10 Best Barbell Collars in 2024

Are you tired of your weight plates slipping mid-set?

Do you dread the thought of your plates coming crashing down on your unsuspecting toes?

You’re not alone, amigo. Even veteran gym rats share this fear…worse, some experience it first-hand.

But don’t worry, the era of flimsy barbell clips is officially over!

I’ve scoured the market and tested the best barbell collars to bring you this definitive list, so that you can avoid buying the wrong ones — or worse, trying to save a few bucks just to have them break on you after accidentally dropping them.

Here are the best barbell collars in 2024:

1. Rogue USA Aluminum Collars – Best Overall
2. Eleiko Öppen Collars – Best Premium Barbell Collars
3. Clout Fitness Olympic Barbell Clamps – Best Budget Barbell Collars
4. REP Fitness Spring Clips – Best Ultra-Budget Barbell Collars
5. The Strength Co. Barbell Collars – Best for Loadable Dumbbells
6. Rogue KG Competition Collars – Best Competition Collars
7. Rogue HG 2.0 Axle Collars – Best for Axle Barbells
8. Rogue Proloc™ Collars – Best for Various Barbells
9. OSO Mighty Collars – Best Lightweight Collars
10. DMoose 1 Inch Barbell Clips – Best for Standard 1” Barbells (currently out of stock)

So, stop settling for subpar equipment that just can’t perform, and dive into the top 10 barbell collars to keep you safe and crushing PRs for years to come!

Featured Products

• Rogue USA Aluminum Collars – Best Overall
• Eleiko Öppen Collars – Best Premium Barbell Collars
• Clout Fitness Olympic Barbell Clamps – Best Budget Barbell Collars

Different Types of Barbell Collars

There are three styles of barbell collars. To get the best barbell clamps for you, it’s critical to understand their differences.

Clamp-Style

First up, we have the clamp-style barbell clips. These bad boys are by far the most popular style, thanks to their presence in gyms worldwide in the form of collars by Lock-Jaw and OSO.

They slide onto your barbell sleeve, and when the lever is pushed down, they “clamp” down to give a secure grip. Almost every model of clamp-style collars features a rubberized inner ring for better grip and to avoid leaving marks on your bar.

In addition, they often have a quick-release tab to make removal a breeze and are built in 1” standard and 2” Olympic sizes to fit the most common barbell sizes.

Lock-Style

Next, we have the lock-style barbell collars. Although they’re not as admired as the clamp style, they’re still high quality — like the Rogue Proloc Collars.

This type of barbell clip involves a bolt manually threaded down, which then applies pressure onto the sleeve. This pressure keeps the collar still and, as a result, prevents your weight plates from moving.

The downside to lock-style clips is that they’re more time-consuming and, if made at a low quality, will leave an indent on your barbell sleeve…not exactly ideal if you’re paying hundreds of dollars for a quality barbell.

Competition collars are also included here, which are the most expensive but offer a world-class hold on the bar.

Spring-Style

Finally, the humble spring-style collar. These are the most basic, found in gyms everywhere and instantly recognized.

The handles or wings are squeezed to expand the ring’s diameter so that you can slide the clip onto your barbell sleeve. When you release the handles, the diameter shrinks and applies pressure to stay in place and keep your plates from shifting around on the bar.

They’re far less expensive due to their simple construction, but they’re not as effective and tend to only have a one-year warranty. Because of this, they make for a great ultra-budget option.

10 Best Barbell Collars in 2024

1. Rogue USA Aluminum Collars – Best Overall

Rating: 5/5

Specifications

• Style – clamp
• Material – aluminum
• Weight – 0.5 lbs/pair
• Sleeve size – 2” Olympic

Pros

• Trusted design
• Rust-proof material
• Strong and lightweight
• Made in the USA

Cons

• More expensive

Unsurprisingly, Rogue Fitness comes in at the top of the list for the best barbell collars with its Rogue USA Aluminum Collars.

As far as fitness equipment goes, Rogue is often considered the crème de la crème. When it comes to these barbell collars, the company doesn’t disappoint due to the collars’ design, materials, and performance.

