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10 Best Barbell Collars in 2024: Top Picks for Olympic and Specialty Bars

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If you own a barbell and plates, you need barbell collars. They’re essential for keeping plates on the bar, helping you lift safely and more efficiently.

There are dozens of collars on the market, which generally fall into three categories: clamp-style, lock-style, and spring-style.

We’ve purchased, used, and tested all of the collars represented here, along with numerous others that didn’t make the cut. Here are some of the main factors we considered (more below):

  • Strength: How well do they hold the plates? We performed drop tests and vertical load tests to see which ones were the strongest.
  • Durability: Are the materials and construction quality consistent with long-term use?
  • Ease of Use: How quickly and easily can you operate the collars? Do they slide smoothly on the sleeves?

In this article, I share our picks for the best barbell collars based on real experience. Let’s dig in.

The Best Barbell Collars

Rogue USA Aluminum Collars – Best Barbell Collars for Most People

Rogue USA Aluminum Collars - Display - Garage Gym Lab
  • Price: $52.50 (sold as pair)
  • Style: Clamp
  • Material: 6061 Aluminum construction with nylon lever and rubber interior lining
  • Width: 1.5″
  • Weight: 0.5 lbs/pair
  • Color Options: Silver. Also available in Cerakote in numerous colors for an upcharge.
  • Made in: USA
Best Barbell Collars for Most People
Rogue USA Aluminum Collars

The Rogue USA aluminum collars are our top pick for most people. These collars are lightweight, affordable, attractive, and very strong.

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Summary

The Rogue USA aluminum collars are some of the most popular barbell collars on the market, and for good reason. They’re low profile, lightweight, and very strong collars. Not to mention they look sleek too. With a mid-tier price of $55/pair, they’ve earned top honors on this list.

Spec-wise, these collars are made with 6061 billet aluminum, making them durable and light. These collars only weigh 0.5 lbs for the pair – some of the lightest collars out there. They measure 1.5” inches wide, which is a common collar width that doesn’t interfere much with load capacity for most people. The slightly larger clamp than OSO collars is very easy to operate.

Rogue USA Aluminum Collars - Loaded - Garage Gym Lab

The Rogue USA aluminum collars have a nearly 360-degree rubber-lined interior, which is great for two reasons: the first is that it helps to protect your barbell’s sleeve finish, and the second is that it increases friction, providing a very strong grip. These collars are also easy to slide along the sleeve, making them very easy to use.

When performing a three-plate vertical load test, the Rogue USA Aluminum Collars were among the strongest. They received a definitive “pass,” meaning there was no downward movement at all. With this grip strength in mind, you can effectively use these collars for any training style: powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, CrossFit, and more.

Rogue Aluminum Collar Test - Garage Gym Lab

Aesthetically, these are beautiful collars. The silver finish looks great, and its neutral scheme will match virtually anyone’s gym. If you’d prefer colored options, Rogue makes these collars in a durable Cerakote finish with various collars for an upcharge. They also make them with magnets that sit very flush to your plates and can be stored directly on your rack or other magnetic surfaces.

Overall, given the performance, versatility, and price, the rogue USA aluminum collars are the best barbell collars for most people.

Pros

  • Excellent value for a top-notch collar
  • Aluminum construction is both durable and lightweight
  • Easier to slide on and off compared to similar-style OSO collars
  • Wider and heavier-duty lever
  • Nearly full coverage of interior rubber lining
  • Available in Cerakote with multiple colors and with/without magnets
  • Made in America

Cons

  • If your fingers are in the way when tension is released, the lever can hit them and cause pain. It’s recommended to use two hands.

Lock-Jaw Pro 2 Barbell Collars – Runner-Up Collars with a Classic Design

Lockjaw Pro 2 Collars - Display - Garage Gym Lab
  • Price: $42.99 (sold as pair)
  • Style: Clamp
  • Material: Nylon resin construction and rubber interior lining
  • Width: 2″
  • Weight: 1.0 lb/pair
  • Color Options: Black/Red, Blue/Black, Pink/Black, & Red/Black
  • Made in: China
Runner-Up Collars
Lock-Jaw PRO 2 Collars
$42.99

The Lock-Jaw PRO 2 Collars have ranked among the top collars for many years. They're durable, easy to use, and very strong.

