The Training For Mountaineering Podcast TFM75: Simple Strength Training Guidelines For Mountaineers
Feb 20, 2026
Simple guidelines for well-rounded strength training tailored to mountaineering. Prefer full-body sessions and balance push and pull movements to avoid imbalances. Mix double-leg and single-leg work for stability and load capacity. Learn when to stop before failure, allow adequate rest between heavy sets, and keep cardio separate from strength. Include short loaded core work and stick with a routine for several weeks.
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Prefer Full-Body Strength Sessions
- Do full-body strength sessions most of the time to maximize time efficiency and overall strength gains.
- Reserve split upper/lower days only if you need extra recovery for very high weekly training loads.
Less Can Still Build Big Strength
- Full-body workouts can build maximal strength even with only one or two lower-body exercises per session.
- Efficient exercise selection, intensity, and progression matter more than high exercise variety.
Balance Push And Pull Movements
- Balance pushing and pulling movements across the week to avoid overloading specific muscles and joints.
- For every lower-body push (squat, step-up), include a pulling exercise (deadlift, glute bridge) somewhere in the week.