Conibear traps are easy to use and popular with trappers. They are available in a wide variety of brands and sizes, and you can set them in a variety of ways based on your target. Their versatility makes it difficult to find the best trap- but we’ve put in the legwork to get it done.
Besides finding the best conibear traps for survival trapping, we explain what conibear traps are and how to use them. We also give a few options for various budgets and look at how each body grip trap size matches up to specific animals.
We have conducted hundreds of hours of research and testing on conibear traps, finding great values and the best-of-the-best along the way. If you want to trap- whether it’s a hobby or for survival- one of our conibear trap recommendations will get the job done.
Contents (Jump to a Section)
- The Best Conibear Traps
- Upgrade Conibear Traps
- Actual Conibear Traps
- Everything We Recommend
- The Traps We Compared
- What are Conibear Traps?
- What to Look For
- The Best Body Grip Sizes
- How to Set a Conibear Trap
- Who Needs Body Grip Traps?
The Best Conibear Traps
Duke Bodygrip Traps
Inexpensive, Dependable, and Effective
Duke body grip traps are well-known and come in a wide variety of sizes. Even though they are inexpensive, they can get the job done.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Duke body grip traps can be found all over the place. Plenty of hardware stores and online outlets carry the Duke brand. They are inexpensive, simple, and catch critters with no muss and no fuss. Duke makes all sorts of traps and trap accessories including:
- Coil Spring Traps
- Long Spring Traps
- Body (Conibear) Traps
- Cage Traps
- Bear Traps
- Coon Traps
- Snares
- Fur Stretchers
And, of course, many of these come in various sizes and configurations. Duke has been in operation since 1938, originally selling pecans and fur skins. They only added traps in 1986 to their catalog, but have gained plenty of market share since. One major point of contention in the trapping community is where Duke traps are manufactured: China. Regardless, they outperform their price so that can be something you consider in your own buying decision.
Specs
- Size shown: 4.5″ jaws (110)
- Weight: 0.8 pounds
- Features: 3-position dog
- Manufactured: China
Pros
- Trigger wires are easily adjusted and the dog is multi-position
- Trap comes oiled out of the box
Cons
- No safety – watch your fingers
- Trap jaws can bend after extended use
If you want to get started trapping, a Duke 110 Body Grip Trap will help you catch a wide range of animals without breaking your budget.
Upgrade Conibear Traps
Belisle Super X
Safe, Powerful, and Reliable
Belisle body grip traps are well-known and pricey, but experienced trappers swear by them and it’s easy to see why.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Most trappers prefer the Belisles out of Canada as their body grips. They cost upwards of three times our top pick, but the design is radically better and includes safety features that could save you more in the long run.
The “Magnum” trap design is patented and lets the trap completely close, saves the jaws from bending when it snaps, and makes it easy to drop into H stands. While other trap makers continue to make the same models for the better part of the century, Belisle pushes the envelope just a bit.
Specs
- Size shown: 4.5″ jaws (110)
- Weight: 1 pound
- Features: 2-position dog, magnum jaws, safety catch
- Manufactured: Canada
Pros
- The unique “Magnum” jaw design prevents bending
- Larger dog is easier to set and less prone to wear
- Safety catch will save your fingers
Cons
- The price is steep for single traps
If you want the best traps the pros use, pick up some Belisle Super X Body Grip Traps.
Actual Conibear Traps
Oneida (Victor) Conibear Traps
Original, Quality-Made, and Proven
The namesake of Conibear traps still makes a solid body grip trap even if they are harder to come by.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Oneida takes traps seriously. ‘Conibear’ is a registered trademark of Oneida, and they are one of the original producers. They manufacture in America and are based in Ohio. With Oneida, you can expect American-made quality to back up their rich history as the first manufacturer to make body grip traps.
Other brands are cheaper, stronger, and easier to find in stores- but some still swear by the original. We found the traps to be very similar to our top pick, but made in the USA.
Specs
- Size shown: 4.5″ jaws (110)
- Weight: 0.8 pounds
- Features: 3-position dog
- Manufactured: USA
Pros
- Original Conibear brand with a rich history
- Trigger wires have a long reach and adjust easily
Cons
- Safety catch not included
If you are looking to get the real deal and support a brand from the best country in the world, Victor Conibear Traps are your best bet.
Everything We Recommend
Duke body grip traps are well-known and come in a wide variety of sizes. Even though they are inexpensive, they can get the job done.
