Should I Buy Olympic Plate Weights or Rubber Bumper Plates?

Small Olympic plates.

Consider the Exercise

Unlike rubber bumper plates, Olympic plate weights are not a standard diameter. Lifts that require a specific diameter, such as deadlifts, would require a minimum of two 45-pound Olympic plate weights. Additionally, rubber bumper plates can be dropped from an overhead or racked position without damaging the floor or the plates, unlike Olympic weight plates.

Consider Your Budget

It is cheaper to build a gym with Olympic plate weights, which can be purchased from any sporting goods store for 75 cents to $1 per pound. Rubber bumper plates often cost up to three times as much. Olympic plate weights are also very common and can often be purchased used or in a set.

Bottom Line

If you are doing static weight training that doesn't involve any Olympic lifts, save your money and buy Olympic plate weights. However, if you wish to perform snatches, cleans, jerks, power cleans, or deadlifts, you should invest in rubber bumper plates that will allow you to do these complicated lifts correctly.

References

• AskTheTrainer.com: Gym Equipment Overview