These Rogue USA Aluminum Collars have a CNC-machined design that was first created by OSO, a company that was later acquired by Rogue. This design has proven to be so reliable that it’s been duplicated by countless companies — you know what they say, copying is the greatest form of flattery.

CNC-machining results in a highly accurate finished product, meaning that quality-control issues are super rare, and you’ll be hard-pressed to ever have an issue with these barbell collars.

Not only are these barbell collars reliable, but their eye-catching design also serves a practical function: they’re easier to hold. The outside of the collars has stylish ergonomic grooves, which means you’re less likely to fumble them.

If you do have a case of the butterfingers, don’t sweat it — the material of these barbell clips is second-to-none. They’re made from 6061 aircraft-grade billet aluminum, which is known for being strong and lightweight. 

An impressive innovation is having a material with serious strength without weighing a ton. The result is barbell collars rugged enough to last years of use. If it’s good enough for airplanes, it’s good enough for your barbell collars.

Weighing in at a lean 0.25 lbs each, the combined weight of the Rogue USA Aluminum Collars will add just 0.5 lbs to the bar — so trivial that few lifters will bother factoring it in.

These barbell collars have an overall width of 1.5” with a fully rubberized inner ring. This combination of surface area and 360-degree rubber friction gives them a next-level grip on the bar. They have an impressive hold, even with a barbell being dropped from overhead. 

All things considered, an exceptional barbell collar like this will last for years and deliver on its performance. You won’t regret the investment.

2. Eleiko Öppen Collars – Best Premium Barbell Collars

Rating: 4.5/5

Specifications

• Style – clamp
• Material – aluminum
• Weight – 1 lb/pair
• Sleeve size – 2” Olympic

Pros

• Easy-to-use design
• Convenient magnetic storage
• Made with recyclable materials
• Attractive aesthetic

Cons

• Pricier than regular barbell collars

As a collar connoisseur, I can confirm that the Eleiko Öppen Collars are the best barbell collars in the fitness equipment world.

They might look state-of-the-art, but they have the same clamp style as other barbell clips. The main difference is that they feature an open-mouth design, which makes them easy to slide on and off your bar. 

Instead of having to slide them over the end of the bar first, they can cut straight in from the side and be locked in place with less fumbling, saving you time over the long run.

Other unique additions to these barbell collars are the integrated magnets, which let you store them anywhere on your power rack (or any metal surface) for easy, convenient access — no more walking across the room in the name of safety.

But the magnets on these works of art have a dual purpose: they also stick to your weight plates. When mounted, the magnets produce a firm, flush grasp against your weight plates and an even better hold than those without magnetic superpowers.

These beauties were designed with serious attention to detail. They have an aluminum casing, are paired with a rubber interior, and even feature debossed “Eleiko” and “0.25” on the side. The craftsmanship on these barbell collars results in an incredible aesthetic. 

Eleiko’s patent-pending design includes a ergonomic spring-loaded lever, which can be used with just a single hand. Alongside their convenient magnetic storage, these barbell collars are a practical user’s dream, leaving plenty of space on your bar sleeve for weight plates at just 1.35” wide.

That said, even a pièce de résistance like this isn’t without minor flaws.

Being an open-mouth design, it’s highly unlikely that these will hold as well as a fully enclosed barbell collar like the Rogue Aluminum Collars — pretty reasonable guesstimation since they lack about 25% of the contact area that a regular barbell collar tends to have.

Lastly, they’re over $100 for a pair. They aren’t budget-friendly, but their easy-to-use design, convenient storage, and visual appeal pack a serious punch.

If you want an upscale lifting experience and have the money to spend, these are hands-down the best barbell collars.

3. Clout Fitness Olympic Barbell Clamps – Best Budget Barbell Collars

Rating: 3.5/5

Specifications

• Style – clamp
• Material – ABS plastic
• Weight – 0.5 lbs/pair
• Sleeve size – 2” Olympic

Pros

• Tons of color options
• Quick-release tab
• Rubberized inside to protect bars

Cons

• Imported
• No warranty listed

These are the best barbell collars for people who are on a budget.

