• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Generation Iron

Generation Iron Fitness & Strength Sports Network

  • Movies
  • Original Content
  • Reviews
    • Supplements
      • Pre-Workout
      • Fat Burners
      • Testosterone Boosters
      • Creatine
      • Protein
      • BCAAs
      • Multivitamins
      • Omega-3
      • Joint Supplements
      • Super Greens
      • Meal Replacement
    • Recovery
      • Best Cold Plunges
      • Best Saunas
      • Best Foam Rollers
      • Best Massage Guns
    • Programs
      • Best Online Workout Programs
      • Best Workout Streaming Services
      • Best Home Workout Programs
  • Equipment
    • Cardio
      • Treadmills
      • Best Exercise Bikes
      • Best Stair Climbers
    • Fitness Accessories
      • Best Apparel
      • Best Gym Bags
      • Weightlifting Shoes
    • Strength
      • Best Dumbbells
      • Best Barbells
      • Best Kettlebells
      • Best Squat Racks
      • Best Weightlifting Belts
      • Best Home Gym Equipment
      • Complete Home Gyms
    • Training
      • Best Knee Sleeves
      • Best Wrist Wraps
      • Best Weightlifting Wraps
      • Best Weightlifting Gloves
  • More
    • About Us
      • Our Team
      • Our Experts
    • Advertise
    • Franchise With Us
    • Exercise Guides
    • Athlete Profiles
    • Podcasts
    • Power 30
    • Bodybuilding Awards
    • Supplement Awards
  • Shop
Fitness

The Best Hanging Leg Raise Alternative Exercises For Core Strength

by Austin Letorney Published on Dec 6, 2021 Fact checked by Kai Greene

hanging leg raise alternative
This post may contain affiliate links (disclosure policy).

hanging leg raise alternative

Look to these alternatives to change up your routine to still see gains.

We all want that desired six-pack, right? While the hanging leg raise is a great exercise to achieve this, the best hanging leg raise alternative exercises can ensure we hit our abs from all the right angles. Setting yourself up with the right alternatives means you get a great chance to target your abs differently. This will work those muscles in many ways so they have no choice but to grow.

A strong core will offer a number of benefits. When it comes to those more functional and sport specific movements, strong abs will provide balance and stability so we can better tackle whatever comes our way. A strong core will also show off our six-pack and only add to our shredded aesthetic.

Let’s take a look at some of the best hanging leg raise alternative exercises to give you the best options as you seek to change up your workouts while also seeing huge gains. As a dedicated athlete, you are always seeking new ways to challenge yourself and with the right alternatives, you are well on your way to making that happen.

hanging leg raise alternative

What Is The Hanging Leg Raise Exercise?

The hanging leg raise is an isolation exercise designed to build your abs, as well as your hips. While this may be a higher level exercise, with time, it can become part of your daily routine as you advance farther with it. The only equipment needed is a pull-up bar and you are well on your way to seeing great abdominal gains.

Benefits Of This Exercise

One of the main benefits of this exercise is the strength and development of your abs and hip flexors. As a challenging exercise, it really works these muscles and you will truly start to see great gains to not only strength, but definition. As a result of the added strength put on these muscles, you will see great stability, resulting from better form and more engagement (1). Grip strength will also improve, as will changes to your body composition and desired physique.

Best Hanging Leg Raise Alternative Exercises

Beginner

Lying Leg Raise

Many of us have incorporated the lying leg raise into our routines before. This exercise gets more challenging the more reps you do, but still is considered a beginner level ab exercise given the actual movement. What is important with this exercise is to keep your legs straight because the longer you extend, the more bodyweight your abs have to take. All that really means is the load on your abs will be more, thus creating more time under tension. That added challenge will really add to the burn in your midsection, thus building those muscles making them both bigger and stronger.

Reverse Crunch

A simple yet effective abs exercise, this is also considered to be beginner level. All this movement really entails us pulling your knees towards your stomach and keeping that core braced. For an added challenge, you can use a bench or attach a form of weights to only add increased time under tension. This is called the reverse crunch for the movement is simply opposite that of a normal crunch (2).

Intermediate

V-Ups

Moving into the intermediate level exercises, V-ups are great because they really give your hip flexors a good workout. The challenge with stability and this full body extension has its fair share of pressure on the spine. But with good form you’ll be just fine. Really giving your abs a workout, this is a great exercise to challenge yourself while still being able to tackle a lot of reps.

Roman Chair Leg Raises

This intermediate exercise gets pretty close to the hanging leg raise and virtually the only difference is that with this one, you are not hanging. The roman chair offers arm support as you rest them on pads during the exercise, so what you give up is the grip support as well. But in terms of an alternative that is pretty close to the actual exercise, this is a pretty good one.

