Barbell Deadlift or Trap bar Deadlift

Conv barbell deadlift is where its at!

I'm fine with providing an opposing viewpoint from those above. I have been lifting for 15+ years, and have been injured from lifting bad enough to take time away only three times; twice was due to deadlifting, both times my lower back.

By comparison, trap bar deadlifts put far less strain on my back, and the position of the handles facing in allows my grip to remain strong at heavier weights where it used to be a limiting factor for how many reps I could do conventional (even using a mixed grip). For the average casual lifter new to the sport, I think they should use the trap bar until they have mastered the basic movement pattern before ever switching to a standard barbell.

I am tall - deadlifting with a straight bar puts undue strain on my lumbar spine. Its still part of my rotation, but only with light weight. I feel I can engage my traps more with the straight bar. But trap bar deadlifts are a foundation of my 'pull' days. I can really work my whole posterior chain effectively and most of my working sets are heavy (for me). Though I will mix in light weight and more volume at least once a week. I'd recommend trap bar for novice lifters over a straight bar.

At my gym, in a corner of the weights area is where they put all the non-standard stuff: platforms to use as steps, variety of bars to include the hex bar, bands, etc. If you didn't know it was there, it'd be easy to miss. I would definitely ask, @chris_in_cal.

claireychn074 wrote: »

Yeah they’re often tucked away as they take up a huge amount of room in a bar stand, and they seem to have a mind of their own when you try to extricate them from the other bars! Or maybe that’s just my issue 🤣

True statement The handles are ALWAYS facing the wrong way and seem to magnetically attract EZ Curl bars. Extricating the trap bar is a good upper body warm-up.