I've had an injured lower back for 10+ years, and have had to quit squatting (and ultimately powerlifting) because I couldn't get it right. I've been working with a coach who has had me doing zercher squats to get my fix of heavy lifts in. It has changed everything -- strengthening my core and allowing me an avenue to heavy squatting when I otherwise couldn't. And I've been squatting more than I ever have in my life.

I believe everyone should be squatting, but there is no reason why the back squat has to be the manifestation of that for everyone. I encourage people to try the zercher and see if this is a better path for you, personally.

I can zercher squat more than I back squat, there's got to be something to that

This squat really fixed my anterior pelvic tilt, and really help me feel relaxed opening up my back, i love it,
I've had bad anterior pelvic tilt from poor squat technique and deadlift over a lifetime that i found difficult to correct

I think a small channel is trying for a gotcha moment on a big channel, a tale as old as time

Honestly , I don't think Eugene is making it seem like "it's this magical excercise" I feel like he brings it into the spotlight as a "overlooked" excercise.
He isn't in bodybuilding anymore lately , he is more promoting things that actually could help in your day to day life.
I have to say , I'm all for it.
Recently I started doing Zercher squats because of him and if you use a barbell pad , supriseling comfortable..
What can I say , I like to try new things from time to time.

you're an expert on little evidence mate

Maybe I'll try them tomorrow. It's squat day!

Zercher Squats let me go closer to failure than back squats without worrying I'll get injured (home gym, no safeties). I just set some drop mats in front and can simply open my arms to bail on the lift when needed.

I mean, why dont you just train it for a couple months and see for yourself?

I like zerchers 🙂

That random guy falling was Eugene

I particularly like the angle you took near the end here where you poke holes in the idea that some creators take where X exercise blows up this muscle or that muscle when they look the same as they have for years.  I think it's reasonable to be critical of things like this but you need to be careful Milo because you've done some of these things (we all have).

I've got scoliosis, but I still wanted to squat, without loading the spine directly. I found zercher squats.
They allow me to squat deep, without back pain.
You get used to the elbow discomfort pretty early on.
I'm still getting massive leg gains because it's a legit squat variation.
Today, I've just PR, 120kg.
Is it for everyone? No.
Is it for people who feel awkward with normal back squats?
Absolutely.

Best way to refute something is to go through the exercise yourself. The zercher is undoubtably a very good exercise. It comes with more risk to injury for the general public but built up overtime it will definitely build up your upper back and help with form quite substantially in the back squat, over time and in MY experience at least.

So the thing is that the sheer angle of force to the low back is what makes the injury. Since it’s not so much load on top of the spine but rather in front of it, it makes the extensors work more than just try to stabilize.

These if you allow it can open up the hips and work on the ankle mobility as well I’ve been obsessed with zercher deadlifts lately lol

Is the zercher a magical fix all; no
Should way more people be doing the zercher; yes

It is just another exercise but the piece you leave out is that you cannot use as much weight in total. So it overloads some of the upper body muscles through a different plane of motion but you dont get anything like the overall compression and force that heavy back squats deliver. Zerchers are very good for anyone doing combat sports or sports like rugby. I feel much more athletically useful after doing movements like zerchers. Milo's stuff is great if your focus is bodybuilding but not very useful for athletic performance.

Ngl I did the zercher squats today for the first time and my hips never reeled so free. Normally kicking hurts in my hip flexors but today I didn’t feel any pain. Don’t know whether it is just because of the squats but it seems to be the case, because I don’t feel this way from deep back squats

I summon Atlas Powershrugged!

I've tried every barbell squat variation and all of them give me a sticking point espeically the last rep. I think my quads might be lagging. Will try supported split squats next.