Where to Buy
*at time of reviewing (each)
Belisle body grip traps are well-known and pricey, but experienced trappers swear by them and it’s easy to see why.
Where to Buy
*at time of reviewing (each)
Oneida (Victor) Conibear Traps
The namesake of Conibear traps still makes a solid body grip trap even if they are harder to come by.
Where to Buy
*at time of reviewing (each)
The Traps We Compared
Our research narrowed the field down to the several body grip brands and types that we compared: Duke, Victor, Belisle, Bridger, Savague, and more.
After comparing, we ordered a few we didn’t have yet and put them to the test.
You can see our full list of review criteria below in theWhat to Look Forsection, with an explanation for each.
We also steered clear of traps and snares that weren’t conibear-style body grip. We have a separate review for the best snares but keep in mind that both this review and others are under a prepping and survival scope- not a professional trapper’s.
We’re always looking for new and better equipment, so if you have a body grip trap that you swear by let us know in the comments. We review most of our tested gear annually, so we can always get it in the next roundup round and see if it will beat the rest of the field.
What are Conibear Traps?
Conibear traps are two metal squares that snap together in a scissor motion to grab the body (body grip) of the target animal. It is designed to be a ‘kill’ trap, so they usually kill the animal quickly after collapsing on it by crushing its body or neck.
One or two springs on the side of the trap power the scissor motion of the trap. Compressing these springs, and then setting the catch primes the trap. The trigger can be bent into various shapes or have bait added to customize the trap for the target animal.
Frank Ralph Conibear revolutionized the trapping world when he invented these traps. He was a meticulous trapper with a line over 200 miles long near Fort Smith. He saw the need for a quick-kill trap when mink fur pelts were $40 each in 1928. The animals were chewing their legs off to escape traps, which was inhumane suffering (and cost him some big money!).
He developed his inspiration for the bodygrip trap from an egg beater, knowing if he crushed the mink’s bodies they would die quickly, and humanely, and he would have more effective traps.
Frank’s trap became massively popular in the 1950s, and he received awards from the American Humane Association in 1961 for his invention. Many trappers recognize the conibear trap as the best trapping innovation of the 20th century.
Victor was the manufacturer, which is owned today by Oneida (our upgrade pick for the best conibear traps). Technically, Oneida Victor traps are the only ‘conibear’ traps since that is a brand name. Bodygrip traps are the type of trap, but conibear has become synonymous with a bodygrip trap much like Kleenex, Velcro, or Band-Aid.
Mousetraps are a type of body grip trap, but it is not what we typically talk about when we are referencing body grip or conibear traps. Unlike mousetraps, conibear traps can be regulated in your area so be sure to consult local rules and laws about trapping so you can responsibly and humanely deploy traps.
What to Look For
The best conibear traps have several important features to look for:
- Value
- Design
- Quality
- Size & Weight
- Versatility
When you get the right blend of these, you can find a reliable trap that is easy to set. Below, we break down what each of these features means for conibears that set themselves apart.
Value
The amount of money you spend on something like a trap shouldn’t blow out your entire budget. Don’t go overspending or overdo it. Budget according to your risk and your needs rather than just spending lavishly.
On the flip side, you don’t want to go too cheap or just plain get the wrong thing. If the trap bends on the first snap, it’s not going to last you very long.
You never want to spend too much money on one resource, especially something like trapping. It’s better to diversify your preparedness gear to make sure you are covered for a wide range of scenarios. There is a sweet spot where you get high value with not too high of a price, which is where our top pick sits.
Design
The main design difference in conibear traps is all of the various sizes, but design differences also include the trigger mechanism, anchor chain, and spring which can be specific to the trap type or brand. You may find yourself tempted to get a trap with all of the features available, but it may not be the right call.
If you add too many bells and whistles to the simple trap, it becomes heavy, easy to spot, hard to clean, and harder to set. The setups the pros prefer show that keeping it simple is best.
One design call we appreciated was the patented Magnum jaws on the Super X. Besides making the trap sturdier and close completely, it also prevents the spring from slipping over the corner, which is nice just for keeping the traps ready to go.
Quality
Various types of steel are used for the traps, and even some aluminum can be found here and there. Twice-tempered steel is best, which prevents the steel from warping as easily over time. Tempering is pretty much standard for springs, and it is also important for the trap itself.
