The Complete Guide to Properly Loading and Using Barbell Collars

Opening: You're Not the First Person Confused by a Collar

Almost every fitness beginner has been through this awkward first time: the plates are loaded, you stare at the spring clip on the sleeve, spend ages figuring out how to open it; or you squeeze hard, only to find the collar isn't secured at all — it loosens the moment you touch it.

Whether you use a barbell collar correctly directly determines whether your set is safe. Unlike squat form, which takes months to refine, a collar takes just a few minutes to learn — but the "quality" of what you learn matters. Many people train for years and still use collars wrong.

Step 1: Pre-Use Inspection (30 Seconds)

Before putting the collar on the barbell, do two quick checks:

1. Size match: Confirm the collar's inner diameter matches the barbell sleeve diameter.
   • Olympic barbell: sleeve 50 mm / 2 inches
   • Standard barbell: sleeve 25 mm / 1 inch
   • Buy the wrong size, and the collar is effectively useless.

1. Condition check: Quickly inspect whether the collar is intact — is the spring deformed, is the lever cracked, are the threads stripped. Any collar showing signs of damage should be discarded immediately — don't make do.

Step 2: The Universal 5-Step Loading Method

Regardless of collar type, the core process is the same:

1. Load plates flush: Load the plates evenly onto the sleeve, making sure the first plate sits flush against the bar's shoulder, with no gap in between.

1. Slide on the collar: Slide the collar onto the sleeve from the end, pressing it tight against the outermost plate, with no gap.

1. Lock the collar: Trigger the respective locking mechanism based on the collar type (see the step-by-step breakdown below).

1. Confirm both ends: Install collars on both sides to keep the barbell symmetrical left-to-right.

1. Tug test: Grip the collar with both hands and pull outward firmly to confirm neither the plates nor the collar move. This step is the core of safety — never skip it.

Step 3: Operating Differences Among the Three Main Collar Types

Spring (Squeeze – Slide – Release)

1. Grip the handles on both sides of the collar with both hands, squeeze firmly toward the center; the spring coils open and the inner diameter expands.

1. While maintaining the squeeze, slide the collar onto the sleeve from the end, sliding it tight against the outermost plate.

1. Slowly release the handles; the spring coils retract and grip the sleeve.

1. Check that the collar sits squarely on the bar, not tilted — a tilted spring collar can pop off under load.

Common beginner mistake: trying to "screw" a spring collar like a nut. It doesn't turn — you can only squeeze, slide, and release.

Lock-jaw (Open – Slide – Press)

1. Flip the collar's lever to the "open" position; the clamp fully opens.

1. Slide it onto the sleeve from the end, sliding it tight against the outermost plate.

1. Press the lever down firmly until you hear a "click" indicating it's locked.

1. Give it a light pull to confirm it's locked.

The biggest advantage of lock-jaw collars is speed — one press, one lock, especially suited for frequent plate changes and short rest periods.

Screw / Spin-lock (Twist on – Tighten)

1. Align the threaded collar with the threads at the end of the sleeve, rotate clockwise to thread it on.

1. Keep turning until it's flush against the outermost plate, hand-tighten.

1. Don't force it beyond that — the feel of a screw collar is "stop when you feel resistance"; over-tightening can damage the barbell's threads.

Screw collars are the most secure but the slowest to load/unload, ideal for heavy fixed-load scenarios where you "set it once and leave it."

Why Is the Tug Test So Important?

A collar "looks" secured doesn't mean it "is" secured. A lock-jaw might not be pressed all the way down, a spring might be tilted, a screw collar might not be threaded all the way — these issues are invisible at rest and only surface under load.

The tug test is the final insurance: grip the collar and plates with both hands, pull outward firmly once. If nothing moves, the collar is solid; if there's even a hint of sliding, immediately readjust and relock.

Make it a habit: before every heavy set, do one tug test. This single pull can save you from injury.

Practical Checklist: Loading & Unloading Operations

• Confirm collar size matches the sleeve (50 mm / 25 mm)

• Inspect the collar for damage (spring, lever, threads)

• First plate flush against the bar shoulder, no gap

• Collar tight against the outermost plate

• Lock fully engaged (spring retracted / lever clicked / threads tightened)

• Collars installed on both sides, symmetrical

• Do a tug test before every heavy set

• After training, remove in reverse order and store properly

Closing

Used correctly, a collar is the nearly invisible "silent safeguard" of your training; used wrong, it's a hidden hazard buried under the weight. Spend two minutes learning the correct loading method, and you'll buy peace of mind for every session that follows.

In the next article, we'll move into our first specialty