10 Best Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row Alternatives for Limited Equipment

The Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row is done seated with a lever machine. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Lever High Row, the Lever Seated Row and the Lever Narrow Grip Seated Row.

Lever Reverse Grip Vertical RowWatch the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row

Each substitute is scored on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. Read how we rank alternatives

How to Do the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row

The steps for the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row itself, so you can judge how close each substitute below really is.

Upper Back, with biceps, forearms · Lever · Intermediate · Compound

  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 underhand grip, palms facing up.
  4. Keep your back straight and engage your core.
  5. Pull the handles towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
  6. Pause for a moment at the top of the movement, then slowly release and extend your arms back to the starting position.
  7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

The 10 Best Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Cards with a "How to perform it" link open to show the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

Each link re-ranks the list below for the kit it names. Pick one to hide the substitutes you cannot set up.

  1. Lever High RowPlay demonstration

    1. Lever High Row

    95% match

    Upper Back · Intermediate · Compound

    The same equipment, taken with a neutral grip.

    • Lever
    How to perform it
    1. Adjust the seat height and foot platform to a comfortable position.
    2. Sit on the machine with your chest against the pad and your feet flat on the foot platform.
    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 body, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    6. Pause for a moment at the peak of the movement, 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, the same as the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row
    • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row
  3. Lever Narrow Grip Seated RowPlay demonstration

    3. Lever Narrow Grip Seated Row

    94% match

    Upper Back · Intermediate · Compound

    The same equipment, taken with a narrow grip.

    • Lever
    How to perform it
    1. Adjust the seat height and footrests to ensure proper form.
    2. Sit on the machine with your feet flat on the footrests and your knees slightly bent.
    3. Grasp the handles with a narrow grip, palms facing each other.
    4. Keep your back straight and lean slightly forward.
    5. Pull the handles towards your torso, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    6. Pause for a moment at the peak of the movement.
    7. Slowly release the handles and return to the starting position.
    8. 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, the same as the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row
    • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row
  4. Lever Unilateral RowPlay demonstration

    4. Lever Unilateral Row

    88% match

    Upper Back · Intermediate · Compound

    Pick this when you want to work the upper back one side at a time.

    • Lever
    How to perform it
    1. Adjust the seat height and position yourself facing the machine.
    2. Grasp the handles with an overhand grip and keep your back straight.
    3. Pull the handles towards your body, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    4. Pause for a moment at the peak of the movement, then slowly release and extend your arms back to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row
    • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row
  5. Cable Rope Elevated Seated RowPlay demonstration

    5. Cable Rope Elevated Seated Row

    86% match

    Upper Back · Intermediate · Compound

    A good swap when you have a cable machine to work with, and it still works the upper back.

    • Cable
    How to perform it
    1. Sit on the elevated seat facing the cable machine.
    2. Grab the cable rope handles with an overhand grip, palms facing each other.
    3. Keep your back straight and lean slightly back, maintaining a slight bend in your knees.
    4. Pull the cable towards your body by retracting your shoulder blades and squeezing your back muscles.
    5. Pause for a moment at the fully contracted position.
    6. Slowly release the tension and extend your arms 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, the same as the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row
    • Equipment: a cable, not a machine
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row
  6. Resistance Band Seated Straight Back RowPlay demonstration

    6. Resistance Band Seated Straight Back Row

    86% match

    Upper Back · Beginner · Compound

    A good swap when you have a band to work with, and it still works the upper back.

    • Band
    How to perform it
    1. Sit on the floor with your legs extended and loop the resistance band around your feet.
    2. Hold the ends of the resistance band with your hands, palms facing each other.
    3. Keep your back straight and lean slightly back, engaging your core.
    4. Pull the resistance band towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly release the tension and return 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
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row
    • Equipment: a band, not a machine
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row

Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row FAQ

What muscles does Lever Reverse Grip Vertical Row work?

The exercise targets the upper back, mainly the middle traps, rhomboids, and the lower fibers of the latissimus dorsi, while the supinated grip increases biceps contribution. Biomechanically it emphasizes humeral adduction with scapular retraction, so you feel the mid-traps engage during the pull.

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