Do you need P Standard Plates, Old School Plates solution? Choose us as your partner and we will provide you with a solution that will satisfy you.
A barbell without weight plates is like a pen without ink.
Yet one important question remains: bumper or iron weight plates?
While both can help you level up your body composition and enhance your overall fitness, some key features differentiate the two.
Iron plates are the classic weight plates you’ll find in many old-school or non-boutique gyms. They’ve been around for well over a century and helped birth the phrase “pumping iron”. Iron plates are also known as cast iron plates.
Before we dive into iron plates’ potential benefits and drawbacks, let’s give a quick rundown on bumper plates.
Bumper plates are weight plates that feature an iron or steel core surrounded by a thick, high-density rubber coating.
Eleiko is believed to be the first manufacturer to introduce rubber bumper plates to weightlifting competition back in 1969.
Prior to that point, athletes and weightlifting enthusiasts sometimes wrapped scrap rubber around cast iron plates to help prevent floor damage, reduce noise, and better protect the weights themselves.
RELATED: How to Build an Amazing Home Gym for Under $1,000
While bumper plates have long been staples of olympic weightlifting and CrossFit gyms, they’re quickly gaining popularity in garage/home gyms and other types of commercial fitness centers.
Better quality bumper plates are usually more durable and quieter than the alternative.
Both iron and bumper plates let you dial in your barbell load so every rep is as efficient and effective as possible.
Yet the two do possess some significant differences that can impact your buying decision.
For what it’s worth, many gym rats swear iron plates feel a bit heavier than bumper plates.
This could be because iron plates are known to have a greater variation between their advertised and actual weights (though this is only really a concern on lower-quality iron plates).
Either way, the phenomenon is definitely a thing:
Before we talk more about finding the right weight plate for you, let’s unpack a key detail — price.
Bumper plates are almost always going to cost a bit more than iron plates.
This is because the raw materials required tend to be more expensive and the manufacturing process is more involved.
RELATED: Why are Barbells So Expensive?
There can be a good amount of variation in price between one brand of iron plate and the next, as well as one brand of bumper plate to the next. We’ll keep our comparisons inside the same brand so there’s a level playing field (prices accurate to the time of writing but are subject to change):
While the difference in price between iron and bumper plates isn’t massive, it’s certainly significant — especially when extrapolated over a full set of weight plates.
Iron weight plates work best in certain training environments.
Examples include:
Iron weight plates work great if you plan to primarily focus on powerlifting and bodybuilding-type exercises during your barbell routine. Many of the strongest people in the world have trained almost exclusively with iron plates, and they tend to be more affordable than bumper plates.
RELATED: The 13 Best Barbell Exercises
If you don't plan on dropping your bar, noise isn't much of an issue, and your plates will largely be protected from the elements, iron plates can be a great choice.
HulkFit Cast Iron Plates are a phenomenal option for true fitness enthusiasts. Each plate is manufactured with a precision-machined hole and a durable enamel finish for enhanced longevity. The plates also undergo a stringent manufacturing process to ensure high performance and accurate weighting.
Bumper weight plates work best in certain training environments.
Examples include:
There’s a reason bumper plates are a bit more expensive than cast iron.
Overall, they’re safer, quieter, more durable, and more comfortable to use.
Bumper plates are far superior for olympic weightlifting movements as well as workouts where barbells are repeatedly picked up and dropped (such as CrossFit).
Their high-density rubber exteriors helps reduce noise, protect floors, and better ensure the plates themselves won’t suffer damage. Bumper plates also tend to hold up better through the elements, so if you’ll be doing any outdoor training, bumpers are the way to go.
They do tend to require a bit more storage space due to the fact they have a uniform diameter. While the total difference in required space compared to iron plates is likely a non-factor for most users, it’s worth considering if you have a very compact training space.
RELATED: Is a Power Rack Worth It?
You should also know that some lighter bumper plates (think 10-15 pounds) are not designed to be dropped alone due to risk of bending. They should be paired with thicker, heavier bumpers if being dropped. This is rarely an issue, since most individuals can control a 65 or 75-pound load without dropping it, but it’s worth noting.
HulkFit Olympic Bumper Plates will help empower your toughest workouts yet. Constructed of a high-density rubber exterior with a solid stainless steel insert, these bumper plates are built to withstand high-impact bar drops with minimal bounce.
Whether you’re chasing a new PR or simply want a versatile weight plate that can handle a wide range of workouts and environments, HulkFit Olympic Bumper Plates are the right tool for the job.
You should now have a clear picture of the type of weight plate that works best for your needs.
Keep in mind that certain iron plates are better than others, while the same rings true for bumper plates. Yet in general, this breakdown will ring true.
No matter what you choose, a quality set of weight plates is one of the best investments you can make in your overall health & fitness. Choose wisely and train hard.
For more information P Standard Plates, Old School Plates, please get in touch with us!