Target tension.: Whether the muscle you’re training is what gives out first, not your grip, balance or other muscles.
Loaded stretch.: How hard the muscle works while stretched. Training it there is linked to more growth.
Progression.: How easily you can keep adding weight in small steps over months and years.
Low cost.: How easy it is on your joints and recovery, and how quickly you can learn it.

The research score comes from these, scored by hand from the studies. Lifter scores appear once an exercise has 10 ratings. How scores work

When each one fits

Good reasons to choose crunch

You have no equipment
You want something easy to learn
You want something easier on your joints

Good reasons to choose hanging leg raise

You want more load on the abs while they’re stretched
You want to keep adding weight in small steps

Crunch

Hanging Leg Raise

You need

Nothing but the floor

Pull-up bar

Skill

Easy to learn

Takes some practice

Type

Isolation

Why they rank where they do

Hanging Leg Raise. Curling the pelvis up trains the abs hard, but grip and hip flexors often end the set first.

Questions

Which is better for your abs, crunch or hanging leg raise?

For your abs, hanging leg raise rates well ahead on our research criteria: more stretch, easier to progress. Crunch is easier on the joints.

Is crunch or hanging leg raise easier to learn?

Crunch is easier: it’s easy to learn, while hanging leg raise takes some practice.

Can you do crunch or hanging leg raise at home?

Crunch needs no equipment, so you can do it anywhere. Hanging leg raise needs a pull-up bar, so a home gym covers it.

Which is easier on the joints, crunch or hanging leg raise?

Crunch: it rates Excellent for joint and recovery cost in our research rubric, against Strong for hanging leg raise.

More comparisons

Crunch Hanging Leg Raise All abs exercises

Crunch vs Hanging Leg Raise

For your abs, hanging leg raise rates well ahead on our research criteria: more stretch, easier to progress.

Crunch is easier on the joints.

What these mean

Target tension.: Whether the muscle you’re training is what gives out first, not your grip, balance or other muscles.
Loaded stretch.: How hard the muscle works while stretched. Training it there is linked to more growth.
Progression.: How easily you can keep adding weight in small steps over months and years.
Low cost.: How easy it is on your joints and recovery, and how quickly you can learn it.