Fact checked by Kirsten Yovino, CPT Brookbush Institute
FACT CHECKEDPowerhouse compound exercises such as squats and deadlifts, as well as some assistance and accessory exercises like hip thrusts, lunges, and leg curls, should have a place in all lifters' leg day routines.
And, believe it or not, the cable machine is one of the most versatile exercise machines for leg and glute workouts and incorporating the major lifts we just mentioned. There's a long list of muscle and strength-building exercises you can perform, and it enables you to safely hit your lower-body muscles from different angles without putting any unnecessary pressure on your spine.
Now, we are not saying cable machines are better than free weights for leg exercises, but the cable machine can and should have its place in a lower body workout. This article covers the 14 best cable machine leg and glute exercises, 2 lower body cable machine workouts, and programming tips.
Table of Contents:
You can perform all of the traditional leg and glute exercises on the cable machine, as well as some cable machine specific exercises. These variations will target the quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves just the same as they would with free weights. Let’s take a look at the different exercises to discover how to do them on the cable machine and what muscles they will train.
The 14 best cable machine glute and leg exercises are:
Squats are one of the best exercises for your quads and glutes. They strengthen your tendons, bones, and ligaments around the leg muscles as well and reduce the risk of injury to your knees and ankles. Plus, they will burn calories and help you lose weight.
Here’s how to perform the cable squat:
Best rep range: 5-20+ reps. You’ll want to perform this exercise a couple of times a week and change up the reps and weights that you use.
Yes, cable squats are one of the most effective exercises to target the quads, hamstring, and glutes. They allow you to perfect the form and reduce the risk of injury.
This deadlift is just like a hex bar deadlift as it puts your hands in a neutral position at your sides. This makes it like a hybrid of a squat and deadlift.
With this cable lower body exercise, you will target your hamstrings, glutes, and quads. It also helps your core and low back.
Here’s how to perform the cable squat/deadlift:
Best rep range: For strength, 3 to 8 reps per set. For mass, 8 to 12 reps per set.
We have two types of cable machine front squat variations that will help you gain strength and size in your quads. It is mainly a quad exercise, due to the load placement, but your hamstrings and glutes will also be activated well.
Here’s how to perform the cable front squat:
Best rep range: Anywhere from 8-15 reps.
For this variation, you’ll use the rope attachment instead of the bar. This will make the exercise a little more challenging on your core as your core will be more upright:
Related: Front Squat vs Back Squat, What's the Difference?
This exercise is a great way to build up the strength and size in your quads due to the load and body position. It involves less pressure on your hips and more resistance at your knees.
Even if you squat with barbells, this is a great addition to your routine if you need some quad specific work.
Here’s how to perform the cable chair squat:
Best rep range: Anywhere from 8-15 reps.
The cable Romanian Deadlift or RDL helps to develop strength in the gluteus maximus, hamstrings, and hip adductors (inner thighs), as well as your low back.
The goal with this one is to feel a really good stretch in your hamstrings and squeeze the heck out of your glutes at the top. The stretching tension is what really makes the RDL special.
Here’s how to perform the cable RDL:
Best rep range: 6-10 and/or 10-15 reps depending on the weight.
Single leg deadlifts are also great for your hamstrings and glutes. Moreover, it'll help you build incredible athleticism through balance and coordination. A lot of people use the cable machine for single leg deadlifts because it is a little easier in terms of balance, allowing you to really hone in on the hammys.
The cable pull-through is a compound exercise that works the hamstrings, gluteus maximus, and lower-back muscles. It's very similar to a stiff-leg deadlift, but the resistance is coming from behind you. So, while it hits the same muscles, it actually allows for more glute activation.
Here’s how to perform the cable pull-through:
Best rep range: Anywhere from 8–15 repetitions.
This variation of the pull through, which is from a kneeling position, will even better target the glutes as it takes the hamstrings out of play more (considering there is less action on the knee joint). It's quite similar to a hip thrust, which means you can get some serious glute contraction tension.
Lateral lunges aid in balance and stability. This exercise works your inner and outer thighs to build strength and muscle. It's also great for your core.
Here’s how to perform the cable lateral lunge:
Best rep range: 10-15 lunges per leg.
Reverse lunges work your glutes and hamstrings most, with the quads in close second (or technically third). It is also great for core stability considering it is a unilateral exercise.
The lunge is also great for people who have difficulty staying balanced or have knee concerns because it reduces the knee joints stress.
Here’s how to perform the cable rear lunge:
Best rep range: 12-15 repetitions on each side.
This lunge variation increases the difficulty of the cable rear lunge because you’ll go deeper into the lunge.
Here’s how to perform the cable lunge with step box:
Cable front lunges target the front side of your legs more - the quads! But you’ll also engage your calves, abs and glutes as well.
Here’s how to perform the cable front lunge:
Best rep range: 12–15 reps on each leg.