The price can range on these, but they’re typically less than $20. As far as budget-friendly goes, that hits the sweet spot pretty well.

These budget barbell collars also come in 18 different color combinations, so they’re the perfect choice if you want to display rainbow colors in your gym.

Oh, and they have some serious proof to back up their claim. These barbell clips have 4.7/5 stars on Amazon from 22,843+ reviews. They’re the #1 Best-Seller in “Exercise Collars” and earned the “Amazon’s Choice” badge… it’s hard to argue with that.

The downside to these barbell collars being so budget-friendly is that they’re made of plastic and, as a result, aren’t super durable.

However, I’ve personally owned a look-alike pair of these barbell collars for two years, and they still work great. While I’ve winced every time I’ve dropped them on my lifting platform and concrete floor, they haven’t broken…yet.

As a quick aside, a search for “barbell collars 2” Olympic bar” on Amazon will give you hundreds of choices just like these. And after looking at a dozen of those product listings, the only difference appears to be that they slapped a different logo on them — keep that in mind when shopping!

All things considered, these barbell clips are an excellent choice for someone on a tight budget who is willing to handle them with care to make them last.

Looking for a budget barbell to match your budget barbell collars? You won’t want to miss our article 10 Best Cheap Barbells (That Are Still High Quality).

4. REP Fitness Spring Clips – Best Ultra-Budget Collars

Rating: 3/5

Specifications

• Style – spring
• Material – steel
• Weight – 1 lb/pair
• Sleeve size – 2” Olympic

Pros

• Budget-friendly price
• Rust-resistant chrome
• Lightweight design
• Comfortable PVC grips

Cons

• Less reliable hold
• One-year warranty

If you’re looking for a tried-and-true barbell collar, look no further than the Rep Fitness Spring Clips.

These bad boys are made from steel, which makes them durable as hell. Seriously, you could throw these things across your gym, and they’d still work fine. They can be dropped hundreds of times, and with the occasional manual retightening, they’ll just keep on ticking.

And thanks to their shiny chrome finish, they’ll keep rust at bay for years. This nearly-indestructible combo is probably why you’ll find them in so many gyms worldwide. 

However, I appreciate the PVC grips the most on these weight bar collars from REP Fitness.

If you’ve ever used plain-Jane spring collars, you know how much they can hurt. The minimal surface area tends to dig deep into your hands, so you don’t squeeze them so hard, and as a result, it’s harder to get them on and off the bar.

For such a simple upgrade, the PVC grips make a shocking difference in your comfort while using them. Instead of those thin steel ridges driving into your palm, the pressure is dispersed, and getting them on and off your barbell is much easier.

And let’s be honest. It’s hard to complain when you can get a set of weightlifting collars for a decent price. That’s arguably the best advantage of these collars — they’re ridiculously cheap.

That said, there’s only so much a classic barbell clip like this can improve.

Their main drawback is that they’re just “meh” at holding weight plates on your barbell sleeves. While they won’t move much on exercises like squats and bench presses, you can expect to readjust them every few reps if you’re dropping your bar from above hip height.

At the end of the day, these barbell clips are best for people who like to keep it vanilla and appreciate simplicity.

If you’re tired of vanilla bench press progress, then check out the article on the 10 Bench Press Accessories To Improve Strength & Technique.

5. The Strength Co. Barbell Collars – Best for Loadable Dumbbells

Rating: 4/5

Specifications

• Style – clamp
• Material – aluminum
• Weight – 1 lb/pair
• Sleeve size – 2” Olympic

Pros

• Slim design
• Rust-resistant material
• Lightweight
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Thinner width is less grippy

The Strength Co. barbell collars are the best for loadable dumbbells.

Their design is a marvel of modern engineering. They’re the same clamp style as typical barbell collars, but their thinner design makes them excellent for loadable dumbbells.

In case you haven’t used them before, loadable dumbbells fit Olympic weight plates. This means that if you already have a set of Olympic plates, a pair of loadable dumbbells is the most economical way to get into dumbbell training since you can just use the plates you already have.

