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Which plates to get from REP fitness

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

May 3, 2021 2:09:20 AM

REP Urethane Coated Equalizers

Which plates to get from REP fitness?

This is an overview of the REP fitness plates including their pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more detailed information. You can always follow me on Instagram for the most up-to-date information.

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Index

The REP plates in this article are ordered from highest to lowest price for your convenience. Just scroll down to the ones you would like more information about to get the details. 

 
 

Quick reference

If you just want to throw money at REP fitness without doing too much research you can use this little quick reference. REP fitness is a good quality vendor that imports from overseas. The quality leader in the market would be Rogue fitness. The cost leader would be TITAN fitness. YOu can scroll down to the selected options to see the alternatives for each. 
 
Best quality
 
Best for commercial use
REP Urethane Equalizer plates
 
Best for a home gym
 
 
 

Rep competition bumper plates $125

 

Overview of the Rep competition bumper plates

 
The competition 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:
 
  • Low Bounce
  • Zinc Coated Steel Disc Insert
  • Collar Opening: 50.5mm
  • +/- 10 grams of claimed weight
  • 450mm Diameter (IWF Standard)
  • Shore Durometer Ratings: 92 ShA
  • Follow international color standards (Red/25kg, Blue/20kg, Yellow/15kg, Green/10kg)
  • 5-year warranty on all plates.
  • Factory tested to 30,000+ drops.
 
Plate Thicknesses:
 
  • Green - 1 3/8"
  • Yellow - 1.6"
  • Blue - 2 1/8"
  • Red - 2.6"
 
Plate Sets:
 
  • 90 kg set (2)Each 20-15-10 Plates
  • 110 kg set (2)Each 25-20-10 Plates
  • 120 kg set (2)Each 25-20-15 Plates
  • 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

 
 
  • Price compared to other vendors
  • Low bounce
  • High durability
  • Color coding
 
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:
 
  • Price compared to other plate options
  • Metal disc
  • Busy design
  • Not IWF approved
 
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 Iron 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.
 
 

Sport plates $69

 

Overview of the REP Sport plates

 
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:
 
  • Ultra-durable. Seriously. 
  • Textured rubber around the outer edge for easy handling.
  • Low bounce.
  • Great for commercial use.
  • 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:
 
  • Rubber plates with a competition design
  • Color-coded plates
  • Durable
  • Price compared to competition plates
 
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 regular 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 competition bumpers or regular bumpers.
 

Cons of the REP Sport plates

 
The cons of the REP sports plates are:
 
  • Not IWF certified
  • Lifting dynamic on Oly lifts
  • Price compared to regular bumper or Iron plates
  • Bar space
 
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 regular 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

 
Alternatives to the REP fitness sports plates are:
 
 
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.
 
 

REP Black Bumper plates $49

 

Overview of the REP Black Bumper plates

 
The REP black bumper plates are the standard option you can find from most vendors around. These plates have a good price per plate, can be used outdoors, and fit on most barbells. This is the workhorse plate for the home or in a commercial gym. If you are not sure what to buy, you can not go wrong with these. The full specifications are:
 
  • 160 lb - (2)Each 45-25-10
  • 190 lb - (2)Each 45-25-15-10
  • 210 lb - (2)Each 45-35-25
  • 230 lb - (2)Each 45-35-25-10
  • 250 lb - (4) 45 (2) Each 25-10
  • 260 lb - (2)Each 45-35-25-15-10
  • 370 lb - (6) 45 lb & (2)Each 25-15-10
  • Superior craftsmanship and design. Steel inserts with hooks molded into the bumper plates increase durability versus older designs with brass inserts.
  • Extra thick 10 lb plates are the best on the market, and highly resistant to bending
  • Low bounce. Some recycled rubber bumper plates will bounce very high and make you chase the bar around. Not ours.
  • Thin profile. With a good Olympic bar, you can fit 515lbs of our bumper plates on the bar.
  • Factory tested to withstand over 12,000 drops from a height of 8 ft. 
  • Used in both commercial and home gyms all over the world
  • 3% Tolerance
 
Solid plates for any use scenario. Not too expensive and not too cheap to get you where you want to go with your fitness.
 

Pros of the REP Black Bumper plates

 
Pros of the REP Black bumper plates are:
 
  • Value for money
  • Goes with anything
  • Can be used outdoors
  • Very forgiving on the user
  • Very forgiving on the floor
 
Black bumper plates are always a safe bet. Especially for someone who is not incredibly strong or wants to break world records. They are reliable. If Black bumper plates get dirty it is not that bad, as the dirt will not show up as much on the black. A decent black color also goes with most other equipment in any given gym as it is often black or grey.
 