This exercise is one of the Best Hip Abduction Exercises as it works the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and tensor fasciae latae - the hip abductors!
The hip abductors are often forgotten about, but this important muscle aids in our ability to rotate our legs, stand, and walk. Without strong hip abductors, your hips will not be stable.
By simply adjusting the position of your toes - straight, inwards, or pointed out, you can alter the way the hip abductor muscles are stressed.
Here’s how to perform the cable hip abduction:
Best rep range: 8-15 repetitions.
Donkey kicks target your gluteus maximus and improve both stability and toning to give you the shaped toned look you desire. For more effective kickback variations, check out these 11 Glute Kickback Variations and how to perform the Banded Glute Kickback.
Here’s how to perform the donkey kick:
Best rep range: 10-20 reps is ideal. Really squeeze your glutes hard each rep. If you aren’t feeling a burn, you’ll want to do the cable hip extension or add ankle weights to alter this exercise.
Here’s how to perform the cable hip extension:
There's a reason cable hip adduction is one of the Best Hip Adduction Exercises. Hip adductors support balance and alignment by strengthening the muscles in your inner thigh. It's an area often overlooked, yet an important one nonetheless.
Here’s how to perform the cable hip adduction:
Best rep range: 8-15 repetitions.
Leg curls isolate your hamstrings. It will promote muscle growth and strength in the hamstrings beautifully, which will aid in better squats and deadlifts. Allowing you to go deeper into squats and hamstrings and with increased weight.
Here’s how to perform the cable leg curl:
Best rep range: Your goal will depend on how many reps and sets you do and the amount of weight you choose.
To build strength, 8 to 10 reps and three sets are perfect. To build endurance and stamina, you’ll use higher reps of 12-15 and less weight. For both, you’ll want to select a weight that will allow your muscles to reach failure by the last rep.
Related:
Standing calf raises make your calves stronger and leaner. Performing calf raises will improve your balance and muscle structure. There are two different versions of the standing calf raise, one leg and two leg calf raises.
By working one leg at a time, you’ll prevent muscle imbalances and it can allow you to work with a great resistance.
Here’s how to perform the standing cable calf raise:
Best rep range: 10-20 reps. You should really feel a burn with this exercise. Keep rest time short, around 30 to 60 seconds rest between sets.
Here's a breakdown of the exercises and muscles they primarily target.
We just went over the best glute and leg cable machine exercises, and now we're going to briefly recap by categorizing these movements into five main exercise groups. When you're putting together a lower body routine, it's essential to include all five movements in your program.
The best cable machine exercises for legs and glutes are squats, deadlifts, lunges, calf raises, and hip extensions.
These five main exercises will target your quads, hamstrings, calves, and glutes. Let's briefly take a look at each.
The best rep range and load will depend on what you’re looking to achieve.
If you want to gain size, you’ll find that many suggest using a rep range of 8-12, but with cable leg exercises, you’ll get best results using higher reps, between 15-20. However, this depends on the weight load. If it feels very challenging for you, the 6-12 rep range can be very effective for strength and hypertrophy when using a cable machine.
Overall, it's recommended that you work through a wide spectrum of reps. Perform heavy exercises for 5-8 reps, moderate weight for 8-15 reps, and light weight for 15-25+ reps. This will produce the biggest gains, and this is backed by research.
When it comes to choosing the right weight, you’ll want to select the weight stack that is challenging with the rep range you are working in. You want to get as close to failure within the rep range you select as possible.
Be sure to implement progressive overload so you can continue to build muscle and strength over time.
Incorporating cable leg and glute exercises into your routine is not different than incorporating any other equipment into your current routine. Make sure your workouts are well rounded, with both compound and isolation exercises that together target all of your leg muscles.
If you want to do just a cable leg workout, it's as simple as creating a workout just like you would with free weights. So, instead of doing squats and deadlifts with dumbbells or a barbell, you are doing cable squats. It’s possible to do a complete leg routine with a single cable machine.
Let’s take a look at a few routines that you can do using just the cable machine.
We’ve discussed many different exercises that will increase your lower body’s strength, development, and size. And the importance that each muscle group has on the overall function of your lower body. Now it’s time to put it all together.
Here are a couple of sample cable leg workouts that you can start today.
You've got the exercises and workouts, so now let's briefly review the muscles you'll be working on the cable machine.
The quadriceps muscles are the strongest and leanest muscles in the entire body. There are four muscles within the quads. The front of the thighs is the major extensor, and these muscles help to extend the leg straight from the knee.
Here are the four muscles:
For more great moves to build your quads, check out our articles on the Best Vastus Lateralis Exercises and the Best Vastus Medialis Exercises!
Three muscles make up the hamstrings. They are located at the back of the thigh, beginning under the gluteus maximus and attaching to the tibia and affecting the hip and knee movement.
Here are the three muscles of the hamstrings:
For more great hamstring-building movements, check out our article on the Best Hamstring Exercises With and Without Equipment.
