Fitness enthusiasts use weight plates for barbell training. They can try various movements and exercises using rubber plates. This is one of the main reasons they became popular in the market. Rubber weight plates offer a lot of benefits for the user. It’s advisable to consider getting one if you’re still looking for what kind of plates to use.
Get the best results from your training workouts with these plates. Learn more about them and why many use rubber bumper plates during training. This article will give seven good reasons to use them for your workouts.
What Are Rubber Weight Plates?
These are thick, heavy plates that are usually used in Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, and CrossFit. Rubber bumper weight plates are usually made of rubber with steel in the center. They’re also designed to be dropped overhead during weightlifting workouts without causing any damage. They can even weigh between 12kg and 24kg. The most popular sizes are 12kg, 16kg, and 20kg.
Rubber vs. Urethane Plates
People often think that rubber and urethane weight plates are the same things. But they’re not. Urethane is just a man-made form of rubber, a harder one. When touched, it feels like you’re touching rigid plastic. However, it can be slippery with sweat and has less bounce because of this nature. It’s also a more expensive material.
On the other hand, rubber is more elastic and resilient. It produces more bounce when dropped, so most bumper plates are made with rubber. It also has a more textured feel, so they’re easier to grip even when you’re sweaty. Plus, they’re more affordable, and the types of rubber you can use are more environmentally friendly.
7 Reasons to Use Rubber Plates When Training
There are many reasons why rubber bumper plates are more advantageous when training. These include:
1. Makes Dropping Weights Safer
Rubber bumper plates are designed to be used with Olympic barbells. They allow you to perform different barbell training requiring you to drop the weights. For example, you can use it for different Olympic lifting movements, like a snatch or clean-and-jerk.
These plates reduce the risks of injuries and damage. This is because they’re designed to absorb the impact and force of the drop. This makes them safer to use than steel plates.
Using rubber weight plates will also protect your joints and muscles from the sudden jolt caused by the dropping of the weights. If you’re new to lifting or if you’ll be using heavier weights, using bumper plates is a great option to make training safer for you.
2. Protects the Floor and Equipment
Rubber weight plates are more forgiving than iron and steel plates on your floor. The rubber material in the plates protects the floor and equipment from damage. If you’ve used an iron plate and dropped it, you're likely aware of the loud and forceful impact it makes upon hitting the floor.
The durable, soft rubber construction of rubber weight plates absorbs this force, so the plates’ impact on the floor is lessened. This lessens the chances of chipping, cracking, and denting your floors and plates.
3. Produces Less Noise
The noise, like clanging and banging, of plates can be disruptive, not just to you but to other people near you as well. These loud noises can be lessened by using rubber weight plates. Aside from preventing damage, rubber bumper plates bounce less than iron ones when dropped. Their soft rubber surface absorbs the impact, reducing the amount of noise. This is beneficial if you have neighbors or want a quieter workout environment.
4. Offers Better Grip
The grip allows you to keep a firm hold of weights. If you’ve used and worked with standard iron weight plates, you know that they can be difficult to grip. This is because of their smooth surface, and keeping a firm hold is harder if your hands are sweaty. This can result in you dropping the weight and increasing the risks of injury.
Rubber bumper plates feature textured surfaces, enhancing your grip strength, which proves advantageous during lifts such as deadlifting. This improved grip provides better control over the barbell, reducing the risk of injuries during training sessions.
5. Provides Workout Flexibility
Rubber plates offer weight variability. You can get them in a wide range of weights. This allows you to have more precise load adjustments when working out. Because of this versatility and flexibility, you can use them for different workouts and training exercises. Unlike iron plates, you can use them for weightlifting, bodybuilding, and powerlifting.
The additional weight provided by the plates proves advantageous for various strength training exercises such as squats and presses, as well as for conditioning workouts and CrossFit-style exercises. This is why gyms often incorporate rubber weight plates into their equipment selection. If you want to expand your workouts, you should get and use these plates.
6. Provides Enhanced Durability
Rubber bumper plates surpass other plate types in durability and longevity, rendering them a valuable investment for your equipment arsenal. Their design is tailored to endure significant wear and tear, remaining undamaged due to the resilience of rubber material. Even after repeated drops and impacts, the integrity of rubber ensures its longevity, allowing for prolonged usage over time.
7. Comes in Different Colors
Many rubber bumper plates come in color-coded weight increments. This proves beneficial if you desire plates that offer more than just functionality. With various designs available, they can inject personality into your workout space and home gym. Whether you prefer vibrant colors or subtler tones, there's bound to be a plate that complements your style preferences.
Factors and Tips to Consider When Buying Plates
When buying your rubber weight plates, make sure to consider the following tips and factors:
- Material
Most quality bumper plates are made with recycled or virgin rubber. However, you can also find some that are made with urethane. Virgin rubber is ideal for maximized performance and safety during workouts. Depending on your preferences, you can choose among these three. However, avoid cheap fillers like concrete in rubber material.
- Weight Increments
Bumper plates can have different weights, and if you plan to buy a set, you should want something ideal for your training journey. It’s best to choose a bumper plate set with small weight increments. This will allow you to gradually increase the weight of your lifts as you work out more.
- Sliding and Bendability
Ensure the plates have a good grip and won’t slide around when lifting. Ensure you get a plate without too much room or space in the center. But ensure it can still easily slide on and off the barbell. At the same time, check the bendability of the plates. You don’t want your plate to bend or warp when you drop it. To avoid that, look for a durable plate that can withstand a drop.
Look for plates made with high-density rubber to withstand the impact of being dropped. Also, some plates are reinforced with steel inserts. This can add strength to the plate and prevent bending.
- Brand Reputation
Ultimately, the manufacturer determines the overall quality of any bumper plate, underscoring the importance of purchasing from reputable brands. Seek out brands known for their quality construction and materials to guarantee the durability and longevity of the plates. You can read reviews to do this and avoid very cheap knock-offs, as they can do more harm than good.
- Color Coding
When buying plates, make sure to go for color-coded plates based on their plates. The colors make them easily identifiable, especially when you’re in the middle of working out. Based on IWF (International Weightlifting Federation), here are the standard equivalent weights of common plate colors:
Red: 25 kg or 55 lbsBlue: 20 kg or 45 lbs
Yellow: 15 kg or 35 lbs
Green: 10 kg or 25 lbs
White: 5 kg or 10 lbs
- Price
Remember to take into account the cost of individual plates or plate sets. Typically, rubber bumper plates are pricier compared to cast iron plates. The price varies per piece or plate; some are even per kilogram or pound. Additionally, the price can be influenced by factors such as the type of rubber, available color options, and design. For instance, a new 370-lb set of plates may range from $750 to $1,000, which should suffice for home training purposes.
Get Your Rubber Weight Plates Now!
Rubber weight plates are ideal to use for different kinds of barbell training. Whether simple as a squat or Olympic lifting, these plates are safe and durable. Just make sure to check their quality and price before buying.
For some high-quality options, you can visit our rubber plates collection. You can check out our variety of bumper plates in different sizes, weights, and sets. Choose one that suits and matches your training needs.