However, loadable dumbbells often have shorter sleeves than Olympic barbells. Shorter sleeves mean less room for weight plates, and if a barbell collar takes up more than 25% of the loadable sleeve length, you’re limited even further.

That’s where these bad boys come in. They’re only 1” wide, so their slimmer profile means you can fit more weight plates onto your loadable dumbbell and push your strength gains higher than you otherwise would.

That said, they do have a few downsides. 

First, their innovative open-mouth design means you’ll struggle with putting them on with one hand. So, if single-handed use is an absolute must-have for you, go with a fully enclosed barbell collar instead.

They’re also thinner and don’t fully close around a barbell sleeve like a normal barbell clip would. Compared to the 1.5”-wide Rogue USA Aluminum Collars, these from The Strength Co. are only 1” wide, and their design is slightly offset, which means they won’t sit 100% flush against your plates. 

I’m doubtful that the offset design will be an issue with the number of plates you might have on a loadable dumbbell, but combined with their open-mouth design, it’s logical to think they won’t hold as well as other barbell collars.

All things considered, they’re snazzy and slim, and for loadable dumbbells, it’s hard to find a better option.

Like a quality barbell, you shouldn’t have to baby your dumbbells. Here are the 7 Best Dumbbells That You Can Drop Without Damaging Them.

6. Rogue KG Competition Collars – Best Competition Collars

Rating: 4.5/5

Specifications

• Style – lock
• Material – steel
• Weight – 11 lbs/pair
• Sleeve size – 2” Olympic

Pros

• Billet steel is highly durable
• Approved for use in IPF & IWF
• Extremely tight fitting
• Weight tolerance of +/- 10 grams
• Rust-resistance hard chrome finish
• Two-year warranty

Cons

• Heavier than regular barbell collars
• Significantly more expensive

The Rogue KG Competition Collars are the holy grail of barbell collars and are the top-tier option for those training for Olympic weightlifting and/or powerlifting.

These barbell collars are approved for use in the IPF (International Powerlifting Federation) and the IWF (International Weightlifting Federation), which is rare in the fitness equipment industry because the standards are so high and the cost for approval is steep.

In my opinion, they’re a better choice than the IPF-approved competition collars by Eleiko. 

With Rogue, they’re approved for dual competition use, and that’s not the case for the Eleiko IPF Powerlifting Competition Barbell Collars, even though they’re less expensive. If you want IWF-approved collars from Eleiko, you’re looking at $300+ for a pair — *gulp*.

Other than their approval status, the main appeal of these barbell collars is their world-class grip and precise build. 

The ball lever handle is tightened first, compressing an arched steel sleeve inside the outer collar without marring the bar sleeve. Once that’s locked in, the star locking ring is rotated to apply firm pressure against the plates using the inner collar — the result is a world-class hold.

From a design standpoint, these babies are the real deal. Crafted from billet steel with a hard chrome finish, these barbell clamps will go the distance. They’re also guaranteed to have a strict weight tolerance of -0 / +10 grams, which raises the bar even further due to their accuracy.

Sadly, even an almighty barbell collar like this isn’t without drawbacks. The main issues with these barbell collar locks are their weight, inconvenience, and price.

At 2.5 kg (about 5.5 lbs) each, you’ll have to factor that in that combined 5 kg (about 11 lbs) for every single set. The added 11 pounds also limits lifters who don’t have a high enough strength level to lift over 45 lbs on certain exercises like the overhead press.

Having volunteered at multiple powerlifting competitions, I’ve used these barbell collars hundreds of times, and I’ve found that they take time and a basic level of skill to be put on the bar correctly.

Finally, a premium barbell collar like this will naturally come at a premium price. But considering their high quality, competition approval, and precision, this is more than fair in my book.

If you’re a serious and advanced lifter who values a world-class grip on your bar and/or training with competition conditions, these barbell collars are the right choice. 

For those who care less about these factors, there are better value options out there.

