April 18, 2024 3 min read
When it comes to building mass in the chest, there are many factors that come into play. The right diet and exercise plan are essential, but having access to the right fitness equipment is also key. There are a wide variety of chest exercises you can do with fitness equipment such as dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, and even more specialized machines like cable crossovers and chest presses. This article will discuss some of the best chest exercises for building mass and how they should be incorporated into your workout routine.
Shop The Collection: Weight PlatesThe classic push-up is one of the most effective bodyweight exercises for chest development. It works the chest, triceps, and shoulders simultaneously and is great for developing overall upper body strength. Push-ups can be done anywhere without the need for any equipment. A variation of the push-up that is often overlooked is the incline push-up. Incline push-ups can be done on a bench or any other elevated surface and are great for targeting the chest muscles. They also help to engage the arms and shoulders more than regular push-ups.
Shop The Gear: MAGMA Olympic Cast Iron Weight Plates, from $2.88 CADDumbbell chest presses are a great way to build mass in the chest and develop upper body strength. By using two dumbbells instead of a barbell, this exercise also allows for greater range of motion and better engagement of the stabilizing muscles in the shoulder. To perform a dumbbell chest press, lie flat on your back on a weight bench with a dumbbell in each hand. With your palms facing forward, press the dumbbells up towards the ceiling until your arms are straight then lower them back down slowly. Make sure to keep your form tight throughout the entire movement.
Shop The Collection: BarbellsThe barbell bench press is one of the most popular chest exercises and is great for building mass and strength. It works not only the chest, but also the arms and shoulders. To perform a bench press, lie flat on your back on a weight bench with a barbell loaded with weights. With your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, unrack the bar and lower it to your chest. Pause at the bottom then press the bar up until your arms are straight. Make sure to keep your form tight throughout the entire movement.
Shop The Gear: CAP Barbell Olympic Solid Bar, 5-ft, from $119.99 CADIncline dumbbell chest presses are a great way to target the upper chest muscles and add size and definition. This exercise is similar to the flat dumbbell chest press, but it is done on an incline bench at an angle of 45 degrees. This helps to increase the range of motion and further engage the stabilizing muscles in the shoulder. To perform an incline dumbbell chest press, lie back on an incline bench with a dumbbell in each hand. With your palms facing forward, press the dumbbells up towards the ceiling until your arms are straight then lower them back down slowly. Make sure to keep your form tight throughout the entire movement.
The cable crossover is a great exercise for targeting the chest muscles and adding size and definition. It is done by standing between two adjustable cable pulleys and grabbing a handle in each hand. With your arms straight, pull the handles out from your body and across your chest until your arms meet in front of you. Then slowly return to the starting position and repeat. Make sure to keep your form tight throughout the entire movement.
There are many different exercises you can do to build mass in your chest. Push-ups, dumbbell chest presses, barbell bench presses, incline dumbbell chest presses, and cable crossovers are all great options. As with any exercise program, it is important to listen to your body and make sure to get enough rest and recovery between workouts. With proper form and consistency, you can achieve your goals and build a bigger, stronger chest.