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10/10/2024 06:00 pm GMT

Summary

The Lock-Jaw collars are some of the most iconic and well-known collars on the market. Numerous low-cost competitors have knocked them off on Amazon, but the difference is clear. These lock-Jaw Pro 2 collars are the upgraded version of the Pro 1’s and are an excellent overall choice.

The Lock-Jaw Pro 2’s are constructed in a high-quality and durable resin. Each collar weighs only 0.5 lbs, but they feel heavier, which is a good indication of its overall build quality. These collars are wider than most competing collars, measuring 2″ in total width. This is something to consider mainly if you’re lifting heavy or intend to use them on loadable dumbbell handles.

Lockjaw Pro 2 Collars - Loaded - Garage Gym Lab

The Lock-Jaw Pro collars use a spring-loaded hinge design that is very easy to operate. This upgraded version includes a longer lever that you can operate with one hand. Above the logo is a protruding latch that the lever clips onto, creating a satisfying click. To disengage the collar, you must press the latch down to release the lever.

On the inside of the collar are two 1.5″ long areas of grooved elastomer padding that help create friction on the bar and protect your sleeve’s finish. Many rubber linings will be smooth to the touch, but these pads have a ribbed and flexible texture that I really like.

Lockjaw Pro 2 Collar Test - Garage Gym Lab

Performance-wise, these are some of the best and strongest collars I’ve used. In the vertical load test, they received a “pass,” but there was a very slight initial downward motion on three attempts. However, after that initial movement, the collars held completely firm.

The colorways are simple and nice-looking, although I would prefer more color options, including some more neutral choices. Overall, these are excellent collars. Whether you’re using them for Olympic lifting, CrossFit, Powerlifting, or otherwise, these will appeal to many lifters.

Pros

  • Iconic barbell collars with a strong reputation
  • Resin construction is very heavy duty and immediately noticeable
  • 1 lb total weight creates easy gym math
  • Available in four different colorways
  • Less than $45 shipped

Cons

  • 2″ width is wider than most

OSO Barbell Collars – Third-Place Collars with a Sleek Profile

OSO Barbell Collars - Display - Garage Gym Lab
  • Price: $49.50 (sold as pair)
  • Style: Clamp
  • Material: 6061 Aluminum construction with nylon lever and rubber interior lining
  • Width: 1.5″
  • Weight: 0.8 lbs/pair
  • Color Options: Gun Metal, Blue, Green, Red, Orange, Pink, Purple, & Gold
  • Made in: USA
Third-Place Collars
OSO Barbell Collars

OSO Barbell Collars are very popular collars. They're available in multiple colors, they're easy to use, and they're extremely strong.

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Summary

OSO has become a household name in the world of barbell collars. Known for their aesthetic profile, solid quality, and firm grip, these are some of the best collars you can buy. The OSO Barbell Collars are their cornerstone collars, and they’ve been around for years with a strong reputation. Shaped like a gear, they have a unique look with very good performance to boot.

From the moment you handle these collars, you can tell they’re well made. Like the USA Aluminum collars, these OSO collars are built with 6061 aluminum. They feel very heavy duty in the hand without feeling heavy at all. Weighing in at less than 1 lb, they’re slightly heavier than the USA aluminum collars. They have the same overall width and are a little bit taller.

OSO Barbell Collars - Loaded - Garage Gym Lab

Like other OSO collars, these have a lever clamp with a quick release. This clamp is made of nylon, and it’s sized between the OSO Mighty Collars and the OSO CM-1 Collars. Its quality is good, but I prefer the size of the CM-1 and Rogue USA Aluminum Collar levers. On any collar like this, one thing to keep in mind is that when the tension is released, the lever will snap back very strongly If your fingers get in the way, it could lead to a jarring hit to the knuckle. I recommend releasing these with two hands to absorb the force or single-handed underneath the lever.

