The legs have the largest muscles in your body which is why it is important to exercise them as hard as you can. However, a pair of dumbbells or heavy barbells is not always required for making leg exercises worth their weight. All of the bigger muscles in your legs like glutes, quadriceps and hamstrings can be worked to the limit until they burn by employing a series of extensive lunges, hip hinges and squats. Such a workout is going to move you in three different directions helping you to build real-world mobility and strength.

Best Leg Exercises Besides Squats

When it comes to leg exercises, squats may be the first come to your mind. But there are more to leg exercises and the following are some other great leg exercises. They are for a number of different purposes and include several intensity levels. It is up to you to decide which set attracts you and suffices for your needs. These leg exercises helps build lean, nice long legs and strengthen leg muscles.

1. The Flamingo Balance

The flamingo balance is among those leg exercises where plenty of things happen simultaneously. There are leg kicking, arm curling and torso tightening and the potential for thigh-tightening is extremely high. To perform this exercise, hold a dumbbell in your right hand while standing with the left hand on your hip. Lean forward while lifting your left foot behind you up to your hip. Now, bring your right arm in front of you. Perform a bicep curl by turning the palm to face the ceiling. Touch your left toe and repeat this exercise at least 12 times.      

2. Single Leg Circle

The single leg circle is one of the best leg exercises that can give a complete workout to all the major muscles on your legs. To perform this exercise, lie down on your back keeping your arms by your side. Lift your left foot as if pointing it to the ceiling and extend it as far as possible. After taking a breath, trace a circle on the ceiling with the left leg. Make sure that your hips remain still and don’t lift off the floor during the exercise. Perform 5 repetitions of 5 clockwise and anti-clockwise circles on the ceiling with both legs.

3. Skater Lunge

The skater lunge is among the leg exercises that are most suitable for strengthening the glutes, quads and hamstrings. To perform this exercise, stand with your hands at your side and your feet wide apart. Take a sizeable step backwards with the left leg and cross it in a diagonal position to the right leg. Extend the right arm out to the side and then swing the left arm across your hips. After hopping two feet to the left, get back to your original stance. Complete one set by repeating the exercise with the other leg. Perform 3 sets of 20 reps each. 

4. Dumbbell Step Up

Dumbbell step up is a great exercise for the legs, especially the thigh muscles. To perform this exercise, you will have to first select a suitable elevated surface or a bench which gives you the chance to keep your thighs parallel to the floor when you put your foot on top of them. After selecting the right bench, stand behind it and pick up two dumbbells, one in each hand. Now step up onto the bench, leaving the trailing hanging.  

5. Swiss Ball Leg Curl

For a list of best leg exercises, this has to make the list. Swiss ball leg curl is another excellent exercise that gives a full workout for the big muscles on legs, helps you in toning and strengthening them and is good for building abdominal muscles. To perform this exercise you will have to keep your legs planted firmly on a stability ball while lying on your back on the floor. Now bracing your abs and lift your hips into the air while keeping your knees straight. After this, bend your knees and try to pull the ball towards you. Throughout this exercise make sure that your hip does not touch the floor. 

6. Leg Press

Leg press is an excellent exercise that provides the best workout for legs. In order to perform this exercise, you will have to make use of the leg press machine. Sit comfortably on the machine by adjusting the seat according to your liking. Keep your hips beneath your knees and the knees in line with the feet. Bend your knees and start lowering them towards your chest until they are at 90 degrees. Now push the legs up until the knees are straight. Make sure not to bend the knees any more or your back might fall off the seat.

7. Glute Bridge Walkout

Glute bridge walkout is another great leg exercise that is ideal for strengthening the glutes and hamstrings. To perform this exercise, lie down with your back on the floor and bend your knees so that the feet are resting on the floor touching the buttocks. Tighten the abs and lift your hips up by driving the heels into the ground. Now start walking your feet in a V shape by taking small steps forward that take your legs away from the midline of the body while keeping your hips up. Walk your legs back after they have fully extended to complete one repetition.   

8. Single Leg Glute Bridge

Single leg glute bridge is an excellent exercise for the leg muscles especially the glutes and the hamstrings. In this exercise, you will have to lie down with your back on the floor and bend your knees so that the feet are resting on the floor touching the buttocks. Tighten the abs, lift one leg into the air and drive the other one into the floor. Bridge your body up until your body attains the posture of a straight line. 

9. Romanian Deadlift

Romanian deadlift is also among the best leg exercises that can provide a good workout to all the major leg muscles especially the hamstrings. To perform this exercise, stand in front of a barbell and lift it up with a pronated grip while bending your knees slightly. Make sure that your back is straight, hips are tucked in and shins are in a vertical position. The lifting of the bar must be done slowly with the hip muscles and all the while the arms and back must remain straight. Lower the bar down after standing completely upright.  

The following video shows more great leg exercises for women which will help tone the butt and abdominal muscles. You have to check it out!

The following video shows more amazing leg exercises for men which are more intense and help build those nice leg muscles: