REP fitness vs Rogue competition plates
This is a comparison between the Rep Fitness competition 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.
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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
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 competition plates
This is an overview of the REP fitness competition 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.
Rep competition bumper plates $125
The c
ompetition bumper plates are the crown jewel of any vendor's plate lineup. They combine color coding with high-quality rubber to be bounced from overhead and an inner metal disc for stability during the clean and jerk and snatch. The
REP fitness competition plates are no exception to this design and are a solid option for someone who has high standards but does not want to lose a leg and an arm on a budget to obtain the standard. The full specifications for these bumpers are:
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Low Bounce
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Zinc Coated Steel Disc Insert
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Collar Opening: 50.5mm
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+/- 10 grams of claimed weight
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450mm Diameter (IWF Standard)
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Shore Durometer Ratings: 92 ShA
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Follow international color standards (Red/25kg, Blue/20kg, Yellow/15kg, Green/10kg)
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5-year warranty on all plates.
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Factory tested to 30,000+ drops.
Plate Thicknesses:
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Green - 1 3/8"
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Yellow - 1.6"
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Blue - 2 1/8"
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Red - 2.6"
Plate Sets:
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90 kg set (2)Each 20-15-10 Plates
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110 kg set (2)Each 25-20-10 Plates
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120 kg set (2)Each 25-20-15 Plates
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140 kg set (2)Each 25-20-15-10 Plates
The good thing about these bumpers is their price. If you don't mind imported plates then this is a good option to save on one of your major items on your shopping list for your home gym or commercial gym.
Pros of the Rep competition bumper plates
When you are considering buying these plates you are most likely very dedicated to your hobby or sport. The direct comparable competition of these plates is the
Rogue Competition bumpers and the Eleiko competition bumpers. Both of these are certified by the International weightlifting federation to be used in their
competitions to count towards qualifying for the Olympic games or other events regulated by the IWF. Based on this I think these plates are a good option for a dedicated hobby lifter. If you are a professional and want to do everything you possibly can to simulate
competition as close as possible in your training I would save a little more and get the Eleiko or Rogue plates depending on how you fit out the entire gym. The cost difference will be substantial, but can also be very motivating for you to do well with the hard-earned equipment.
These plates also have a very low bounce which is a feature of the high-end
bumper plates. When you get cheaper ones without a metal insert disc they will bounce higher. If you are training in a confined space or with a very heavy-weight (100kg or more overhead) I would consider upgrading to
competition plates for safety and convenience. Not a must, but definitely a great nice to have.
These plates have higher durability than regular
bumper plates as they are less likely to come apart at the hole where the sleeve of the barbell inserts. The only downside is that they are not really fit to be sued outdoors as the metal discs will start to corrode. If you want outdoor plates, get the cheapest
bumpers possible and just replace them as they will suffer a lot anyway.
The color coding is cool and fun when you are training. I was happy when I got my Rogue color-coded training plates even though I did not want to buy them at first but needed to because of availabilities. Gives your training a different level of seriousness.
Cons of the Rep competition bumper plates
The cons of the Rep competition bumper plates are:
The main argument against competition bumper plates is their price per kilogram. Most people will do more than fine with getting
bumper plates or
iron plates. If you mainly do powerlifting movements, don't bother with
bumpers and get
iron plates. They are cheap and you can load up your barbell to the brim. If you are planning to train Crossfitting style, then
bumper plates are a good option. For commercial uses, it really depends on what you want to convey to your clients. Gyms which a huge floor place will be best advised to get the cheapest per kilogram they can possibly get their hands on unless they are a collegiate gym flush with cash. Boutique gyms and CrossFit boxes should take into consideration that your dedicated clients will definitely know whether you bought the cheap stuff or the good equipment for your members. I would not be too pleased to exercise on York barbells when I am forking more than$200 a month over to you for my membership.
The metal disc is a plus for stability and balance on heavy lifts. It is not great when you work with axle bars or want to use the plates outdoors. In this case, simple
bumper plates are better. Don't use
iron plates outdoors. They will chip, rust, and rack anything you have mounted them on.
This is a personal style question, but I personally think these competition bumpers are very busy. They would look cooler if REP fitness just put "REP" on them like with their racks. Here Eleiko and Rogue win in my book with a less busy design. But that is just me when I would fork out extra money for something nice I would also like it to be as pleasing on the eye as possible.
If you are preparing for international competitions, you will use different plates. If simulation of big events is what you are after, bite the bullet and save a little more to get ELeiko or Rogue.
Alternatives to the Rep competition bumper plates
Alternatives to the REP competition bumper plates are:
The clue is in the name. If you do not compete in Crossfit or Olympic weightlifting the REP bumper plates or I
ron plates will do more than fine depending on whether you drop them from overhead or not.
The
Rogue competition plates and Eleiko competition plates are very similar in design and function but come at a higher price rate. In return, you are using equipment that got the blessing from the IWF to be used in their competitions.
Conclusion for the Rep competition bumper plates
These are great plates for a dedicated enthusiast in Crossfit or Olympic weightlifting for their home gym or a boutique gym that wants to show their clients that they take them seriously while not shelling out the money for a full Eleiko or Rogue setup. Athletes and collegiate gyms are probably better off opting for the Eleiko and Rogue plates, as long as the budget allows. Gyms with big floor space and a lot of plate trees to fill should immediately look at the other end of the price scale.