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Make Joint-Friendly Exercise Fun With These Editor-Tested Workout Trampolines

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Make Joint-Friendly Exercise Fun With These Editor-Tested Workout Trampolines

Exercise trampolines are a great way to sneak in some extra cardio in a fun, low-impact way. This type of exercise is called rebounding, and it only requires one piece of equipment—a mini trampoline or rebounder. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week, but walking and biking aren’t your only options.

Jason Yachanin, the co-owner and a trainer at Perspirology, tells us that rebounding provides a low-impact, continuous workout that’s great for people who struggle to pay attention during workouts. Holly Roser, a certified personal trainer and owner of the Holly Roser Fitness Studio, explains that rebounding can also improve cardiovascular health and balance while helping you lose weight. Rebounding also offers a full-body strength and conditioning workout when combined with strength moves like squats and lunges, and it’s also a good option for anyone who struggles with knee pain from exercise. Natasha Caleel Freutel, a certified corrective exercise specialist and owner of fitness studio Fit Mama Santa Barbara, adds that rebounders can also provide an excellent workout for the cardiovascular system, legs, core, arms, and back. Plus, exercise trampolines can be just as effective as resistance training for improving knee muscle strength, according to a December 2019 study in Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport.

To find the best exercise trampolines, we tested a total of 13 products for 8 hours, with an on-site personal trainer present to supervise our testing. Each trampoline was evaluated for sturdiness, quality, comfortability, and bounce. A physical therapist from our Medical Expert Board reviewed this article for medical and scientific accuracy.

Not all rebounders are built the same. So when shopping for a rebounder, there are a few important things to be aware of.

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  • Size: While most rebounders feature a diameter of 40 inches, the jumping area is usually a bit smaller. While Roser notes that a larger trampoline provides the space for wider jumps, it’s important to factor in that they will also take up more space.
  • Type of Bounce: Exercise trampolines come in either spring or bungee options. Spring options can offer more bounce, but bungee options may be easier on the joints.
  • Noise Level: While many options are quiet, it’s still important to consider the overall sound level of your rebounder, especially if you don’t live alone or you have downstairs neighbors. Generally speaking, bungee options are quieter than spring options.
  • Tension: A more firm pick will result in less bounce while more a bouncier pick may make you jump too high. Some picks are adjustable so you can find your own sweet spot.

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The reasonably priced JumpSport 350 earned the top spot on our list for its overall performance, and it also comes recommended by Freutel who likes that it is adjustable for your personal own demands. We found it to be exceptionally stable, while promoting comfort in every position we tried it in. A 16 gauge steel tubing promoted durability that stood out to us, and the arched legs which are designed for stability also lived up to the description.

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In our experience, this pick had just the right amount of tension and bounce. However, if you find it’s not right for you, it’s important to note that it has three adjustable tension settings to optimize it for your own specific jumping needs. Plus, the cords are designed with silence in mind. Importantly, Yachanin tells us that JumpSport is the only brand used at Perspirology, and that it is always working to update and upgrade their models.

  • A 39 inch diameter is smaller than other options that we tested, so you will be more limited in jumping space.

Product Details

  • Frame Size: 39 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 265 pounds
  • Foldable: No

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This remarkably low priced trampoline from Fitness Gear includes sturdy legs and the mesh didn’t move during usage, so we experienced no instability when jumping. In fact, our tester found that this budget pick was the most stable of the five trampolines they had tested. It also experienced no squeaking, and while it doesn’t fold, it’s smaller than other picks, with a frame size of 36 inches, so it can still be stored.

The tension of this model was tight, and it had a particularly consistent bounce profile, which left us feeling in control of our workouts. Additionally, the metal legs, the thick mesh, and the thick cotton and nylon combo for the cover combined for a well made feel despite the lower price. Plus, a cotton and nylon cover in the space between the mesh and the hooks made us feel more safe.

  • The smaller size may be limiting in terms of the movements that you can perform.

Product Details

  • Frame Size: 36 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 220 pounds
  • Foldable: No

Acon

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Standard exercise trampolines are usually around 40 inches wide, but this model from Acon is substantially larger, coming in at 55 inches wide. Roser notes that this additional size means this pick allows for exercises like jump squats and lunge jumps while the sturdiness allows for things like push-ups, step-ups, and tricep dips. We found it to be extremely stable, encouraging us to perform a wide variety of movements due to the additional space. And despite the size, we found it to be surprisingly lightweight.