Advanced

L-Sit

Now getting into those more advanced exercises, the L-Sit is a common one for those really looking to punish their abs. While this may not seem like a good alternative, the difference is a static hold as opposed to the repeated raising of your legs. So, while range of motion may not be the same, what is the same is the absolute strain on your core, forcing it to really grow.

Dragon Flag

The Dragon Flag is hard. A great advanced variation of the hanging leg raise exercise, this requires full hip extension, the right grip, and serious core engagement. But this also requires strong glutes, and the benefits to not just your abs with this exercise are hard to ignore.

Top Supplements To Boost Further Gains

While working out and following a strict dietary regimen are imperative to our gains, the right supplements will only advance this growth. With so many companies out there, finding the right ones and knowing what to look for will greatly affect our overall health and training. To start, the big three to know about are pre-workouts, BCAAs, and protein powders. A pre-workout can offer energy and pumps (3), BCAAs will keep that energy high and burst through fatigue, and protein powders will most certainly enhance growth and recovery (4). For additional muscle building supplements, as well as those that will change your body composition, look into creatine, mass gainers, and fat burners, for these are also very popular. And don’t forget a multivitamin to keep your health as a top priority.

Wrap Up

The best hanging leg raise alternative exercises can greatly affect all areas of your gains and really give you a nice change to those often times monotonous workouts. Of course, they will still work your abs the same since these are closely related to the hanging leg raise exercise. Don’t be afraid to really change things up and give yourself the best chance at real gains. You work hard and the results you see should show that.


Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

*Images courtesy of Envato

References

  1. Hibbs, A.; et al. (2008). “Optimizing performance by improving core stability and core strength”. (source)
  2. Harvard Medical School (2012). “Core conditioning- It’s not just about abs”. (source)
  3. Martinez, N.; et al. (2016). “The effect of acute pre-workout supplementation on power and strength performance”. (source)
  4. Cintineo, H.; et al. (2018). “Effects of Protein Supplementation on Performance and Recovery in Resistance and Endurance Training”. (source)

About Austin Letorney

Austin Letorney is a writer, actor, and fitness enthusiast. As a former rower, he has shifted his focus to sharing his knowledge of the fitness world and strength sports with others.

View All Articles

Primary Sidebar

Get the Latest

Stay informed with the latest news, product reviews, & expert advice.

Popular Reviews

  • best protein powders

    The Best Protein Powder Supplements of 2025 (Tried and Tested)

  • Best Creatine Supplements For Bulking & Muscle Growth of 2025 (Personally Tested)

  • top x pre workout

    The 14 Best Pre-Workout Supplements of 2025 (MD Reviewed)

  • Performance Lab SPORT BCAA

    The Best BCAA For Bodybuilding Health & Performance Goals

Trending Articles

  • female fitness models

    18 Best Butts On The Internet (Updated 2024)

  • ronnie coleman the king workout

    Ronnie “The King” Coleman’s Complete Bodybuilding Workout

  • Chris bumstead's 2024 workout and diet plan

    Chris Bumstead’s 2025 Complete Bodybuilding Workout & Diet Plan

  • The Ultimate Mike Mentzer Workout and Diet

Popular Now

  • best protein powders

    The Best Protein Powder Supplements of 2025 (Tried and Tested)

  • Best Creatine Supplements For Bulking & Muscle Growth of 2025 (Personally Tested)

  • top x pre workout

    The 14 Best Pre-Workout Supplements of 2025 (MD Reviewed)

  • female fitness models

    18 Best Butts On The Internet (Updated 2024)

  • best citrulline supplements

    The Best Citrulline Malate Supplements for Performance and Pump

  • ronnie coleman the king workout

    Ronnie “The King” Coleman’s Complete Bodybuilding Workout

Generation Iron

Generation Iron is the first and only digital network delivering health, fitness, bodybuilding, and strength sports content. We deliver premium content with the biggest names in fitness and provide expert coverage, reviews on top brands, workout tips and trends in the worlds of fitness, health and strength sports.

Strongman Corporation
Vladar

Sections

  • Trending News
  • Original Movies
  • Original Content
  • Supplement Reviews
  • Equipment Reviews
  • Exercise Guides
  • Nutrition Guides
  • Athlete Profiles

More

  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Our Experts
  • Advertise
  • Franchise With Us
  • Podcasts
  • Power 30
  • Shop

CONTACT

Generation Iron Brands LLC
134 West 29th Street Suite 902
New York, NY 10001
Email: [email protected]

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X / Twitter
  • YouTube

© 2025 · Generation Iron · Disclaimers · Privacy Policy · Accessibility