The Ultimate Guide to REP Landmines: Which One Is Right for You?

A landmine is a versatile piece of fitness equipment that attaches to a barbell, allowing you to tackle pushes, rows, pulls, and more as the barbell remains fixed on one end but capable of swiveling or pivoting freely.

At REP we've got three options to choose from when you're looking to add landmine training to your routine. We'll cover the Standard Landmine, the Free Standing Landmine, and the REP® x Kleva Built® Androit Landmine so you know which tool is right for your training, setup, and budget.

Landmine Comparison Chart

See how each landmine option stacks up against the competition:

*Depending on option of freestanding or rack mounted version.

Landmine Attachment vs. Free Standing Landmine

The Standard Landmine attachment and the Free Standing Landmine are our two most cost-friendly options. They're both $99 and comptaible with 2-inch and 1-inch barbells. The biggest difference between them is how they're meant to be setup.

The Standard Landmine attachment is meant to be attached to a comptaible rack: the PR-1000, PR-1050, PR-1100, SR-4000, PR-4000, PR-4100 Folding Rack, PR-5000, Omni, or Apollo. It attaches easily with the included band peg, which is placed outside of the rack so as not to take up any of your valuable inner-rack floor space.

The Free Standing Landmine doesn't attach to a rack. Instead, its flat base sits on the floor and can be held in place by sticking the base into a corner or loading a weight plate onto the built-in weight horn.

TL;DR: If you have a comptaible rack, go for the Standard Landmine attachment. If you don't have a rack, or you want the freedom to do your landmine workout wherever you'd like, opt for the Free Standing Landmine.

Kleva Built® Androit Landmine vs. Standard Landmine

The REP® x Kleva Built® Androit Landmine improves upon the functionality of the Standard Landmine. While the Standard Landmine attachment has a wide swivel range, the REP® x Kleva Built® Androit Landmine's swivel functionality is unlimited, allowing for a full 360-degree articulation.

The Standard Landmine attaches to your comptaible rack (the PR-1000, PR-1050, PR-1100, SR-4000, PR-4000, PR-4100 Folding Rack, PR-5000, Omni, or Apollo) and you'll need to choose the correct Standard Landmine option based on the rack you intend to use it with. The REP® x Kleva Built® Androit Landmine can be purchased to suit your setup, either in a rack-mounted or free-standing version. For the rack-mounted option, it can also be adjusted to attach to either 5/8-inch or 1-inch upright holes, making it suitable for training with the 4000 and 5000 series racks, rigs, or the Adonis™.

When your workout is done, the Standard Landmine could stay fixed to your rack since it doesn't take up room inside your rack. However, it will stick out on the side which could be a tripping hazard. The REP® x Kleva Built® Androit Landmine took this into consideration and features a magnetic storage solution, so your landmine attachment stays tucked away on your rack's upright.

TL;DR: The Kleva Built® Androit Landmine expands on the basic functionality of the Standard Landmine, providing a full 360-degree range of swivel, muilt-rack usability, an option to select a free-standing or rack-mounted version, and storage solutions. However, if you're working with a 1-inch barbell, you'll want to opt for the Standard Landmine instead.

Landmine Exercises

You've got your landmine attachment locked and loaded, now it's time to have some fun. Here are different ways to use a landmine when you're ready to add this equipment to your routine.

Landmine Row

This move targets your upper back, traps, and lats, while also engaging your core throughout the reps. 

How to Do a Landmine Row:

• With weight loaded onto the free end of your barbell, straddle the barbell with you feet set shoulder-width apart.
• Bend your knees, maintain a straight back, and hinge at your hips bringing your torso lower.
• With an overhand grip, grab onto the barbell below the weight plates with both hands.
• Engage your core then pull the barbell toward your chest, driving your elbows back and squeezing your shoulder blades together at the top.

Pro Tip: To make this move more ergonomic, add on the REP® x Kleva Built® Angled Atlas™ Close Grip attachment or REP® x Kleva Built® Atlas™ Multi-Grip Cable and Landmine attachment.

Landmine Press

The landmine press is a shoulder sculpter, plus it's easier on your joints and mobility than a standard overhead press thanks to the movement pattern traveling slightly out and slightly up rather than straight up and down.

How to Do a Landmine Press:

• Stand tall with feet in a staggered stance (opposite leg across from working arm will be slightly forward) and the free end of the barbell held in both hands by your chest.
• With your left hand, move the bar off to your left as your elbow flares out at about a 45-degree angle.
• Press the bar up, allowing it to travel in a diagonal path rather than straight up and down.
• Lean into the bar as your elbow locks out, then return the bar with control to start and switch sides.

Landmine Squat

This move — like a cousin to the goblet squat — primarily targets your quads and glutes, with some love for your hamstrings, shoulders, arms, upper back, and core. 

How to Do a Landmine Squat:

• Load the landmine up with your desired weight.
• Stand tall facing the landmine, with your feet set shoulder-width apart.
• Lift the end of the barbell in both hands and rest it close to the middle of your chest. Keep your elbows tucked in towards your body.
• Bend your knees and send your hips back, lowering down into a squat while keeping your back straight.
• Drive through your heels as you extend your hips and knees, bringing you back to standing tall.

Landmine Deadlift

This move is similar to your standard deadlift, but there's less stress to your lower back. Target your glutes, hamstrings, and lower back with this lift.

How to Do a Landmine Deadlift:

• Setup with your heels inline with the end of the barbell and feet set about shoulder-width apart.
• With bent knees and a hinge in your hips, grip the end of the barbell, pull your shoulders back, and maintain a neutral spine.
• As you pull the weight up, fire your glutes to send your hips forward as you keep your arms straight.
• Lower the bar back down with control, maintaining a tight core and your lats engaged.

Takeaway

Adding a landmine into your arsenal of fitness equipment can have you tackling loads of lifts — deadlifts, lunges, RDLs, hack squats, rotations, rows, presses, the list goes on. All you need to do is figure out exactly what type of setup you want to work with. If you're looking for a free-standing unit, consider the Free Standing Landmine. If working with a rack, the Standard Landmine. And if you want a more high-end landmine attachment, whether working with a rack or without, the REP® x Kleva Built® Androit Landmine attachment is the way to go — with more freedom of movement, a more premium build, and easier storage.

FAQs

What's more effective and safe? Free weights or landmine training?

Landmine training can be easier on your joints and safer for beginners, since the bar has a fixed pivot point which helps to keep you in control of the weight. However, both forms of training are effective when progressive overload is used.

What's the best landmine attachment?

Each landmine attachment is capable of giving you access to versatile landmine training. However, if you're looking for the most premium option, the REP® x Kleva Built® Androit Landmine attachment offers total freedom of movement, magnetic storage to keep your workout space tidy, and can be purchased as a free-standing or rack-mounted unit.

What landmine attachment works with a 1-inch barbell?

Both the Standard Landmine attachment and the Free Standing Landmine attachment work with 1-inch barbell sleeves.

Rosie Borchert is NASM-CPT, former Nike Volleyball coach, and fitness writer whose work has appeared on BarBend and Tonal. If anyone would like to hire her to play beach volleyball, snowboard, binge watch TV, or go climbing, please get in touch.

This article was reviewed by Ashley Boyer, ACE-CPT, for accuracy.