Alternative to barbell squats

[TriciaE]

So we have to switch gyms and the new gym doesn't have a squat rack. They have a smith machine which I don't want to use.
This is a temporary switch so I won't always be without a rack, but for now that's the situation.

What are some alternatives to barbell squats??

[pavermama]

So we have to switch gyms and the new gym doesn't have a squat rack. They have a smith machine which I don't want to use.
This is a temporary switch so I won't always be without a rack, but for now that's the situation.

What are some alternatives to barbell squats??

Same here. It really sucks, but I do have one here at home so I can do them when I'm working out here. I've tried for years to get my gym to get a REAL squat machine and its to no avail!!

[TriciaE]

Same here. It really sucks, but I do have one here at home so I can do them when I'm working out here. I've tried for years to get my gym to get a REAL squat machine and its to no avail!!

Thankfully you have one at home to use.

I belonged to a gym that had a squat rack and replaced it with a smith machine b/c "it was safer" for people to use. :banghead:

[Erik]

Split Squats?

[TriciaE]

Split Squats?

Would you say that's the next best thing to regular squats?

[char-dawg]

Leg press?

Clean the weight and then do front squats?

Zercher squats?

[TriciaE]

Leg press?

Clean the weight and then do front squats?

Zercher squats?


I could probably do front squats because the weight was always less than back squats. Doesn't leg press hit more hamstring than squats?

[sneezingstardust]

If I didn't have access to a squat rack, I'd do Bulgarian split squats. Second to that would probably be (like char-dawg suggested) front squats, and then the leg press or hack squats.

[smuggie]

I could probably do front squats because the weight was always less than back squats. Doesn't leg press hit more hamstring than squats?

Leg presses hit the quads more, unless you do them with your feet placed high on the platform.

[char-dawg]

I could probably do front squats because the weight was always less than back squats. Doesn't leg press hit more hamstring than squats?
I would tend to say yes, but it's going to depend on where you place your feet. You can do them with feet wide and turned out and you'll have a heck of an adductor DOMS afterward. Also, how much ROM you use.

[Erik]

Would you say that's the next best thing to regular squats?

I wouldn't say 'next best' as much as I'd say it's another very effective exercise you can use.

[TriciaE]

I wouldn't say 'next best' as much as I'd say it's another very effective exercise you can use.

Got it. Thank you.

[BigDog]

You could also ask for help putting the bar up on your shoulders. I've done that before.

[Firm Hottie]

So we have to switch gyms and the new gym doesn't have a squat rack. They have a smith machine which I don't want to use.
This is a temporary switch so I won't always be without a rack, but for now that's the situation.

What are some alternatives to barbell squats??

Does the Smith Cage have bar rests on the front of it? I have one and mine does, so that I can rest my barbell on the front of the cage. I just place the bar on it, load it up, get under it, and move back to do my squats. All four rests are adjustable, so I can move them where ever I need them. I circled them in red so that you can see what they look like:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v367/Laura12345/new-1-1.jpg

[TriciaE]

Does the Smith Cage have bar rests on the front of it? I have one and mine does, so that I can rest my barbell on the front of the cage. I just place the bar on it, load it up, get under it, and move back to do my squats. All four rests are adjustable, so I can move them where ever I need them. I circled them in red so that you can see what they look like:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v367/Laura12345/new-1-1.jpg

Hey thanks for the suggestion. I didn't think to look for bar rests on it. I assumed that the whole thing was useless. :lol:

[Firm Hottie]

Hey thanks for the suggestion. I didn't think to look for bar rests on it. I assumed that the whole thing was useless. :lol:

:lol3:

I know that y'all think that Smith Cages are totally useless, but for someone with limited money and space (like me), they really can be a great piece of equipment in a home gym because of their versitility. I'd be screwed without mine. :unsure:

Hope your gym's cage has the bar rests so that you can do your squats. :)

[Inatic]

:lol3:

I know that y'all think that Smith Cages are totally useless, but for someone with limited money and space (like me), they really can be a great piece of equipment in a home gym because of their versitility. I'd be screwed without mine. :unsure:

Hope your gym's cage has the bar rests so that you can do your squats. :)

not totally useless.. you can do body rows, rack pull ups, close pressing.. hmm i think that is about all i've ever used it for :lol:

im glad YOU have those supports on yours, i've never seen them no the gym ones.