10 Best Ski Ergometer Alternatives for Triceps Strength

Ranked Ski Ergometer Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Ski Ergometer 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. 

   1. Alternating Hang Clean

   63% match

   • Hamstrings
   • Kettlebell
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Place two kettlebells between your feet. To get in the starting position, push your butt back and look straight ahead.
   2. Clean one kettlebell to your shoulder and hold on to the other kettlebell in a hanging position. Clean the kettlebell to your shoulder by extending through the legs and hips as you pull the kettlebell towards your shoulders. Rotate your wrist as you do so.
   3. Lower the cleaned kettlebell to a hanging position and clean the alternate kettlebell. Repeat.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: hamstrings, not triceps
   • Equipment: free weights, not a cardio machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Ski Ergometer
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Ski Ergometer
2. 

   2. Straight-arm Pulldown

   61% match

   • Lats
   • Cable
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. You will start by grabbing the wide bar from the top pulley of a pulldown machine and using a wider than shoulder-width pronated (palms down) grip. Step backwards two feet or so.
   2. Bend your torso forward at the waist by around 30-degrees with your arms fully extended in front of you and a slight bend at the elbows. If your arms are not fully extended then you need to step a bit more backwards until they are. Once your arms are fully extended and your torso is slightly bent at the waist, tighten the lats and then you are ready to begin.
   3. While keeping the arms straight, pull the bar down by contracting the lats until your hands are next to the side of the thighs. Breathe out as you perform this step.
   4. While keeping the arms straight, go back to the starting position while breathing in.
   5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: lats, not triceps
   • Equipment: a cable, not a cardio machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Ski Ergometer
3. Play demonstration

   3. Barbell Shrug

   60% match

   • Traps
   • Barbell
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a barbell in front of you with an overhand grip.
   2. Keep your arms straight and your back straight throughout the exercise.
   3. Lift your shoulders up towards your ears as high as possible, squeezing your traps at the top.
   4. Hold for a moment, then slowly lower your shoulders back down to the starting position.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: traps, not triceps
   • Equipment: free weights, not a cardio machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Ski Ergometer
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Ski Ergometer
4. 

   4. Smith Machine Behind The Back Shrug

   57% match

   • Traps
   • Machine
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. With the bar at thigh level, load an appropriate weight.
   2. Stand with the bar behind you, taking a shoulder-width, pronated grip on the bar and unhook the weight. You should be standing up straight with your head and chest up and your arms extended. This will be your starting position.
   3. Initiate the movement by shrugging your shoulders straight up. Do not flex the arms or wrist during the movement.
   4. After a brief pause return the weight to the starting position.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions before engaging the hooks to rack the weight.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: traps, not triceps
   • Equipment: a machine, not a cardio machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Ski Ergometer
5. Play demonstration

   5. Cable Shrug

   57% match

   • Traps
   • Cable
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand facing the cable machine with your feet shoulder-width apart.
   2. Grasp the cable handles with an overhand grip and let your arms hang down in front of you.
   3. Keeping your arms straight, shrug your shoulders up towards your ears.
   4. Hold the contraction for a moment, then slowly lower your shoulders back down to the starting position.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: traps, not triceps
   • Equipment: a cable, not a cardio machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Ski Ergometer
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Ski Ergometer
6. Play demonstration

   6. Cable Straight Arm Pulldown (With Rope)

   56% match

   • Lats
   • Cable
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Attach a rope to the cable machine at the highest setting.
   2. Stand facing the machine with your feet shoulder-width apart.
   3. Grasp the rope with both hands, palms facing down.
   4. Extend your arms fully in front of you, keeping your elbows slightly bent.
   5. Engage your lats and slowly pull the rope down towards your thighs, keeping your arms straight.
   6. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then slowly release the tension and return to the starting position.
   7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: lats, not triceps
   • Equipment: a cable, not a cardio machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Ski Ergometer
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Ski Ergometer
7. 

   7. Hang Clean - Below The Knees

   56% match

   • Quads
   • Barbell
   • Advanced
   • Compound

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Begin with a shoulder width, double overhand or hook grip, with the bar hanging just below the knees. Your back should be straight and inclined slightly forward.
   2. Begin by aggressively extending through the hips, knees and ankles, driving the weight upward. As you do so, shrug your shoulders towards your ears. As full extension is achieved, transition into the third pull by aggressively shrugging and flexing the arms with the elbows up and out.
   3. At peak extension, aggressively pull yourself down, rotating your elbows under the bar as you do so. Receive the bar in a front squat position, the depth of which is dependent upon the height of the bar at the end of the third pull. The bar should be racked onto the protracted shoulders, lightly touching the throat with the hands relaxed. Continue to descend to the bottom squat position, which will help in the recovery.
   4. Immediately recover by driving through the heels, keeping the torso upright and elbows up. Continue until you have risen to a standing position.

   Sets and reps: 3 to 5 sets of 5 to 8 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: quads, not triceps
   • Equipment: free weights, not a cardio machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Ski Ergometer
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Ski Ergometer
8. 

   8. Hang Clean

   55% match

   • Quads
   • Barbell
   • Advanced
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Begin with a shoulder width, double overhand or hook grip, with the bar hanging at the mid thigh position. Your back should be straight and inclined slightly forward.
   2. Begin by aggressively extending through the hips, knees and ankles, driving the weight upward. As you do so, shrug your shoulders towards your ears.
   3. Immediately recover by driving through the heels, keeping the torso upright and elbows up. Continue until you have risen to a standing position.

   Sets and reps: 3 to 5 sets of 5 to 8 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: quads, not triceps
   • Equipment: free weights, not a cardio machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Ski Ergometer
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Ski Ergometer
9. Play demonstration

   9. Lever Pullover

   54% match

   • Lats
   • Lever
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Adjust the seat and handles of the leverage machine to a comfortable position.
   2. Sit on the machine with your back against the pad and grasp the handles with an overhand grip.
   3. Keep your arms slightly bent and your core engaged.
   4. Slowly pull the handles towards your chest, squeezing your lats.
   5. Pause for a moment at the peak contraction, then slowly return 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: lats, not triceps
   • Equipment: a machine, not a cardio machine
   • Body position: seated, not standing
10. 

    10. Hang Snatch - Below Knees

    53% match

    • Hamstrings
    • Barbell
    • Advanced
    • Compound

    How to perform this exercise

    1. Begin with a wide grip on the bar, with an overhand or hook grip. The feet should be directly below the hips with the feet turned out. Your knees should be slightly bent, and the torso inclined forward. The spine should be fully extended and the head facing forward. The bar should be just below the knees. This will be your starting position.
    2. Aggressively extend through the legs and hips. At peak extension, shrug the shoulders and allow the elbows to flex to the side.
    3. As you move your feet into the receiving position, forcefully pull yourself below the bar as you elevate the bar overhead. Receive the bar with your body as low as possible and the arms fully extended overhead.
    4. Return to a standing position with the weight overhead, and then return the weight to the floor under control.

    Sets and reps: 3 to 5 sets of 5 to 8 reps.

    Why this matches

    • Primary muscle: hamstrings, not triceps
    • Equipment: free weights, not a cardio machine
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Ski Ergometer
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Ski Ergometer