7. Rogue HG 2.0 Axle Collars – Best for 1.9” Axle Barbells

Rating: 4/5

Specifications

• Style – clamp
• Material – resin
• Weight – 0.5 lbs/pair
• Sleeve size – 1.9” specialty

Pros

• Fit 1.9” axle barbells
• Hard, durable construction
• Tight fit on 1.9” bar sleeves
• Easy one-hand removal 
• Lightweight design

Cons

• Won’t work on 2” Olympic bars

If you dabble in Strongman/Strongwoman and frequently use specialty barbells that feature 1.9” diameter sleeves (like axle bars), the Rogue HG 2.0 Axle Collars are your top choice for the best barbell collars.

They have an extra-wide 2” width and, when combined with their thick inner rubber lining and hefty clamp style, offer a seriously tight grip on any 1.9” barbell sleeve. This means you’ll spend more time lifting and less time readjusting those dang collars between reps.

These barbell collars also feature a handy-dandy HG locking system which can be removed with a single hand by pushing the small black tab down using your thumb and then flipping the clamp up with your fingers.

I’ve used these specialty barbell clamps at my local gym and love them. 

They grip 1.9” bar sleeves better than anything I’ve used so far and although I’ve (gracefully) dropped them on the floor more times than I want to admit, the durable resin has kept them from breaking. I find their clamp style more convenient than the lock style of the Prolocs.

The obvious downside to the Rogue HG 2.0 Axle Collars is that they won’t fit on 2” Olympic barbells. 

But trust me, I’ve tried. Before I knew that they’d only fit 1.9” sleeves, I attempted to muscle them on an Olympic bar since some axle bar collars will still fit… but these just wouldn’t fit no matter how hard I tried. 

Yes, these barbell clamps are a one-trick pony, but they sure do it well.

8. Rogue Proloc™ Collars – Best for Various Sleeves

Rating: 4/5

Specifications

• Style – lock
• Material – nylon
• Weight – 1 lb/pair
• Sleeve size – 1.937” to 2.007”

Pros

• Easy to use design
• Easy twist
• Fit 1.937″ to 2.007″ sleeves
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Take longer to tighten
• No inner rubber lining

The thing I like the most about these is their range.

Having to find a different set of barbell collars when you squat with a powerlifting bar and bench with a multi-grip bar can get annoying.

Instead, you can carry a pair of these around the gym and know they’ll fit a 2” Olympic bar, a 1.9” specialty bar, and everything in between.

The downside is that you have to manually tighten the knob to cinch them onto the sleeve and loosen it after every set to make weight changes.

Compared to a clamp-style barbell collar, they’re much slower to adjust and might not be a good choice for those who are seriously short on time.

These barbell collars are the perfect choice for those who just want a jack-of-all-trades set of barbell collars that’ll work on pretty much any barbell they use.

9. OSO Mighty Collars – Best Lightweight Collars

Rating: 4/5

Specifications

• Style – clamp
• Material – aluminum
• Weight – 0.3 lbs/pair
• Sleeve size – 2” Olympic

Pros

• Super lightweight
• Easy on and off
• Rubberized inner to protect bars
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Lever is the weakest point

True to their name, the OSO Mighty Collars pack a (lightweight) punch.

Crafted using the same 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum material as the Rogue USA Aluminum Collars, these barbell clips weigh in light as a feather at only 0.15 lbs each. If you want the lightest barbell collars, these are the ones to get.

Their slender 1.3” width is the second slimmest in this article. Don’t let their size fool you, though. Indeed, they don’t offer the same level of grip strength as pricier options, but that’s reasonable considering their more affordable price.

Regarding aesthetics, I think these weight bar collars are in the middle of the pack. They’re not as striking as the other collars in the OSO lineup, but the gunmetal and blue colors complement their sleek design.

Overall, I think these are solid barbell collars, but I want to point out some minor flaws.

The first is that it will be the lever if anything breaks on these barbell collars. It feels too tight and slightly brittle since it’s a nylon resin lever.

The other minor issue is that they move more than expected, so you may have to adjust them after each set.

Lastly, these barbell clips have a slightly narrower design, making them harder to get on and off the bar. They may catch on the barbell sleeve as you try putting them on and removing them.

That said, don’t let a few drawbacks dissuade you from the fact that they’re some of the best barbell collars when weight, size, and price are combined.

