10 Best Band Bent-over Hip Extension Alternatives for Home Workouts

The Band Bent-over Hip Extension is done standing with a band. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Leg Lift, the Twist Hip Lift and Swimmer Kicks.

Updated Ranked by our 12-factor similarity model How it works

Original Exercise: Band Bent-over Hip Extension

Primary muscle
Glutes
Equipment
Band
Difficulty
Beginner
Type
Isolation

Secondary muscles: Hamstrings, Lower Back

How to perform Band Bent-over Hip Extension
  1. Attach the band to a sturdy anchor point at ankle height.
  2. Stand facing away from the anchor point with your feet shoulder-width apart.
  3. Step back to create tension in the band, keeping your knees slightly bent.
  4. Hinge at the hips and lean forward, maintaining a neutral spine.
  5. Extend your right leg straight back, squeezing your glutes at the top.
  6. Lower your right leg back down and repeat with the left leg.
  7. Continue alternating legs for the desired number of repetitions.
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Ranked Band Bent-over Hip Extension Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Band Bent-over Hip Extension on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Open "How to perform this exercise" on a card for the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

    • Glutes
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
    2. Place your hands by your sides for support.
    3. Engage your glutes and lift your hips off the ground, forming a straight line from your knees to your shoulders.
    4. While keeping your hips lifted, twist your lower body to the right side, bringing your knees towards the ground.
    5. Return to the starting position and repeat the twist to the left side.
    6. Continue alternating twists for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Band Bent-over Hip Extension
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a band
    • Body position: lying on your back, not standing
    • Glutes
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie face down on a mat with your arms extended overhead.
    2. Engage your core and lift your chest and legs off the ground simultaneously.
    3. Kick your legs up and down in a fluttering motion, as if you were swimming.
    4. Continue kicking for the desired number of repetitions.
    5. Lower your chest and legs back down to the starting position.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps on each side, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Band Bent-over Hip Extension
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a band
    • Body position: lying face down, not standing
  1. Single Leg Glute Bridge
    • Glutes
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lay on the floor with your feet flat and knees bent.
    2. Raise one leg off of the ground, pulling the knee to your chest. This will be your starting position.
    3. Execute the movement by driving through the heel, extending your hip upward and raising your glutes off of the ground.
    4. Extend as far as possible, pause and then return to the starting position.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Band Bent-over Hip Extension
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a band
    • Body position: lying on your back, not standing
    • Glutes
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
    2. Engage your glutes and lift your hips off the ground, forming a straight line from your knees to your shoulders.
    3. While keeping your hips lifted, lift one foot off the ground and bring your knee towards your chest.
    4. Lower your foot back to the ground and repeat the movement with the other leg.
    5. Continue alternating legs in a marching motion while maintaining the bridge position.
    6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Band Bent-over Hip Extension
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a band
    • Body position: lying on your back, not standing
    • Glutes
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie face down on a flat bench with your hips at the edge and your legs hanging off the bench.
    2. Hold onto the bench for stability.
    3. Keeping your legs straight, raise them up towards the ceiling as high as you can.
    4. Squeeze your glutes at the top of the movement.
    5. Slowly lower your legs back down to the starting position.
    6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Band Bent-over Hip Extension
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a band
    • Body position: lying face down, not standing
    • Glutes
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on the edge of a bench with your back against it and your feet flat on the ground.
    2. Place your hands on the bench beside your hips for support.
    3. Engage your glutes and hamstrings, then lift your hips off the bench until your body forms a straight line from your knees to your shoulders.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your hips back down to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Band Bent-over Hip Extension
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a band
    • Body position: lying on your back, not standing
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Band Bent-over Hip Extension
    • Glutes
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie on your back with your feet flat on the ground and your knees bent.
    2. Place your arms by your sides with your palms facing down.
    3. Engage your glutes and hamstrings, and lift your hips off the ground until your body forms a straight line from your knees to your shoulders.
    4. Hold this position for a few seconds, then slowly lower your hips back down to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Band Bent-over Hip Extension
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a band
    • Body position: lying on your back, not standing
    • Glutes
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
    2. Extend one leg straight out in front of you.
    3. Engage your glutes and lift your hips off the ground, forming a straight line from your knees to your shoulders.
    4. Hold for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your hips back down to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch legs.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Band Bent-over Hip Extension
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a band
    • Body position: lying on your back, not standing
    • Glutes
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on a bench with your back against the bench and your feet flat on the ground.
    2. Place your hands on the bench for support.
    3. Engage your glutes and hamstrings, then lift your hips off the bench until your body forms a straight line from your knees to your shoulders.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your hips back down to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Band Bent-over Hip Extension
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a band
    • Body position: lying on your back, not standing
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Band Bent-over Hip Extension

How to Choose the Right Band Bent-over Hip Extension Substitute

Select a substitute based on equipment, desired loading, and movement pattern. If you need isolation and high glute activation with minimal spinal load, choose hip thrusts and cue a pelvic posterior tilt and maximal squeeze at the top. If you want a hip-hinge variation to train eccentric control, pick single-leg RDLs and keep a neutral spine while pushing hips back. For limited equipment, use glute bridges with tempo (3s eccentric) and drive through the heel to increase time under tension and glute activation.

Band Bent-over Hip Extension FAQ

What muscles does Band Bent-over Hip Extension work?

The exercise primarily targets the gluteus maximus through hip extension. It also recruits the hamstrings and lower erector spinae as synergists. You should feel the glutes contract at full extension, indicating proper posterior chain activation.

What is the best bodyweight alternative to Band Bent-over Hip Extension?

A glute bridge or single-leg glute bridge is the best bodyweight alternative. Cue driving through the heel and squeezing the glute at the top while keeping the pelvis neutral to maximize gluteus maximus activation.

Can I build muscle without doing Band Bent-over Hip Extension?

Yes. Build glute muscle with other progressive overload drivers like hip thrusts, deadlifts, and weighted glute bridges. Focus on increasing load, reps, or time under tension while maintaining full hip extension and strong intentional glute contractions.

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Similarity scores compare exercise metadata such as movement pattern, muscles, equipment and body position. They are not a safety rating or a check that you own the equipment. Learn about our methodology