The interior of these collars has even more rubber coverage than the USA Aluminum collars, which again creates great friction and protects your bars. Something I’ve seen reported by some users is that OSO collars are harder to slide on and off the sleeve. While I did experience the same when I first tried these collars, it’s easily remedied by pulling the lever back until you hear and feel a click. This indicates the collar is fully opened, and when done correctly, they slide on much easier.

OSO Barbell Collar Test - Garage Gym Lab

The grip is also excellent. When vertically tested, they performed very similarly to the Rogue USA Aluminum Collars, where there was no downward movement with three plates. This makes them some of the strongest collars on the market.

Aesthetically, OSO makes some of the nicest-looking collars, and these are no exception. I love the “gear” profile, and the colors provide a nice pop. You can purchase these collars in eight different color choices depending on your preference. The outside edges also have machined marks that enhance the overall look.

Pros

  • Strong performance with an easy-to-use clamp
  • Rubber interior lining
  • The pair weighs less than 1 lb in total
  • Very clean aesthetic with multiple color options
  • Made in America

Cons

  • If your fingers are in the way when tension is released, the lever can hit them and cause pain. It’s recommended to use two hands.

Proloc Collars – Best Collars for Specialty Bars

Proloc Collars - Display - Garage Gym Lab
  • Price: $51.45 (sold as pair)
  • Style: Lock
  • Material: Nylon resin construction
  • Width: 1.75″
  • Weight: 0.8 lbs/pair
  • Color Options: Black, Blue, Green, Orange, Red, Purple, Pink, & Yellow
  • Made in: USA
Best Collars for Specialty Bars
Proloc 1 Collars

The Prolock Collars are easily the best collars for specialty bars. With their unique design, they can also be used on Olympic Barbells.

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Summary

Prolocs have long been a favorite collar of mine. I’ve been using them since I started my home gym in 2016. In fact, I’ve been using the same exact pair of Prolocs since then, and they’ve held up beautifully.

What makes these collars so unique is that they have built-in adjustability so that they can accommodate a variety of barbells. This includes Olympic and specialty bars, which often have a smaller sleeve diameter. The Prolocs are designed with a set screw that extends and retracts a cylindrical piece of steel inside the collar. When tightened, this “bolt” presses onto the barbell sleeve, creating 360 degrees of pressure.

Proloc Collars - Loaded - Garage Gym Lab

Unlike some other, more circular collars, these have a unique shield-like shape. The body is constructed with resin nylon that is extremely durable and comes in a variety of colors. The total width of these collars is 1.75″, which falls right in the middle of the range for most collars.

Also unlike many other collars, the Prolocs do not have an interior rubber lining, which is a disadvantage. Because rubber helps create friction on the sleeve, these don’t hold as tightly over continuous drops. Therefore, they’re best suited for powerlifting and specialty-bar use. As someone who trains with a more powerlifting approach, I have never had an issue with them coming loose, which includes heavy deadlifts. That said, I wouldn’t recommend them as much for CrossFit or Olympic weightlifting where you’re dropping bars from overhead and doing higher-volume lifts.

Proloc Collar Test - Garage Gym Lab

When performing the vertical load test, the Prolocs received a “fail.” A downward movement began immediately, and the collar slowly slid to the bottom. This confirms my thoughts that these collars are best suited for specialty bars and slower, less dynamic lifts with a traditional barbell.

Ultimately, other collars are purpose-built for a fixed sleeve diameter. If you’re looking for a do-it-all collar that’s very durable, I highly recommend Prolocs, especially if you’re a powerlifter or heavy specialty bar user.

