I deadlift on a regular basis using covnentional bb deadlifts from the floor. I have noticed lurking in a dark corner of the gym a machine that gets even less use than the squat rack (for squats), the deadlift machine.
Anyone have any thoughts or opinions on using the deadlift machine instead of deadlifts once every few weeks? Anyone have any thoughts or opinions on using this machine at all? Here is the machine I mean:
I’ve seen these machines around here and there before and never really understood their purpose (other than it making the deadlift easier). The weight appears to be a bit more centered but then again you could always just use a trap bar. Just seems like someone unnecessarily trying to build a better mousetrap.
I’ve never used this machine, as I prefer to use free weights for stability benefits.
More importantly, is that a kangaroo kicking the shit out of some guy in your avatar?
How does it have any benefit over a barbell? 
I have found one great use for it, but unless you are planning in competing in strongman anytime soon, its kind of useless.
I had a strongman competition with a car deadlift event in it, and the handles on the apparatus were identical in size, shape and seemingly the physics of the handles on the deadlift machine in my gym, I trained real hard on the machine and what do you know, tied for first in the deadlift event.
Beyond that, just deadlift
I used one similar to it for shrugs. It just made it better for me to load on ALOT more weight.
Yes, that is a kangaroo knocking someone the f out
I have used a similar machine for shrugs but this machine is a little different
I was thinking of using it today for my deadlifts since I am still a little sore from my last squat session, figure a machine might be a little easier on me while still getting to pull heavy weight. Eh, I’ll see how i feel when I’m in the gym in a couple hours.
one exercise you could do with it is clean the whole thing to your shoulders… then throw it in the fucking trash.
[quote]Hoosier wrote:
I used one similar to it for shrugs. It just made it better for me to load on ALOT more weight.[/quote]
Same here, very helpful machine for shrugs.
That was going to be my response…only I didn’t win.
[quote]hareboll wrote:
I have found one great use for it, but unless you are planning in competing in strongman anytime soon, its kind of useless.
I had a strongman competition with a car deadlift event in it, and the handles on the apparatus were identical in size, shape and seemingly the physics of the handles on the deadlift machine in my gym, I trained real hard on the machine and what do you know, tied for first in the deadlift event.
Beyond that, just deadlift [/quote]
It looks like it won’t tear up your shins, is easy to load the bar and starts the weight very low.
These are three good things. As long as the path of the bar isn’t abnormal it doesn’t look like a bad machine.
Try it, you might like it.
At least if you blow a vertebrae while deadlifting there is no bar to take your knee caps off. Not that any of us here would do such a thing since we all keep proper form. 
[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
It looks like it won’t tear up your shins, is easy to load the bar and starts the weight very low.
These are three good things. As long as the path of the bar isn’t abnormal it doesn’t look like a bad machine.
Try it, you might like it. [/quote]
Home run.
Around these parts it has somehow become “cool” to mock a machine because it’s a machine. Why not use the thing and see how one’s body responds?
[quote]CaliforniaLaw wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
It looks like it won’t tear up your shins, is easy to load the bar and starts the weight very low.
These are three good things. As long as the path of the bar isn’t abnormal it doesn’t look like a bad machine.
Try it, you might like it.
Home run.
Around these parts it has somehow become “cool” to mock a machine because it’s a machine. Why not use the thing and see how one’s body responds?[/quote]
I agree with both of you, I would certainly use that machine.
It would be cool to use it for sets of 10-15 after low rep sets of barbell deadlifts.
Throw them in your toolbag. why not. Have used this for single limb work and double.
Would be more usefull if you would be able to have your hands in a neutral position.
BTW & WTF , why are people bashing machines in the BOBDYBUILDING FORUM?
Machines are excellent hypertrophy tools.
I see no reason not to try the machine on occasion. It would take some strain off the lower back and as we have all realized, sometimes you need to go easy on this area.
Just don’t let the Atomic Kitten near that machine. It would put her posterior at eye level, which could cause some problems! I better be careful, she may be monitoring this forum! However, I think she would have a sense of humor about it since her latest column!
All kidding aside, it looks useful but not as versatile as a simple bar. It does look to put the grip pretty low, but I think the snatch grip platform deadlift floating around on this website serves that function much better.
At present I am just trying to master the standard deadlift and getting some more plates on the bar. Just like any other piece of equipment it is merely a tool. Use it if it serves your purposes, if not then leave it alone.
The biggest reason I like that machine is that it looks less intimidating to someone who would see barbell deadlifts as intimidating, and could get someone doing a great movement they normally might not try.
It’s the gateway machine to barbell deads! lol
There are still a ton of people in gyms who think deadlifts are crazy, and bad for peoples’ back, so I think this could help (a little) in breaking that myth.
I don’t see anything wrong with using that from time to time to change things up.