
How to do the Reverse Band Box Squat
- Begin in a power rack with a box at the appropriate height behind you. Set up the bands either on band pegs or attached to the top of the rack, ensuring they will be directly above the bar during the squat. Attach the other end to the bar.
- Begin by stepping under the bar and placing it across the back of the shoulders. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and rotate your elbows forward, attempting to bend the bar across your shoulders. Remove the bar from the rack, creating a tight arch in your lower back, and step back into position. Place your feet wider for more emphasis on the back, glutes, adductors, and hamstrings, or closer together for more quad development. Keep your head facing forward.
- With your back, shoulders, and core tight, push your knees and butt out and you begin your descent. Sit back with your hips until you are seated on the box. Ideally, your shins should be perpendicular to the ground. Pause when you reach the box, and relax the hip flexors. Never bounce off of a box.
- Keeping the weight on your heels and pushing your feet and knees out, drive upward off of the box as you lead the movement with your head. Continue upward, maintaining tightness head to toe. Use care to return the barbell to the rack.
Muscles worked
| Role | Muscles |
|---|---|
| Primary | quads |
| Secondary | abductors, adductors, calves, forearms, glutes, hamstrings, lower back |
| Equipment | barbell |
| Difficulty | intermediate |
| Type | compound |
No barbell? Train the same muscles with these
Ordered by how likely you are to own the 6 options.
Easier than the Reverse Band Box Squat
Same movement pattern, lower entry difficulty — work up from here.
Harder than the Reverse Band Box Squat
Common questions
What muscles does the Reverse Band Box Squat work?
The Reverse Band Box Squat primarily works the quads, with the abductors, adductors, calves, forearms, glutes, hamstrings, and lower back as secondary movers. Box Squat with Bands, Box Squat, and Reverse Band Power Squat train the same muscle, across 9 equipment types.
What equipment do you need for the Reverse Band Box Squat?
A Barbell. Without a barbell, Alternate Leg Diagonal Bound, Double Leg Butt Kick, and Fast Skipping train the same muscle, and 27 of the catalogue's options for this muscle need no equipment.
Is the Reverse Band Box Squat suitable for beginners?
It is rated intermediate. Start with Alternate Leg Diagonal Bound, Depth Jump Leap, and Double Leg Butt Kick and work up.
Where should the Reverse Band Box Squat go in a workout?
Early — the Reverse Band Box Squat is compound, working 8 muscle groups, so run it first or second while you are fresh.
Similar exercises
Build a full legs session around this
The free generator picks the sets, reps and supporting exercises for you — using only the equipment you actually have.
Build a free workout