Rogue HG 2.0 Axel Collar and EliteFTS Shark Collar Black
Mark Brown
It’s time for another equipment review! This week I thought I would do a a review of one of the most important pieces of equipment anyone has in their gym. Barbell collars are used to keep plates held in place so if a shoulder dips during a bench press, it doesn’t take the plates with it. The Rogue HG 2.0 Axel and EliteFTS Shark Collar Black are the two collars I use in my gym. I will give a brief review of them.
I bought the pair of EliteFTS Shark Collar Black collars in 2020 when I bought their Yoke bar. They have performed exceedingly well in that time. They clamp down tight against the steel and keep the plates in place exactly as promised. This is especially true in lifts that are started from j cups on a power rack like the squat or bench press.
One of main features I like about them is that the design of them (see picture above) allows plates to be loaded onto the barbell then the lock pulled off and put back on. This seems like a small detail but it makes loading and unloading the sleeves quite efficient, and that process definitely isn’t always that. It’s especially useful for the viking press attachment EliteFTS sells. Being able to load to load the sleeve without taking the lock off is very, very convenient. Another positive is that the lock doesn’t require a lot of effort to pull it off, especially for how lock down as it is. That makes them very quick to put on and take off.
There is one major thing to understand about these collars. They only work on machined barbells. There must be something in the grooves in the steel machined barbells that allows the collars to work that isn’t present on smooth sided specialty bars. That is the main detractor here if a lifter can only afford one set of collars and has smooth sleeved barbells. At $54, they aren’t cheap. However, these locks are worth the price because they won’t need to be replaced anytime soon after purchase.
The Rogue HG 2.0 Axel Collar is a truly lock down barbell collar. Plates aren’t going anywhere when press between the sleeve inside and the collars. I use these on all my smooth sleeved specialty bars, which I have 4 of, and on my deadlift bar for deadlifts. They effect the specialty and machined barbells very differently but still gets the job done equally well.
When used on smooth sleeved barbells these collars slip on fairly easily and click into the locked position with barely any effort. They are made for specialty bars with a diameter of 1.5 inches. I got them after I found that Pete’s locks of a similar design were no longer capable of staying in place in 2021. The tab pulls back with just a hint of effort. They lock down and are easy to take on and off. That’s all anyone is asking for.
Rogue Fitness website states that “because of their smaller diameter, Rogue HG 2.0 Axel Collars CANNOT be used with standard 1.98” (50.4 mm) barbells.” I can understand why they would make this statement. They are definitely not designed for barbells. Putting these collars on and taking them off a standard barbell takes a lot of effort but is eminently doable. Part of the reason why is because standard barbell sleeves spin and it’s impossible to get enough leverage on the tab to pull it back while the sleeves are spinning. I have to place one hand on the sleeve to keep it still while pulling back on the locking tab to get it to unlock. It has no other issue with standard barbells.
If a lifter doesn’t mind that kind of effort put into taking a lock on an off for a deadlift, then this lock satisfies both barbells and 1.5” diameter specialty bars. I wouldn’t use this collar for standard bar for squats or bench press though. I would want something easier to put on and take off, like the Shark Collar Black. The price on Rogue Fitness’s site, $45, places it in line with other collars.
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