10 Best Incline Reverse Grip Push-up Alternatives for Limited Equipment

Ranked Incline Reverse Grip Push-up Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up 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. Harder versions are tagged as progressions and kept out of the top spot even when they score higher.

1. Best match

   

   1. Incline Push-up Reverse Grip

   99% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   It uses the same equipment and still works the pectorals.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand facing a Smith machine bar or sturdy elevated platform at an appropriate height.
   2. Place your hands on the bar palms up, with your hands about shoulder width apart.
   3. Position your feet back from the bar with arms and body straight. This will be your starting position.
   4. Keeping your body straight, lower your chest to the bar by bending the arms.
   5. Return to the starting position by extending the elbows, pressing yourself back up.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: incline press, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
2. Play demonstration

   2. Incline Push-up

   95% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   Pick this when you want an easier version that still works the pectorals.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Place your hands on an elevated surface, such as a bench or step, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   2. Extend your legs behind you, resting on the balls of your feet, creating a straight line from your head to your heels.
   3. Lower your chest towards the elevated surface by bending your elbows, keeping your body in a straight line.
   4. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push yourself back up to the starting position by straightening your arms.
   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

   • Movement: incline press, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
3. 

   3. Incline Push-up Medium

   95% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand facing a Smith machine bar or sturdy elevated platform at an appropriate height.
   2. Place your hands on the bar, with your hands about shoulder width apart.
   3. Position your feet back from the bar with arms and body straight. This will be your starting position.
   4. Keeping your body straight, lower your chest to the bar by bending the arms.
   5. Return to the starting position by extending the elbows, pressing yourself back up.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: incline press, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
4. 

   4. Incline Push-up Wide

   95% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand facing a Smith machine bar or sturdy elevated platform at an appropriate height.
   2. Place your hands on the bar, with your hands wider than shoulder width.
   3. Position your feet back from the bar with arms and body straight. Your arms should be perpendicular to the body. This will be your starting position.
   4. Keeping your body straight, lower your chest to the bar by bending the arms.
   5. Return to the starting position by extending the elbows, pressing yourself back up.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: incline press, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
5. Play demonstration

   Progression

   5. Incline Push Up Depth Jump

   89% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Advanced
   • Compound

   Pick this when you want a harder version that still works the pectorals.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Find an elevated surface, such as a bench or step, and place your hands shoulder-width apart on the edge.
   2. Step your feet back, keeping your body in a straight line from head to heels.
   3. Lower your chest towards the edge of the surface, bending your elbows and keeping your body aligned.
   4. Push through your palms to extend your arms and return to the starting position.
   5. Jump off the edge of the surface, landing softly with your knees slightly bent.
   6. Repeat the push-up and depth jump for the desired number of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: incline press, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
6. Play demonstration

   6. Incline Push-up (On Box)

   87% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Place your hands on the edge of a box or elevated surface, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   2. Extend your legs behind you, resting on the balls of your feet, creating a straight line from your head to your heels.
   3. Lower your chest towards the box by bending your elbows, keeping your body in a straight line.
   4. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push yourself back up to the starting position by straightening your arms.
   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

   • Movement: incline press, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Body position: standing, not lying face down
7. Play demonstration

   7. Kneeling Push-up

   86% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Start by kneeling on the ground with your hands shoulder-width apart, fingers pointing forward.
   2. Extend your legs behind you, resting on the balls of your feet, so that your body forms a straight line from head to heels.
   3. Engage your core and lower your body towards the ground by bending your elbows, keeping them close to your sides.
   4. Continue lowering until your chest is just above the ground, then push back up to the starting position by straightening your arms.
   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: pectorals, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Body position: kneeling, not lying face down
8. Play demonstration

   8. Wide Hand Push Up

   85% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Start in a high plank position with your hands wider than shoulder-width apart.
   2. Keep your body in a straight line from head to toe.
   3. Lower your chest towards the ground by bending your elbows, keeping them close to your sides.
   4. Push through your palms to extend your arms and return 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: pectorals, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
9. Play demonstration

   9. Push-up

   85% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Start in a high plank position with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and your feet together.
   2. Engage your core and lower your body towards the ground by bending your elbows, keeping your body in a straight line.
   3. Pause for a moment when your chest is just above the ground, then push yourself back up to the starting position by straightening your arms.
   4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
   • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
10. 

    10. Pushups (Close And Wide Hand Positions)

    85% match

    • Pectorals
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    How to perform this exercise

    1. Lie on the floor face down and body straight with your toes on the floor and the hands wider than shoulder width for a wide hand position and closer than shoulder width for a close hand position. Make sure you are holding your torso up at arms length.
    2. Lower yourself until your chest almost touches the floor as you inhale.
    3. Using your pectoral muscles, press your upper body back up to the starting position and squeeze your chest. Breathe out as you perform this step.
    4. After a second pause at the contracted position, repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches

    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up
    • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Incline Reverse Grip Push-up