10 Best Smith Toe Raise Alternatives for No Smith Machine Access

If you can’t use a Smith-machine for toe raises, use standing dumbbell calf raises, seated calf raises, leg-press calf raises, single-leg step raises, or banded calf raises. Focus on full ankle plantarflexion and squeeze the calf at the top, press through the balls of your feet to maximize gastrocnemius and soleus activation.

Original Exercise: Smith Toe Raise

Smith Toe Raise
Primary Muscle
Calves
Equipment
Smith-machine
Difficulty
Beginner
Type
Isolation
Secondary Muscles: Ankles, Shins
How to Perform Smith Toe Raise
  1. Adjust the smith machine bar to a height that allows you to comfortably stand with your feet flat on the ground.
  2. Position yourself under the bar with your shoulders directly below it and your feet shoulder-width apart.
  3. Place the balls of your feet on a raised platform or weight plates, with your heels hanging off the edge.
  4. Grasp the bar with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
  5. Engage your core and keep your back straight throughout the exercise.
  6. Slowly raise your heels as high as possible, lifting your body weight onto the balls of your feet.
  7. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your heels back down to the starting position.
  8. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Ranked Smith Toe Raise Alternatives

Best Match
Smith Standing Leg Calf Raise

1. Smith Standing Leg Calf Raise

99.2% Match
Calves Smith-machine Beginner Isolation
How to perform this exercise
  1. Adjust the smith machine bar to a height that allows you to stand with your feet flat on the ground and your shoulders under the bar.
  2. Position yourself under the bar with your feet shoulder-width apart and your toes pointing forward.
  3. Place your hands on the bar for stability.
  4. Engage your calves and slowly raise your heels off the ground, lifting your body up onto your toes.
  5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your heels back down to the starting position.
Smith Reverse Calf Raises

2. Smith Reverse Calf Raises

96% Match
Calves Smith-machine Intermediate Isolation
How to perform this exercise
  1. Adjust the smith machine bar to a height just below your shoulders.
  2. Stand facing the bar with your feet hip-width apart and toes pointing forward.
  3. Place the balls of your feet on the edge of a step or platform, with your heels hanging off.
  4. Hold onto the bar for support, keeping your back straight and core engaged.
  5. Raise your heels as high as possible, lifting your body weight onto the balls of your feet.
Hack Calf Raise

3. Hack Calf Raise

96% Match
Calves Machine Intermediate Isolation
How to perform this exercise
  1. Adjust the sled machine to a comfortable weight.
  2. Stand on the sled machine with your toes on the platform and your heels hanging off.
  3. Hold onto the handles for stability.
  4. Raise your heels as high as possible by pushing through the balls of your feet.
  5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your heels back down to the starting position.
Donkey Calf Raises

4. Donkey Calf Raises

95.2% Match
Calves Other Beginner Isolation
How to perform this exercise
  1. For this exercise you will need access to a donkey calf raise machine. Start by positioning your lower back and hips under the padded lever provided. The tailbone area should be the one making contact with the pad.
  2. Place both of your arms on the side handles and place the balls of your feet on the calf block with the heels extending off. Align the toes forward, inward or outward, depending on the area you wish to target, and straighten the knees without locking them. This will be your starting position.
  3. Raise your heels as you breathe out by extending your ankles as high as possible and flexing your calf. Ensure that the knee is kept stationary at all times. There should be no bending at any time. Hold the contracted position by a second before you start to go back down.
  4. Go back slowly to the starting position as you breathe in by lowering your heels as you bend the ankles until calves are stretched.
  5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Lever Standing Calf Raise

5. Lever Standing Calf Raise

95.2% Match
Calves Lever Beginner Isolation
How to perform this exercise
  1. Adjust the machine to your height and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
  2. Place your shoulders under the pads and hold onto the handles for stability.
  3. Raise your heels as high as possible by extending your ankles.
  4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your heels back down to the starting position.
  5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Smith One Leg Floor Calf Raise

6. Smith One Leg Floor Calf Raise

91.7% Match
Calves Smith-machine Intermediate Isolation
How to perform this exercise
  1. Position yourself on the floor under the smith machine bar, facing away from the machine.
  2. Place the balls of your feet on a raised surface, such as a weight plate or block.
  3. Position the smith machine bar across your lower legs, just above your ankles.
  4. Hold onto the bar with your hands for stability.
  5. Raise your heels off the ground by extending your ankles, lifting your body up.
Lever Seated Calf Raise