The carbon content of the steel can also affect the trap: stainless steel is expensive. Galvanized steel is treated steel that works well in weather conditions, but exposed weld points will quickly rust. This is why construction also matters.
Messy welds on traps can be a quality concern. The weld can’t just be good out of manufacturing- it has to hold up in the field since it is usually one of the first spots to fail. Rust and corrosion are the main enemies here. You can spot a suspect weld by its overly lumpy appearance if there are any jagged edges to the weld or even a crack.
There is not much to get wrong when constructing a conibear trap, since they are bent steel wire, assembly, and the welds aren’t typically part of the jaws. But a bad weld on a chain or the dog will ruin it quickly, or let the trap run away.
Size & Weight
Besides the actual model size, a few other factors affect the trap’s size and weight. More metal typically means more weight, and that can add up if you are carrying multiple traps at once.
We talk about the best conibear trap sizes in a few paragraphs, so we’ll show why we like the 110 the best for survival trapping. Otherwise, most of the 110 traps weigh right about a pound, give or take a few ounces for feature differences.
Versatility
Like snares, you can come up with other uses for conibears in survival situations. It’s a powerful spring that snaps steel jaws together, so it’s easy to see how you can get resourceful for things like perimeter alarms or cracking nuts.
Still, the main draw is that conibears are extremely effective kill traps for small animals. Even the best primitive trap setters know the value of a conibear trap when it comes down to survival food and self-reliance.
The Best Body Grip Sizes
The 110 size is the workhorse for survival situations, with the ability to catch high-population critters: squirrels, rabbits, muskrats, opossums, and more. The size of your body grip trap will greatly affect your success rate with certain animals.
If you go too large, the critter could be able to slip through. Too small, and it will not be powerful or big enough to kill.
Because size is so important, here is a table to help you select your trap:
| Trap Size | Target Animals |
|---|---|
| #50 | Mink, Muskrat, Rabbit, Squirrel, Weasel |
| #60 | Mink, Muskrat, Rabbit, Squirrel, Weasel |
| #110 | Mink, Muskrat, Opossum, Rabbit, Skunk, Squirrel, Weasel, Various Large Fish |
| #120 | Marten, Mink, Muskrat, Opossum, Skunk, Weasel |
| #160 | Fisher, Marten, Nutria, Opossum, Raccoon, Skunk |
| #220 | Badger, Beaver, Fisher, Marten, Nutria, Opossum, Otter, Raccoon, Skunk |
| #280 | Badger, Beaver, Bobcat, Fisher, Lynx, Nutria, Otter, Raccoon |
| #330 | Beaver, Bobcat, Lynx, Otter |
Most traps larger than the 110 have springs on each side of the jaws. 110s and smaller traps typically have one spring and are more easily compressed by hand.
Why Use Conibear Traps?
Conibear traps are extremely versatile kill traps. Unlike snares and foothold traps, they can effectively kill a wide range of animals quickly and humanely.
You may expect them to be more expensive, dangerous, or heavily regulated- but they are not any more of these than a foothold trap.
Conibear traps are a great consideration for survivalists because they are low profile, lightweight, and mechanically simple. They make a great addition to any long-term food storage plan as a way to capture and consume protein. In the same way that a survival garden can help you during long-term disasters, hunting and trapping equipment can help you add fresh variety to your food staples. A competent survival skill can outperform abundant resources. And trapping is one of those skills.
How to Set a Conibear Trap
There are a wide variety of ways to set up a conibear trap. A few of the more popular ones include:
- Bucket Set: Use a bucket so that the animal has to reach through the trap to get to the bait inside of the bucket. The bucket can be upright or on its side, depending on your target.
- Leaning Pole Set: This type of set can limit your prey to specific animals that like to run on branches, making it especially good for marten and fisher.
- Hole Set: This set is the same in principle as the bucket set, but you are using a hole in the ground. Using a hole in the ground instead of a bucket can make the trap work better if the target animal is sensitive to smells.
- Water Set: Conibear traps are popular around water, whether you are setting them in the water or above the water. Aquatic animals and large fish are good targets for a bodygrip trap. This type of set can be more difficult to anchor, so it does take a while to prepare.
Picking the right setup is important because even simple conibear traps can be useless if they are not set up correctly. Laying a trap flat usually won’t grab the animal in the right spot, and it’ll jump when it triggers.