Bumper plates are also good as they can be dropped from overhead without damaging the plates, the lifter, floor, or equipment. Bumper plates are very forgiving and ideal for any beginner or intermediate lifter. They can also be used outdoors as they take better to rain and sand than other, pricier plates.
 

Cons of the REP Black Bumper plates

 
Cons of the REP black bumper plates are:
 
  • Sleeve space
  • High bounce
  • Can get very hot
  • Balance
  • Can be awkward to pick up
  • Higher fault tolerance
 
The biggest con of bumper plates is that they take up more space than iron and competition plates on the barbell. If you lift very heavy regular bumper plates usually max out the sleeves of the barbell somewhere around 180kg to 220kg depending on how you stack the plates. If you are a serious powerlifter or want to save storage space in your commercial gym you are better off getting iron plates.
 
If you use these plates mainly for Olympic lifting you have to keep in mind that they are louder and bounce more than competition plates. If you want to get through a proper snatch workout in the least amount of time that can actually be quite annoying. A minor thing, but still worth considering.
 
These plates are also balanced differently compared to competition plates. As they have no metal core ring they spin differently during Olympic lifts than bumper plates. A good lifter will still lift heavy weight with these, but if you are entering micro differences you might want to for the competition plates instead.
 
As they are black rubber they might not be the ideal plates to be used outdoors in a very hot climate. Again, something minor, but if you burn your hand on a very hot bumper once you know what I am talking about. Higher quality plates take a little better to heat and do not absorb it as fast. Different color also helps.
 
These bumper plates have a higher fault tolerance than the competition and precision plates. This means it is more likely that the plate you are getting does not exactly weigh what it says on the plate. Calibrated plates are the best way to remedy this. Here the plates are weighed at the end of the production process and then adjusted with a little metal insert to be as precise as possible. This production step also makes them more expensive than bumpers or regular iron plates.
 

Alternatives to the REP Black Bumper plates

 
Alternatives to the REP BUmper plates are:
 
 
If you want something a bit more precise and with a color you can also get the REP competition plates. These plates are made to competition specifications and are therefore produced with a lower tolerance rate. They also have a little lip which makes them easier to pick up from the ground.
 
The REP-colored bumper plates are a good alternative if you want color in your life instead of simple black. The nice thing is that they are very close in price to the regular black bumper plates.
 
The Rogue fleck plates are a nice hybrid between black rubber plates and colored plates. The black plates are being infused with color during the production process to make them look like checkered animals. If you want your gym to be hip and different, this is the plate to make that statement without reaching into the Avengers or food-themed weight plates.
 
Rogue's machined iron plates are a good option for someone who wants precise iron plates for their ambitious home gym. These are a particularly good choice for any powerlifters that need to stack a lot of iron on the plate to still make gains.
 
The TITAN bumper plates are the cheap version between Rogue, REP, and TITAN if you want to get the most weight for your buck from a decent vendor, then TITAN is the way to go.
 

Conclusion for the REP Black Bumper plates

 
The rep black bumper plates are a solid choice when you are confused and just want to get going. They are also a good choice for a commercial gym that wants to play things safe.
 
 

REP color bumper plates $49

 

Overview of the REP color bumper plates

 
The REP color bumper plates are a colored option of the REP black bumper plates. What I like about these bumpers is that they are affordable and very close in price to the standard black. If you are torn between black and colored bumpers for the same price I definitely recommend going for the colored ones. Way more fun to train with. The full specifications are:
 
Plate Sets:
 
  • 160 lb - (2)Each 45-25-10
  • 210 lb - (2)Each 45-35-25
  • 230 lb - (2)Each 45-35-25-10
  • 260 lb - (2)Each 45-35-25-15-10
  • 370 lb - (2)Each 55-45-35-25-15-10
 
  • 10 lb - Gray
  • 15 lb - Black (from our regular black plates)
  • 25 lb - Green
  • 35 lb - Yellow
  • 45 lb - Blue
  • 55 lb - Red 
 
A very affordable way to get colored plates into your home gym as other options might break the budget.
 

Pros of the REP color bumper plates

 
 
  • Price
  • Color
  • Very forgiving
  • Can be used outdoors
 
The best thing about the REP-colored bumper plates is the decision of REP to not charge you a lot extra if you prefer color over black. That is great as other vendors go for a different policy on this one or do not even stock anything but black plates. So if you want colored plates on a budget, then these are a good choice.
 
Bumper plates are very forgiving on the lifter, floor, and equipment. They are the least likely to injure someone or cut into the floor and rack you are using. If you have a lot of beginners around or do not know who and how the plates will be used at all times, try stocking more bumpers than iron plates. Iron is great, but it is a lot easier to hurt yourself with these plates.
 
