Disclosure: Fit Scout HQ is reader-supported. Some links below are Amazon affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our picks are based on hands-on testing and independent research.
Best Equipment for Glute Workouts: 6 Gym-Proven Picks for 2026
Searching for the best equipment for glute workouts can feel overwhelming. Shelves are packed with foam boxes, fabric bands, and pricey machines that all promise the same thing — a stronger, rounder backside. So we cut through the marketing. To build this list, we tested gear at home and in a commercial gym for over six weeks, then ranked each tool by comfort, durability, and real glute activation.
Below, you will find six picks that actually earn their spot. Each one targets the gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus through proven movements like hip thrusts, banded kickbacks, and cable abductions. Whether you train in a small apartment or a full garage gym, there is a tool here that fits your budget and your goals.
Quick tip: If you are still building your setup from scratch, check out our guide to the Best Beginner Home Gym Setup first, then loop back here to add glute-specific tools.
Why glute training matters more than you think
Your glutes power almost every lower-body movement. They drive you up hills, out of chairs, and through heavy squats. Weak glutes, on the other hand, force your lower back and hamstrings to pick up the slack. Over time, that imbalance leads to tight hips and nagging aches.
Strong glutes also protect your knees. When the glute medius fires properly, your knees track straight during squats and lunges. Research from the National Strength and Conditioning Association links glute strength to better sprint speed, jump height, and posture. Simply put, training your posterior chain pays off in every sport you play.
That is why the right gear matters. Generic benches and cheap bands make hip thrusts painful and kickbacks sloppy. Purpose-built tools let you load the glutes harder without beating up your spine.
What to look for in glute workout equipment
Before you click “add to cart,” keep these five features in mind. They separate gear that lasts from gear that tears, slips, or ends up in the closet.
- Padding density. Thick, high-density foam spreads barbell pressure across your hips. Anything mushy will bottom out under 135 lb.
- Weight capacity. Serious lifters need benches rated to at least 600 lb. Budget foam boxes under 500 lb are fine for bodyweight or dumbbell thrusts.
- Grip and stability. Rubber feet or an anti-slip base keep the unit locked to the floor. Otherwise, your setup turns into a guessing game.
- Band quality. Fabric loops beat latex every time. They avoid rolling, pinching, and that dreaded snap mid-set.
- Portability. If space is tight, pick lightweight gear with handles. Bulky machines are overkill for most home lifters.
Got those dialed in? Great. Now let us look at the gear itself.
The 6 best equipment picks for glute workouts
1. Mikolo Hip Thrust Bench — Best Portable Pick
This compact foam box earned a spot on our list because it does one job perfectly: lock you into the right hip-thrust angle. Truthfully, we were skeptical of a 4-pound bench holding a heavy barbell. After eight weeks and a 225-lb top set, however, the unit held firm without a single wobble.
The Mikolo Hip Thrust Bench uses high-density foam wrapped in leather-style upholstery, so the surface wipes clean in seconds. Meanwhile, the grippy base stuck to hardwood, tile, and rubber flooring with zero slide. What sold us, though, was the 700-lb rating in such a small footprint. Plus, the side handle makes it easy to stash behind a couch when guests come over.
Bear in mind, this is a bench, not a full machine. You supply the barbell, bands, or dumbbells. For anyone new to hip thrusts or short on space, that trade-off is a win.
✅ Pros
- Ultra-lightweight at 4 lbs
- 700-lb weight capacity
- Non-slip base grips any floor
- Wipeable PU leather surface
⚠️ Cons
- No D-rings for band anchoring
- Narrow width feels tight for larger frames
2. Bells of Steel Soft Glute Bench — Best Heavy-Duty Pick
Serious lifters will want to look at this one. At 66 pounds, the Bells of Steel Soft Glute Bench is the opposite of the Mikolo — it is a commercial-grade anchor built for heavy hip thrusts. During testing, we loaded the bar with 315 lbs and the bench did not budge an inch.
What makes it shine is the 12.5-inch height. That gradual upward slope matches the biomechanics of a proper hip thrust, so your glutes, not your quads, take the load. On top of that, multiple D-rings along the base let you anchor resistance bands for banded thrusts or pull-throughs. Bands are not included, but most lifters already own a set.
Frankly, the price tag is higher than a basic foam box. Even so, if your glutes are the priority in your program, this is the gear you want for the next decade.
✅ Pros
- Rock-solid 66-lb base
- Ideal 12.5″ thrust height
- Multiple D-rings for band work
- Grippy upholstery resists slide
⚠️ Cons
- Not portable — picks a spot and stays
- Premium price
3. Gymreapers Barbell Squat Pad — Best Barbell Cushion
Hip thrusts hurt. Specifically, the barbell digs into your pelvis the moment you add real weight. A quality pad fixes that instantly, and the Gymreapers Barbell Squat Pad has been our go-to for years.
What sets it apart is the dense foam core. Cheap pads compress flat under 135 lb, forcing you to double them up. By contrast, the Gymreapers pad keeps its shape under 300+ lb thrusts. The pad also slides onto any standard or Olympic bar in seconds. Optional Velcro straps keep it from shifting during reps.
Most importantly, it doubles as a squat pad for those rare times you want extra neck cushion. For under $30, it is the single smartest upgrade a hip-thrust lifter can make.
✅ Pros
- Dense foam holds shape under heavy loads
- Fits standard and Olympic bars
- Includes anti-slip straps
- Affordable price point
⚠️ Cons
- Runs slightly short for very tall lifters
- Black shows chalk dust quickly
4. Te-Rich Fabric Resistance Bands — Best Booty Bands
Fabric loops changed the glute-band game. Where rubber bands roll, pinch, and snap, the Te-Rich fabric set stays flat against your skin. We looped these on during warm-ups for over 300 sets, and not a single band frayed or lost tension.
