REP fitness Hi-Temp bumper plates vs Equalizer plates
This is a comparison between the REP Hi-temp bumper plates and the REP fitness Equalizer plates. Follow the links for more details.
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:
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Machine drilled center hole (not cast) for tight fit on bar.
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Sand blasted and machined for smooth surface.
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All surfaces rounded, no sharp edges.
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Sandblast before painting to ensure no surface rust is painted over.
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Powdercoated and baked for 1 hour for superior toughness and resistance to chipping.
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Symmetrical grip holes for easy lifting off the ground, and for using individual plates in exercises.
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Weight tolerance guaranteed within 2%
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"X" centered in between grip holes on 45, 35, and 25, as pictured on main image.
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255 lb set includes: (1) Pair of 45, 35, 25, 10, 2.5 lb plates. (2) Pairs of 5 lb plates.
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275 lb set includes: (2) Pair of 45, 5 lb plates. (1) Pair of 25, 10, 2.5 lb plates.
Plate Dimensions (width/diameter)
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2.5lb - 0.5"/6.25"
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5lb - 0.75"/8"
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10lb - 0.75"/9"
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25lb - 1.5"/12.25"
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35lb - 1.5"/14.25"
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45lb - 1.5"/17.7"
Pros of the Rep Equalizer iron plates
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Sleeve space
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Holes
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Iron sound
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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
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 I
ron 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 i
ron plates are easier to coat with a different color than
bumper plates if DIY is your thing.
Alternatives to the Rep Equalizer iron plates
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.
Overview and review of the REP fitness Hi-Temp bumper plates
This is an overview of the REP fitness Hi-temp bumper plates including pros, cons, and alternatives. The original was published under which plates to buy from rep fitness. Follow the links for more details.
Hi-Temp Bumper plates $25
If you are feeling eco-friendly the
Hi Temp bumper plates are the way to go for you. HI-temp bumpers are made from recycled material under very high temperature and are there also very durable. They are available from REP fitness in the following sizes:
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5lb
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10lb
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15lb
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25lb
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35lb
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45lb
Good, budget-friendly option.
Pros of the REP Hi-Temp Bumper plates
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Price
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Durability
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Can be used outdoors
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Don't stain easily
These are the ideal plates for someone who decides to do a lot of work with their plates outdoors. If you need to outfit a gym that is in a base camp or at a movie set in the middle of nowhere, then these are great. They also do not get stained as easily as colored plates which is a bonus in a dirty environment.
Cons of the REP Hi-Temp Bumper plates
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High bounce
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Sleeve space
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Hard to pick up
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Inconsistencies in color
The lifting mechanics of these plates are more or less identical to
regular bumper plates. This means that they are not great when you lift a lot of weight in the range of 200kg plus on a regular basis and they also don't do great for oly lifts. Lacking a metal core they spin more than c
ompetition plates on an oly lift and take up more sleeve space for the same weight.
These plates also lack an extra lip to be easier to be picked up from the ground. A MInor inconvenience, but still...
I think the biggest con of HI Temp bumper plates is that you are dealing with reheated and melted tires. While this is great for saving money and I guess the environment, even though I question whether reheating old rubber to form it into weight plates is really that eco-friendly, it is a nightmare for quality control. While these plates are
black in general, they are way more likely to have different shades of
black compared to newly produced
black bumper plates. But I guess that is not really high on your priority list if you are already considering the cheapest plates in town, which is cool.
Alternatives to the REP Hi-Temp Bumper plates
The
REP black bumper plates are basically the same thing, except they are not recycled and therefore easier to quality control. This means that you are more likely to get a consistent
black color without any shading. The downside is that they are more expensive and also do not give you the warm feeling of buying something that has been recycled.
The
REP competition bumper plates are the right choice if you have a generous budget and you are serious about your Olympic lifting. This is the best that REP has to offer in terms of precision and stability during an oly lift for plates. The downside is the price which starts at $129 for the cheapest plates instead of $25 for the HI Temp bumpers.
The Rogue HI temp plates are Rogue's cheap line of plates for the budget-conscious buyer. Of course, budget-conscious and Rogue Fitness do not really go well together in the same sentence, but if you were to get a good rack and barbell from Rogue, but want to save a little on
bumpers, then these are a good option to throw in your cart. They are the closest match on the Rogue plate lineup compared to the
REP Hi-Temp bumper plates.
TITAN is the cost leader in this business, so if you want to get together a whole gym with the lowest possible cost you can also get their
bumpers into your cart and build an entire gym from that. The downside is that they seem to have more issues with quality control than REP fitness and Rogue fitness.
Conclusion for the REP Hi-Temp Bumper plates
The
Hi Temp bumpers from REP are a good option to save some cost and make you feel better about yourself as long as you don't mind that they won't be in one continuous shape of black.