Heavy lifters: dead lifting vs squats

awomaame25

Ok so I want to know which is superior, deadlifting or squatting coz I seem to prefer deadlifting to squats as I am able to deadlift heavier than squats. Anybody knows which is better?

Natmarie73

I'm the same - I prefer deadlifts to squats and lunges. Aren't they different muscle groups though?

navyrigger46

I prefer deadlifts, but I do both. Recently I have started doing clean and press, which I also find awesome, but deads are by far my favorite movement.

ETA: the movements work different muscles, so you should do both.

Rigger

awomaame25

I prefer deadlifts, but I do both. Recently I have started doing clean and press, which I also find awesome, but deads are by far my favorite movement.

ETA: the movements work different muscles, so you should do both.

Rigger

i also do both but i love deadlifts

3laine75

I think everyone prefers deadlifts . I hate squats but I still do them

GradatimFerociter

Almost everyone (should) deadlift more than they squat. Squats are important; they are hard and very few people enjoy doing them but you should continue. Just don't make the mistake of using too much weight and doing half-reps.

HeidiMightyRawr

I generally prefer deadlifts because it's the exercise I can lift the most weight for! I do enjoy squats too though

They're both beneficial and important, as they work different muscle groups. So it's good to do both

Wicibeth

Squats for life.

LishieFruit89

Outlier here!

I prefer squats to deadlifts.
I can squat more than I can deadlift.

But I also think I need to switch from Stiff legged to Romanian.
Because when I did SL5x5 (before my injuries), I was deadlifting more than I was squatting.

Capt_Apollo

neither is better than the other.

you should be pulling more weight than you squat.

you should be doing both.

FrustratedYoYoer

I think everyone prefers deadlifts . I hate squats but I still do them

Totally agree. I can DL more than I can squat and hate my squats but wouldn't be without them.

OP why do you prefer DLs?

beachlover317

Another opinion for BOTH. I love deadlifting and I don't love squats. But, I do both.

eric_sg61

Squats and stiff leg DL's...............less injury more reward

Willbenchforcupcakes

Love both. My squat as a technicality is stronger than my deadlift, but not by much, and only because I have been squatting far longer than I have been deadlifting.

She_Hulk

I have a love/hate relationship with squats. Love the Romanian stiff legged dead lift. I think squats are more rewarding though.

tigersword

Two completely different lifts. You can't do one instead of the other. That like asking whether you should do bench press or overhead press. You have to do both.

tennisdude2004

Both

toddis

Superior for what effect?

It's interesting that I see many people at my gym squatlift from the floor. (setting up for a deadlift, then moving like a squat)

rgrange

neither is better than the other.

you should be pulling more weight than you squat.

you should be doing both.

This guy gets it.

CarlKRobbo

They work different muscle groups, so in terms of which is better, Squats is better than Deadlift, and Deadlift is better than Squats, but in terms of which Muscle groups they work...

Edit... DO Both!

vanguardfitness

I find deadlifts to be more taxing

Capt_Apollo

I find deadlifts to be more taxing

agreed.

a friend of mine once said "after dead lifting, it takes a few minutes for my soul to re-enter my body."

tennisdude2004

I like dead lifts, but I like squats as well - but which is better?

There's only one way to find out ---- FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

SezxyStef

I am an oddity as I love both...for different reasons

I love squats cause they make my bum look fab and I can squat quite a bit actually...

I love Deadlifts (sumo) because I can lift a lot of weight and I feel amazing afterwards (exhausted but amazing) and my son said to me yesterday...

"you just add extra weight to the bar when you are done to make it look good"

He has a hard time believing I can lift that much (PR on DL is 200lbs, Squat is 160)

jasonpclement

I think saying one is better than the other is kind of silly. They both have their purpose.

I definitally prefer to do squats, although nothing gets me winded like a set of deadlifts with x6 or more reps.

Warchortle

Neither is superior. I do think squats generally point out mobility problems whereas deadlifts point out spinal alignment problems.

MissKriss3

Squats for life.

+1

Kirk_R

It's easier to like deadlifts as they aren't as mentally taxing as squats, especially when you're pushing for PRs. If you fail a deadlift you can just drop it. If you fail a squat you can have the sensation of being crushed. This is one reason I would advocate "practicing" failure in squats and setting the bar down on the safeties (assuming you're using a power rack) or dropping the weight (assuming you're using bumpers).

As I am no longer doing powerlifting meets I currently just do trap bar deadlifts, which are sort of a hybrid between squats and deadlifts.

Side note: to the poster above who says bench press and overhead press are both essential I would actually disagree with that. Bench press hasn't even existed for very long and people got very strong long before anyone thought of laying down to lift.

jimmmer

I agree that it's like saying which is better: a hammer or a screwdriver?

Now you may prefer doing jobs with a hammer, but sometimes you just have to screw something...

erickirb

Side note: to the poster above who says bench press and overhead press are both essential I would actually disagree with that. Bench press hasn't even existed for very long and people got very strong long before anyone thought of laying down to lift.

But I am sure push-ups have been around longer, and the motion is almost the same, BP just allows you to lift more weight.

GummyHuman

I like everything better than squats... except a flabby *kitten*. :bigsmile: