The trap bar is a common piece of equipment. You’ll find one in almost every gym because of its ease of use while also giving a chance for beginners to learn how to deadlift.

But a good trap bar is much more than just a deadlift bar. You have open-ended trap bars that are also rackable, meaning you can use them for upper body exercises, too. And almost every major producer of gym equipment will have a selection of trap bars, so the choice is not as straightforward as it might seem.

After going through hundreds of trap bars, we’ve found the best trap bars for anyone from beginner to advanced lifter, and we’ve also included a short buying guide to help you pick your trap bar easily.

Don’t Want to Wait? Here’s Our Favorite

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With a total load capacity of up to 750lbs, a strong diamond knurl, and tri-grip handles, the CAP Olympic trap bar presents a sturdy and durable option while also being versatile. It’s constructed from tubular steel and it has bolt-on rubber feet that will ease the impact as you drop the bar to the ground with heavy loads and make it easy to load and unload the bar.

Even though it is a great bar and a suitable option for most people, there are still some improvements to be made. For example, the handles will rotate as you do overhead presses or other exercises, which can limit its versatility a bit, although it’s still more versatile than most other trap bars you’ll find today.

Considering everything we’ve seen and read about the CAP Olympic Super Trap Bar, we believe it’s the best bar you’ll get for your money at the moment.

CAP Olympic Super Trap Bar – Best Overall

The CAP Olympic Super Trap Bar provides the best value for money, and it’s perhaps the best option for everyone, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced lifter. It’s sturdy enough for bigger loads but also friendly enough so that you can use it for different exercises.

Review

If you’re after a quality trap bar for a relatively affordable price, then you should take note of this product. It has some features that you’ll find in much more expensive trap bars, such as the sturdy build as well as the shock-resistant rubber handles that allow you to easily load and unload the bar.

The main components of this bar are stainless steel tubes, which is one of the sturdiest materials bars are made from. In addition, the steel is coated by a powdered coat, which will increase the longevity of the trap bar and allow it to withstand heavy use. The bar can handle weights of up to 750lbs, which is more than enough even for serious pros.

The bar is also versatile. It has a tri-grip bar, meaning that you can grab the bar using three different handles in different positions. This allows you to perform some other exercises in addition to deadlifts, such as shrugs, squat jumps, farmer’s walks, floor presses, bent-over rows, and even push-ups.

There are still some improvements to be made, though. One thing that would really put this bar among the best bars in the world is even more versatility. For example, one issue is that when you try to do upper body exercises such as overhead presses, the handles will rotate – but hey, that’s how trap bars are made (although the more expensive ones will have this option).

Pros

• High-quality and sturdy build – made from stainless steel tubes with a powder coating
• The shock-resistant rubber handles make it easy to unload and load the bar
• Highly versatile with the tri-grip design
• Good value for money
• Capable of handling weights of up to 750lbs
• Rigid diamond knurling allows for a strong grip

Cons

• The handles will move as you do some upper body exercises
• It requires setting up as you buy it, and the instructions are not very clear

CAP Barbell Olympic Trap Bar – Best Budget Option

If you’re looking for an even more affordable option, then the CAP Barbell Olympic Trap Bar will be right up your alley. We believe that this bar is good enough for almost anyone looking for a decent trap bar for deadlifts, although it does compromise on versatility and some added features of more expensive trap bars.

Review

Buying a conventional barbell like the CAP Barbell Olympic trap bar is a great choice if you’re after a good quality bar that will help you mostly with deadlifts. If you’re learning deadlifts or if you’re simply someone who likes to do them with the trap bar, then this one will give you more than enough.

The bar is very sturdy and will hold relatively high weights. For the asking price, it’s tough to get a trap bar that’s so well built as this one. It can last you for a very long time, provided you maintain it well and use it with care.

There are some concerns about the trap bar, though. If you’re just looking to have this bar for deadlifts, then it’s a good enough choice. But if you’re looking for a more versatile option, it’s better to go with the CAP Super Trap Bar above.

Another concern is that there is no real knurling on the bar, which can minimize your grip strength, and the handles are very close to the weights, so you might have to squeeze your hands onto the handles if you have bigger hands. Overall though, it’s definitely worth the asking price.

Pros

• Sturdy, high-quality build
• Can last you for a very long time
• Great for deadlifts
• Easy to use
• Gets the job done

Cons

• No real knurling on the bar
• The handles are too close to the weights
• Not as versatile as some more expensive options

HulkFit Olympic Trap Bar – Best Open-Ended Trap Bar

Open-ended trap bars are popular as they give you a bit more freedom as you do your deadlifts, and they’re also slightly more versatile than close-ended trap bars. We’ve picked the HulkFit Olympic trap bar as our best choice when it comes to open-ended trap bars. Read on to learn why.

