The In And Out Squats belongs to the squat family of movements and targets the quadriceps with bodyweight. Because the primary movers contribute to the movement, the payoff shows up in overall performance in this pattern. It sits in the calisthenics category, so the emphasis falls on movement quality and repeatable output. Note the 'Out Squats' component of the name: it specifies how this variation differs from otherwise similar quadriceps movements. Support comes from the glutes, hamstrings, calves, and core; the glutes in particular help extend and externally rotate the hip, which is why fatigue there often shows up before the quadriceps is fully worked. Training this with bodyweight needs no equipment at all and can be done virtually anywhere, though it is harder to load progressively once you outgrow it. Programme it alongside your other quadriceps work rather than as a standalone. The pattern is accessible enough to learn in a single session, which makes it a sound entry point before progressing to heavier or more complex variations.
Muscles Worked
The In And Out Squats is primarily a legs exercise, but it is never only the legs doing the work.
Legs
75%
Glutes
42%
Hamstrings
32%
Calves
22%
Legs (primary) — These fibres contribute to the movement, and they carry the majority of the load in this movement.
Glutes (secondary) — Assists by helping to extend and externally rotate the hip, contributing to hip power, posture and lower-back protection.
Hamstrings (secondary) — Assists by helping to bend the knee and extend the hip, contributing to hip power, sprinting and knee joint balance.
Calves (secondary) — Assists by helping to point the foot downward at the ankle, contributing to ankle stiffness, walking and jumping mechanics.
Benefits of the In And Out Squats
Reinforces the quadriceps, glutes and trunk stabilisers as a coordinated unit rather than as isolated parts.
Builds strength in the quadriceps through a squat pattern, which carries over directly to bending and straightening the knees and hips together.
Uses bodyweight, which needs no equipment at all and can be done virtually anywhere.
How to Perform the In And Out Squats
1
Set your starting position and brace your core before the first rep.
2
Break at the hips and knees together, keeping your weight through the midfoot.
3
Descend to a depth you can control with a neutral spine.
4
If the In And Out Squats starts to feel like it's working everywhere except the quadriceps, reset your position before continuing.
5
Drive back up through the floor, keeping the quadriceps working the whole way.
6
Progress by slowing the tempo or changing leverage rather than adding reps forever.
Your Goal General Fitness
Sets
2–3
Reps
10–15
Rest
60s
Breathing Technique
The general rule for the In And Out Squats is simple: inhale and brace at the top, exhale through the ascent. For heavier sets, take a breath in at the start position, brace as though bracing for a punch, and hold that pressure through the hardest part of the rep before exhaling. Getting this right stabilises your trunk and keeps blood pressure in a sensible range.
Tips for Proper Form
Track the knees in line with the toes and keep the mid-foot loaded.
Control the lowering phase — most of the quadriceps stimulus comes from resisting the weight, not lifting it.
Set your position before the first rep rather than correcting it mid-set.
Keep the range of motion consistent across every rep so you can compare sessions honestly.
Drive through your midfoot, not your toes — that keeps tension in the quadriceps instead of shifting it forward.
The In And Out Squats works best when you treat the quadriceps as the only muscle in the room — if you stop feeling it there, scale the movement back rather than pushing on.
Progress by changing leverage or tempo rather than adding reps forever — a slower rep loads the quadriceps more than ten fast ones.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Cutting depth to move more weight.
Do this insteadReduce the load and hit a consistent depth — partial reps leave most of the quadriceps untrained.
Treating the In And Out Squats as a warm-up movement and never progressing it.
Do this insteadGive it real working sets — the quadriceps needs a genuine stimulus, not a token effort.
Rushing reps because there's no weight to slow you down.
Do this insteadUse a deliberate tempo; without external load, time under tension is your main lever on the quadriceps.
Variations by Experience Level
Beginner
Perform the movement slowly with a light load until the pattern feels automatic. Stay at this level until every In And Out Squats rep looks the same as the first.
Intermediate
Add a one- to two-second pause at the hardest position of each repetition. Track your In And Out Squats numbers so you can see whether the quadriceps is actually progressing.
Advanced
Progress to a heavier variation of the same pattern once technique is stable at your current load. Use the In And Out Squats as your accessory once your main quadriceps lift is done for the day.
Safety Considerations
Stop the set when technique degrades — a In And Out Squats rep that no longer looks like your first one is not building anything.
The most common way the In And Out Squats goes wrong is knees collapsing inward under fatigue.
Warm up with lighter sets of the In And Out Squats before your first working set.
Who Should Avoid This Exercise
The In And Out Squats suits most healthy trainees, but it is not appropriate for everyone.
Anyone experiencing sharp, localised or radiating pain during the movement — that is a signal to stop, not to push through.
Anyone with an acute lower-back injury or disc irritation, until cleared to load the spine again.
This is general educational information, not medical advice. If you are managing an injury or medical condition, check with a qualified professional before adding this exercise to your programme.
It primarily trains the legs, with the glutes, hamstrings, calves, and core assisting. The pattern is classified as squat, so the quadriceps, glutes and trunk stabilisers share the workload.
Is the In And Out Squats suitable for beginners?
Yes. It is rated beginner-level, and the pattern can usually be learned in a single session with light resistance.
How many sets and reps should I do?
A practical starting point is 3 sets of 6-8, resting 2-3 min between sets, roughly 2x per week. Adjust from there based on how you recover.
What equipment do I need for the In And Out Squats?
You need bodyweight. This needs no equipment at all and can be done virtually anywhere, though it is harder to load progressively once you outgrow it.
How do I breathe during the In And Out Squats?
As a general rule, inhale and brace at the top, exhale through the ascent. Avoid holding your breath for the entire set.
What is the most common mistake with the In And Out Squats?
Knees collapsing inward under fatigue. The simplest correction is to track the knees in line with the toes and keep the mid-foot loaded.
What can I do instead of the In And Out Squats?
Good substitutes that train the same quadriceps pattern include Assault Airbike Sprint Speed, Band Single Leg Split Squat, and Barbell Side Step Up. Pick whichever matches the equipment you have available.
How often should I do the In And Out Squats?
About 2x per week suits most people. Recovery, not frequency, is what limits progress.
About Training Your Quadriceps
Where the In And Out Squats earns its place is repeatability — bodyweight makes the setup easy to reproduce, which is what lets you actually progress the quadriceps.
The quadriceps are the four large muscles on the front of the thigh that straighten the knee and drive almost every lower-body movement. They are among the biggest and most powerful muscles in the body, so training them hard pays off in strength, size, and athletic performance.
Squat and lunge patterns are the foundation of quad development — back squats, front squats, leg presses, split squats, and step-ups all load the quads heavily while also recruiting the glutes. Leg extensions isolate the quads directly for extra volume and a strong contraction. For most lifters, anchoring leg day with a heavy compound squat and finishing with lunges and extensions builds the most complete thighs.
Keep the knees tracking over the toes, descend to at least parallel where mobility allows, and control the lowering phase. Beginners should master bodyweight and goblet squats before loading a heavy barbell.