Calves exercises
13 movements — how to perform them, what they train, and the mistakes to avoid.
Standing variations train the gastrocnemius with the knee straight; seated variations train the soleus underneath it with the knee bent. Most people only ever do the first.
6 of these need no equipment at all — see the bodyweight library for the full list across every muscle.
Band Calf RaiseBands · beginner
Barbell Calf RaiseBarbell · intermediate
Deficit Calf RaiseBodyweight · beginner
Donkey Calf RaiseBodyweight · intermediate
Dumbbell Calf RaiseDumbbells · beginner
Jump RopeBodyweight · beginner
Leg Press Calf RaiseMachine · beginner
Machine Standing Calf RaiseMachine · beginner
Seated Calf RaiseMachine · beginner
Seated Dumbbell Calf RaiseDumbbells · beginner- Single-Leg Calf RaiseBodyweight · beginner
- Standing Calf RaiseBodyweight · beginner
Tibialis RaiseBodyweight · beginner
Other muscle groups
ChestBackShouldersBicepsTricepsForearms & gripQuadsHamstringsGlutesCore & absCardio & conditioningMobility & recovery
By equipment
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