press Differ
| What differs | Side Lunge | Leg Press |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | quads, glutes, and outer thighs | quads, hamstrings, and glutes |
| Equipment | bodyweight only | a machine |
| One side at a time | Yes | No |
| Difficulty | 2 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 2,121 sessions | 39,215 sessions |
How to Side Lunge
Side Lunge muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Move one foot to the side and shift your weight.
- 2. Bend the knee of the moved leg and keep the opposite leg straight.
- 3. Apply pressure to the center of the bent knee and slowly rise back to the starting position.
- 4. Repeat the same on the opposite side.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to lean your upper body forward.
- 2. Please make sure that your center of gravity does not shift too much to the side.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Side Lunge, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Side Lunge Guide page of our blog!
How to 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 Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to fully extend your knees.
- 2. Please be careful not to let your knees spread apart.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Leg Press, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Leg Press Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Side Lunge or Leg Press?
Planfit users log Leg Press more often — 39,215 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 Side Lunge and Leg Press work the same muscles?
Not quite. Side Lunge loads quads, glutes, and outer thighs, and Leg Press loads quads, hamstrings, and glutes.
What equipment do Side Lunge and Leg Press need?
Side Lunge needs bodyweight only, and Leg Press needs a machine.
Which is easier to start with?
Side Lunge is the easier place to start. Move to Leg Press once your form holds up.
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