This a good substitute for barbell squats?

[T150]

??

I haven't got a rack, so squatting 80lbs is getting tiresome.

[QQ]

Yeah if you can only squat the bar.

[AnnaMatronic]

Buy a gym membership. Use their squat rack.

[T150]

Buy a gym membership. Use their squat rack.

ok.

[skarotum]

Regular squats are better. If it's all you can do though, there's nothing wrong with it. Just make sure you are using heavy enough weight to stimulate your legs. I've used up to 100 lb. DBs before and it's a killer exercise. Just try not to dead lift the weight up too much.
And anyone who thinks DB squats are for pussies just isn't using enough weight, and therefore, they are the one's who are pussies.

[berenthemortal]

I assume you are cleaning the bar and pressing it to get it in the squat position now?

Squatting w/ dumbbells might work for a little while, but in my experience you won't be able to hold as much weight as you need to get a good workout.

[tarun_s]

db's arent really effective for building brutal strength, they're a good accessory exercise. if all you're looking for is making your legs bigger, do lunges, pistols, bulgarian squats and step-ups

[Kion]

Look here for single leg exercises http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=473323

[KSA]

Get a trap bar.

[thebm]

I was wondering the same thing. We all know regular squats are better but lets just say hypothetically dumbbells are the only weights I have access to, would these work the same as regular backsquats or be a little different? I would think that they'd be more inbetween a backsquat and a front squat instead of being exactly like a backsquat, just cuz the weight is more in the center of your body instead of behind behind or in front of your shoulders

[LoveThePain]

from my experience id say they are good but less effective because a) you struggle to go as heavy as your grip give out b) cant go as deep because dumbells touch the floor c) can only have a narrow stance

i dont have access to a squat rack so i alternate between dumbel squats and smith squats. not ideal but better than one or the other

[hulkout]

Dumbbell squats are not practical, but trap bar deadlifts are an awesome leg exercise on the same level as the squat. If your gym has a trap bar, then use that instead. Dumbbell squats just aren't practical to go heavy on.