Barbell clips

Compact and straightforward, barbell clips fasten around the ends of a bar after you load plates onto it. They usually come as spring clips that you squeeze open or locking collars that close with a lever. In use, they should sit snugly against the plates, helping them stay in place while you move the bar.

You use them during barbell training when plates need to remain steady through movements such as squats, presses, rows and lifts from the floor. By limiting sideways plate movement, clips let you focus on guiding the bar smoothly rather than stopping to recentre the load. They are also useful when setting a bar down could otherwise make plates shift.

They suit you if you are beginning to use a barbell or already train with one regularly. They take almost no storage space, and changing them is quick once you learn the opening mechanism, though spring styles can require a firm squeeze. Check that they match your bar and are fully closed before lifting. A securely packed backpack is a simple alternative for home exercises.