Once you decide your target and how you are going to set your trap, the rest is easy to do:
- Remove all machine oil from the trap.
- Dress the trap with wax if you need to mask or add any scents.
- Set up the trigger in the shape of your target animal. Add bait or flags to attract your target animal.
- Open the trap. You will need to use a trap setting tool on larger conibear sizes or ones with more powerful springs.
- Carefully place the trap. You should use a bodygrip safety tool. Even experienced trappers use one- without one it’s just a matter of time before a trap bites your fingers or hand.
- Anchor your trap with the anchor chain.
Now that your trap is set, you need to check it at least once a day. Some areas have rules to check them every two days since bodygrip traps are ‘kill’ traps, but it is best practice to check them daily anyway.
Conibear Trap Setting Tool
On larger conibear traps (220, 330, etc) you will need a trap setter to set and open the trap. Even some of the heavier-duty small traps will have powerful springs, and a trap setting tool helps save time and your hands.
The Funke Trap Tags Model 3 Bodygrip and Longspring Setter is a solid option and isn’t ridiculously expensive. It is made of aluminum, so it will not rust and it only weighs 10 ounces. It works on the entire range of bodygrip traps and a few of the longspring traps (#1 and #2 sizes). The red grip handles will help save your hands, even if you are setting traps without gloves.
Many states require that new trappers take a Trapper Education Course before they can get their trapping license. There is a Trapper Education Course online for $35 if you are looking to learn more and knock out that requirement.
Who Needs Body Grip Traps
Conibear traps have been proven effective for long-time trappers, but are some of the easiest instant-kill traps to use. This makes them ideal for survivalists and preppers to use as well.
They are a great trap to learn on because they are easy to set, work on a wide range of animals, and are inexpensive. Many people are under the false impression that traps are illegal in the United States, but the only states that restrict the use of traps are New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida, California, and Washington.
Trappers have been using bodygrip traps for decades, but they are a great inclusion for survivalists and preppers in one type of kit:
- Home Survival Kit (specifically, as a perpetual food source)
Some preppers will argue that conibear traps are a good inclusion in a bug out bag, due to their fold-flat profile and ability to deploy anywhere. This may make sense for an INCH (I’m Never Coming Home) variant of bug out bag, but otherwise, we generally do not recommend bringing these with you unless you are an experienced trapper.
- INCH Bag
How We Review Products: We research thoroughly before selecting the best products to review. We have vast prepping and survival experience and bring in outside experts when needed. Hours on end are spent testing gear in stressful conditions and using specialized testing gear to verify claims. We assign performance criteria and impartially rate each tested item. Learn more about how we test.
Sources and References
An objective look at the best conibear trap is useless without sources and references. We leaned on these for the book knowledge that we paired with our practical military experience and prepping acumen.
O’Connell, R. (1994). Trapping ground squirrels as a control method. Vertebrate Pest Conference; University of California. Volume 16. (Source).
Proulx, G., et al. (1989). Assessment and preliminary development of the rotating-jaw Conibear 120 trap to effectively kill marten (Martes americana). Canadian Journal of Zoology. Volume 64. Issue 4. 1074 – 1079. (Source).
Warburtun, B. (1982). Evaluation of seven trap models as humane and catch-efficient possum traps. New Zealand Journal of Zoology. Volume 9. Issue 3. Pages 409 – 418. (Source).
The Final Word
There is a wide range of skills associated with prepping and survival with many of them in danger of becoming ‘lost arts’. As supermarkets and supply chain dependence have grown, survival skills are being left behind as society moves forward.
It is important to recognize the power of being self-reliant and having the ability to sustain yourself if the situation requires it. Learning and practicing survival skills- even if it is not your trade- can help you in this pursuit.
Here are some other guides our subscribers have found helpful:
- The Best Snare Wire Traps for Survival Trapping
- Best Quiet Shoes for Silent Sneaking
- INCH Bag List | Never Return Home
We presented quite a lot of information, but as always: if you have any questions let us know and we would be happy to help. Our research and testing settled on Duke Body Grip Traps as the best option given the design, quality, size/weight, versatility, and value.
Your specific situation may call for a different solution. We also gave a shout-out to a few other options that work well in other conditions and various budgets.
Take care of your gear and it will take care of you. Don’t stash it away, but get it out to get familiar with it if you are not using it every day.
Keep exploring, stay prepared, and be safe.
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