The right deadlift socks can improve your deadlift for serious gains.
For those of us who deadlift, we know what this exercise can do for all our gains, however, we may not realize the benefit that deadlift socks have over our overall deadlift performance. With the right approach to deadlifting and having the necessary equipment, we can better tackle any workout with the deadlift and only see the best gains possible.
When we deadlift, how often do we scrape our shins or feel not as supported as we may like? Here is where deadlift socks come into play. As great lifting accessories to put into your gym bag, a quality pair of deadlift socks has the ability to transform your gains by protecting and supporting your legs for only the best deadlift gains possible.
Let’s take a look at the deadlift and see what makes this exercise so great. We’ll dive into what it is and why people perform it, what muscles get worked with it, the great benefits associated with it, and how deadlift socks can improve all those deadlift wants and needs.
What Is The Deadlift Known For?
The barbell deadlift is one of those exercises perfect for building back and lower body strength and is a top compound exercise for your posterior chain routine. As a seriously effective exercise, this requires the utmost diligence when it comes to form and preventing serious injury. This exercise is great for those looking to increase strength and size, but also for those who want to put an emphasis on power, explosivity, and increased stability (1). The nice part is you can perform this with an overhand grip or mixed grip.
With many deadlift variations, like the Romanian deadlift, trap bar deadlift, or sumo deadlift, what you will find is the deadlift tends to be a staple in many workouts for bodybuilders, powerlifters, and everyday lifters looking to see the best gains possible. It is incredibly important to use lifting accessories like weightlifting belts and deadlift socks for the load you take on with this lift is immense. But with proper care, you can better tackle those conventional deadlift gains in no time.
Some variations of the deadlift include:
Related: Different Types Of Deadlifts You Should Be Doing
Muscles Worked
There are many muscles worked with the conventional deadlift but mainly this will work your back muscles and those lower body muscles, like your quads, hamstrings, and gluteus maximus. Other more secondary muscles that get work done are your traps, lats, and abdominal muscles, with the core being a driving force for stability to tackle that one rep max and heavier lifts.
Benefits Of The Deadlift
The benefits of the deadlift are hard to ignore and by knowing what this can do, you will most certainly want to put this into your workouts for the best gains possible. Plus, you won’t be disappointed by the results or the amount of weight you can lift with the deadlift.
Benefits of the deadlift include:
- Increased back strength: Building those muscles and overall muscle mass is important for this works to allow us better support and stability when it comes to pulling movements and also better postural support.
- Enhanced lower body muscle growth: For those looking to build their lower body, the deadlift will work your quads, hamstrings, and glutes and can give you a more grounded and supported feel.
- Better power: With the increased lower body growth, and the explosive nature of the deadlift, what you will find is that your power output will increase greatly (2).
- Better grip strength: With so much weight on the bar and you needing to properly grip this exercise, you will find your grip will improve when it comes to other exercises and more functional movements (3).
These are just a few of the many benefits the deadlift can provide for strength athletes, but overall, this exercise is one that works to boost those sports specific and more functional movements.
How To Perform It
Here are the steps for performing the deadlift exercise with the proper deadlift form to prevent unwanted soreness and not risk injury:
- Begin with your feet shoulder-width apart and in a standing position. Your knees should be slightly bent and the bar just outside the legs. You can use a double overhand grip or mixed grip.
- Hinge at the hips and as you straighten your legs, keep the bar close to your body. Be sure your overhand grip or mixed grip is firm on the bar.
- As the bar approaches just above the knee and your arms straighten, keep a straight back and rest on your thighs.
- To return to the ground, slowly lean forward from the hips and bend your knees slightly to get back to the starting position.
- Repeat for your desired number of sets and reps.
What Are Deadlift Socks?
Deadlift socks are a lifting accessory worn during the conventional deadlifts, and variations like the sumo deadlift as well, to prevent scraping and unwanted pain while also supporting your exercise as a whole. These are great to have in your gym bag and will benefit your deadlift immensely as you seek to elevate training or your one rep max.
Related: The Differences Between the Squat and Deadlift
Benefits Of Deadlift Socks For Improving Your Deadlift
The benefits of using deadlift socks for your workouts are undeniable in how they protect and support you during a standard deadlift. Benefits of deadlift socks include:
- Protect against scrapes and bruising: These can protect your shins from cuts and scrapes since the bar is so close to your body. Eliminating unwanted pain is the number of one thing you need most when deadlifting so you can be as comfortable as possible when lifting heavier weights.
- Absorb sweat: They can also absorb sweat but provide for nice ventilation so you perform the deadlift better and don’t find yourself uncomfortable.
- Nice compression: A snug fit and more compression will give you that more supported feel while also increasing your confidence with more weight on the bar (4).
- Better arch support: Provide better balance and comfort to lift as much weight as you can with as little stress and strain on your feet.
Check out our list of the Best Deadlift Socks for the best protection and support when lifting heavier weights!
Wrap Up
Performing the deadlift is a grueling exercise, but what you will find is that deadlift socks can make this exercise as easy as possible. With a great lifting accessory in your gym bag, you never have to worry again about poor form, lack of confidence, or discomfort when under so much weight with the deadlift. Give yourself the best chance at success and really work to alleviate any deadlift fears with a quality pair of deadlift socks. Able to improve strength, power, and stability, the deadlift is one to definitely put into your routine.
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*Images courtesy of Envato
References
- Bird, S.; et al. (2010). “Exploring the Deadlift”. (source)
- Thompson, B.; et al. (2015). “Barbell Deadlift Training Increases the Rate of Torque Development and Vertical Jump Performance in Novices”. (source)
- Incel, N.; et al. (2002). “Grip strength: effect of hand dominance”. (source)
- Armstrong, S.; Till, E.; Maloney, S.; Harris, G. (2015). “Compression Socks and Functional Recovery Following Marathon Running”. (source)