REP fitness Equalizer plates vs Rogue competition plates

This is a comparison between the REP fitness Equalizer plates and the Rogue competition plates. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the Rogue Competition plates

The Rogue competition plates will set you back about $1035 dollars or $7.39 dollars per kg. These plates are especially good to use for competing weightlifters. This overview has originally been published in the article "Which rogue plates to buy" which you can find on this blog.

Overview of the competition plates

These are the best that Rogue has to offer. Repeatedly used on Olympic lifting competitions and the CrossFit games these are the plates to behold when it gets to competition day. The plates have been updated with better design, lettering, and raised rubber to make them last kong and look good. They have minimal bounce and provide everything you need to post new personal records for your Olympic lifts.

Weight / Color / Diameter / Thickness / Price per pair

25kg / Red / 450mm / 2.5'' / $309.75

20kg / Blue / 450mm / 2.15'' / $252.50

15kg / Yellow / 450mm / 1.65'' / $208

10kg / Green / 450mm / 1.15'' / $152.50

Available sets

90kg, 2x 10-15-20kg $685

110kg, 2x 10-20-25kg $835

120kg, 2x 15-20-25kg $900

140kg, 2x 10-15-20-25kg $1035

Pros of the competition plates

These are the best plates you can get for Olympic lifting from Rogue. There is not really much more to say about them in terms of pros.

Cons of the competition plates

High quality has a high price. If you want to save money on plates you might want to go with bumper plates instead.

Alternatives to the competition plates

Alternatives to the competition plates are:

Bumper plates are the ultimate workhorse piece of equipment you can get from Rogue. They come in at less than half the price per kilo than the competition plates. With the saved money you might want to buy extra barbells or kettlebells depending on your needs. The disadvantages are that bumper plates are not color coded and also do not fit as much weight on the bar than competition plates.

Calibrated steel plates are the go-to for powerlifters who want precision and maximize the weight on the bar. These plates are color-coded and precision manufactured. With the seal of approval from the IPF, you can begin your journey to the podium of your next powerlifting meet.

Black training plates are a great combination of practical training plates and high standard competition quality. The design of these plates makes them a good fit for everyday use while still keeping the mindset of a champion.

Overview and review of the REP fitness Equalizer plates

This is an overview of the REP fitness Equalizer plates including pros, cons, and alternatives. The original was published under which plates to buy from rep fitness. Follow the links for more details.

Rep Equalizer iron plates $10

The REP Equalizer plates are a great option for your home gym, if you think that simple round iron plates are boring and too hard to pick up from the ground. These plates have a low entry price, interesting design, and can be very practical if you like them. The full specifications of these REP plates are:

Features:

Machine drilled center hole (not cast) for tight fit on bar.
Sand blasted and machined for smooth surface.
All surfaces rounded, no sharp edges.
Sandblast before painting to ensure no surface rust is painted over.
Powdercoated and baked for 1 hour for superior toughness and resistance to chipping.
Symmetrical grip holes for easy lifting off the ground, and for using individual plates in exercises.
Weight tolerance guaranteed within 2%
"X" centered in between grip holes on 45, 35, and 25, as pictured on main image.
255 lb set includes: (1) Pair of 45, 35, 25, 10, 2.5 lb plates. (2) Pairs of 5 lb plates.
275 lb set includes: (2) Pair of 45, 5 lb plates. (1) Pair of 25, 10, 2.5 lb plates.

Plate Dimensions (width/diameter)

2.5lb - 0.5"/6.25"
5lb - 0.75"/8"
10lb - 0.75"/9"
25lb - 1.5"/12.25"
35lb - 1.5"/14.25"
45lb - 1.5"/17.7"

A solid alternative to simple Olympic iron plates.

Pros of the Rep Equalizer iron plates

The pros of the REP Equalizer plates are:

Sleeve space
Holes
Iron sound
Price per kg

A big plus of Iron plates is that they take up less sleeve space on the bar compared to bumper plates. This makes them especially good for powerlifters as they can get more weight on the barbell than with bumper plates. If you have limited storing space and want to max out your barbell then these plates are a good choice.

The holes in these plates mean that they are easier to move around your gym than regular Olympic iron plates. You can also pick them up from the ground very easily. In the convenience department, these plates point big in day-to-day use.

Depending on your preferences these plates make the sound of clanging metal that some love so much. If you want to pump iron and like the good old Ronnie Coleman days, then these are the plates for you.

Another attractive feature of these plates is that they have a decent design even though they are at the lower range of the price per kg spectrum of REP fitness.

Cons of the Rep Equalizer iron plates

Cons of the REP Equalizer plates are:

Iron
The Integrity of the plate is compromised
Higher injury risk
No color option

One of the disadvantages of this pate is that it is iron. This means it can corrode and also damages your floor and equipment when dropped from overhead. Iron plates also bear a higher injury risk as the metal won't give in when it comes into contact with skin or bone. It is a lot more likely to break the skin or a bone when you collide with an Iron plate than with a bumper plate.

As these plates have holes in them their integrity is compromised. This means that there are a lot more opportunities for the plates to crack or catch rust than with a smooth round bumper plate. They are also more likely to chip than a round Olympic iron plate.

Finally, you do not have color options with these plates except grey and black. Although these iron plates are easier to coat with a different color than bumper plates if DIY is your thing.

Alternatives to the Rep Equalizer iron plates

Alternatives to the REP Equalizer plates are:

The REP Urethane coated equalizer plates are in my opinion the better choice as they are more forgiving on your equipment and body than the full iron plates. If you like the idea of plates with holes in them to make them easier to carry, go for the Urethane coat instead.

If you don't care about design and convenience and all you want is the most possible amount of weight for the cheapest price that you can fit on your barbell, then go with Olympic Iron plates. They are not as convenient as the Urethane plates but cheaper. You also might like to go retro and just focus on lifting the weights rather than how they look in your basement.

The Rogue 6 shooter plates follow the same idea as the Equalizer plates. The only difference is that the holes are round rather than hexagonal. If you are leaning more towards Rogue as a brand than REP fitness to build your home gym, but like the concept of easy transport iron plates, then the 6 Shooter is the option for you.

The Rogue Olympic Iron plates are the simplest version you can get of a plate from Rogue. Steel that fits on a barbell. Nothing more, nothing less.

If you want to be as cheap as possible then go with TITAN and load your cart up. They also have Iron plates in stock.

Conclusion for the Rep Equalizer iron plates

The REP Equalizer iron plates have a great design and are practical in use. If I liked them and were to buy some I would go for the Urethane coated ones instead as they are minimally more expensive but are easier on my skin and equipment when training. They will also last longer as they are not as susceptible to rust.