10. DMoose 1-Inch Barbell Clips – Best for Standard 1” Barbells (Currently Out of Stock)

Rating: 3.5/5

Specifications

• Style – clamp
• Material – nylon
• Weight – 0.26 lbs/pair
• Sleeve size – 1” standard

Pros

• Fit standard 1” barbells
• 15 color choices
• Easy-to-pull lever
• Rubberized inside to protect bars

Cons

• Imported
• No warranty listed

Are you breaking the (lifting) mold by using a standard 1” barbell? Then, friend, these are the best barbell collars for you.

Standard 1” barbells might not be as popular for those who lift heavy weights, but the DMoose 1 Inch Barbell Clips will get the job done without leaving your wallet high and dry.

Built with durable nylon, they’re most comparable to the Clout Fitness Barbell Collars of this article — except they'll only fit on smaller 1″ barbells. That said, they’ve got some respectable benefits.

First off, they earned the Amazon’s Choice badge for “barbells collars 1 inch” and boast an impressive 4.5 stars from 1,790 ratings…okay, DMoose. I see you.

They have a decent construction for their compact size — hard nylon material with rubberized inner pads to grip your barbell tightly without leaving marks. The large lever is easy to use, and with 15 color options, you can show off your vibrant personality while you work out.

And while they’re not the most durable material compared to barbell collars made from aluminum or steel, they make up for it with an affordable price tag.

Sure, these barbell clips won’t last forever, but you can likely afford to replace them when needed. Not to mention, their clamp style is miles ahead of the threaded style regarding convenience.

One final piece of advice: don’t fall for the fancy logos or inflated prices of similar-looking 1” barbell collars. Most of the options on Amazon that look identical to these probably come from the same factory, so paying twice as much is unlikely to give you any sort of an improvement in their quality.

If you won’t be holding onto your 1” standard barbell for more than a couple of years, these are the best barbell clamps to hold you over until you level up your lifting game with a 2” Olympic bar.

Why Should You Trust PowerliftingTechnique?

The team at PowerliftingTechnique.com is made up of highly-trained coaches, trainers, and athletes. Many of our team members have been training and coaching for over a decade. 

When pooled together, all of this knowledge and experience results in reliable advice and accurate information you can trust for finding the best gym equipment on the market.

You can trust me because I have 15+ years of experience in the fitness industry, including five years as a personal trainer and three years of having a home gym (any other basement dwellers out there?).

At this point, I’ve used products from hundreds of different fitness equipment companies. I’ve seen my fair share of high-quality gear and know which brands you should steer clear of.

How We Tested the Barbell Collars

Full disclosure: I’ve used 6 of the barbell collars in this article, so you can rest assured that I have personal experience with them.

For the remainder, I’ve combined the details from dozens of Youtube videos, Reddit threads, and my own experience as a gym equipment connoisseur to give you the unfiltered truth about the best barbell collars.

Why Should You Use Barbell Collars?

When you’re lifting weights, you should use barbell collars or a gym clip for two reasons: safety and consistency.

Safety

Barbell collars are used for safety.

They keep your weight plates in place while you lift and prevent them from sliding off the bar.

If they slid off during your set, they could hurt you or others. Not to mention, they could cause damage to the floor they fall on, which might also damage the plates and the barbell you’re using.

Just like using a seatbelt every time you drive, barbell collars should be treated similarly.

Consistent Reps

Using barbell collars will help keep your reps consistent.

They do this by gripping tightly against your barbell sleeves, which prevents the weight plates from shuffling outwards toward the ends of the sleeves.

If the plates start moving outwards, the bar will start to feel unstable because the weights are no longer clustered inwards as close as they can go. This can reduce your mind-muscle connection and increase your risk of injury, especially if the plates fall off the bar mid-set.

I highly recommend that you use barbell collars on every single set. However, there are a couple of exceptions where you can safely forgo the use of barbell collars.

The first is during your warm-up sets.

Forgoing barbell collars during warm-ups is pretty common when groups of lifters are warming up together because lifters can spot one another during their warm-ups and ensure everyone is safe.