Pros

  • Fits Olympic barbells AND specialty barbells
  • Nylon resin is very durable
  • Hand-screw is easy to use
  • Available in a variety of colors
  • Made in America

Cons

  • No rubber lining on the inside of the collar
  • Prolocs aren’t ideal for CrossFit or Olympic lifting

Eleiko Oppen Collars – Best Premium Barbell Collars

Eleiko Oppen Collars - Display - Garage Gym Lab
  • Price: $112 (sold as pair)
  • Style: Clamp
  • Material: Aluminum and Nitrile Rubber
  • Width: 1.35
  • Weight: 0.5kg/pair
  • Color Options: Silver
  • Made in: Sweden
Best Premium Collars
Eleiko Öppen Collars

The Eleiko Öppen Collars are top-of-the-line collars with great craftsmanship, a very firm hold, and an extremely easy-to-use open design.

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Summary

The Eleiko Öppen Collars are some of the nicest collars on the market. These have become some of my favorite collars because of how nice they look, how easy they are to use, and how strong they are.

These collars are constructed with an aluminum casing with a nitrite rubber interior. Just from holding the collars, you can tell they’re well built. The craftsmanship is very apparent, with a level of fit and finish that most other collars cannot match. Each collar weighs 0.25kg, so you’re looking at 0.5kg, or just over 1 lb for the pair. While not a huge deal, if you’re very particular about bar math and weight specificity, this could be something to consider. They’re also only 1.35″ inches wide, giving you plenty of room to load weight on the bar.

Eleiko Oppen Collars - Loaded - Garage Gym Lab

The collars are operated with a lever connected to an internal spring. This spring facilitates the clamping mechanism that creates a very tight fit. Once the collar is engaged, you need a little extra force to get them off compared to other collars on this list. The lever has a fin-like end that’s easy to grab through the recessed channel it rests inside of.

The inside of the collars consists of nitrile rubber that provides full coverage on the bar sleeve. This rubber creates an impressive amount of friction, ensuring a very tight fit. On the edges of the rubber are debossed logos and weight callouts, but more importantly, magnets. Not only do these snap to your plate hubs for a zero gap, but they also make it possible to store them directly on a rack or other metal surface.

Eleiko Oppen Collar Test - Garage Gym Lab

The Eleiko Öppen Collars performed well on the vertical load test but not as well as the Rogue Aluminum collars. There was a slight downward shift, but the collars came to rest quickly about 3/4″ from their starting position.

Aesthetically, these collars are winners in my eyes. The open design, flush lever, debossed edges, and color scheme all work together to create some of the nicest-looking collars on the market.

Overall, these are very impressive collars. If you have a bigger budget and an eye for the finer things, the Eleiko Öppen Collars are an excellent option.

Pros

  • Open-end design makes for very easy operation
  • Strong fit
  • Integrated magnets are helpful for storage and for a tight fit on the plates
  • Rubber interior lining
  • Beautiful aesthetic

Cons

  • More expensive than other non-competition collars
  • Not a major deal, but these are measured in KG, whereas most others are in LB

OSO CM-1 Metal Collars – Best-Looking Barbell Collars

OSO CM-1 Collars - Display - Garage Gym Lab
  • Price: $55 (sold as pair)
  • Style: Clamp
  • Material: 6061 Aluminum construction with nylon lever and removable rubber plugs
  • Width: 1.6″
  • Weight: 0.9 lbs/pair
  • Color Options: Black, Blue, Light Blue, Green, Red, Orange, Pink, Purple, Gold, & Gray. Removable rubber plugs are also available in a variety of colors
  • Made in: USA
Best-Looking Barbell Collars
OSO CM-1 Collars

The OSO CM-1 Collars are beautiful collars. Available in multiple colors with various replaceable plugs, they're attractive and strong.

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Summary

The OSO CM-1 Collars are, in my opinion, the best-looking collars available. They also sport strong performance, which makes them some of the best overall barbell collars on the market.

Aside from performance, the biggest selling point with these collars is how nice they look. These collars are available in ten different colors compared to the eight on the OSO Barbell Collars. Even cooler is the option to swap the standard black rubber plugs for colored plugs. There are currently 14 different plug options, allowing lifters to create truly individualized collars. For example, I’ve created a Garage Gym Lab theme with my CM-1s.