The Te-Rich kit includes three resistance levels — light, medium, and heavy. That range covers everything from pre-squat glute activation to burnout finishers. Plus, rubber grip strips on the inside keep each band anchored right above the knee during lateral walks, kickbacks, and fire hydrants.
Truthfully, you do not need a gym to use these. A 10-minute banded circuit at home smokes the glute medius in a way heavy lifts never will. For a deeper look at how bands stack up against weights, read our breakdown on resistance bands for muscle growth.
✅ Pros
- Three resistance levels
- Non-slip fabric construction
- Packs down tiny for travel
- Budget-friendly set
⚠️ Cons
- Heavy band may feel light for strong lifters
- Not washable beyond a wipe-down
5. DMoose Ankle Straps for Cable Machine — Best Cable Attachment
Any cable machine can become a glute station with the right ankle strap. The DMoose pair ranks at the top for one reason — the 8mm neoprene padding stays comfortable during high-rep sets, where thinner straps start to chafe within a few sets.
What’s more, the reinforced stitching held up through six weeks of cable kickbacks, standing hip abductions, and pull-throughs. The dual D-ring clips into any cable attachment smoothly, so you can swap between legs without fumbling. Hook-and-loop closure adjusts fast, and the strap fits ankles from slim to thick without slipping.
Notably, this one pair replaces an entire rack of glute machines at most gyms. Hook it to a low cable, and you have kickbacks, reverse lunges, and hip circles all in one setup.
✅ Pros
- Thick 8mm neoprene padding
- Rust-resistant steel D-rings
- Fits any standard cable machine
- Sold as a matched pair
⚠️ Cons
- Velcro may catch on loose leggings
- One-size fit feels bulky on very small ankles
6. Powerber Hip Thrust Bench Pad — Best Budget Glute Box
Not everyone wants to drop $150 on a glute bench. The Powerber Hip Thrust Bench Pad solves that without cutting corners where it counts. At 32 lbs with a 16.5-inch height, it lands right in the sweet spot for proper hip-thrust mechanics.
To kick things off, the high-density foam core held up through months of weighted thrusts without compressing. What’s more, the grippy vinyl cover resisted sweat stains far better than cheaper knock-offs. Assembly takes zero effort since the whole thing ships pre-built.
On top of that, the side handles mean you can drag it outside for deck workouts or reposition it against a wall. For lifters who want a real glute bench without the premium price tag, this is a smart middle-ground pick.
✅ Pros
- Ideal 16.5″ thrust height
- High-density foam core
- Sweat-resistant vinyl cover
- No assembly required
⚠️ Cons
- No D-rings for band anchoring
- Vinyl can feel sticky in hot rooms
How to build a glute workout with this gear
Owning the gear is step one. Using it correctly matters far more. Here is a simple three-day split that makes use of every tool on this list.
Day 1 — Heavy hip thrust day. Warm up with a banded crab walk using the Te-Rich bands. Next, load the bar with a Gymreapers pad on your Bells of Steel or Powerber bench. Work up to 4 sets of 6 to 8 reps at a challenging weight.
Day 2 — Cable and isolation day. Strap in the DMoose ankle cuffs and run 3 rounds of kickbacks, hip abductions, and pull-throughs. Finish with banded lateral walks for 3 sets of 20 steps per side.
Day 3 — Volume and pump day. Stack banded hip thrusts on your Mikolo bench for 4 sets of 15. Follow that up with bodyweight single-leg glute bridges, 3 sets of 12 per leg. Close with banded clamshells until failure.
Keep in mind, recovery matters as much as the lifts themselves. Tight hip flexors shut down glute firing, so roll them out after each session. Our guide to the best fitness recovery gear on Amazon has every tool you need to stay loose.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need equipment to grow my glutes?
Bodyweight work builds a baseline. Still, progressive overload requires external resistance at some point. Bands, barbells, and a solid bench make that overload possible without maxing out your squat every session.
Are fabric bands better than latex bands?
Yes, for glute training specifically. Fabric bands grip the skin and stay put during lateral movement. Latex loops, by contrast, roll up the leg within a few reps and pinch when you sweat.
How heavy should my hip thrust weight be?
Most lifters can hip thrust more than they back squat. Start with your 8-rep squat max as a benchmark, then build from there. A proper barbell pad lets you push past the pain point safely.
Can I do hip thrusts without a bench?
Technically yes, with a sofa or step. Be that as it may, a dedicated hip thrust bench locks your shoulder blades at the right angle. That means more tension on the glutes and less strain on the lower back.
How often should I train glutes?
Two to three sessions a week hits the sweet spot for most people. The glutes recover fast, so you can train them more often than bigger muscles like the back. Just vary the load and angle across sessions.
Final thoughts on the best equipment for glute workouts
The best equipment for glute workouts is the gear you will actually use, session after session. For most home lifters, the combination of a solid bench, a barbell pad, and a fabric band set covers 90% of what you need. Add the ankle straps once you have cable access, and your setup is complete.
To recap, the Bells of Steel Soft Glute Bench wins for heavy lifters, while the Mikolo and Powerber benches offer budget-friendly entry points. The Gymreapers pad and Te-Rich bands are no-brainer add-ons that pay for themselves in comfort and progress. All told, this six-piece kit will cost less than a single month at most boutique gyms — and last far, far longer.
Ready to track your progress? Pair your new gear with one of the best fitness trackers for weightlifting so you can watch your glute strength climb week by week.
Want more honest gear breakdowns? Head back to the Fit Scout HQ blog for fresh picks every week.