The three best bicep exercises to build 3D arms, according to a personal trainer

ActiveThe three best bicep exercises to build 3D arms, according to a personal trainerOn a mission to build bigger arms? These are the bicep exercises you want to be incorporatingWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

On a mission to build bigger arms? These are the bicep exercises you want to be incorporating

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

A man performing bicep curls

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Let’s be honest, we’re all a fan of upper body day because everyone wants big arms. No, more specifically,big biceps. However, if you’ve been endlessly curlingdumbbellsand your t-shirt sleeves still aren’t looking any fuller than they were a month or two ago, take this as your sign to stop. Senior Personal Trainer atUltimate Performance, Steve Chambers, shares three exercises that will build muscle and leave you with an impressive pump.

“Secondly, the trick to grow any muscle is to hit it from all angles. That’s why people who only perform biceps curls struggle to pack on mass. Then, thirdly, applying the principles of progressive overload is crucial.”

FYI, progressive overload doesn’t just have to be increasing the weight you use, you could reduce your rest time, add an extra rep, or slow the exercise right down. However, it is key to continuously challenge your muscles to stimulate growth.

Now that you’ve taken note of all of that, onto the good stuff. Here are the three exercises Steve recommends to pump up the biceps…

Incline bicep curl

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

A man performing incline bicep curl in gym

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

If you’re looking for an exercise that will really add size to the peak of your biceps and overall strength to the top of your arms, the incline dumbbell curl is pretty much unrivaled.

“It targets the long head of the biceps (the lateral part of the muscle), which is stretched at the beginning of flexion of the elbow,” says Steve. “The long head is responsible for the muscle ‘peak’ when you flex your biceps – in other words, the ‘vanity muscle’ of your biceps!

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“Why I personally prefer the incline variation is that it allows for a greater range of motion than their standing counterparts, and it also brings into play the stabilizer muscles in your upper back and shoulders.”

To perform:

Hammer curl

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Man doing Zottman curl

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Hammer curls – where you hold the dumbbells with a neutral grip, AKA palms facing each other – are often less favoured over the traditional bicep curl. However, Steve explains that the change in grip offers major for your biceps and other arm muscles.

“It allows you to target not only your biceps brachii, but also the brachialis and brachioradialis (the major muscle in your forearms) more effectively than a traditional standing biceps curl.

“Because of this subtle change in grip, it targets several key muscle groups in your arms, which means the hammer curl is super effective if you want to add not only power and girth to your biceps, so that they appear fuller and thicker, but also helps you to build powerful and balanced upper arms.”

To perform:

Reverse grip EZ-bar curls

(Image credit: Getty Images)

A man performing a bicep curl using an EZ bar

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Steve mentioned earlier in the article the importance of hitting the biceps from various angles, and that’s exactly what a reverse grip EZ bar (or barbell) reverse curl will do.

“The reason I’ve included these, at the expense of their more traditional counterparts, is that if you’re already incorporating incline dumbbell curls into your workout, this is a great move for targeting your biceps from a different angle.

Standing barbell curls are popular biceps exercises, but performing these alone can leave the long head of the biceps brachii and the brachioradialis underdeveloped in relation to the short head of the biceps brachii. To bring them up to par, incorporate reverse curls. They also strengthen the wrists which will give you greater overall arm strength when performing other arms-specific exercises andcompound movessuch asbench pressesanddeadlifts.”

To perform:

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Incline bicep curl#

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Hammer curl#

Reverse grip EZ-bar curls#

Incline bicep curl

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Hammer curl

Reverse grip EZ-bar curls