OSO CM-1 Collars - Loaded - Garage Gym Lab

In terms of performance, these are very similar to the OSO Barbell collars. They’re slightly heavier at 0.9 lbs/pair, and they’re ever so slightly wider because the rubber plugs extend out from the main body. These collars are built with the same 6061 aluminum, and they feel high quality right out of the box.

The lever clamp on the CM-1s is larger than the OSO Barbell Collars and overall feels more heavy-duty. The inside of these collars consists of four rubber contact points, each measuring 3/4″ long. Performance is very good, but it lags behind the OSO Barbell Collars and Rogue USA Aluminum Collars. On the vertical test, the collars began sliding immediately but ultimately came to rest about halfway down the sleeve. Similar to the OSO Barbell Collars above, some users reported difficulty sliding these on and off. The remedy is the same – pull the handle back until you feel a click, then slide.

OSO CM-1 Collar Test - Garage Gym Lab

The OSO CM-1 collars are more expensive than the OSO Barbell Collars before factoring in colored plugs, which are sold separately. I prefer these over the OSO Barbell Collars in terms of looks, but their performance isn’t quite as good.

Are they worth the extra money? Well, that depends on how much you like the look.

Pros

  • Very tight-fitting collars
  • Removable rubber plugs for replacement over time or for aesthetics
  • Collars and plugs come in a variety of collars for individualization
  • Aluminum construction is durable and lightweight
  • Made in America with a 2-year warranty

Cons

  • If your fingers are in the way when tension is released, the lever can hit them and cause pain.
  • It’s recommended to use two hands.
    Not quite as strong as OSO Barbell Collars or Rogue USA Aluminum Collars

Strength Co. Barbell Collars – Best Collars for Dumbbell Handles

Strengthco Collars - Display - Garage Gym Lab
  • Price: $69.99 (sold as pair)
  • Style: Clamp
  • Material: Aluminum construction with rubber interior lining
  • Width: 1.25″
  • Weight: 1.0 lb/pair
  • Color Options: Black
  • Made in: USA
Best Collars for Dumbbell Handles
Strength Co. Barbell Collars

The Strength Co. Barbell Collars are strong and very space-friendly, making them especially useful with dumbbell handles.

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Summary

The Strength Co barbell collars are uniquely designed with an interesting shape and a large hinge that effectively creates two halves.

To use these collars, you place the U-shaped piece on the sleeve and then clamp down the lever. Unlike some other collars you can handle with one hand, these from Strength Co require both given the shape and the force required to close them. Perhaps if you have grizzly paws for hands and grip strength of the Gods you can use them single-handed, but most will need both.

Strengthco Collars - Loaded - Garage Gym Lab

On the inside of the collars are four contact points with the barbell/dumbbell sleeve: two rubber inserts, a plastic hexagon piece, and the rounded edge of the aluminum on the lever. When closing the collars, there is a noticeable snap indicating the collars are set.

Where these collars shine relative to some of the others is their width. While the main pieces are only 1″ in width, the offset design creates a total width of 1.25″. Still, this is narrower than other collars, which makes them a great option for loadable dumbbells where the sleeves aren’t very long.

Strengthco Collar Test - Garage Gym Lab

Given their narrower profile, these collars do a very good job holding plates. On the three-plate load test, I noticed downward movement immediately, followed by a very slow descent down the shaft. On a dumbbell, however, you won’t have near this much weight, making them plenty strong in that scenario.

I think there are better options for barbells in terms of ease of use, tightness, and aesthetics, but I like these on loadable handles. They also weigh only 1 lb for the pair, and they’re made in the USA.

Pros

  • Very slim profile, making them great for loadable dumbbell handles
  • Net weight is only 1 lb for the pair
  • Quick clamp design
  • Made in America

Cons

  • They don’t sit entirely flush against plates given the offset design
  • Some users have reported chipping on the aluminum finish

Rogue KG Competition Collars – Best Competition Collars

Rogue Competition Collars
  • Price: $190 (sold as pair)
  • Style: Lock
  • Material: Billet steel w/ hard chrome finish
  • Width: 3″-3.625″
  • Weight: 5.0kg/pair
  • Color Options: Silver
  • Made in: No
Best Competition Collars
Rogue Competition Collars

The Rogue Competition Collars are some of the strongest, most precise, and nicest-looking collars on the market.

