How to do the Suitcase Carry
Step by step
- Stand tall with a dumbbell or kettlebell in one hand at your side, like carrying a suitcase.
- Pull your shoulders back and brace your core so you do not lean toward the weight.
- Walk slowly and smoothly, keeping your torso upright and level.
- Resist tipping to the loaded side the entire time.
- Set the weight down, switch hands, and walk back to balance both sides.
The thing people get wrong
Do not lean away from or toward the weight - stay perfectly upright so your core does the anti-tip work.
Coaching cue
Grip the handle hard and let your free arm hang still instead of sticking it out to balance.
Make it easier or harder
- Easier: Use a lighter weight and a shorter distance.
- Harder: Go heavier or walk farther on each side.
Muscles worked
- Primary: Core
- Secondary: Front delts, Hips, Traps, Forearms
What to do instead
Same job, different movement — useful if you don't have the equipment or it doesn't feel right today.
Daily Coach builds this into a real weekly plan. It picks the exercises for your equipment and experience, swaps around injuries you tell it about, and tracks what you actually lifted.