This pick is also well-built; the frame and suspension system is patent-pending for its stability and safe but quiet landing, and that stability made our tester, who is a trampoline newbie, feel extra safe.

  • The spacious design will not work for people that are living in cramped quarters.

Product Details

  • Frame Size: 55 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 300 pounds
  • Foldable: No

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Another reasonably priced option, this pic from DARCHEN is perfect for anyone looking to dip their toe into the world of trampolines without making a sizable investment. While particularly lightweight, we were still impressed by how stable it was; the rubber feet kept it sturdy during usage and we found it to be effortless to carry.

We were able to easily slide it across the floor when we wanted to, but it didn’t move during usage. That level of portability earned it higher marks from us. Finally, we appreciated that this option was noiseless, so you won’t have to worry about disrupting your neighbors when rebounding.

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  • It is a no frills pick that doesn’t come with any special features or higher quality materials.

Product Details

  • Frame Size: 40 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 450 pounds
  • Foldable: No

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Bungee trampolines can feel less shocking on the joints when compared to models that use springs. We particularly liked this pick from Bellicon, which impressed us by offering more bounce than tension. In fact, we were impressed by how much bounce we were able to achieve with the smaller sized pick. Additionally, at no point did we feel unsafe or like this was anything less than stable when jumping.

This option uses high quality materials that felt safe and sturdy for us in testing. It also boasts a simple set up with easy to follow instructions.

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  • The bounce may be too high for some people considering the smaller size of the trampoline

Product Details

  • Frame Size: 39 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 440 pounds
  • Foldable: No

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Weighing just 22 pounds, this pick was super easy to move around. And, as Roser notes, that lightweight profile makes it a good choice for smaller spaces. Importantly, Roser adds that while the legs fold when not in use, they do lock in place during usage, so you can feel safe. In testing, we thoroughly enjoyed this trampoline for its bounce, quality, comfort, and portability.

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The patented bungee system has roughly twice as many connectors as other models, ensuring a soft, silent landing. In terms of quality, it held up well to being put through workouts. The springs were taut during jumping, and our advanced tester said they would recommend this to beginners as well.

  • When we did ski jumps, we felt the legs shift, making this slightly less stable than other picks.

Product Details

  • Frame Size: 40 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 330 pounds
  • Foldable: Yes

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If you’re looking to enjoy some sunshine while you do your bouncing, the Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor and Outdoor Exercise Trampoline is our pick for you. It came mostly pre-assembled, requiring only that we attach the legs. In terms of performance, it was highly stable, with good shock absorption from the springs, a consistent bounce, and it even enabled us to vigorously bounce without it moving.

This adjustable pick comes in a square design intended to optimize and maximize jumping space. We also experienced no wobbling or squeaking.

  • It is not collapsible, so you will want to make sure that you have ample space to store it.

Product Details

  • Frame Size: 36 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 285 pounds
  • Foldable: No

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In our experience, this trampoline excelled at maintaining a quiet performance during usage, due in part to the highly elastic bungees used by Bellicon. While some trampolines feel too rigid and others are too bouncy, we found this one to strike a perfect balance, being bouncy enough to jump high and sturdy enough to do stable squats.

If you’re looking for some extra jumping area, this one boasts a 49-inch diameter, making it more than wide enough for all of our workouts. Additionally, customers have the option of purchasing ultra-strong bungees to support weights of up to 440 pounds which is among the highest weight capacities we’ve seen.

  • This pick is priced much higher than most of the other options on our list.

Product Details

  • Frame Size: 49 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 440 pounds
  • Foldable: Yes

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Despite being a “mini”, this trampoline proved to offer stability and a robust 330 pound weight limit with its 40 inch option. Our tester also found this model to be extremely sturdy and comfortable, noting that the safety bar kept them feeling safe during usage. And for customizability, that bar can be adjusted between four different heights.

Even as a mini, we still found that this pick was spacious enough to accommodate our desired workouts, and the bounce to tension ratio was ideal.

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  • Some people find that the folding process is tedious.

Product Details

  • Frame Size: 40 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 331 lbs
  • Foldable: Yes

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For a higher weight limit, BCAN’s 450/550 LBS Foldable Mini Trampoline is our pick. It’s available in either a 40 inch option with a 450 pound weight limit, or a 48 inch option with a 550 pound weight limit. Assembly was simple; all of the necessary tools were included, and the instructions were clear, with detailed up close pictures to guide us. We found this option to have excellent overall stability, and the bungees worked well to provide ample spring for a good workout while still feeling perfectly safe. When we tested out side to side movements we didn’t experience any shifting.

