A Definitive Guide to Custom Barbell Collars

Gym accessories are as beneficial as gym machines. Something as small as a custom barbell collar holds much significance.

Barbell collars are essential for weightlifting. They are versatile & available with most wholesalers.

If you are looking for custom barbell collars, then this article is for you. It contains all the information that you will need to make your choice.

Hopefully, you will find it helpful in your search for custom barbell collars.

Let’s begin!

Table of Contents

1. Custom Barbell Collars Definition

Barbell collars are a safety accessory for barbells. They keep the weight plates loaded on the barbells in place.

Wholesale barbell collars are customizable.

Figure 1 – Custom Barbell collars

2. Purpose of Custom Barbell Collars

Barbell collars are used to secure the weight plates on the barbell. In the absence of these collars, weight plates can slip, resulting in an injury.

Barbell collars also keep the weights fixed in place. It prevents movement or wobbling when the barbell is in use.

As I have mentioned above, barbell collars are essential safety equipment. They should be used on all occasions.

3. Benefits of Barbell Collars

There are five main benefits of using barbell collars:

• Safety
• Performance
• Concentration
• Protect the gym floor
• Investment

Figure 3 – Barbell collars are a must for gym safety!

3.1 Safety

Barbell collars ensure a safe workout experience. Barbells in commercial gyms are used many times, making them slippery. 

Lifting with such barbells without barbell locks is dangerous.

Lifting without barbell collars doesn’t affect muscle growth & has no other benefits. Therefore, all commercial gyms should stock up on barbell collars to improve safety.

3.2 Performance

One of the best things a barbell lock does is to keep the weight plates at a similar distance from the grip on both sides.

If the weight plates shift or slide, it will result in a weight imbalance. It leads to poor performance & muscle development.

Barbell collars keep the weight plates in place & improve overall performance as well.

3.3 Concentration

Barbell collars improve safety & prevent weights from slipping or wobbling. This feeling of security improves concentration during the workout.

3.4 Protecting the Gym Floor

Without barbell collars, weight plates can slide off the rod & fall on the gym floor. It is not only an injury hazard but causes damage to the gym floor as well.

The use of barbell collars in commercial gyms saves on these avoidable expenses in the long run.

3.5 Investment

Custom barbell collars are a good investment in the long run. Most are made of high quality & sturdy materials. 

You can buy wholesale custom barbell collars in bulk. They will last you for many years & will prove to be an asset to your brand.

4. Types of Custom Barbell Collars

There are many different types of custom barbell collars available in the market. Such as:

• Spring Clamps
• Lockjaw Clamps
• Screw Clamps
• Spinlock Collars

4.1 Spring Clamps

These are also called clamp collars. These have two prongs, which have to be pressed by hand for the clamp to open.

They are straightforward to use. Press the prongs to widen the clamp opening, slide onto the barbell & let go.

These are present in most commercial gyms. They are inexpensive & commonly available. Apart from affordability, these clamps are easy to use & slide onto the barbell quickly.

4.2 Lockjaw Clamps or Collars

These are essentially an upgrade to spring collars. They are circular & have a locking clip at the top. Press up to open the clip, slide the clamp on the barbell & secure it by pressing the locking clip close.

These are also pressure-activated & sturdy. Lockjaw clamps are easy to put on & take off the barbells.

4.3 Screw Clamps or Collars

These collars have a screw at one end. Once slipped onto the barbell & in place, the screw is twisted until the collar is secure.

They are mostly made of metal & more expensive than other barbell collars. They are also time-consuming to use.

Figure 6 – Screw clamps or collars

4.4 Spinlock Collars

Spinlock collars are available with their barbells or dumbbells as a set. They are not usable with other barbells. 

These have to be screwed on like a nut on a bolt. These are not too expensive & work well as a set. If they come loose during a workout, they can be tightened on the spot.

5. Materials Of Custom Barbell Collars

Custom barbell collars make the use of materials like:

• High-gauge Steel or Plastic
• TPA
• Metal Covered with ABS Plastic
• Nylon
• Aluminum Alloy

Plain plastic barbell collars suffer from early wear & tear. They are stretchable but prone to slipping.

The rest of the materials have their pros & cons. Generally, they are durable & sturdy, some more so than others.

As a rule, aluminum barbell collars are lightweight & do not add much to the overall weight lifted. Steel collars add approx. 5 lbs. to the overall weight.

YR Fitness barbell collars use TPA, nylon, or aluminum alloy to make them long-lasting.

Figure 8 – Parts of a Lockjaw barbell collar

6. Specifications of a Custom Barbell Collar

The approximate specifications of barbell collars are as follows:

Weight: 300 – 400 grams or above (for TPA, nylon, or aluminum collars), 2.5 Kgs or 5.5 lbs.      approx. for metal collars.

