10 Best Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension Alternatives for Limited Equipment

The Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension is done standing with dumbbells. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Kettlebell Lunge Pass Through, Dumbbell Lunges and the Weighted Lunge With Swing.

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

Original Exercise: Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension

Primary muscle
Triceps
Equipment
Dumbbell
Difficulty
Intermediate
Type
Compound

Secondary muscles: Shoulders, Core

How to perform Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand.
  2. Take a step forward with your right foot, lowering your body into a lunge position.
  3. Keep your back straight and your chest up.
  4. Extend your arms straight overhead, keeping your elbows close to your ears.
  5. Lower the dumbbells behind your head by bending your elbows.
  6. Pause for a moment, then straighten your arms to return to the starting position.
  7. Repeat the movement for the desired number of repetitions, then switch legs and repeat.
Filter Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension alternatives by your equipmentTell us what you have and we'll hide exercises you can't do.

Quick presets

Equipment you can use
20 more equipment types

Sign in to remember your equipment on every page.

Ranked Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps 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.

  1. Dumbbell Lunges
    • Quads
    • Dumbbell
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    A looser match: it uses the same equipment, but it works the quads rather than the triceps.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your torso upright holding two dumbbells in your hands by your sides. This will be your starting position.
    2. Step forward with your right leg around 2 feet or so from the foot being left stationary behind and lower your upper body down, while keeping the torso upright and maintaining balance. Inhale as you go down. Note: As in the other exercises, do not allow your knee to go forward beyond your toes as you come down, as this will put undue stress on the knee joint. Make sure that you keep your front shin perpendicular to the ground.
    3. Using mainly the heel of your foot, push up and go back to the starting position as you exhale.
    4. Repeat the movement for the recommended amount of repetitions and then perform with the left leg.

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

    Why this matches
    • Movement: forward lunge, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Primary muscle: quads, not triceps
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Glutes
    • Weighted
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a weight in each hand.
    2. Take a step forward with your right foot, lowering your body into a lunge position.
    3. As you lunge forward, swing the weights forward and upward, keeping your arms straight.
    4. Push off with your right foot and return to the starting position, swinging the weights back down.
    5. Repeat with your left foot and continue alternating legs for the desired number of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches
    • Movement: forward lunge, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Primary muscle: glutes, not triceps
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
  2. Barbell Walking Lunge
    • Quads
    • Barbell
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    A looser match: it works the quads rather than the triceps.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Begin standing with your feet shoulder width apart and a barbell across your upper back.
    2. Step forward with one leg, flexing the knees to drop your hips. Descend until your rear knee nearly touches the ground. Your posture should remain upright, and your front knee should stay above the front foot.
    3. Drive through the heel of your lead foot and extend both knees to raise yourself back up.
    4. Step forward with your rear foot, repeating the lunge on the opposite leg.

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

    Why this matches
    • Movement: forward lunge, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Primary muscle: quads, not triceps
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Glutes
    • Dumbbell
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    A looser match: it uses the same equipment, but it works the glutes rather than the triceps.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand.
    2. Take a step forward with your right foot, keeping your back straight and core engaged.
    3. Lower your body by bending both knees until your right thigh is parallel to the ground.
    4. Push through your right heel to return to the starting position.
    5. Repeat with your left leg.
    6. Alternate legs for the desired number of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches
    • Movement: forward lunge, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Primary muscle: glutes, not triceps
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Glutes
    • Dumbbell
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand.
    2. Take a step forward with your right foot, lowering your body into a lunge position.
    3. Keep your back straight and your chest up as you lower your body.
    4. Push through your right heel to return to the starting position.
    5. Repeat with your left leg.
    6. Alternate legs for the desired number of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches
    • Movement: forward lunge, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Primary muscle: glutes, not triceps
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Glutes
    • Weighted
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
    2. Take a step forward with your right foot, keeping your back straight.
    3. Lower your body by bending your knees until your right thigh is parallel to the ground.
    4. Push through your right heel to return to the starting position.
    5. Repeat with your left leg.
    6. Continue alternating legs for the desired number of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches
    • Movement: forward lunge, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Primary muscle: glutes, not triceps
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Glutes
    • Barbell
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and a barbell resting on your upper back.
    2. Take a step forward with your right foot, keeping your torso upright.
    3. Lower your body by bending your right knee until your thigh is parallel to the ground.
    4. Push through your right heel to return to the starting position.
    5. Repeat with your left leg, alternating legs for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 to 5 sets of 5 to 8 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: forward lunge, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Primary muscle: glutes, not triceps
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
  3. Bodyweight Walking Lunge
    • Quads
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Begin standing with your feet shoulder width apart and your hands on your hips.
    2. Step forward with one leg, flexing the knees to drop your hips. Descend until your rear knee nearly touches the ground. Your posture should remain upright, and your front knee should stay above the front foot.
    3. Drive through the heel of your lead foot and extend both knees to raise yourself back up.
    4. Step forward with your rear foot, repeating the lunge on the opposite leg.

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

    Why this matches
    • Movement: forward lunge, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Primary muscle: quads, not triceps
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
  4. Lunge Sprint
    • Quadriceps
    • Machine
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Adjust a bar in a Smith machine to an appropriate height. Position yourself under the bar, racking it across the back of your shoulders. Unrack the bar, and then split your feet, moving one foot forward and one foot back. This will be your starting position.
    2. Lower your back knee nearly to the ground, flexing the knees and lowering your hips as you do so.
    3. At the bottom of the descent, immediately reverse direction. Explosively drive through the heel of your front foot with light pressure from your back foot. Jump up and reverse the position of your legs.
    4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches
    • Movement: forward lunge, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension
    • Primary muscle: quadriceps, not triceps
    • Equipment: a machine, not free weights
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension

Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension FAQ

What muscles does Dumbbell Forward Lunge Triceps Extension work?

The exercise primarily targets the triceps brachii (long, lateral, and medial heads) through elbow extension while the lunge engages the quads and glutes for support. Core stabilizers and the glute medius also activate to maintain balance; cue a braced core and a vertical upper arm to keep load on the triceps.

Find Alternatives for Any Exercise

Search the exercise database and filter the ranked substitutes by the equipment you own.

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