Heavy lifters: dead lifting vs squats

awomaame25
awomaame25 Posts: 189 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
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?
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Replies

  • Natmarie73
    Natmarie73 Posts: 287 Member
    I'm the same - I prefer deadlifts to squats and lunges. Aren't they different muscle groups though?
  • navyrigger46
    navyrigger46 Posts: 1,301 Member
    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
    awomaame25 Posts: 189 Member
    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
    3laine75 Posts: 3,069 Member
    I think everyone prefers deadlifts :). I hate squats but I still do them :/
  • GradatimFerociter
    GradatimFerociter Posts: 296 Member
    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
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    I generally prefer deadlifts because it's the exercise I can lift the most weight for! I do enjoy squats too though :D

    They're both beneficial and important, as they work different muscle groups. So it's good to do both :)
  • Wicibeth
    Wicibeth Posts: 27 Member
    Squats for life. <3
  • LishieFruit89
    LishieFruit89 Posts: 1,956 Member
    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
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    neither is better than the other.

    you should be pulling more weight than you squat.

    you should be doing both.
  • FrustratedYoYoer
    FrustratedYoYoer Posts: 274 Member
    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
    beachlover317 Posts: 2,848 Member
    Another opinion for BOTH. I love deadlifting and I don't love squats. But, I do both.
  • eric_sg61
    eric_sg61 Posts: 2,925 Member
    Squats and stiff leg DL's...............less injury more reward
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    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
    She_Hulk Posts: 277
    I have a love/hate relationship with squats. Love the Romanian stiff legged dead lift. I think squats are more rewarding though.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    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
    tennisdude2004 Posts: 5,609 Member
    Both :smile:
  • toddis
    toddis Posts: 941 Member
    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
    rgrange Posts: 236 Member
    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
    CarlKRobbo Posts: 390 Member
    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
    vanguardfitness Posts: 720 Member
    I find deadlifts to be more taxing
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    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
    tennisdude2004 Posts: 5,609 Member
    I like dead lifts, but I like squats as well - but which is better?

    There's only one way to find out ---- FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    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
    jasonpclement Posts: 146 Member
    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
    Warchortle Posts: 2,197 Member
    Neither is superior. I do think squats generally point out mobility problems whereas deadlifts point out spinal alignment problems.
  • MissKriss3
    MissKriss3 Posts: 117 Member
    Squats for life. <3

    +1
  • Kirk_R
    Kirk_R Posts: 112 Member
    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
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    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
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    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
    GummyHuman Posts: 193 Member
    I like everything better than squats... except a flabby *kitten*. :bigsmile:

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