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Summary

Competition collars are an entirely different beast compared to others on this list. As the name implies, these collars are often used in weightlifting and powerlifting competitions since they’re highly secure and accurate. They’re also quite a bit more expensive.

These competition collars from Rogue are some of the nicest out there. Priced under $200, you’re getting precision collars approved for use in both IPF (International Powerlifting Federation) and IWF (International Weightlifting Federation) events.

Rogue Competition Collars IPF

Competition collars differ from others in a few ways. The first is that they operate very differently. These collars have a few different pieces, but most notably, they have a collar inside of a collar. When these are tightened, the outer collar compresses the inner collar sleeve to create the lock on the barbell.

On the back of these collars is a 3-pronged ring that sits against the plate. When the overall collar is tightened, this ring rotates out to create even more stability, essentially pinning the plate to the barbell’s collar (not to be confused with this collar).

To tighten, these use a side-mounted set screw with a ball handle. By turning it clockwise, you initiate the compression until the collar is locked and loaded. These collars, therefore, take longer to set up than other collars.

Rogue Competition Collars Steel

The second difference is that they’re considerably heavier. Where many collars weigh 1-2 lbs for the pair, these weigh 5kg (~11 lbs). So be prepared for some extra gym math. The third difference is that they’re much wider. Unlike the 2″ and under collars, competition collars can extend wider than 3.5.” This can limit the amount of weight you can load on the bar.

The Rogue Competition Collars are built with billet steel and include an attractive chrome finish. In terms of durability, there aren’t many collars that will last as long as competition collars. Similarly, performance is very good since these create an extremely strong fit on the bar. These collars come with a 2-year warranty, which is on the high end for barbell collars.

Ultimately, these collars are best for serious and advanced lifters, particularly those who compete. If that’s not you, I’d recommend the other more moderately-priced collars referenced in this article unless you just want the nicest things.

Pros

  • Constructed with billet steel for excellent durability and performance
  • Approved for use in IPF and IWF
  • Very tight-fitting with two levels of compression
  • Precision-built to +/- 10 grams of stated weight
  • Hard chrome finish creates a beautiful aesthetic

Cons

  • Much heavier, wider, and more expensive than traditional barbell collars

OSO Mighty Collars – Best Budget Barbell Collars

OSO Mighty Collars - Display - Garage Gym Lab
  • Price: $29.50(sold as pair)
  • Style: Clamp
  • Material: 6061 Aluminum construction with nylon lever and rubber interior lining
  • Width: 1.3″
  • Weight: 0.3 lbs/pair
  • Color Options: Gunmetal and blue
  • Made in: USA
Best Budget Barbell Collars
OSO Mighty Collars

The OSO Mighty Collars are our top pick for budget-friendly collars. They're low-profile, easy to operate, and affordable.

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Summary

The OSO Mighty Collars were the first collars I purchased for my home gym. In my opinion, they’re the best budget barbell collar option, given their size, strength, and price.

The OSO Mightly Collars are constructed with the same 6061 aluminum as other OSO collars but with less material. This makes them some of the lightest collars on the market at only 0.3 lbs/pair! They’re also ~1.3″ wide, making them some of the narrowest.

OSO Mighty Collars - Loaded - Garage Gym Lab

As you may expect, the lever is also smaller, but it’s still made with the same nylon resin. Another distinction is that while other OSO collars have a gap that the lever closes, the OSO Mighty Collars are fully enclosed. The back of the lever itself is what creates the tension, and it sits against the barbell along with the large area of rubber interior lining.

I think the name of these collars is fitting. Although they’re smaller, they’re mighty. You’re not going to get the same grip strength as more expensive options, but their performance is clearly better than other budget options. On the three-plate test, an immediate downward shift occurred, but the journey to the bottom was very slow. Considering their size, weight, and price, these perform very nicely overall.