The mat also proved to be spacious enough for us to comfortably squat or do lateral jumping exercises. In our experience, the metal parts were durable, and we didn’t need to overly rely on the handlebars due to the stability of the mat. We experienced no wobbling or squeaking of the bungees and the spacious design kept us feeling extra safe throughout usage.

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  • The handlebar felt somewhat loose, so we couldn’t fully rely on it fully for support and we couldn’t tighten it.

Product Details

  • Frame Size: 40 or 48 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 450/550 pounds
  • Foldable: Yes

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For exercisers looking to be able to safely push it to the limit, we recommend this pick from ACON Fit. The 1.5 inch thick steel piped legs proved to be highly sturdy, while the anti-slide rubber stoppers on the bottom helped to keep this rebounder even more secure, holding it fully in place during two intensive rounds of exercise.

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In terms of performance, the 30 bungee springs worked well to keep our bounce controlled while still inspiring the confidence to go for a higher intensity while exercising. Finally, this pick provided the perfect balance of support and bounce for exercises like jumping jacks, high knees, and jump squats.

  • The instructions aren’t detailed enough, making it complicated to assemble.
  • While stable and excellent for high intensity, we found that going too far to one side did cause some wobbling.

Product Details

  • Frame Size: 40 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 330 pounds
  • Foldable: No

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We found this option from SereneLife to be ideal for seniors for a few reasons. For starters, it arrived mostly assembled, coming with metal springs, so there was no need to attach bungees. When we jumped on it, we experienced no shifting or instability, and the tight springs lowered the overall movement, so we think it’s good to keep seniors safe with limited ranges of motion. It also felt controlled and low to the ground, and experienced no shifting.

The smaller footprint is a nice touch for people looking to avoid taking up too much space. And as a final benefit for seniors, it features an adjustable handlebar that can be adjusted up to 46 inches high.

  • The smaller space, while beneficial for seniors that won’t be doing larger moves, is limiting for people looking to do wider movements like jumping jacks.
  • While we appreciate the handrail, we felt that it could’ve been easier to adjust and it also affected the performance of the front of the trampoline when installed.

Product Details

  • Frame Size: 40 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 220 pounds
  • Foldable: Yes

  • We updated our best budget pick. Our previous pick, the Wamkos Rebounder Mini Exercise Trampoline, is no longer available. We replaced it with the Fitness Gear Mini Trampoline, a trampoline that was part of our most recent testing and received an overall 4.7 out of 5 star rating for its excellent value, stability, and durability.
  • We replaced the pick for the Best for Dedicated Jumpers, the Bellicon Plus Trampoline with Handle 44” with Fold-Up Legs, because it is no longer available.
  • In addition to the best budget pick, we added five other new products from our most recent testing: Bellicon’s 39 Inch Mini Trampoline (best bungee), Sunny Health & Fitness’ Indoor & Outdoor Exercise Trampoline (best outdoor), BCAN’s 450/550 LBS Foldable Mini Trampoline (best weight capacity), ACON Fit’s 44 Inch Rebounder (best for high impact exercises), and SereneLift’s Portable & Foldable Trampoline (best for seniors).

To date, we have tested a total of 21 products in our search for the best exercise trampolines on the market. More recently, we completed additional testing on 13 new products for eight hours to update our list and make it even more precise. In making our picks, we put the trampolines through a variety of movements including basic jumps, ACON fit squats, jumping jacks, low ski jumps, squats, and high knees. We focussed on ease of assembly, stability, bounce/tension, quality, and value to make our final picks.

  • Ease of assembly: From the moment we opened the trampolines, we noted how simple they were to set up. We also addressed the quality of the instructions and how easy they were to follow. We were also sure to acknowledge if tools were necessary, and if so whether they were included in the packaging or not. In the case of particularly difficult to understand steps, we made note of them and addressed how we overcame the problem.
  • Stability: We noted if there was any shifting in the base during usage, as well as the overall support and range of movement allowed for by the springs. We were sure to note any moments where we felt less than stable during usage, and when we put the rebounders to the test with high-impact exercises, we also made note of any shifting.
  • Bounce/tension: We used this as an opportunity to examine the overall tension and to examine whether the rebounders provided an effective workout while leaving us feeling in control. We were also sure to determine the consistency of the bounce across different exercises, and whether the tension created any discomfort for us, as well as if it positively or negatively affected our workout experience.
  • Quality: Because of the compromised position that rebounding puts us into, we were sure to focus on more durable options for safety. We looked at the materials used and the overall construction of each model, and addressed whether the springs, frame, and handles felt durable. We also noted if there were changes in the feeling of the jumping area after usage, as well as if there was any squeaking or wobbling after usage.
  • Value: Based on the average price of rebounders, our testers noted how worth it the models were. They noted if they would buy these models for the listed price, if they would pay more, if they would pay less, if they would buy it on sale, or if they would skip it entirely.

