10 Best Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar Alternatives for Limited Equipment

Ranked Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Open "How to perform this exercise" on a card for the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

1. Best match

   Play demonstration

   1. Dumbbell Bent Over Row

   87% match

   • Lats
   • Dumbbell
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   A good swap when you have dumbbells to work with, and it still works the lats.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing your body.
   2. Bend forward at the hips, keeping your back straight and your core engaged.
   3. Let your arms hang straight down towards the floor, with your elbows slightly bent.
   4. Pull the dumbbells up towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
   5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbells back down to the starting position.
   6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Movement: bent-over row, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Equipment: free weights, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
2. Play demonstration

   2. Bodyweight Standing Row (With Towel)

   85% match

   • Lats
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   Use this when you have nothing to train with, because it works the lats with bodyweight alone.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a towel in front of you with both hands.
   2. Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the hips, keeping your back straight.
   3. Pull the towel towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
   4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly release the tension and return to the starting position.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
3. 

   3. Sled Row

   84% match

   • Middle Back
   • Other
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   A looser match: it works the middle back rather than the lats.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Attach dual handles to a sled connected by a rope or chain. Load the sled to an appropriate weight. Face the sled, backing up until there is some tension in the line.
   2. With a handle in each hand, bend the knees slightly, keep your head and chest up, and begin with your arms extended.
   3. To initiate the movement, flex the elbow as you retract your shoulder blades, pulling the sled towards you.
   4. Take a step or two back to get tension in the line and repeat.

   Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: middle back, not lats
   • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
4. Play demonstration

   4. Lever T Bar Row

   84% match

   • Upper Back
   • Lever
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   A looser match: it uses the same equipment, but it works the upper back rather than the lats.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Adjust the seat height and footplate position to ensure proper alignment.
   2. Sit on the machine with your chest against the pad and your feet flat on the footplate.
   3. Grasp the handles with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   4. Keep your back straight and engage your core.
   5. Pull the handles towards your torso, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
   6. Pause for a moment at the peak contraction, then slowly release the handles back to the starting position.
   7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: upper back, not lats
   • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
5. Play demonstration

   5. Barbell Reverse Grip Bent Over Row

   83% match

   • Lats
   • Barbell
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   A good swap when you have a barbell to work with, and it still works the lats.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
   2. Hold a barbell with an overhand grip, palms facing down, and hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   3. Bend forward at the hips, keeping your back straight and chest up, until your torso is almost parallel to the floor.
   4. Pull the barbell towards your lower chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
   5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the barbell back to the starting position.
   6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 to 5 sets of 5 to 8 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Movement: bent-over row, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Equipment: free weights, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
6. 

   6. Bent Over Barbell Row

   83% match

   • Lats
   • Barbell
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Holding a barbell with a pronated grip (palms facing down), bend your knees slightly and bring your torso forward, by bending at the waist, while keeping the back straight until it is almost parallel to the floor. Tip: Make sure that you keep the head up. The barbell should hang directly in front of you as your arms hang perpendicular to the floor and your torso. This is your starting position.
   2. Now, while keeping the torso stationary, breathe out and lift the barbell to you. Keep the elbows close to the body and only use the forearms to hold the weight. At the top contracted position, squeeze the back muscles and hold for a brief pause.
   3. Then inhale and slowly lower the barbell back to the starting position.
   4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Movement: bent-over row, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Equipment: free weights, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
7. 

   7. Reverse Grip Bent-over Rows

   83% match

   • Lats
   • Barbell
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand erect while holding a barbell with a supinated grip (palms facing up).
   2. Bend your knees slightly and bring your torso forward, by bending at the waist, while keeping the back straight until it is almost parallel to the floor. Tip: Make sure that you keep the head up. The barbell should hang directly in front of you as your arms hang perpendicular to the floor and your torso. This is your starting position.
   3. While keeping the torso stationary, lift the barbell as you breathe out, keeping the elbows close to the body and not doing any force with the forearm other than holding the weights. On the top contracted position, squeeze the back muscles and hold for a second.
   4. Slowly lower the weight again to the starting position as you inhale.
   5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Movement: bent-over row, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Equipment: free weights, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
8. Play demonstration

   8. Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row

   82% match

   • Lats
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
   2. Bend forward at the waist, keeping your back straight and your core engaged.
   3. Extend your arms straight in front of you, gripping the bar or handles with a close grip.
   4. Pull the bar or handles towards your body, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
   5. Pause for a moment at the top of the movement, then slowly release and return to the starting position.
   6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
9. Play demonstration

   9. Bodyweight Standing Row

   82% match

   • Lats
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
   2. Grasp a bar or handles with an overhand grip, palms facing down.
   3. Keep your back straight and core engaged.
   4. Pull the bar or handles towards your body, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
   5. Pause for a moment at the top of the movement.
   6. Slowly release and extend your arms back to the starting position.
   7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
10. Play demonstration

    10. Dumbbell One Arm Bent-over Row

    82% match

    • Lats
    • Dumbbell
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    How to perform this exercise

    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in one hand with your palm facing your body.
    2. Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the hips, keeping your back straight and your core engaged.
    3. Let the dumbbell hang straight down towards the floor, with your arm fully extended.
    4. Pull the dumbbell up towards your chest, keeping your elbow close to your body and squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbell back down to the starting position.
    6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch sides.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches

    • Movement: bent-over row, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
    • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar
    • Equipment: free weights, not a machine
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Lever Bent-over Row With V-bar