Inner diameter: 45-50 mm approximately

Outer diameter: 7-9 cm, or more

Width: 1-1.5 inches approximately

Color: Customizable

7. Standard Barbell Collars versus Olympic Barbell Collars

The difference between a standard barbell collar & an Olympic one is the fit. One fits the 2-inch Olympic size bar, while the other fits the standard 1-inch bar.

Manufacturers list the clamp size on their websites. It is an important thing to look out for when placing a bulk order.

One size collar will not fit both bars.

Figure 9 – Barbell collar for a standard bar

Figure 10 – Barbell collar for an Olympic bar

8. Locking Barbell Collars and Spring Clamps

Although these perform the same function, that is where the similarity ends. The differences between the two are:

LOCKING BARBELL COLLARS	SPRING CLAMPS
Cost more than spring clamps Very sturdy & long-lasting Easy to use Slide without friction Secure more weight	Inexpensive Less sturdy comparatively A struggle to put on More friction between collar & rod Secure less weight

For heavier weight loads locking or lockjaw barbell clamps are a better choice as compared to simple spring clamps.

9. Lifting without Custom Barbell Collars

In simple words, lifting without barbell collars is ill-advised. Weight plates can fall while in use, which will result in injuries.

Not to mention, the collateral damage to the gym floor & reputation. The imbalance caused by sliding weights results in poor form & pulled muscles. 

Custom barbell collars are a beneficial long-term investment for any commercial gym or business.

Figure 11 – YR Fitness’s locking barbell collars

10. Weight of the Custom Barbell Collars

Depending on its construction, the weight of a barbell collar may vary. Aluminum, nylon, or TPA collars weigh between 300 – 400 grams approximately.

Whereas, metal (steel) ones can weigh up to 2.5 Kgs or 5.5 pounds.

The weight of a barbell collar is crucial because it will add to the maximum weight being lifted.

11. Customizing Barbell Collars

By placing a wholesale order with a manufacturer, you will get the option to have it customized.

Discuss your needs with them & they will give you options for customization.

YR Fitness (e.g.) will give you personalized barbell collars by customizing the:

• Color
• Logo
• Logo design & font
• Packaging

The benefits of customized products include:

• Customer loyalty
• Better sales
• Word of mouth marketing & more.

Figure 12 – Custom colors of barbell collars

12. Considerations for Buying Custom Barbell Collars

Before placing an order for custom barbell collars in bulk, consider the following points:

• Materials & Design
• Weight & Holding Capacity
• Size
• Easy to Use
• Durability
• Warranty
• Locking Mechanism

12.1 Materials and Design

Common materials for barbell collars include ABS plastic, TPA, nylon, stainless steel. Good quality barbell collars have a combination of two or more of these materials.

High-grade construction leads to durability & stability. Have a closer look at the material used for the hinges too. Stainless steel hinges are sturdier than the rest.

Where possible, always choose a barbell collar with a simple design. This will ensure ease of use & a small learning curve.

12.2 Weight and Holding Capacity

The weight of a barbell collar should be the same as stated by the manufacturer. Too much variation between the two reflects poorly on the quality of the product.

The holding capacity is the weight a barbell collar can secure properly without damage. Collars with high holding capacities are better in the long run.

Barbells with a low weight capacity are easily damaged & purchasing again & again affects the overall cost.

12.3 Size

Barbell collars come in different sizes. One fits the 1-inch standard barbells & the other is for the 2-inch Olympic barbells.

Look closely at the specifications quoted on the manufacturer’s website. The size of the barbell collars is always mentioned.

Choose the correct size according to your business’s needs.

12.4 Easy to Use

Comfort is the way to go. Even the top-quality barbell collars will fail if they are not easy to use.

For the locking collars make sure the locking pin is long enough so it’s easy to hold. Spring clamps should have large handles so they are easy to press.

If it takes too long for a barbell collar to slip on & off the bar, no one will use it.

12.5 Durability

Fragile gym accessories have no place in commercial gyms. This is true for barbell collars as well.

Barbell collars need to be durable enough to overcome falling on the floor & rough handling.

12.6 Locking Mechanism

A spring clamp has probably the simplest locking mechanism of all barbell collars.  Though, it also makes them prone to loosening or sliding off if the holding capacity is exceeded.

Locking barbell collars have the most secure mechanism. The locking pin needs to be long enough for easy access but the rest is pretty straightforward.

12.7 Warranty

This is a must. Look at the manufacturer’s warranty period before buying in bulk. Don’t choose manufacturers who are vague about the warranty period or what it entails.

13. Conclusion

In conclusion, barbell collars may be small in size, but they have many benefits. Hopefully, this article has given you a better understanding of barbell collars.

We, at YR Fitness, pride ourselves on making professional quality gym accessories. Browse our full range of custom barbell collars.

Make your choice easier by viewing all types of barbell collars in one place.

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