7. Lever Seated Calf Raise

88% Match
Calves Lever Beginner Isolation
How to perform this exercise
  1. Adjust the seat height so that your knees are slightly bent and your feet are flat on the footplate.
  2. Place your toes on the footplate with your heels hanging off the edge.
  3. Grasp the handles or the sides of the seat for stability.
  4. Push through the balls of your feet to raise your heels as high as possible.
  5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your heels back down to the starting position.
Seated Calf Raise

8. Seated Calf Raise

88% Match
Calves Machine Beginner Isolation
How to perform this exercise
  1. Sit on the machine and place your toes on the lower portion of the platform provided with the heels extending off. Choose the toe positioning of your choice (forward, in, or out) as per the beginning of this chapter.
  2. Place your lower thighs under the lever pad, which will need to be adjusted according to the height of your thighs. Now place your hands on top of the lever pad in order to prevent it from slipping forward.
  3. Lift the lever slightly by pushing your heels up and release the safety bar. This will be your starting position.
  4. Slowly lower your heels by bending at the ankles until the calves are fully stretched. Inhale as you perform this movement.
  5. Raise the heels by extending the ankles as high as possible as you contract the calves and breathe out. Hold the top contraction for a second.
Hack One Leg Calf Raise

9. Hack One Leg Calf Raise

87.7% Match
Calves Machine Intermediate Isolation
How to perform this exercise
  1. Adjust the sled machine to an appropriate weight.
  2. Stand on the sled machine with one foot, keeping the other foot off the ground.
  3. Hold onto the handles for stability.
  4. Raise your heel as high as possible, lifting your body up on the ball of your foot.
  5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your heel back down to the starting position.
Exercise Ball On The Wall Calf Raise

10. Exercise Ball On The Wall Calf Raise

83.9% Match
Calves Dumbbell Beginner Isolation
How to perform this exercise
  1. Stand with your back against a wall and place an exercise ball between your lower back and the wall.
  2. Position your feet shoulder-width apart, with your toes pointing forward.
  3. Hold a dumbbell in each hand, with your arms extended by your sides.
  4. Raise your heels off the ground, lifting your body weight onto the balls of your feet.
  5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your heels back down to the starting position.

Why You Might Need a Smith Toe Raise Alternative

You may need substitutes because the Smith-machine isn’t available, causes shoulder or ankle discomfort, or limits natural ankle tracking. Smith toe raises bias a vertical load path and bilateral loading; alternatives let you alter knee angle, unilateral load and ankle dorsiflexion to shift activation between gastrocnemius and soleus. For example, seated calf raises place the knee flexed and emphasize the soleus, while standing single-leg raises increase gastrocnemius demand and stability work. Use a slow eccentric (3 seconds down) and full top contraction cue, hold and squeeze the calf, to protect the Achilles and improve force production.

How to Choose the Right Substitute

Decide by the muscle emphasis you need, available equipment, and whether you require unilateral work. Choose seated variations (dumbbell on thighs or machine) when you want more soleus activation because knee flexion reduces gastrocnemius contribution. Pick standing or single-leg raises to overload the gastrocnemius and train balance. If space is limited, use a heavy band or single-leg step raises to load each calf independently. Prioritize full range of motion, progressive load, and tempo cues: lower slowly for 3 seconds, pause at the bottom, then drive up and squeeze the calf for 1 second to maximize hypertrophy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What muscles does Smith Toe Raise work?

Smith toe raises primarily target the gastrocnemius and secondarily the soleus through repeated ankle plantarflexion. Press through the balls of your feet and squeeze the calves at the top to maximize triceps surae activation while keeping the knee position stable to maintain gastrocnemius tension.

What is the best bodyweight alternative to Smith Toe Raise?

Single-leg calf raises on a step are the best bodyweight alternative: let the heel drop below the step for a full stretch, then drive up and squeeze the calf. Control the eccentric for 3 seconds and focus on pushing through the forefoot to increase load per limb and neuromuscular activation.

Can I build muscle without doing Smith Toe Raise?

Yes. You can build calves using seated calf raises, heavy standing single-leg raises, leg-press calf raises, or progressive band resistance as long as you increase load and volume over time. Use full range of motion and slow eccentrics (3–4 seconds) and prioritize progressive overload and frequent stimulus to drive hypertrophy.

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