What kind of physique is suited to each style? i've never sumo pulled heavy and im quite tempted just to see how i fair. I'm 6ft, average arm length and i'd say a longer than average torso to leg ratio. I don't know if body proportions make alot of difference, but im sure sumo suits shorter lifters?

I don't know where i fit tbh, guess i'll just give it a bash for a few months, good things might happen!

I know ash pulls sumo to great success, anyone else experimented with both?

I've always been under the impression that sumo is better for people with longer legs

I really don't know..longer legs may increase the leverage on conventional lifts? maybe..lol.

In reality it probably goes beyond body proportions.

tough one really, all the biggest deadlifters in the world lift conventional really, but quite a few of the best lighter lifters lift sumo and pull very big weights still.

For me, trying sumo lifting the first time just felt completly right and easy, i can still lift reasonably heavy conventional style but it doesnt really feel 'right'.

You haven't got any competitions coming up so you could try going heavy on them and see how they feel?

Yeah, i was thinking that, but we can't really compare ourselves to the biggest deadlifters in the world. I've tried them light (180x8 i think i got) and they felt comfortable and completely natural. So definitely going to try them, at worst it wouldn't do any harm!

Try this question on fortified-iron.

Never tried a sumo DL, but from the way it looks i think i would struggle to rep like it. single rep would be ok though.

will have to give it a go!

They both vary quite considerably,

3D kinematic studies have shown that Hip extensor, knee extensor, and ankle dorsiflexor moments were generated for the sumo group, whereas hip extensor, knee extensor, knee flexor, and ankle plantar flexor moments were generated for the conventional group.

And results in different muscle recruitment:
Overall EMG activity from the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and tibialis anterior were significantly greater in the sumo deadlift, whereas overall EMG activity from the medial gastrocnemius was significantly greater in the conventional deadlift. Compared with the no-belt condition, the belt condition produced significantly greater rectus abdominis activity and significantly less external oblique activity. For most muscles, EMG activity was significantly greater in the knee extending intervals compared with the corresponding knee flexing intervals. Quadriceps, tibialis anterior, hip adductor, gluteus maximus, L3 and T12 paraspinal, and middle trapezius activity were significantly greater in higher knee flexion intervals compared with lower knee flexion intervals, whereas hamstrings, gastrocnemius, and upper trapezius activity were greater in lower knee flexion intervals compared with higher knee flexion intervals.

& Incidently: The sumo deadlift style resulted in a 10% reduction in the joint moment and 8% reduction in the load shear force at the L4/L5 level when compared with the conventional lifting style.

Refs: Am J of Sports Conditioning. (2001-2004)
Will post more when found

So i can deduct sumo is safer?

Max, i think sumo is better to rep and conv is better for bigger weights, generally speaking.

Shear force isn't necessarily a bad thing. It trains your spinal erector muscles to be strong and prevent actual shearing (well, actually rotation) from occurring.

I have heard anecdotes that suggest sumo pulling is hard on the hip joint. Some even suggest that they would only pull sumo while wearing squat briefs (not allowed in BWLA or BDFPA even when equipped), to help protect the hip.