Understanding The Benefits Of Barbell Collars

Barbell Collars are one of the most common weight lifting accessories and an essential for any gym that has barbells or does barbell work in their training programs.

There are a range of types of Barbell Collars that are designed to help fix weight plates in place on a barbell.

These accessories are handy for any lifter performing barbell work and an inexpensive essential that shouldn’t be forgotten when making a purchase for gym kit.

Here are some of the main benefits of using barbell collars in the gym environment.

1. 

   Aluminium Olympic Collars

   28,82 €

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2. 

   Magnetic Barbell Collars

   Sonderpreis 28,82 € Regulärer Preis 36,04 €

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3. 

   Spring Collars

   7,21 €

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Benefits Of Barbell Collars

Safety

Having weight plates fixed securely to the barbell with a collar is much safer than just leaving them loose.

Despite most gym goers' best efforts, it is very easy for a barbell to lean one way or the other, which can slide plates closer to the end of the barbell and create an uneven distribution. This not only makes the weight even more challenging but also increases the chance of plates falling off the end of the bar due to instability.

No points for guessing that this can get quite dangerous quite quickly and is a health hazard to not only the lifter, but anybody else in close vicinity. Typically when one plate falls the rest follow suit with the end result being a bunch of rolling/ bouncing weight plates that can hit into others.

The lifter may be lucky enough to avoid a falling weight plate but this increases the likelihood of injury as they hang on to a flipping barbell.

A barbell collar is recommended to improve stability & balance which should be supported with Spotter Arms, J-Cups and Safety Straps along with a spotter if needed. These essential accessories can really improve the safety in a gym space.

Better Lifts

With weight plates fixed in place and secure, any lifter is going to be able to focus on the movement at hand, and not worry about balancing the weights as they go through the movement. In addition, the weight on the barbell will be evenly distributed meaning that the same weight will be easier to lift.

This is useful for powerlifters who are aiming to lift close to their limits or CrossFit athletes dropping barbells and wanting to reset quickly for their next rep.

Loose weights without a Barbell Collar on the other hand are going to make it much harder to remain steady throughout any exercise.

This is even more important with multiple weights on one side or exercises using Fractional Plates, where uneven distribution is more likely to occur without Collars.

Protecting Equipment

Having weight plates fixed in place with Barbell Collars prevents excessive scratching of the barbell and also weight plates from banging into each other.

Barbell collars also stop weight places from sliding down the end of the barbell and falling off. Not only is this a risk to health and safety as discussed but also can permanently damage plates and other equipment.

We know in the case of bumper plates that they are able to withstand drops but only in a designated area free from other equipment and with correct flooring. All weight plates will damage if they are dropped onto other equipment such as if lifts are being completed from a rack for instance. Most other weight plates aren’t designed to be dropped which could cause cracks along with invalidating warranties.

Finally weight plates being dropped from height due to instability without barbell collars can also damage flooring. Most home gyms aren’t designed to withstand weight plates being dropped which can damage the flooring or structure of the space itself.

Using barbell collars for those compound lifts can protect gym equipment, flooring and the gym space itself.

Noise Reduction

Barbell collars also ensure that weight plates are fixed together with no room for them to move during lifts and then bash each other. This helps to create a calmer environment for others while training in a busy gym. You’ll also have fewer weight plate drops on the flooring with collars being used preventing loud crashes as a barbell sheds all it’s weight.

It’s also handy for those lifters with a home gym who don’t have the freedom to make as much noise as they please.

When Not To Use Barbell Collars

As you can see, barbell collars are a must-have training accessory whilst performing barbell work and an essential to have in your gym. However, there are times when it is more suitable NOT to use them.

For instance, when training in a quiet facility or on your own in a home gym, some barbell work is safer without collars for several lifts. Exercises such as bench press or squats can be very scary should you be in a position where you can’t complete the next rep and don’t have the option to tip the weights off.

If you start to struggle with the weight or hit failure, you’ll be stuck under the bar with no easy way to remove the plates. Trust us, this is not a good situation to be in. In addition, during any exercise you may get stuck under the barbell it is considered safe practice not to use barbell collars or clips in case of failing the movement during the set.

Even if you are a seasoned lifter with years of experience, strength does vary week to week and having a way to get out of a rep mid-set is important. This is why you should always lift with a safety in place. This could be Spotter Arms, Safety Straps or Safeties set up from your training rack.

Also, having a training partner, coach or fellow gym member is very useful to have on hand, should you begin to really struggle with an exercise.

Improve Gym Safety With Barbell Collars

Shop our collection of barbell collars today and improve the safety of your gym setup.