I started squatting recently and since I only own a set of dumbbells I was wondering if this would negatively effect my strength gains. I found this video to be very helpful when comparing the two types of squats:
But my takeaway, from a brief stint of further research is this that dumbbells can be used at first, but they do have a feasible limit for how much weight you can lift. This means, that if you have fairly modest strength goals (like myself) then you should be fine, but if you are wanting to look big, or even become a bodybuilder then the barbell is the only way to go.
Some other advantages of dumbbell squats include:
- Suitable for people with shoulders than are rolled forward due to bad posture (good idea to take the time to correct your posture though).
- No need for a spotter, which makes training far more convenient and suitable for people who lack the self esteem to lift weights amongst others.
- Requires less gear as there’s no need for a rack.
