TETSU

Barbell One Arm Floor Press vs Stalder Press

The Barbell One Arm Floor Press and the Stalder Press both train the triceps as their primary muscle. The Barbell One Arm Floor Press uses a barbell while the Stalder Press is bodyweight-only. Here is how they compare and when to pick each.

Head to head

Side-by-side comparison

Barbell One Arm Floor PressStalder Press
Primary muscletricepstriceps
Body partupper armsupper arms
Supporting muscleschest and shouldersshoulders and core
Equipmentbarbellbodyweight
Steps in our guide56
Setup

How each one starts

Barbell One Arm Floor Press — first steps

  1. Lie flat on your back on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
  2. Hold the barbell with one hand, palm facing up, and extend your arm straight up over your chest.

Stalder Press — first steps

  1. Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms extended overhead.
  2. Bend your knees slightly and engage your core.

Full step-by-step guides are linked below.

Decision

Which should you choose?

The Barbell One Arm Floor Press lets you load the heaviest weights and progress in small, steady jumps. The Stalder Press needs no equipment and scales through leverage, tempo and reps. If your gym has both options, neither is a wrong choice: pick the one that feels strongest through a full range, and swap after 6 to 8 weeks to keep the triceps adapting.

Guides

Full form guides

Answers

Common questions

Is the Barbell One Arm Floor Press better than the Stalder Press?

Neither is universally better — both train the triceps as the primary mover. The Barbell One Arm Floor Press lets you load the heaviest weights and progress in small, steady jumps, while the Stalder Press needs no equipment and scales through leverage, tempo and reps. Choose based on your equipment and which movement you can progress consistently.

Can I do both the Barbell One Arm Floor Press and the Stalder Press in the same program?

Yes, but usually not in the same session — they overlap heavily on the triceps. A common setup is one as your main movement and the other on a second training day, or alternating them block by block.

Do the Barbell One Arm Floor Press and the Stalder Press work the same muscles?

The primary muscle is the same: the triceps. Supporting muscles differ slightly — chest and shoulders for the Barbell One Arm Floor Press versus shoulders and core for the Stalder Press.

Track it in Tetsu

Tetsu tracks both movements separately, keeps your PRs per exercise, and tells you which one is actually progressing. Free to start.