The main reason is speed. Barbell collars add an extra couple of seconds every time weight plates are swapped, so leaving them off entirely streamlines the group warm-up.

Even when lifting solo, neglecting to use collars on your warm-up sets can be done safely since the weights are submaximal. Just make sure you’re using spotter arms because freak accidents can happen.

Leaving the collars off for the entire warm-up is especially common during deadlifts. Weight plates often shuffle around a bit during a deadlift set, even if collars are used. Plus, the plates will be snuggled up to the collars before the next set when another plate is added.

This is what I do when I warm up for deadlifts; the collars stay off until I get to my first working set, then I use the collars faithfully to ensure the plates stay put and each rep is as consistent as possible.

The last exception is if you’re bench pressing alone and don’t have a power rack, meaning you don’t have spotter arms to rest the bar down and crawl out or have a spotter to help you if you fail a rep. 

In this situation, lifting without collars will allow you to dump the weight plates off one side of your barbell and then the other side — resulting in an empty bar that you should be able to rack on your own. 

Be careful, as this can damage your floor, plates, and/or barbell. Having used this technique once or twice myself, I know it works, but a heavy bar is extremely hard to control — please be careful and only use this as a last resort.

11 Things to Consider When Buying Barbell Collars

At first glance, picking the best barbell collars can seem more daunting than a trip to the DMV.

To help you sift through this sea of metal and plastic, I’ve listed the 10 most important things for you to consider when buying barbell collars.

1. Price

Barbell clips can vary widely, ranging from $10-300. In my opinion, the sweet spot tends to be between $30-75, which will give you a quality set of collars that’ll last years of use.

For example, my top pick of the Rogue USA Aluminum Collars falls in the middle of that range — pretty reasonable since they’ll last you longer than a cold brew on a hot summer day.

2. Collar Style

Next up, we have the style of the barbell lock or collar. Recall that there are three types: clamp, lock, and spring. Spring collars are the best choice if you couldn’t give a hoot about your collars.

That said, clamp-style or lock-style clips are what I’d recommend for most people because of their superior fit and durability. But don’t overthink your decision — any collar on this list will do.

3. Construction Material

There’s quite a span of construction materials used to make barbell clamps, each with its unique benefits and drawbacks. 

From cheap plastic to lightweight aluminum to heavy-duty steel, the best barbell collars are ultimately the ones that can withstand the wear and tear of your workouts.

4. Durability

Durability is closely linked to construction materials, and this matters most based on the intensity of your workouts and how well you’ll handle them.

If you handle your barbell collars with the precision of a brain surgeon, feel free to go with an economical pair of plastic collars. When they’re used with care, they’ll last years in a home gym setting without any issues.

However, you should skip the cheap knock-offs from Amazon if you’ve got a set of butterfingers or if you routinely lift heavy weights and/or drop your bars from above hip height.

Plastic collars will eventually break from impacts like these, and there’s no telling whether that’ll happen on the hundredth drop or the first. A quality pair of durable aluminum collars would be a better choice in this situation.

Finally, a set of competition collars is the most ideal for advanced lifters who need elite-level durability. The longevity you’ll get from that steel material just can’t be beaten.

5. Weight

The weight of your collars might not seem like a big deal, but it’s worth keeping in mind.

When they’re light as a feather, they’re easy to handle, and you probably won’t bother factoring in their weight. But a set of competition collars should always be considered when logging your weights.

I’d suggest you not factor in the weight of any barbell clips when lifting if you always use the same ones — spring and clamp collars are pretty reliable for this. 

You can probably ignore their consistently minimal weight altogether and still sleep soundly at night, but it’s your choice at the end of the day.

6. Width

Barbell collar width is definitely an important factor to consider.

Nine times out of ten, a 1.5-2” width will work perfectly fine.

And if you’re not maxing out, using an extra-wide collar won’t be a big deal since you still have plenty of space on your barbell sleeve.

The exception is if you’re routinely maxing out your barbell’s capacity. If so, I’d suggest a 1.5” width collar. And if that’s the case with loadable dumbbells, go with The Strength Co. barbell collars because they’re extra-slim and will give you more room for your weight plates.

