Dumbells For Squats? No Spotter for Squats When Bulking?

[~attrACTION~]

Basically, I don't have a spotter. I live with my folks, and have a gym in my room. I don't have a power rack yet, but I will get one some time and this wouldn't be an issue.

For the time being though, I was thinking of doing squats by either...

1) Using dumbells, so I could just drop them.

2) Or with a regular barbell...but how would I just drop it if I go to failure on the last rep? Are there any ways you can do this to avoid hurting yourself?

I could put a lot of weight on the dumbells also, but I'm not sure how effect that is compared to with a barbell. Are there any particular forms or methods of squatting (ie, bar grip, etc) that are recommended when you are just trying to life big and gain weight?

I'd appreciate any links/tips/advice.

 

[Create Reality]

sounds hard on the shoulders. definitely get a power rack.

 

[wolf116]

Try hack squats. Or powerclean the weight up to a front squat if you can.

I used to do hack squats until I realised I could raise my bench up and just grab the front squat position.

 

[EFFORT]

join a gym? If that really isn't an option then do hack squats, for now

 

[wolf116]

Wow, I missed that. You can't work out in your room! When you'r deadlifting/squating twice your bodyweight you don't want to be droping it, It would go straight through the floor! Work out in the garage.

 

[Brian McGee]

I have the exact same issue. I used to just do them with dumbells but it wasn't as effective, for the time being I just, as the others said, do hack squats and front squats some of the time. Hopefully I should be getting a power rack by the end of the month... any idea how much they usually cost?

 

[~attrACTION~]

Cool, thanks, I'll do the hack squats for now. Yeah, I'll do it in the garage or in the driveway probably. I can go to my school's gym for free, but it's small and always so crowded that you have to wait to use some weights...it's not worth it. Yeah, I want to get a power rack but it seems like none of the sporting goods stores have them in my area. I have to buy online I guess. ^They're like $300 I think.

 

[stronglifts]

Basically, I don't have a spotter. I live with my folks, and have a gym in my room. I don't have a power rack yet, but I will get one some time and this wouldn't be an issue.

For the time being though, I was thinking of doing squats by either...

1) Using dumbells, so I could just drop them.

2) Or with a regular barbell...but how would I just drop it if I go to failure on the last rep? Are there any ways you can do this to avoid hurting yourself?

I could put a lot of weight on the dumbells also, but I'm not sure how effect that is compared to with a barbell. Are there any particular forms or methods of squatting (ie, bar grip, etc) that are recommended when you are just trying to life big and gain weight?

I'd appreciate any links/tips/advice.

Here's an article: Ways to Squat When You Don’t Have a Squat Rack

The problem with dumbbells is you will never be able to go as heavy as with a back squat. Alternatives:
-front squat preceded by a clean
-steinborn lift
-zercher squat

 

[wolf116]

I can hack squat more then I can squat. Much easer to get the right form also.

 

[DarthJuan]

What if you're doing rippetoe? I do squats, deads and bench in the same workout.
Are hack squats too much like deads?

 

[stronglifts]

What if you're doing rippetoe? I do squats, deads and bench in the same workout.
Are hack squats too much like deads?

Yes hack squats are more like a deadlift.