What's your favorite back exercise?

If you mean upper back, i like barbell rows, and also battle rope rows (basically you reel in a long, thick rope with weight at the end of it).

If you mean lower back / spinal muscles, deadlifts and Romanian deadlifts.

But any exercises you choose should complement the rest of your routine. Therefore it's good to follow an established program, instead of piecing together your own routine. A good program is New Rules of Lifting.

Renegade rows!

My favorites? Standing backbends or laybacks (and back up, of course) and half or full Locusts. I have problems holding very heavy barbells (nerve damage), so I can't use those. Roman chair lifts are cool, too, but you asked for favorites

A layback the way I'm using it:


edit: http://daturaonline.com/laybacks-drops-and-zippers (video)

Deadlifts, renegade rows, lateral pull downs, chin ups and pull ups

I tend to fall in and out of love with certain back exercises. Deadlifts are like your wife. They make you a better human being. They are always there for you. They make you stronger. You can never leave them. Barbell rows are like that really hot girl in the office that keeps flirting with you. They pump you up. They make you feel really good about yourself. But there's something inherently limited about them. My current crush right now is Zott's Press. I'm all about the Zott's Press right now.

The only correct answer to this is Deadlifts.

Most effective no doubt but I really enjoy Pendlay rows.