7. Ease of Use

Barbell collars that are hard to use can put a drag on your workouts. If it’s too difficult to put them on or remove, you might skip using them altogether, which can be a serious safety issue.

For most people, clamp-style clips will be the best barbell collars based on ease of use. If you’re cool with using two hands, a budget version will work just fine. But for those who love expensive gym gear, it’s hard to overlook the single-handed use of those upscale Eleiko Öppen Collars.

Due to their design and locking style, competition collars are the hardest to use. That said, you’ll probably use them faithfully if you make the nearly $200 investment.

8. Hold Capacity

In my opinion, this is the most overrated aspect of barbell collars.

Many reviewers will test how well their bar clips will hold by loading some plates, fastening the collar, and tipping the bar vertically to see whether the clamp will hold the plates in place.

I appreciate how repeatable a test like this is, but when did you last stand a loaded barbell on its sleeve?

Unless you’re doing a Steinborn squat, my guess is: never.

Because 99% of us (myself included) won’t be partaking in this circus-style exercise, you’re better off getting a set of collars that will keep up with your training style.

Grab a set of Lock-Jaw collars if you routinely drop a bar from hip height or higher. And if you’re powerlifting and pushing record-setting weights, opt for a pair of competition collars instead. 

A value-based set of barbell collars will be the best choice for the rest of us.

9. Fit

This might seem obvious, but the fit of your barbell collars is paramount. 

They should allow for easy sliding on and off but have a snug fit when tightened with minimal lateral play. 

Also, make sure you choose a set of collars that will fit your specific barbell. Standard 1” collars differ from 2” Olympic collars (the main focus of this article), which also vary from 1.9” specialty collars.

10. Aesthetics

Similar to Cerakote barbells and power racks, barbell collars can vary widely in their aesthetics.

From custom logos and bold colors to nifty designs, plenty of options can add a bit of flair to your workouts.

Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay more for an aesthetically-pleasing barbell collar, but it can be a low-cost way of adding some personality to your lifting game.

11. Warranty

Lastly, don’t forget about the warranty.

Some economical barbell clips you might find on Amazon can have no warranty whatsoever, so read the fine print if you want peace of mind.

But even the priciest barbell collars can have a lackluster warranty, like a $300+ set of Eleiko competition collars (not featured in this article) that have a basic two-year warranty with very specific conditions included.

In their words, “To be dropped on 30 mm-thick rubber flooring (training platform recommended by Eleiko). Indoor use only. Normal wear and tear does not fall under warranty.” … Jeez, talk about being specific.

For most people, I’d encourage you to get barbell collars with a one- to two-year warranty. It never hurts to have a bit of reassurance after your purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does Tensile Strength Mean In Barbells?

Tensile strength means how much pulling (tensile) force a barbell can resist before it is damaged with a permanent bend. The tensile strength of most barbells, measured in PSI (pounds per square inch), is between 100-130k PSI, but a higher 190k+ range results in a stiffer and stronger bar.

Do I Need Barbell Collars?

Yes, you need barbell collars. They keep the weight plates tight against the collars, which stabilizes the bar as you lift. They also keep you safe by preventing the plates from falling off during your set. Barbell collars help to protect you, others, and your equipment.

How Much Do Barbell Collars Weigh?

Barbell collars weigh between 0.25-5.5 lbs each, with most of them weighing between 0.25-1 pound. Spring collars are usually the lightest due to their minimal design, and competition collars weigh the most because they’re built with heavy-duty steel.

Final Verdict: What Are the Best Barbell Collars?

The best barbell collars in 2024 for most people are the Rogue USA Aluminum Collars. If you’re on a tight budget, the Clout Fitness Olympic Barbell Clamps are a solid choice. For those wanting the premium option, the Eleiko Öppen Collars are the best barbell collars you can buy.

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About The Author

Kent Nilson is an online strength coach and copywriter, residing in Calgary. When he’s not training, coaching, or volunteering on the platform at powerlifting meets, you’ll likely find Kent drinking coffee or enjoying his next Eggs Benedict.