Our team of experts helped us to not only understand the benefits of exercise trampolines, but to understand what people should seek from them.

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  • Jason Yachanin, co-owner and trainer at Perspirology.
  • Holly Roser, certified personal trainer and owner of the Holly Roser Fitness Studio.
  • Natasha Caleel Freutel, certified corrective exercise specialist and owner of fitness studio Fit Mama Santa Barbara.

  • Weight Capacity: It’s important to pick a safer model to jump on because you don’t want something that leaves you feeling unsafe. Some models have lower weight limits in the 200-pound range, while others go as high as 500 pounds. Make sure you purchase something built for you and won’t put you in harm’s way.
  • Materials: The materials used in your trampoline determine its weight capacity. As Freutel explains, a sturdy and high-quality option is important because you’ll be bouncing on it. She advocates avoiding cheap metal options, which can break or bend.
  • Health Benefits: Jumping on an exercise trampoline is a great workout, especially for anyone looking for a low-impact form of cardio. Yochanan tells us that the high-intensity nature of rebounding builds bone density and is unique in promoting lymphatic drainage. It burns calories, increases your heart rate, and strengthens your muscles all in one. Studies have shown that mini trampoline usage positively affects overall health and is a beneficial training program for overweight individuals. Freutel explains that rebounding keeps the heart rate up and can burn calories quicker than going for a walk or a bike ride.

While we picked the 12 best options, we tested many more that fell short in some regard to keep them off of our list.

  • RAVS 48″ Foldable Fitness Rebounder: While this pick featured a sturdy base, supportive springs, and was suitable for a variety of exercises, we found the assembly to be overly involved, and the handlebars to be less supportive than we wanted.
  • Jumpsport 570 Pro 44″ Fitness Trampoline: Despite a super easy assembly, clear instructions, and a wonderful balance of firmness and bounciness, this pick left us desiring more from its stability. We felt it was overpriced, given this concern.
  • Sportplus+ Indoor Trampoline: It’s a good option for the price, but our tester had some reservations about stability. Though bouncing and landings were comfortable, parts of the trampoline were uneven.
  • FirstE 48″ Foldable Fitness Trampoline: The large size made our tester feel secure and comfortable to move around, but the tension was on the firmer size, so more effort was needed to reach the desired jumping height.
  • JumpSport 250 Fitness Trampoline: The JumpSport 350 is our top pick, but the 250 fell short in sturdiness and the size of the surface area. Our tester enjoyed the workout but found this model to be too bouncy and narrow.
  • Marcy Trampoline Cardio Trainer with Handle: A handle is a nice touch to add security, but our tester found this handle to be unstable and wobbly. This could be an option to consider for someone who prefers a firm bouncing surface.

Lacey Muinos is a health and fitness writer at Health who has researched and reviewed a variety of exercise products, such as antiperspirants and socks. Her preferred forms of exercise are strength training, pilates, and walking, but she can appreciate a fun workout like rebounding.

This article was updated by Jack Byram, a writer at Health who has been covering all things exercise-related since 2023. As a workout fanatic, Jack knows the value of high-quality, low-impact workouts and used to regularly use a rebounder. Anecdotally, he liked it as a means to get himself moving in the morning and even found it to provide a mild endorphin rush.

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How Jackass Star Chris Pontius’ Simple ‘1-Rep’ Rule Keeps Him Jacked at 51 – and Why it’s so Effective

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How Jackass Star Chris Pontius’ Simple ‘1-Rep’ Rule Keeps Him Jacked at 51 – and Why it’s so Effective

You might know Chris Pontius as ‘Party Boy’ from the Jackass films and TV series that defined the early 2000s. Now 51, he’s back on our screens for Jackass: Best and Last, the fifth and final instalment in the franchise. Away from the stunts, though, Pontius has also become an unlikely source of practical fitness advice, regularly sharing workouts from his home gym.

In a recent Instagram Reel, he shared: ‘I have a very simple exercise tip for people who are having trouble getting motivated to exercise. Just lift the weight one time, do one rep, one push-up, whatever it is, and once you’ve started you kind of go, “Well, I might as well just keep going”.’

