Gym lacking equipment...resort to leaving our Jedi way and join the Smith?

[Mannion]

I'm sorry ,I couldn't help it on the title. 

 

My question is basically for advice on deadlifts and squatting and I'm after a bit of advice:

 

Squats:

My gym doesn't have a squat rack and I don't think it's too safe to lift heavy on the squats without that support- so as a result I'm not pushing myself and I feel like I'm wasting the effort when I'm only putting 35kg on the bar.

 

So, is it better for me to push myself on the smith, or would dumbbell squats be more appropriate?

 

Deadlifts:

Similar question for the dead lifts - there's no olympic bar at my gym, so the heaviest I can get a bar to is 50KG. I can deadlift this fairly comfortabley and again dont feel like I'm pushing myself.

 

Question is similar: Heavy deadlifts on the evil smith, or are dumbbell deadlifts a suitable replacement?

 

Thanks for any advice!

Milo

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

I recommend dumbells over the smith machine.

[Waldo]

So certain are you of the need to do barbell squats and deadlifts
 


Much to learn young Padawan...

 

Single leg squats with dumbbells and glute-ham raises will give your legs every bit the workout that barbells will.

[Gainsdalf the Whey]

Find another gym.  Seriously.  If you are serious about using barbell movements as a cornerstone of your fitness, you need to do squats, and therefore need either a squat rack or power rack. I had a gym without a rack around the corner but instead drove 20-30 minutes to the closest gym with one and am glad I did.

[Knightwatch]

I'd suggest finding a better gym, but in the meantime, stuff like one legged romanian deadlifts and bulgarian split squats will do you plenty of good.