Cable Deadlifts

How to do the Cable Deadlifts

1. Move the cables to the bottom of the towers and select an appropriate weight. Stand directly in between the uprights.
2. To begin, squat down be flexing your hips and knees until you can reach the handles.
3. After grasping them, begin your ascent. Driving through your heels extend your hips and knees keeping your hands hanging at your side. Keep your head and chest up throughout the movement.
4. After reaching a full standing position, Return to the starting position and repeat.

Muscles worked

Role	Muscles
Primary	quads
Secondary	forearms, glutes, hamstrings, lower back
Equipment	cable machine
Difficulty	beginner
Type	compound

No cable machine? Train the same muscles with these

Ordered by how likely you are to own the 6 options.

Bodyweight Squat Bodyweight Bodyweight Walking Lunge Bodyweight Freehand Jump Squat Bodyweight Squats - With Bands Resistance Bands Hip Flexion with Band Resistance Bands One-Arm Side Deadlift Barbell

Harder than the Cable Deadlifts

Snatch from Blocks expert · Barbell One-Arm Side Deadlift expert · Barbell Iron Crosses (stretch) intermediate · Bodyweight

Superset the Cable Deadlifts with

Opposing glutes work — alternate sets without extra rest.

Pull Through glutes One-Legged Cable Kickback glutes Flutter Kicks glutes Glute Kickback glutes

Common questions

What muscles does the Cable Deadlifts work?

The Cable Deadlifts primarily works the quads, with the forearms, glutes, hamstrings, and lower back as secondary movers. One-Arm Side Deadlift, Backward Drag, and Car Deadlift train the same muscle, across 9 equipment types.

What equipment do you need for the Cable Deadlifts?

A Cable Machine. Without a cable machine, Bodyweight Squat, Bodyweight Walking Lunge, and Freehand Jump Squat train the same muscle, and 27 of the catalogue's options for this muscle need no equipment.

Is the Cable Deadlifts suitable for beginners?

Yes, the Cable Deadlifts is rated beginner. Snatch from Blocks, One-Arm Side Deadlift, and Iron Crosses (stretch) are the progressions from here.

Where should the Cable Deadlifts go in a workout?

Early — the Cable Deadlifts is compound, working 5 muscle groups, so run it first or second while you are fresh, then superset Pull Through and One-Legged Cable Kickback later.

Similar exercises

One-Arm Side Deadlift Barbell Backward Drag Other Equipment Car Deadlift Other Equipment Clean Pull Barbell Hang Clean Barbell Hang Clean - Below the Knees Barbell