TETSU

Bridge Mountain Climber (Cross Body) vs Landmine 180

The Bridge Mountain Climber (Cross Body) and the Landmine 180 both train the abs as their primary muscle. The Bridge Mountain Climber (Cross Body) is bodyweight-only while the Landmine 180 uses a barbell. Here is how they compare and when to pick each.

Head to head

Side-by-side comparison

Bridge Mountain Climber (Cross Body)Landmine 180
Primary muscleabsabs
Body partwaistwaist
Supporting musclesglutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, shoulders and tricepsobliques and quadriceps
Equipmentbodyweightbarbell
Steps in our guide74
Setup

How each one starts

Bridge Mountain Climber (Cross Body) — first steps

  1. Start in a high plank position with your hands directly under your shoulders and your body in a straight line.
  2. Engage your core and lift your right foot off the ground, bringing your right knee towards your left elbow.

Landmine 180 — first steps

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold the barbell with both hands in front of your chest.
  2. Bend your knees slightly and rotate your torso to the right, swinging the barbell down towards your right hip.

Full step-by-step guides are linked below.

Decision

Which should you choose?

The Bridge Mountain Climber (Cross Body) needs no equipment and scales through leverage, tempo and reps. The Landmine 180 lets you load the heaviest weights and progress in small, steady jumps. 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 abs adapting.

Guides

Full form guides

Answers

Common questions

Is the Bridge Mountain Climber (Cross Body) better than the Landmine 180?

Neither is universally better — both train the abs as the primary mover. The Bridge Mountain Climber (Cross Body) needs no equipment and scales through leverage, tempo and reps, while the Landmine 180 lets you load the heaviest weights and progress in small, steady jumps. Choose based on your equipment and which movement you can progress consistently.

Can I do both the Bridge Mountain Climber (Cross Body) and the Landmine 180 in the same program?

Yes, but usually not in the same session — they overlap heavily on the abs. 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 Bridge Mountain Climber (Cross Body) and the Landmine 180 work the same muscles?

The primary muscle is the same: the abs. Supporting muscles differ slightly — glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, shoulders and triceps for the Bridge Mountain Climber (Cross Body) versus obliques and quadriceps for the Landmine 180.

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.