The 10 Best Gym Machines for Glutes You Need to Try

Okay, let’s talk glutes! Everyone wants strong, sculpted glutes, and for good reason – they’re not just for looks, they’re super important for power, stability, and even keeping your lower back happy.

As someone who’s spent years in the gym, helping folks get stronger and feel better, I’ve seen all the tricks and all the machines. And while squats and deadlifts are kings, sometimes you need to hit those glutes with some focused machine work. Why? Because machines can help you isolate the muscles, reduce the chance of injury, and really squeeze out those last few reps when free weights feel too risky.

So, if you’re ready to build that powerful peach, here are The 10 Best Gym Machines for Glutes You Need to Try:

The 10 Best Gym Machines for Glutes

Forget endless squats! While they’re great, sometimes you need to really hone in on those glutes to make them pop and perform. As your friendly neighborhood fitness expert, I’m here to tell you there are some awesome machines in your gym designed specifically to target your backside. They’re fantastic for isolating those muscles, getting a solid pump, and helping you build a stronger, shapelier peach.

Ready to get those glutes firing? Let’s dive into the top machines you should be adding to your routine!

1. Hip Thrust Machine (or Glute Drive)

Why it’s great for glutes: This is probably the king of glute machines. It’s designed specifically for hip thrusts, which are arguably the best exercise for directly hitting your glute muscles. It puts all the focus right where you want it – on your butt!

How to use it: You sit or lie with your upper back supported, feet flat on the floor, and a pad across your hips. Then, you push through your heels, squeezing your glutes to lift the weight up, really extending your hips at the top.

Key Benefit: Unmatched glute isolation and activation.

2. Cable Machine (with ankle strap)

Why it’s great for glutes: This machine is super versatile for targeting the glutes from all angles. With an ankle strap, you can do various “kickback” movements that really isolate each side of your butt.

How to use it: Attach an ankle strap to the low pulley. Face the machine, step back, and kick your leg straight back or out to the side, squeezing your glute. You can also face away and do cable pull-throughs.

Key Benefit: Versatile for hitting upper, lower, and side glutes.

3. Leg Press Machine

Why it’s great for glutes: While it works your whole leg, you can make the leg press a glute powerhouse. By changing your foot placement, you can shift the focus more towards your glutes.

How to use it: Sit on the machine. To target glutes, place your feet higher and wider on the platform. Push through your heels and focus on squeezing your glutes as you extend your legs. Don’t lock your knees!

Key Benefit: Builds overall leg and glute size and strength effectively.

4. Hack Squat Machine

Why it’s great for glutes: Similar to the leg press, the hack squat can be a fantastic glute builder. It provides a guided, stable movement that allows you to really push the weight and get a deep squat, which is great for glutes.

How to use it: Stand on the platform with your shoulders under the pads. For more glute focus, place your feet a bit lower and wider on the platform, and squat down deep, feeling the stretch in your glutes.

Key Benefit: Offers deep range of motion for intense glute activation with stability.

5. Glute-Ham Developer (GHD) / Reverse Hyper Machine

Why it’s great for glutes: These machines are fantastic for posterior chain development (glutes, hamstrings, lower back). The GHD is often used for glute-ham raises, and a dedicated Reverse Hyper machine allows for movements that specifically target glute growth and lower back health.

How to use it: For GHD, position yourself so your hips are free to extend over the pad. For Reverse Hyper, lie face down with hips off the pad, and lift your legs up and back.

Key Benefit: Powerful for building strong, resilient glutes and a healthy posterior chain.

6. 45-Degree Hyperextension Bench

Why it’s great for glutes: Don’t let the name fool you – this bench isn’t just for your lower back! By adjusting your form, you can make it a potent glute exercise.

How to use it: Position yourself so your hips are above the pad (not on it). Round your upper back slightly and focus on driving up by squeezing your glutes, making sure not to hyperextend your lower back. You can hold a weight plate for extra challenge.

Key Benefit: Great for isolating the glutes and hamstrings with controlled movement.

7. Seated Abductor Machine

Why it’s great for glutes: This machine directly targets your glute medius and minimus – the muscles on the sides of your glutes. Strengthening these is crucial for hip stability, athletic performance, and giving your glutes a fuller, rounder look.

How to use it: Sit on the machine, place your knees against the pads, and push your legs outwards against the resistance. Focus on squeezing those outer glutes!

Key Benefit: Directly strengthens your side glutes for better hip stability and shape.

8. Smith Machine

Why it’s great for glutes: While controversial for some exercises due to its fixed path, the Smith machine can be surprisingly effective for glutes when used correctly. Its stability allows you to really focus on the muscle contraction.

How to use it: Use it for movements like glute-focused squats (feet slightly forward), deficit RDLs (standing on plates to increase range of motion), or even controlled hip thrusts if no dedicated machine is available.

Key Benefit: Provides stability to isolate glutes and allows for unique exercise variations.

9. Seated/Lying Leg Curl Machine

Why it’s great for glutes: Primarily a hamstring machine, you might wonder why it’s on this list. But your hamstrings and glutes work closely together. Strong hamstrings support glute activation, and some studies show glute activation in leg curls, especially at the end of the concentric phase. Plus, some glute exercises like reverse hypers can be modified here.

How to use it: Focus on a strong squeeze, especially at the top of the movement.

Key Benefit: Indirectly supports glute development by strengthening hamstrings, crucial for posterior chain power.

10. Stair Climber (or StepMill)

Why it’s great for glutes: This isn’t a traditional strength machine, but it’s phenomenal for glute activation and endurance. Every step is essentially a mini step-up, which is a fantastic glute exercise.

How to use it: Keep your posture upright, take bigger steps, and push through your heels to really engage your glutes. Avoid leaning heavily on the handrails.

Key Benefit: Excellent for high-volume glute activation, endurance, and cardio.

Pro Tips for Maximizing Your Glute Gains

• Form Over Weight: Always, always focus on feeling the movement in your glutes. If you’re just pushing weight without feeling the squeeze, you’re not getting the most out of it.
• Mind-Muscle Connection: Seriously concentrate on squeezing your glutes with every rep. Talk to them!
• Progressieve overbelasting: Once an exercise gets easy, challenge yourself. Add more weight, do more reps, or increase the resistance.
• Don’t Forget Free Weights: While machines are great for isolation, compound movements with free weights (like barbell squats, RDLs, lunges) are still incredibly important for overall glute development. Use machines to supplement your free weight routine.
• Consistency is Key: Building strong glutes takes time and consistent effort. Stick with it!

So there you have it! Don’t shy away from the machines at your gym. When used smartly, they can be incredibly powerful tools to help you build the strong, shapely glutes you’re looking for. Get out there and give these a try!