OSO Mighty Collar Test - Garage Gym Lab

There isn’t too much going on aesthetically with these collars. They have a smaller gear profile than the OSO Barbell Collars, but they come in two colors: gunmetal and blue.

If you’re shopping for budget barbell collars, I recommend most to stop here unless you’re looking for an ultra-budget option. The OSO Mighty Collars are a high-quality option at a solid price point.

Pros

  • Excellent price for high-quality collars
  • Thinner and lighter than OSO Barbell Collars
  • Nearly full interior rubber coverage
  • Available in two sleek colors
  • Much easier to slide on and off compared to other OSO collars
  • Made in America

Cons

  • They don’t hold quite as well as the more expensive OSO options

DMoose Olympic Barbell Collars – Best Budget Barbell Collars on Amazon

DMoose Collars - Display - Garage Gym Lab
  • Price: $14.99 (sold as pair)
  • Style: Clamp
  • Material: Plastic
  • Width: 1.85″
  • Weight: 0.6 lbs/pair
  • Color Options: Black, Blue, Gray, Green, Red, Pink, & Yellow
  • Made in: USA

Summary

The DMoose Olympic Barbell Collars are a contender if you’re looking for an ultra-budget collar. They’re modeled closely after the Lock-Jaw Pro collars, but you will immediately tell the difference in quality. The same can be said about other white-labeled knock-offs of the Lock-Jaws.

These collars are constructed primarily in lightweight plastic. Weighing only 0.3 lbs per collar, they’re among the lightest of the competition. Contributing to this lighter weight is also a slightly narrower body of 1.85″ compared to the 2″ on the Lock-Jaws.

DMoose Collars - Loaded - Garage Gym Lab

The DMoose collars use a similar clamp mechanism with a lever and a protruding latch. Like the Lock-Jaws, they provide an audible click when engaged, but the entire operation feels clunkier and less rigid. Also, unlike the Lock-Jaws, which have a latch that pivots down to release, the DMoose collars do not. This latch is stationary with enough flex to release the lever, but its durability will come into question over time.

On the inside of the collar are two areas of 1.25″ flat rubber material to help create friction on the sleeve and protect your barbell’s surface. Overall, these collars do a decent job keeping plates on the bar, but their performance certainly lags behind the higher-priced options. When tested vertically, the collar immediately yielded to the plates and slid to the ground very quickly.

DMoose Collar Test - Garage Gym Lab

One benefit of these collars is they can accommodate 1″ or 2″ barbells. They also come in multiple colors based on your aesthetic.

If you’re someone on a tight budget or who isn’t lifting a lot of weight or performing very dynamic movements, then these collars are a good choice. Otherwise, I recommend spending a little more money to get higher-quality collars that will perform better and last longer.

Pros

  • Very affordable collars
  • Available for both 1″ standard bars and 2″ Olympic bars
  • Multiple color options
  • Modeled after the popular Lock-Jaw Pro collars

Cons

  • While these collars get the job done, their quality compared to more expensive options is noticeably lower

Types of Barbell Collars

Barbell Collar Styles

Barbell collars come in a few main styles and can vary in tightening mechanisms, shape, size, weight, price, and more.

Clamp-Style Collars

Clamp-style collars are the most popular style, popularized by the Lock-Jaw and OSO designs. These collars have a lever/handle that clamps down like a cam. These collars often have an interior rubber lining to protect your barbell’s sleeves and produce friction to increase staying power. You can purchase clamp-style collars for 1″ standard barbells, 2″ Olympic barbells, and specialty bars.

Lock-Style Collars

Lock-style collars are not as common as clamp-style, but they are generally very high quality and effective. Prolocs are an example of lock collars that made this list. Competition collars for weightlifting are also included in this group. These collars are normally much more expensive and heavier, but they also fit extremely tight on the bar. Competition collars have a spanner that tightens down on the sleeve and locks into place.

