why do some guys have big veins and others not? body fat percentage?

**Johnhawkman** · 08-21-2011, 04:19 PM

I've seen guys with big arms and they don't have these pumped looking veins, and I've seen guys with small arms that have just pumped up veins, making them look like they are totally ripped.

Why is this? does it have to do with muscle density? or just a lack of any body fat making the veins totally visible?

**JBich** · 08-21-2011, 04:21 PM

I think less body fat = more veins. Also if you lift heavy you get that feeling of the veins popping in your arms, I think that causes it to pop out too.

**nlite2000** · 08-21-2011, 04:26 PM

leanness, muscle size, genetics, temperature. many variables

**DLEHMA** · 08-21-2011, 04:37 PM

Genetics play a big part. Size of veins and skin texture make a big difference.

**Ryan314** · 08-21-2011, 04:41 PM

Genetics for sure

**maltanarchy** · 08-21-2011, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by nlite2000

leanness, muscle size, genetics, temperature. many variables

I really can tell a big difference depending on my temperature. Sometimes when I'm not doing anything my veins will be popped all over my forearms just cause I'm warm.

**Johnhawkman** · 08-21-2011, 07:32 PM

hmm. The reason i ask was because i have gained alot of muscle in my arms but have no veins. i also have quite a bit of body fat still. i know a guy who has smaller arms than me but his veins are always showing. so i was thinking maybe his muscles are more compact and dense or something? does this happen? or do your muscles just get bigger as you gain strength?

**TXguy33** · 08-21-2011, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by Johnhawkman

hmm. The reason i ask was because i have gained alot of muscle in my arms but have no veins. i also have quite a bit of body fat still. i know a guy who has smaller arms than me but his veins are always showing. so i was thinking maybe his muscles are more compact and dense or something? does this happen? or do your muscles just get bigger as you gain strength?

A big reason is just that you have more body fat than him. Higher BF%=less vascular. I have noticed that with myself. The lower I get my body fat, the more vascular I am.

**juiceaman** · 08-22-2011, 04:40 AM

Yh I think the main reasons are genetics and low body fat

**HeavyMetalLover** · 08-22-2011, 05:25 AM

There's also the allusion of skin colour and tone.

This is a stupid question, but on which skin tone does vascularity becomes the most visible? Lighter skin tone or darker?

**sharpieblet** · 08-22-2011, 03:56 PM

darker tone shows best, hence why bodybuilders have the dark tans when showing, as it accentuates the muscles/vascularity to the most extent. that doesn't mean that someone who's pale white can't look insanely vascular, lighting really helps. as long as there is some sort of 'shadowing', vascularity should be easy to see (assuming you're low enough bf)

**The Bigcheese** · 08-22-2011, 06:35 PM

Veins do grow larger as well. Increase need for blood flow while lifting does increase the size of veins.

**pattdogg** · 08-22-2011, 06:59 PM

As you gain muscle size, it stretches the skin too so if your skin is tightly wrapping your arms, vascularity will show easier, and obviously as mentioned before - low bodyfat = higher vascularity.

**SamanthaYorkUK** · 08-23-2011, 02:36 AM

I think it's got more to do with cardiovascular fitness/efficiency. People who train a long time for endurance sports like triathlon can have insane veins and not be that big. Low body fat just makes them stand out more.

**alex2363** · 08-23-2011, 04:49 AM

great answers on this one guys.

**samsont** · 08-23-2011, 05:35 AM

i lift heavy and really frequently. since i've dropped below 240 my veins are getting crazy and i'm still good amount of fat. I just suspect my big muscles are getting lean enough to show the veins.

**th3pwn3r** · 08-23-2011, 09:03 AM

It's all due to muscle mass and body fat%/storage. Some people have good vascularity in areas even while being a decent distance away from single digit body fat. Even around the 15% area I have veins running across my chest at times due to the amount of muscle there, my shoulders also have spider web like veins even when I'm higher up in body fat.

**boseador** · 08-23-2011, 09:13 AM

Its genetics. Look at Zyzz, he is supper ripped and has almost no visible veins. Look at his pics, even the gym ones where he is pumped and all.

**bdrusse** · 08-23-2011, 09:40 AM

I personnaly don't like them. Other than the bad*** bicep veins. Those are the ****. I am afraid I'm gonna have them quite a bit of them though as my BF continues to drop. I have them on my shoulder, and starting to see the nasty little spider web looking suckers around my would be adronis belt, if I wasn't so chubby still.

Don't always see them, only under the lighting that coincidentally helps my muscles stand out too. But damn, I think I am still 16 or higher BF, should they be visible at all at this point? Im afraid if I get to 10, it'll be gross.

**bdrusse** · 08-23-2011, 09:46 AM

Oh, and to the topic, do you think smoking affects it? I do know smoking constricts them, so it would make sense to me that it would visibly make them look smaller too. Could be one of the many other factors out there for those that fall into that category.

**Ogamy** · 08-23-2011, 10:04 AM

Despite lifting heavier, and having lower BF. I've not noticed an increased amount of veins showing, guess I can be happy, not exactly attractive..

**lllDBOlll** · 12-13-2011, 08:19 AM

Look at me OP, look how vascular I am, if there's one thing women love it's a vascular man

**Mightymuff** · 12-13-2011, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by lllDBOlll

Look at me OP, look how vascular I am, if there's one thing women love it's a vascular man

Funny pic but worth bumping a 4 month old thread for?

**lllDBOlll** · 12-13-2011, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by Mightymuff

Funny pic but worth bumping a 4 month old thread for?

Sorry thread police, it popped up on related threads at the bottom and I'm too hardcore to check thread date.

**ILLuSioNzX** · 12-13-2011, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by Mightymuff

Funny pic but worth bumping a 4 month old thread for?

I say it was worth the lulz.

**MayorMcCheese2** · 10-17-2013, 02:41 PM

Please can you guys just stop commenting if you don't know what it is for sure don't comment. This forum has become too much of a joke so please all of you just shut the **** up.

**gixxer0.6g** · 10-17-2013, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by MayorMcCheese2

Please can you guys just stop commenting if you don't know what it is for sure don't comment. This forum has become too much of a joke so please all of you just shut the **** up.

Strong bump
Strong first post
Strong rage

**Matahu** · 10-17-2013, 03:53 PM

2013 the year of the Rage! Genetics is the most important factor affecting vascularity. It's not the only one for sure.

**1883** · 10-17-2013, 03:54 PM

Genetics and body fat %. Mostly body fat %.

**sharpieblet** · 10-17-2013, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by MayorMcCheese2

Please can you guys just stop commenting if you don't know what it is for sure don't comment. This forum has become too much of a joke so please all of you just shut the **** up.

i sense a banhammer in your future

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