Lock-Jaw Olympic 2 - 2”Olympic Barbell Collar (Sold in Pairs)

Buying Weight Plates, Bars & Collars

Fitness Town has curated a range of quality weight plates, bars, and collars that pass various tests from our team of experts. After decades in the fitness industry, we’ve developed a good understanding of your needs, regardless of age or fitness level. We consider everything like industry standards, diverse physical statures, and training requirements and goals. When you buy a product from Fitness Town, you can feel confident knowing that it lives up to our high standards. All that’s left is finding the perfect match for you.

Here are some things to consider when comparing our weight plates, bars, and collars:

• How will you lift? When narrowing down which barbell you want for your home gym, it’s important to consider your lifting style and weightlifting goals. For general exercising and bodybuilding, you can get a good workout with any barbell. However, i f you’re an Olympic lifter, you will want to consider an Olympic barbell that has bearings or bushings for spin and good whip. If you’re a powerlifter, consider a stiffer barbell with a higher weight capacity.
• What kind of barbell did you choose? Before choosing weight plates, check the diameter of the ends of your barbell (the “sleeves”) where your weights will go. It will either be 1” or 2” diameter and you need to purchase weight plates that match.
• How secure do you need your plates? Collars keep your weight plates from shifting or falling off the bar during exercises. Ultimately, this keeps you safe and minimizes the risk of injury. Athletes who are performing bodybuilding exercises like squats, curls, and deadlifts can safely lift with spring collars. However, if you’re an Olympic lifter and will be throwing your weights around, you should consider a super-secure lock jaw collar, so those weights don’t budge.
• Your level of experience: Different barbells are suited for different levels of experience. If you are a beginner athlete and you’re just learning how to deadlift or squat, Fitness Town carries hex bars that help you nail down your form before you upgrade to a regular barbell.
• What exercises will you perform? If you’re looking for a one-and-done barbell purchase, Olympic barbells might be the choice for you. You can perform virtually every exercise with these including squats, deadlifts, cleans, curls, and more. However, if you want to outfit your gym with more than one barbell, consider options that are designed for specific exercises. Fitness Town carries an array of curl bars, hex bars, and standard bars to fit your needs.
• The grip: It’s important to consider your grip when choosing a barbell. Olympic barbells come in male and female versions with different grip diameters. The traditional ‘Ladies’ bar is a smaller diameter and suitable for a smaller hand, while the traditional ‘Mens’ bar is a larger diameter for larger hands. There are men who use ‘ladies’ bars and vice versa – it’s all about your personal preference and comfort. You want to ensure you can wrap your fingers around the bar during lifts. Also, consider a barbell with a knurling pattern if you want maximum grippiness on the bar.
• Weight capacity: Take the barbell’s maximum weight load into consideration. If you’re a beginner athlete, a standard barbell’s weight capacity will be sufficient. If you are a powerlifter or want your barbell to grow with you, find one with a higher maximum weight limit.
• Number of people and frequency of use: The number of people in your household and the frequency of use on your barbells and weight plates will impact the wear and tear. Consider the material your equipment is made from and the quality of the finishing or coating to ensure maximum durability.
• Durability: Your environment and the way you exercise will impact the longevity of your equipment. If your home gym is in your garage or in a room that’s not insulated, consider a chrome barbell that will withstand the elements. Also, consider if you will be performing lifts where you frequently drop weights. You can’t drop cast iron or steel plates for obvious reasons… (damage to your floor, damage to the plates, you get the idea). Consider an option like rubber-coated bumper plates to protect your gym and your equipment from damage.
• What else do you need to perform your exercise? You may want to consider a rack, cage, bench, and flooring if you plan to lift bars and plates at home, all of which are available at Fitness Town.
  • A rack or cage will hold and store your barbell in an elevated position and make it much easier to load the bar with plates as well as pick up the bar into a lifting position.
  • A cage (or a rack with a safety bar attachment) has the additional benefit of a safety bar that you can set at a specific height to catch the bar if you lift to exhaustion and drop the bar. This can allow you to lift on your own, without a spotter.
  • A bench allows you to use your barbell for bench presses and other seated or lying exercises.
• Fitness flooring offers a layer of protection if you accidentally drop your weights.