‘So try it, it’s worked for me every time and it’ll probably work for you,’ he says.

The advice is grounded in behavioural science. By taking one small step towards your workout, you’re more likely to overcome the initial mental resistance because the task feels more achievable. Once you’ve started, it’s far easier to build momentum and complete the rest of your session.

Our Fitness Director Explains Why This Method Works

‘There’s a bit of science behind this, too,’ says Andrew Tracey. ‘Behaviour-change researchers have looked at “all-or-nothing thinking” around exercise – basically, the idea that if you can’t do the full session, exactly as planned, you may as well sack it off completely. Giving yourself permission to do the smallest possible version of the workout is a way around that.

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‘Tell yourself you’re only doing the warm-up. Or one round. Or five minutes. You’re allowed to stop there. But often, once you’ve started, you realise the hard part wasn’t the workout itself. It was getting going. Research also shows that the way a workout feels can affect whether you come back for more. So a small win that feels doable is almost always better than the perfect session you never start. So while the “minimum dose” might feel like a cop-out, it could actually be a way in.’


If there’s one thing Kori Sampson knows, it’s how to optimise your body composition for performance. To tap into his knowledge as an elite athlete and coach, we asked him to create a 4-week plan to help you move faster, recover quicker and keep pushing when the fatigue sets in – all while improving your muscle-to-fat ratio.

Ready to build muscle, burn fat and come out the other side looking, feeling and performing better? Click here to get 14 days of free access to the plan via the Men’s Health app.

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“Forget living longer, exercise can make life easier right now”—a 72-year-old fitness influencer and marathon runner shares two accessible ways to start moving

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“Forget living longer, exercise can make life easier right now”—a 72-year-old fitness influencer and marathon runner shares two accessible ways to start moving

Retirement is often a time when people slow down, but in Christine Hobson’s case, she’s speeding up. When her daughter persuaded her to join a running club so she wouldn’t get bored, she had no idea she’d get the fitness bug and run 125 marathons in total, visiting all seven continents.

And the 72-year-old former teacher has plans to run the North Pole marathon in 2027.

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Why 21-15-9 Might be the Smartest Workout Format in Fitness – and How to Use it to Drive Muscle Growth

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Why 21-15-9 Might be the Smartest Workout Format in Fitness – and How to Use it to Drive Muscle Growth

CrossFit means a lot of things to a lot of people – because it’s made up of a lot of things.

Since the rise of the fitness giant, countless brands, events and training methods have sprung up around it – not claiming to be CrossFit, but looking suspiciously CrossFit-esque.

There are, however, a handful of things that are uniquely CrossFit: the ‘Girls’ benchmark workouts. The Hero WODs and, of course, its signature rep schemes.

Chief among them is ’21-15-9′.

The 21-15-9 rep scheme may just be the single most CrossFit thing in existence. But what exactly is it? Where did it come from? And why might it actually be better at building muscle in a hurry than its conditioning roots would have you believe?

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Let’s have a look.

What Is 21-15-9?

If you’ve never encountered it before, the format couldn’t be simpler. Choose two exercises (occasionally more) and perform 21 reps of each, then 15 reps of each, then nine reps of each, completing the entire workout as quickly as possible – with good form.

Probably the best-known example is ‘Fran’: 21 thrusters and pull-ups, followed by 15 of each, then nine. On paper it doesn’t look especially intimidating. In practice, it’s one of the most feared benchmark workouts in fitness.

Where Did it Come From?

Unlike many modern training methods, 21-15-9 didn’t come out of a study. It came from the gym floor.

CrossFit founder Greg Glassman has explained that the format emerged through years of coaching and experimentation in the 1990s. Rather than chasing a perfect sets-and-reps prescription, he was looking for a workout that allowed athletes to maintain a high power output from start to finish.

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The thinking is surprisingly elegant. You begin with 21 reps while fresh. By the time you reach the set of 15, your ability to produce force has already fallen. By the final nine, you’re significantly more fatigued – but the workload has dropped by almost the same amount.

Instead of grinding through increasingly miserable sets of the same length, the workout ‘meets you where you are’, reducing the work required as your capacity declines. The result is a workout that encourages you to keep moving instead of standing around trying to recover.

The numbers themselves are also remarkably practical. Forty-five total reps per movement provides plenty of training volume without turning the session into an endurance slog, while every set divides neatly into thirds if you need to break it up.

