Overview of the Rogue Machined Olympic plates
These plates are Rogue take on the standard metal plate. They have come up with a great design which combines grey hammertone with black writing. Many lifters love the sound of multiple metal plates clanging together when they post a new pr. These plates are made to precision with a 2 to 3% tolerance which sets them apart from the rest of the industry. These are the type of plates which a no-nonsense dungeon gym will hold. You get quite a lot of weight for your dollar with these ones.
Weight / Diameter / Thickness / Price per pair
45LB / 448mm / 1.50'' / $160
35LB/ 360mm / 1.50'' / $128
25LB / 300mm / 1.50'' / $ 105
10LB / 228mm / 1.22'' / $48.50
5LB / 195mm / 0.83'' / $32
2.5LB / 162mm / 0.63'' / $23
Available sets
245LB one pair each size $582
Pros of the Rogue Machined Olympic plates
The biggest pros are the price and machine precision. Compared to the
calibrated steel plates and high-end bumpers you get the same amount of weight for roughly half the price. Metal also feels different when you move it around. It makes more noise and just feels rawer. You will also be able to fit more weight onto your
barbell.
Cons of the Rogue Machined Olympic plates
These plates have no color coding and you can not always be sure what you put on the
bar. This makes it more likely to
misload
a lift. If you do not have a platform these plates are also a lot more likely to eat into your floor on deadlifts than
bumpers. They will also not sustain constant dropping of the weight from overhead. Especially your
barbell will suffer and deform quickly if you use them for Olympic lifts. In addition, they will also not age well in damp places as they will oxidate.
Alternatives to the Rogue Machined Olympic plates
If you still want that metal feel, can tolerate a bit more variance on the finish and prefer black, the Rogue
Olympic plates might be for you. They will also come in at an even lower price point.
Bumper plates are the alternative for the home gym warrior who wants to protect their floor and lift overhead. You will fit less weight on the
barbell, but you can train without a platform without wrecking the floor.
The
calibrated steel plates come with color coding and are IPF approved. If you want to prepare for your next
powerlifting meet and train like the pros, this is the option for you.
Overview of the TITAN color change plates
Price $20.95 - $139.99
Color change plates are great for your
Olympic lifting efforts or for micro loading on any kind of lift. Overhead presses and other exercises that do not escalate as quickly as the squat or the deadlift will benefit tremendously from the
colored change plates. They are also great to break through plateaus on your one-repetition maximum and always keep progressing forward even if the weight increase is ever so small. The full specifications of these plates are:
Rubber coated steel with a matte finish
Color-coded for easy identification
Sold in pairs of a full set totaling 37.5-pounds
Plate Diameter: 133.3 mm - 230 mm
Plate Width: 14 mm - 28 mm
Collar Opening: 51 mm
Color-Coded: White 1.25, Green 2.5, Blue 5, and White 10
Material: Rubber Matte Finish
Total Weight: 37.5 lb.
This si a good addition to your gym to keep progressing on every lift on every day. Practical and easy to use.
Pros of the TITAN color change plates
As with all TITAN products, the main headline to buy them is their low price. In addition, the
color-coded change plates also make it easier to directly see which weight you have actually put on your barbell.
Cons of the TITAN color change plates
Cons to the TITAN change plates are:
As TITAN undercuts the market by half they have to cut some corners in their production. Depending on which badge you get the finish can be a little off anything they produce. Especially on precision instruments like change plates that is not the best point to start with.
Alternatives to the TITAN color change plates
The
black change plates cost a little less. If you do like the design better, get these. The
color-coded plates are the better choice in my opinion as they only cost slightly more, but make the handling in the gym a lot easier.
Conclusion for the TITAN color change plates
If you want to save half on a $200 purchase they are the right choice If you want a snug fit on the barbell you might want to go with another vendor.