Complete Guide to Barbell Clips and Collars
For heavy squats, deadlifts, bench presses, or Olympic lifts, securing your weight plates is essential for safe strength training. While many lifters focus on choosing the right barbell and weight plates, it's easy to overlook one small but important accessory: barbell clips.
Barbell clips help keep weight plates so they don’t shift, slide, or even fall off the barbell. Below, we highlight everything you need to know about what barbell clips are, the different types, and how to choose the best ones from Marcy for your home workouts.
What Are Barbell Clips?
A barbell clip secures weight plates to the barbell sleeves and is placed on the outer edge of loaded plates to prevent movement during exercise.
You'll often hear terms like barbell collars, weight collars, and weight clips for barbell tossed around instead of barbell clips. While there are slight differences between barbell collars and clips, for the most part, they all serve the same purpose: securely attaching plates to the bar.
Using properly fitted barbell collar clips helps create a safer lifting environment while improving balance and stability throughout each repetition.
Why Barbell Clips Are Important
Many lifters underestimate the importance of using barbell clips, particularly when lifting lighter weights. However, even small plate movements can affect exercise quality and safety.
- Improved Safety: The primary purpose of barbell collars is to prevent injuries. Secure plates reduce the risk of weights slipping off the bar and causing any damage.
- Better Weight Distribution: When the weight plates remain centered on the barbell, the load stays balanced throughout the movement, making it easier to maintain proper lifting form and avoid straining yourself.
- Increased Stability: Squats, overhead presses, and deadlifts impose significant forces on the barbell, but secured plates minimize shifting.
- Train with Confidence: Knowing your plates are locked in place allows you to focus on technique and performance rather than worrying about equipment movement.
Types of Barbell Collars
Several common types of barbell collars offer different levels of convenience, security, and durability.
Spring Clip Barbell Collar
The classic spring clip barbell collar is one of the most popular options in home gyms. These collars feature two metal handles attached to a coiled spring. Squeezing the handles opens the collar, allowing it to slide onto the barbell sleeve.
Some benefits of these types of barbell collars include:
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
- Widely available
Along with the benefits, there are some drawbacks, like:
- Can loosen over time
- Less secure during high-impact lifts
- May require more hand strength to operate
Many lifters rely on barbell spring clips for general strength training and recreational workouts.
Clamp-Style Barbell Collars
Barbell clamps use a locking lever or latch mechanism that tightly secures the collar to the sleeve. They are more widely used among serious lifters because they provide stronger holding power than traditional spring clips.
A few benefits of clamp-style barbell collars include:
- Fast installation and removal
- Strong grip
- Durable construction
- Ideal for heavy lifting
On the other hand, clamp-style barbell collars are:
- Typically more expensive
- Slightly heavier than spring clips
Many consider clamp-style collars among the best barbell clips available for everyday training.
Locking Barbell Collars
Barbell lock collars use specialized locking systems to maximize plate security. These models are common in powerlifting, Olympic lifting, and high-performance training environments where there are heavy loads and explosive movements.
The benefits of locking barbell collars include:
- Extremely secure
- Designed for intense training
- Minimal plate movement
Their drawbacks, though, are that they:
- Cost more money
- May be unnecessary for beginners
Olympic Barbell Collars vs. Standard Barbell Clips
The major difference between Olympic barbell collars and standard barbell clips is the size:
- Olympic Barbell Collars: Olympic barbells feature sleeves measuring 2 inches (50 mm) in diameter. As a result, Olympic barbell collars and Olympic barbell clips are designed specifically for these larger sleeves.
- Standard Barbell Clips: Some home gym setups use barbell clips that have a standard 1-inch sleeve, which is smaller and won’t fit Olympic barbells properly.
Before purchasing collars, always verify the diameter of your barbell sleeves to ensure compatibility.
The Difference Between Clips, Collars, and Clamps
One of the most common questions is about the difference between clips, collars, and clamps.
- Barbell Clips: The term "clip" generally refers to any device used to secure plates on a barbell. It is often used as a broad category that includes multiple collar designs.
- Barbell Collars: A collar is the general name for any weight-retention device placed on a barbell sleeve.
- Barbell Clamps: Clamps are a specific type of collar that use a locking mechanism or lever system for added security.
For the most part, lifters use these labels interchangeably.
How to Use Barbell Clips
Learning how to use barbell clips correctly is simple but important.
- Load the Weight Plates: Place your weight plates evenly on both sides of the barbell.
- Position the Collar: Slide the collar onto the sleeve until it sits firmly against the outermost weight plate.
- Secure the Locking Mechanism: Depending on the collar type, you may need to squeeze the handles for a barbell spring clip, close the latch on a clamp-style collar, or engage the locking mechanism on specialty collars.
- Test for Movement: Before lifting, gently shake the plates to ensure everything is secured properly.
How to Choose the Best Barbell Collars at Marcy
The best barbell collars depend on your training style, experience level, and equipment.
Consider the following:
- Training Type: For heavy lifting and Olympic movements, clamp-style or locking collars generally provide greater security.
- Frequency of Use: Frequent lifters often benefit from durable collars that can withstand daily use.
- Ease of Use: Quick-release clamps save time during workouts that require frequent weight changes.
- Compatibility: Always confirm whether your bar uses standard or Olympic-sized sleeves.
- Budget: Basic barbell spring clips are affordable and effective for many recreational lifters, while premium locking collars offer additional security for advanced training.
When using barbells and collars, you should regularly inspect them to ensure your collars continue to perform as intended. Since barbell clips are such an important strength training accessory that is crucial for lifting performance, whether they’re traditional barbell spring clips or modern barbell clamps, you need to get clips that you can trust.
At Marcy, you can find the right barbell clips for your training to keep those weights from slipping off. Check out our collection of clips and other strength-training equipment, like dumbbells, today so you can get stronger with confidence.
FAQs About Barbell Clips & Collars
What is a collar on a barbell?
A barbell collar is a device that secures weight plates to the barbell sleeve and prevents them from sliding during exercise.
What are the best barbell clips for heavy lifting?
Many lifters prefer clamp-style or locking collars because they provide a stronger hold than traditional spring clips, especially during heavy or explosive lifts.
Can I use spring collars for barbell training?
Spring collars for barbell training are a popular, affordable option for general strength workouts and are commonly found in commercial gyms.
Do Olympic barbells require special collars?
Olympic barbell collars are designed for 2-inch sleeves and should be used with Olympic barbells to ensure a secure fit.
How often should I replace barbell collars?
Replace collars when they show signs of wear, lose gripping strength, become damaged, or no longer secure plates properly.
Are barbell clamps better than spring clips?
Barbell clamps are generally more secure, easier to install, and are typically better for heavy lifting. However, spring clips are still effective and affordable for general training.