REP fitness sports plates vs Equalizer plates
This is a comparison between the REP fitness sports 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 sports plates
This is an overview of the REP fitness sports plates including pros, cons, and alternatives. The original was published under which plates to buy from rep fitness. Follow the links for more details.
Sport plates $69
The
REP sport plates fill the gap between competition plates and bumper plates by being super durable, forgiving when you use them outside, and still being decent when dropped from overhead. The only two negatives about these plates are price and how they travel during an Olympic lift. The full specifications of these plates are:
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Ultra-durable. Seriously.
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Textured rubber around the outer edge for easy handling.
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Low bounce.
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Great for commercial use.
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Up to 10% quieter than standard black bumpers when dropped from overhead.
If you are intending to outfit a boutique gym and want to impress your clients without getting competition plates, then these are the ones. For a home gym, I would be a bit more specific about what you mostly do what your plates and make my investment from there.
Pros of the REP Sport plates
The pros of the rep sport plates are:
These rubber plates have been done from a mold that emulates the shape and feel of
competition bumper plates. The only big difference is that there is no metal disc in the middle. This makes them easier to ease outdoors and more forgiving when used for anything else than Olympic lifts.
Compared to regular
bumpers these plates are also color-coded. This looks cooler and also has some practical value to keep the plates apart when you are training.
As these plates are full rubber they really can take a punch. If you are expecting these plates to be maltreated a lot, then go for these instead of r
egular bumpers.
The price on these plates compared to
competition plates is about half. If you rebuilding a home gym that trains everything under the sun give these plates a serious look before you buy c
ompetition bumpers or regular bumpers.
Cons of the REP Sport plates
These plates are not IWF certified and hit differently for Olympic lifts than
competition plates. When you clean or snatch these pates there just a little different from how they fight gravity compared to
competition plates. This is minimal, but minimal counts if you are an elite Olympic lifter. Still, that does not apply to most of the population out there.
Compared to r
egular bumper plates and
iron plates these are still a lot more expensive. So ask yourself if you really really need plates with a low bounce and 10% less sound when dropped. 10% less sound still means loud enough to wake the kids and annoy the neighbors without a drop pad. If you get a drop pad, why get the sports plates? If you don't lift overhead, why not just get
iron plates?
Compared to
iron plates these plates take up more space on the bar. If you lift more than 5 plates on each side on a regular basis this becomes and you should opt for
iron plates. Again the exception, rather than the norm.
Alternatives to the REP Sport plates
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REP Iron plates
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TITAN competition plates
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If you want to stay with REP seriously ask yourself what you use your plates for. Chances are high that you should get
bumpers or
Iron plates instead based on your use case. The only exception is a boutique or strength gym that charges a high membership. This is the plate to get to keep clients happy without breaking the bank.
If you would like
black plates with color coding and a metal insert, then the
Rogue black training plates are for you. I have these plates myself as they were the only ones available when I started my Rogue-themed gym and they were a bit of an indulgence. But I train 5 times a week, run a fitness blog, and try to impress people on my social media channels. Unless you don't care that much about the money they are not really for the average joe. If you want to indulge yourself as a personal lifter, have a look at the mechanized Rogue iron plates.
TITAN also offers competition plates
iron plates and
bumper plates.
TITAN is cheap and has more quality issues compared to Rogue and REP based on my research. I personally think
TITAN has to be seen as an "I want the best package deal on my home gym" approach.
Conclusion for the REP Sport plates
The
REP sport plates are a great option for the boutique gym that wants to tell their clients "this is why you train here and not around the corner". A dedicated all-around athlete at home will also appreciate the money saved compared to competition plates and not feeling cheap for getting
regular bumpers. IN most cases
Iron plates or
bumper plates are the better choices based on what you are using them for to save money for things like kettlebells, a nice barbell, or an adjustable bench on your cart.