Natural Bodybuilders Agree: This One Muscle Looks Awful When It’s Too Big originally appeared on Men’s Fitness.
Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to certain muscles.
In a new Reddit thread, natural bodybuilders discussed the muscles they think look worse when more developed compared to the rest of the body. They settled on traps.
“Which muscle group looks the least aesthetically pleasing when overdeveloped?” the original user asked, kicking off the post.
“Traps do look goofy sometimes,” one user replied, receiving the highest amount of upvotes.
Your traps span the upper back, running from the base of your skull down to your mid-back and across to your shoulders. Strong traps support good posture by keeping your shoulders back and your upper spine aligned.
They help move and stabilize your shoulder blades, playing a key role in exercises like shrugs, deadlifts, and face pulls.
“It’s when they’re so big it looks like a regular sized man is popping out of a bigger man,” another user agreed.
Related: Natural Bodybuilders Swear This Underrated Training Trick Blew Up Their Arms
Traps can be one of the most noticeable upper-body muscles when developed, especially when viewed from behind or in clothing.
But for some lifters, when the upper traps grow disproportionately large, they can overshadow the shoulders, neck, and arms—creating a bulky, top-heavy look that some find awkward.
Of course, genetics also play a big role.
“As someone with good upper traps genetics I shouldn’t have opened this thread,” one user jokingly wrote.
Others pushed back, pointing out that large traps contribute to looking bigger in clothes.
“Assuming you work your shoulders, triceps and forearms—having huge traps look really good, especially in clothes. It gives that ‘huge in clothes’ look,” another user defended.
Related: Natural Bodybuilders Agree: This Is the Most Ignored Muscle Group in the Gym
Natural Bodybuilders Agree: This One Muscle Looks Awful When It’s Too Big first appeared on Men’s Fitness on Jul 1, 2025
This story was originally reported by Men’s Fitness on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