(Although I’ve got to be honest, I’m a 20-15-10-5 man myself, just for the sake of round numbers.)

Why Does it Work So Well?

Although there isn’t research showing that 21-15-9 is somehow the magic formula, there are obvious reasons why it consistently produces brutally effective workouts.

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Descending reps help maintain intensity. As fatigue accumulates, reducing the target allows movement quality, bar speed and overall work rate to stay higher than they would if you simply repeated the same number of reps over and over.

It also tends to land in a physiological sweet spot. Most 21-15-9 workouts take between three and eight minutes, depending on the movements and the athlete. That’s long enough to create a serious cardiovascular challenge while still requiring meaningful force production throughout. You’re taxing your anaerobic systems hard while relying on your aerobic system to help you recover just enough to keep going.

Finally, there’s the psychological trick. The hardest-looking part comes first. Once you’ve survived the opening 21, every remaining round appears more manageable. ‘Only 15 left.’ Then, ‘Just nine.’ In reality, you’re becoming more fatigued with every rep, but the shrinking target keeps you attacking the workout instead of pacing too conservatively.

Why it Might be Surprisingly Good for Building Muscle

Perhaps the biggest misconception about 21-15-9 is that it’s ‘just cardio with weights’.

Choose the right load and something interesting happens. Very few athletes complete every round unbroken. Instead, the workout naturally evolves into a series of short, broken sets separated by only a few seconds of rest.

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Your 21 might become 11-5-5. Your 15 becomes 8-4-3. Your final nine might stay unbroken – or become 5-4.

In effect, you’ve accidentally turned the workout into a form of rest-pause training.

Those brief pauses allow just enough recovery to squeeze out more high-quality repetitions before fatigue catches up again. By the latter stages of each mini-set, you’re repeatedly working very close to failure, recruiting the high-threshold motor units with the greatest potential for muscle growth.

It’s a similar principle to rest-pause training, myo-reps and cluster sets: all methods used to accumulate hypertrophy-friendly volume while keeping the load relatively heavy and the rest periods brutally short.

You’re basically speed-running a large number of hard, growth-stimulating reps in a very small window of time. Could this help explain why elite CrossFit athletes often carry an impressive amount of muscle despite spending relatively little time performing traditional bodybuilding splits?

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It’s certainly plausible, although the ‘elite’ part often selects for athletes with the greatest muscle-building potential.

Much of their training isn’t simply conditioning. It’s high-density resistance training performed under accumulating fatigue, with only fleeting recovery between efforts. In other words, they’re often doing something bodybuilders have deliberately programmed for decades: packing a lot of hard work into a very short period of time.

That’s not to say 21-15-9 is superior to a well-designed hypertrophy programme. If your sole goal is building muscle, there are more efficient ways to do it.

But if you’re looking for a workout that develops fitness, tests your mettle and still provides a meaningful stimulus for strength and size, it’s easy to see why this deceptively simple rep scheme has remained one of CrossFit’s defining fingerprints for more than 20 years.

Best Bodyweight 21-15-9 Workout: ‘JT’

If you’re looking for an interesting twist on the 21-15-9 format, look no further than Hero WOD ‘JT’, which concentrates the muscle-building potential of the format into a brutal upper-body workout.

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Created in honour of Petty Officer 1st Class Jeff Taylor, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2006, the workout strips away barbells altogether and relies solely on three bodyweight movements:

21-15-9 reps of:

Don’t let the lack of equipment fool you. The volume – 45 reps of each movement, 135 reps in total – combined with the descending rep scheme makes this a brutal upper-body test, hammering the shoulders, chest and triceps while demanding serious muscular endurance.

Better still, it perfectly demonstrates one of the biggest strengths of 21-15-9. As fatigue mounts and the sets naturally fragment, the workout begins to resemble one giant rest-pause set, allowing you to accumulate a huge number of hard, near-failure reps in less than 10 minutes.

If your goal is building an impressive upper body while developing serious work capacity, there are few bodyweight workouts that deliver quite so much bang for your buck, making ‘JT’ one of my personal favourites.

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fitness magazine cover featuring a muscular man with kettlebells

If there’s one thing Kori Sampson knows, it’s how to optimise your body composition for performance. To tap into his knowledge as an elite athlete and coach, we asked him to create a 4-week plan to help you move faster, recover quicker and keep pushing when the fatigue sets in – all while improving your muscle-to-fat ratio.

Ready to build muscle, burn fat and come out the other side looking, feeling and performing better? Click here to get 14 days of free access to the plan via the Men’s Health app.


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