Are you ready to get a toned, muscular booty? Targeting your glutes effectively can be quite difficult with conventional lower-body exercises. However, using dumbbells in your workout means that you can add some extra resistance while taking things up a notch. Here are five dumbbell glute exercises to try for yourself.

5 Dumbbell Glute Exercises

1. Forward Lunge

The standard lunge exercise is one with which you should already be quite familiar. It’s a basic exercise for any lower-body workout. Throwing some weights into the mix means that you can add an extra level of resistance and get more from the set.

How to do it:

Start in standing position with a dumbbell in each hand. Make sure that the palms of your hands are facing your legs. Step your right leg forward and bend your knees at a 90-degree angle so that you dip down. Return to standing position and repeat this move 20 times per set, alternating legs.

2. Romanian Deadlift

Despite the intimidating name here, the deadlift is one of the easiest and most straightforward moves you can master. Including this classic dumbbell exercise in your booty busting workout is certainly a recipe for success.

How to do it:

Start by standing with your feet hip-width apart and a dumbbell in each hand at your sides. Bend at the hip and lower your upper body so the dumbbells travel down toward the ground.

Keep your arms and back straight and engaged. You can bend your knees so they are soft. Slowly return back to starting position and repeat 10 times per set.

3. Sumo Squat

The standard squat move is one that you will include in most workouts. However, this next exercise puts a twist on the classic, making it a little trickier but a whole load more effective. You will only need one dumbbell for this one, and you can use a heavier weight.

How to do it:

Stand with your feet wider than your hips and your knees soft. Turn your toes slightly outward. Hold a dumbbell vertically by both hands. Squat down as far as you can, while keeping your core strong. Make sure that your back is straight and not arched. Return to the starting position.

Repeat this move 15 times per set.

4. Weighted Bridge

The glute bridge exercise targets the muscles in your butt, which are often hard to activate. When you add a little weight to these exercises, you make the muscles work extra hard, and you will most certainly feel the burn.

How to do it:

Lie down on your back, placing a dumbbell across your hips. Raise your knees and squeeze your glutes up, so you go into a bridge position. Hold for 2-3 seconds and release. Make sure you engage your backside!

Repeat 15 times.

5. Suitcase Squat

Have you heard of the suitcase squat? This simple exercise will have your quads and glutes working in no time at all. Add it to your butt busting workout for killer results.

How to do it:

Stand with your feet hip-width apart and relax your knees. Hold a dumbbell in each hand and let your arms relax at each side. Keep your palms facing inward. Bend your knees and squat directly downward. Keep your arms straight as you do so, as though you were picking up a suitcase. Return to the starting position and repeat 20 times per set.