Trap bar

File:Trap bar.png

Rendering of a trap bar

The trap bar is an implement used in weight training. It is an assemblage of bars welded into a shape which lies flat in a plane, consisting of:

1. A barstock welded into a hexagonal shape, sized to allow a person to stand in the middle
2. Two (almost always) coaxial stub bars, welded to opposing positions on the outside of the perimeter of the hollow portion
3. A set of handles pointing forward and back, welded inside the hollow portion.

The trapbar was invented, patented and trademarked by Al Gerard, a competitive powerlifter. It is named after the (upper fibres of the) trapezius muscles, the muscle it was designed to train, with shoulder shrugs.

The stubs are used for loading the trapbar with plates. The handles are used to hold the trapbar while an exercise is performed. Note that these handles are aligned at 90 degrees to the plate-loading bars.

In addition to shrugs the bar is also used for trapbar deadlift overhead/military presses, upright rows or "high pulls," and stiff leg deadlifts.

Variants are produced by several vendors.

External links

• Trap Bar Deadlift
• Trap Bar Shrug