This is the largest and heaviest muscle in the body and is the main extensor muscle of the hip. It’s located at the back of the hip joint, and its primary function is to maintain a standing posture.
Your glutes are divided into three main muscles:
The calf muscles have three major muscles that are pivotal to the movement of the ankle, foot, and toes.
These major muscles include:
The Achilles tendon is the most important tendon when it comes to mobility. It connects the plantaris, gastrocnemius, and soleus muscles to the heel bone. It’s a necessary tendon that stores the elastic energy that is needed to run, jump, and perform just about any type of physical activity.
Check out the Best Gastrocnemius Exercises & Stretches and Best Soleus Exercises & Stretches for more great exercise ideas.
The cable machine is arguably the most versatile workout equipment in any gym. It’s a great tool that allows you to build muscle definition and strength, and you’ll improve your form and reduce the risk of injury.
Let’s go deeper into the many benefits of using the cable machine specifically for your legs and glutes:
The cable machine provides constant tension, unlike free weights which have an ascending/descending resistance curve. The constant tension allows for more time under tension, which will fatigue the muscles with less total volume, making your workouts very efficient.
When performing cable exercises on your legs you’ll isolate your quad, glutes, hamstrings, and calves and make the individual muscles stronger from a range of angles.
One of the leading causes of injury in the gym is improper form and is most common with free weights. Free weights have no directed plane of motion which causes imbalances and ultimately injury.
But with cables, you can increase the weight without using a spotter because they protect you from injury by providing a more direct plane of motion. This allows you to remain balanced even with heavier weight, and you can train to failure, which improves your strength.
When we use the term range of motion, this refers to how far you can move your joints in different directions. When you perform exercises that move your joints through their full range of motion, you will have greater results in hypertrophy and strength. Moreover, it will help you become more mobile and flexible.
When you change the way that your body is positioned and how the cable is angled, you gain more control over the range of motion. You can make it more or less, allowing you to recruit more stabilizing muscle fibers too.
Free weights require you to stack plates on barbells and take dumbbells off shelves which are both time-consuming. Whereas with cables, you can quickly change the weights by adjusting the pin to the desired weight.
The tension of the cable is different than that of free weights. With the cable machine, you’ll have a flat resistance curve that creates constant tension throughout an exercise. This is because the load is not acting on gravitational force.
This means that regardless if you’re at the top or bottom of the range, it will be equally difficult. With free weights, you have an ascending or descending strength curve, and the hardest range is in the stretched position.
This is why the cable machine is very popular with bodybuilders doing isolation work.
All in all, cable exercises are great for reaching your leg and glute hypertrophy goals. More time under tension translate to greater growth.
Regardless of which muscle group you are training, the cable machine is one of the most versatile on the gym floor. You’re able to target different muscles effectively by changing different variables such as angles (load positioning) and body positioning - you’ll stress your muscles differently and build strength through different ranges of motions.
Let's answer some frequently asked questions regarding the best cable leg and glute exercises.
Yes, it’s possible to do a leg press using a cable machine.
Begin by laying on your back with the cable connected to your ankle. Your head will be closest to the machine. Then you’ll bring the knee towards your chest without lifting your hips off of the ground.
You’ll then push your leg away from your chest until it’s straight. Be sure that you are squeezing your quad when your leg is extended. This is one rep, and you’ll want to repeat for 10-20 reps for this one due to the weight not being very heavy for a leg press.
Related: Best Leg Press Alternatives
Yes, you can absolutely perform leg and glute exercises using a cable machine.
In fact, the cable machine is one of the best ways to train every muscle group in your body, including your legs! You can do an entire leg routine on a cable machine or you can implement the exercises into your workout just like you would any other piece of equipment.
We like incorporating it into our legs and abs day in our full body gym machine workout. Not only will it help you to build a strong lower body safely, but it’s the best route if you're getting back into the gym after an injury or you really want to focus on hypertrophy.
Yes, cable leg exercises are a great addition to any fitness routine.
The cable machine will allow you to maintain good form and reduce the stress on the joints, allowing you to really hone in on the muscles you are targeting with quality reps.
Cable leg and glute exercises are ideal for lifters looking to build muscle, beginners who want to lift safely while still mastering free weight form, and those who are returning to the gym after an injury.
If you have any questions about cable leg and glute exercises or workouts, please feel free to comment below or reach out to us. Remember, if you train smart, cable machines can be highly effective for training your legs, or any muscle group for that matter.
You can also build serious upper body muscle using a cable machine and these Cable Machine Back Exercises and Cable Machine Chest Exercises.
If you'd like the option of performing these exercises at home, check out our article on the Best Cable Machines, any of which will make a great addition to your home gym!
Prepare to maximize your gains with our exclusive 12-week hypertrophy training program. Choose between a 4 or 5 day training split and gain 2-12 pounds of muscle over 90 days...
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