10 Best Sled Drag - Harness Alternatives for Quad Strength

Ranked Sled Drag - Harness Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Sled Drag - Harness 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. Plank

   56% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Get into a prone position on the floor, supporting your weight on your toes and your forearms. Your arms are bent and directly below the shoulder.
   2. Keep your body straight at all times, and hold this position as long as possible. To increase difficulty, an arm or leg can be raised.

   Sets and reps: Hold for 20 to 30 seconds, 3 sets.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, not quads
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
   • Body position: lying face down, not standing
2. Best match

   Play demonstration

   2. Semi Squat Jump

   55% match

   • Quads
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   Use this when you have nothing to train with, because it works the quads with bodyweight alone.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
   2. Bend your knees and lower your body into a squat position.
   3. Jump explosively, extending your hips and knees while swinging your arms for momentum.
   4. Land softly on the balls of your feet and immediately go into the next repetition.
   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: quads, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness
3. 

   3. Bench Jump

   54% match

   • Quads
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Begin with a box or bench 1-2 feet in front of you. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. This will be your starting position.
   2. Perform a short squat in preparation for the jump; swing your arms behind you.
   3. Rebound out of this position, extending through the hips, knees, and ankles to jump as high as possible. Swing your arms forward and up.
   4. Jump over the bench, landing with the knees bent, absorbing the impact through the legs.
   5. Turn around and face the opposite direction, then jump back over the bench.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness
4. 

   4. Rocket Jump

   54% match

   • Quads
   • Bodyweight
   • Advanced
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Begin in a relaxed stance with your feet shoulder width apart and hold your arms close to the body.
   2. To initiate the move, squat down halfway and explode back up as high as possible.
   3. Fully extend your entire body, reaching overhead as far as possible. As you land, absorb your impact through the legs.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness
5. Play demonstration

   5. Backward Jump

   53% match

   • Quads
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
   2. Bend your knees slightly and jump backwards, pushing off with both feet.
   3. Land softly on the balls of your feet, bending your knees to absorb the impact.
   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: quads, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Sled Drag - Harness
6. Play demonstration

   6. Forward Jump

   53% match

   • Quads
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
   2. Bend your knees and lower your body into a squat position.
   3. Swing your arms back for momentum.
   4. Jump forward explosively, extending your hips, knees, and ankles.
   5. Land softly on the balls of your feet and immediately go into the next jump.
   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: quads, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Sled Drag - Harness
7. 

   7. Frog Hops

   53% match

   • Quads
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your hands behind your head, and squat down keeping your torso upright and your head up. This will be your starting position.
   2. Jump forward several feet, avoiding jumping unnecessarily high. As your feet contact the ground, absorb the impact through your legs, and jump again. Repeat this action 5-10 times.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness
   • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Sled Drag - Harness
8. 

   8. Star Jump

   53% match

   • Quads
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Begin in a relaxed stance with your feet shoulder width apart and hold your arms close to the body.
   2. To initiate the move, squat down halfway and explode back up as high as possible. Fully extend your entire body, spreading your legs and arms away from the body.
   3. As you land, bring your limbs back in and absorb your impact through the legs.

   Sets and reps: Work for 30 to 60 seconds, rest as long as you worked, and repeat 6 to 10 times.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness
9. 

   9. Freehand Jump Squat

   52% match

   • Quads
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Cross your arms over your chest.
   2. With your head up and your back straight, position your feet at shoulder width.
   3. Keeping your back straight and chest up, squat down as you inhale until your upper thighs are parallel, or lower, to the floor.
   4. Now pressing mainly with the ball of your feet, jump straight up in the air as high as possible, using the thighs like springs. Exhale during this portion of the movement.
   5. When you touch the floor again, immediately squat down and jump again.
   6. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness
   • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Sled Drag - Harness
10. Play demonstration

    10. Squat To Overhead Reach

    51% match

    • Quads
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Compound

    How to perform this exercise

    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and toes slightly turned out.
    2. Lower your body down into a squat position by bending your knees and pushing your hips back.
    3. As you come up from the squat, extend your arms overhead, reaching towards the ceiling.
    4. Return to the starting position by lowering your arms and bending your knees to squat down again.
    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: quads, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Sled Drag - Harness