Why don't my glutes activate when squatting with weights vs. air squats? (lazysoci.al)

submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by yonderbarn@lazysoci.al to c/fitness@hexbear.net

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I am able to activate my glutes during air squats but can't achieve the same thing when performing front squats with dumbbells. I notice that the day after air squats my glutes are sore, but I barely feel any soreness with weights. There's something about being loaded with weights that I find makes it more challenging to activate the glutes.

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[-] SchillMenaker@hexbear.net 7 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

People keep bringing up form but high bar back squats are pretty fucking quad dominant. If you're doing those correctly it's going to feel like your glutes aren't taking over because they're not supposed to be. Low bar squats encourage more posterior chain activation but that bent over shit with heavy weights seems sketchy to me.

IMO if you want to specifically blast your ass just do Bulgarian split squats.

Edit: Late morning reading comprehension came through; front squats are still a quad dominant movement though.

this post was submitted on 18 Jan 2026

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