Spring-Style Collars

Spring-Style collars are the most basic style of collars, which people have used in commercial gyms. Similar to a grip training device, a handle is squeezed to expand the collar diameter. When released, it tightens down on the bar. These are far less expensive than other options, but they aren’t as effective, nor do they last as long. However, they’re a solid option if you’re on a tight budget.


How We Ranked and Compared These Barbell Collars

Differnt Types of Barbell Collars

Here are a few of the most important factors to consider when buying barbell collars:

Price

Barbell collars can range in price from less than $10 for spring collars to over $300 for competition collars. You can purchase most high-quality collars for between $30-$75, and this is the area where I recommend most people focus. For example, the Rogue USA Aluminum collars that took top honors are $55, and they’ll last for years.

Collar Style

I recommend clamp-style or lock-style collars for most people as they tend to produce a tighter fit and last longer than spring-style collars. If you want a versatile collar you can use on any bar, Proloc Collars are an ideal pick. Otherwise, most collars in the price range above will be very suitable for most depending on budget, aesthetics, etc.

Materials

Collars will range in materials, often consisting of plastic, nylon resin, aluminum, and steel. Each will carry different characteristics in terms of look, feel, weight, and durability.

Durability

Collars are tasked with a pretty difficult job. Constantly getting abused by plates wanting to slide off, barbells dropping, etc. It’s no easy task. You want to buy collars that are up to the challenge. Generally, there is a close correlation between price and durability when it comes to collars. Cheap knock-offs on Amazon aren’t going to last as long as high-end collars, nor will they perform as well.

Width

When it comes to a barbell, max weight is limited to how much room you have on the sleeve. Two limitations include plate width and collar width. If you’re never testing the full length of the barbell’s sleeve, collar width isn’t a very important consideration. If you are, however, you want collars that have a narrow profile so you can maximize the loadable weight.

Weight

Collars can range from being very light at less than 1 lb or quite heavy at more than 10 lbs (for the pair). This is something to consider if only for the math aspect of totaling the true weight on the bar.

Speed

How quickly and easily can the collars be added, engaged, and removed? Some collars execute very quickly, whereas others take a little more time.

Fit

Collars should fit very snuggly on the bar. Not too tight to where it’s hard to slide on and off, but certainly not too loose where you don’t get a tight grip. There should be virtually zero lateral play in the collars once they’re engaged. You can buy collars to fit 1″ standard barbells, 2″ Olympic barbells, and specialty bars, which sometimes have a 1.91″ diameter. Some collars, like the Proloc collars, will fit a variety of bars.

Aesthetics

You can purchase collars in various colors and designs, all of which present a different aesthetic on the bar. For example, on the OSO CM-1 collars, you can customize your look based on collar and plug color. Others have a single color scheme, all-steel look, etc.

Warranty

You won’t necessarily find the same warranty on collars as you would on, for instance, barbells. Generally, high-quality collars will be warrantied for 1-2 years.


FAQs About Barbell Collars

  • What are Barbell Collars?

    A barbell collar is a small, lightweight tool that slides onto a barbell sleeve and locks into place, keeping plates secure during use.

  • Do I need Barbell Collars? 

    If you train with a barbell and plates, you absolutely need barbell collars to increase safety while lifting and efficiency during training.

  • What is the Best Barbell Collar?

    We think the best barbell collar is the Rogue USA Aluminum Collar. They’re very durable, very secure, and very nice-looking collars at a solid price.

  • How Much do Barbell Collars Weigh?

    Barbell collars can range in weight from less than 1 lb for a pair up to over 10 lbs.

Adam Hensley
Adam Hensley
Adam is the founder of Garage Gym Lab and has over two decades of fitness/training experience. He serves as the chief content creator and runs our YouTube channel and social media accounts. When he's not testing equipment or sharing his love for home gym life, you'll find him with his wife and two kids in sunny South Carolina.
Adam Hensley
Adam Hensley
Adam is the founder of Garage Gym Lab and has over two decades of fitness/training experience. He serves as the chief content creator and runs our YouTube channel and social media accounts. When he's not testing equipment or sharing his love for home gym life, you'll find him with his wife and two kids in sunny South Carolina.

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