Sumo Deadlift with Chains

A upper legs exercise targeting the hamstrings, performed with barbell.

Sumo Deadlift with Chains demonstration
Sumo Deadlift with Chains — demonstration

Body part

Upper Legs

Equipment

Barbell

Target muscles

Hamstrings

Secondary muscles

Abductors, Adductors, Forearms, Glutes, Lower Back, Middle Back, Quadriceps, Traps

How to do Sumo Deadlift with Chains

  1. You can attach the chains to the sleeves of the bar, or just drape the middle over the bar so there is a greater weight increase as you lift. Attempt to keep the ends of the chains away from the plates so you don't hit them when you lower the weight.

  2. Begin with a bar loaded on the ground. Approach the bar so that the bar intersects the middle of the feet. The feet should be set very wide, near the collars. Bend at the hips to grip the bar. The arms should be directly below the shoulders, inside the legs, and you can use a pronated grip, a mixed grip, or hook grip. Relax the shoulders, which in effect lengthens your arms.

  3. Take a breath, and then lower your hips, looking forward with your head with your chest up. Drive through the floor, spreading your feet apart, with your weight on the back half of your feet. Extend through the hips and knees.

  4. As the bar passes through the knees, lean back and drive the hips into the bar, pulling your shoulder blades together.

  5. Return the weight to the ground by bending at the hips and controlling the weight on the way down.

Muscles worked

Primary (target)

Hamstrings

Secondary

AbductorsAdductorsForearmsGlutesLower BackMiddle BackQuadricepsTraps

Related exercises

All upper legs exercises →

Track Sumo Deadlift with Chains in NutriMind

Log your sets and the app does the rest — automatic PR detection, progression charts for every lift, and progressive overload that adjusts your next workout. Paired with AI nutrition coaching so your training and your plate pull in the same direction.

Planning your next heavy session? Estimate your max with the One Rep Max Calculator and build up to it with the Warm-up Calculator. More free tools →