Review

If you’re after an open-ended trap bar, then this is the bar you should take a look at. It’s the best open-ended bar we’ve found in our search, although you can also choose the closed trap bar, which costs slightly less than this version.

But the open-ended bar is the better option, in our opinion. It gives you more freedom and a larger loading sleeve, so you’ll be able to load more weight on this bar. It’s able to support up to 1000lbs of weight, which tells us that this bar is exceptionally well built. It’s made of stainless steel tubes, so it’s going to last for quite a while.

You also have a bit more variety with the open-ended trap bar. It lets you move around more and do other exercises, too. It has a decent knurling pattern on the handles, allowing you more grip and a more comfortable design that helps you lift larger loads. This is essential when it comes to lifting heavier weights.

The bar itself is fantastic, although someone mentioned in the review that the welds are not the best – however, all evidence suggests this bar will last for a long time thanks to its sturdy and strong build.

Pros

• The open-ended trap bar gives you more freedom to move
• Supports up to 1000lbs of weight
• A long loading sleeve gives you a chance to load the bar as much as you want
• High-quality build
• The knurling allows for a stronger grip

Cons

• The welds might not be the best made (but they get the job done)
• The packaging is not the best

Everyday Essentials Olympic Trap Bar – Budget Option #2

The Everyday Essentials Olympic Bar is another budget option that you should be looking at if you’re short on money, but still looking for a decent trap bar that will get the job done. It’s a decent bar with 1000lbs of load capacity, which is commendable considering this bar belongs to the budget family of products.

Review

This bar is again one of those bars that get the job done, although it does miss some features of higher-priced bars. But for a manufacturer that’s not primarily focused on gym products, this one is actually quite a decent one.

The most impressive thing about it is its build quality. It’s capable of supporting up to 1000lbs of weight, thanks to the heavy-duty steel build. You’ll also be pleased to know that this bar has knurling on its handles, which is better than some other budget bars that don’t even have this feature.

It also has two handles, so you can easily adjust the position of your hands during your deadlifts. The loading sleeves are quite long, although they could be even longer if you want to add more plates to the bar.

Overall, this bar is as straightforward as it gets – decent for deadlifts, will hold a lot of weight, but perhaps not the best if you’re after a more advanced and versatile trap bar.

Pros

• Great value for money
• Will hold up to 1000lbs of weight
• Knurling on the handles makes it easy to grip the bar
• Good quality build

Cons

• Lacking in versatility
• Missing added features that come with higher-priced trap bars

Trap Bar Buying Guide

Picking your trap bar might look like an easy job, but there are still some important factors you should consider before you buy yours.

1. Loading Weight

Firstly, you have to take a look at how much weight a bar will support. If you’re a more advanced lifter, this is even more important.

Some bars will hold up to 1000lbs, which is more than ample for casual lifters, but also for serious ones. Others will support up to 750lbs, such as the CAP Olympic bar, which is also more than enough.

2. Versatility

You’d think trap bars are made only for deadlifts, but the truth is that some trap bars will allow you to perform other exercises, too.

This is done with several handles that come on the bar – the more positions the handles cover, the easier it is to perform a wide variety of exercises.

3. Weight of the Unloaded Bar

Perhaps not as important, but it’s still nice to know what the trap bar weighs before you put any weights on it.

If you want more portability, you’d want a bit lighter bar. But if you just want to add more weight and lift more, then opt for a heavier one.

4. Rackability

Is the trap bar rackable so that you can use it inside your power cage? If you can afford one, of course.

More expensive trap bars tend to be rackable, which allows you to store them easily and also perform other exercises with it.

FAQ

Is the trap bar easier than the straight bar?

For deadlifts, the trap bar is easier to use than the straight bar. It provides you with more support and a good framework that will help you get your form right. That’s why beginners are encouraged to use trap bars at the beginning when they learn deadlifts.

What’s better trap bar or straight bar deadlift?

There are no major differences between the two, although the trap bar deadlift will work on your flexibility a bit more and it will also target your quads slightly more than the straight bar deadlift.

How much do trap bars cost?

You’ll find trap bars will cost anywhere from $70 to all the way up to $700 – but the latter is for competitive lifters and will not be viable for everyone.

Final Thoughts

So we’ve presented the best trap bars and now you know which ones they are, so you can consider your needs and consult the buying guide when making your choice. The trap bar can make a nice addition to your arsenal and it will help you do deadlifts easier and also some other exercises.

We consider the CAP Olympic Super Trap Bar to be the best overall option when it comes to trap bars. Thanks to its high-quality build and some impressive features, you’ll feel like you’re getting a steal for the asking price.