If you think you’ve tried all of the squat variations in the book, you’re just not being creative enough. Between single-leg versions like split squats, dumbbell variations like goblet squats , and a range of squat machines, there’s definitely more than one way to perform the classic compound exercise. Reverse hack squats, however, might be one of the most underrated options in terms of strengthening the posterior chain and improving hip health . Rather than putting your back against the pad, reverse hack squats have you face into the machine, allowing the hips to travel farther back while further activating the glutes and hamstrings.

“Reverse hack squats are an underrated variation that shifts the movement into more of a hip-dominant pattern,” says Chantelle Stryker, a personal trainer and representative at ClassPass Corporate. “I like these for people who want the lower-body loading of a squat, but also want to reinforce a strong hip hinge pattern.…