The last bonus of these plates as that they can be used outdoors. They won't deform and if they get dirty they are easy to clean.
 

Cons of the REP color bumper plates

 
The cons of the REP colored bumper plates are:
 
  • Price compared to iron
  • Sleeve space
  • High bounce
  • Stain easier
  • Suboptimal for oly lifts
  • Can be awkward to pick up
 
The main con for bumper plates is that they take up more sleeve space than iron plates. They are usually also a little more expensive than Iron plates per kilogram. With bumper plates, you usually max out the barbell somewhere around 180kg - 220kg depending on the barbell you use and how you stack the plates. If you are a serious powerlifter that regularly works with 200kg or more you need iron plates. But if you are shopping for plates as a powerlifter, you probably are already well aware of that as you did not step into the gym yesterday.
 
These bumper plates have a higher bounce than specific competition plates. If you are only lifting a lot, especially heavy, this can become annoying. Again, if you are an experienced OLy lifter you will know how to handle a bouncing bar, but it would be beneficial if it did a little less of that when you do 100s and 1000s of reps. In that case, get plates with a low bounce that usually cost a little more like the REP sports plates or competition plates.
 
Colored plates pick up blemishes and stains more than simple black plates. If you do not want to have to clean your plates as often to keep them looking nice then black plates are the better choice.
 
As these plates do not have a metal core they tend to spin a little more in an unpredictable way for oly lifts or not at all. That can mess with the dynamic of an oly lift and lead to lower lifts. However, this is minor and only relevant to top athletes.
 
Bumper plates are generally a little more awkward to pick up from the floor than iron plates as you get less grip. Some bumper plates have an added little lip to get grip on which these do not provide. Again minor, but we like to split hairs here.
 

Alternatives to the REP color bumper plates

 
Alternatives to the REP bumper plates are:
 
 
If you want to play it safe, especially for a commercial gym, then you can also get a stack of black bumper plates. Not everyone likes to train with colored plates, even though I think they are the best thing since sliced bread.
 
If you want to take it up a notch you can get the REP competition bumpers instead. They will have a lower bounce and weight tolerance and are therefore more precise instruments than the colored bumpers. They also have a metal core which makes them more centered during oly lifts. The big con is that they can cost up to triple what a single bumper plate costs.
 
Rogue fitness also offers a line of colored bumper plates if you are leaning more towards equipping your gym Rogue themed. These plates are also imported so the patriotism card does not apply as much as with some other products from Rogue. If you want to go for American-made plates you can order the Rogue deep-dish plates.
 
The machined iron plates are high precision iron plates from Rogue with a lower tolerance compared to regular iron plates. This means you pay a little extra so that these plates are being produced with lower fault tolerance to weigh exactly what it states in the plate.
 
The TITAN color bumpers are a low-budget option. Especially if you want to build your entire gym as cheap as possible without ransacking Facebook groups and Craigslist you should pay TITAN a visit.
 

Conclusion for the REP color bumper plates

 
These are a good option to get color in our home or commercial gym at a reasonable price if you want to.
 
 

Fractional plate set $39

 

Overview of the REP Fractional plate set

 
Fractional plates are a great tool to progress further, especially if you are very light or for lifts on which you can not really move big weights. With fractional plates, you can increase the weight of loadable dumbbells for awkward movements or push your one-rep maximum on an oly lift ever so slightly. This set of fractional plates includes:
 
  • 0.25 Kg (White) - Diameter: 4.25"  Thickness: 3/16"
  • 0.5 Kg (Green) - Diameter: 4.25"   Thickness: 3/8"
  • 0.75 Kg (Blue) - Diameter: 4.25"    Thickness: 1/2"
  • 1.0 Kg (Red) - Diameter: 4.25"       Thickness: 3/4"
 
With this, you are set to bridge any minute gap between two progressions. If you are a huge fan of the Wendler 5/3/1 method you also might want to get a set of fractional plates.
 

Pros of the REP Fractional plate set

 
The pros of fractional plates are:
 
  • Allow you to microload
 
This is the main and probably only reason to get yourself some fractional plates. If you struggle on a certain plateau and can move in 2.5kg or 5kg increment these come in handy.
 

Cons of the REP Fractional plate set

 
The cons of fractional plates are:
 
  • Not used often
  • Easily stolen
  • Break easy
 
If you know how to use them, you won't use them very often unless you train Wendler 5/3/1. In a commercial gym most people won't even know how to use them properly. When used incorrectly they are also more likely to crack or deform than other plates. Probably the biggest con for commercial use is that these get stolen or lost. In any gym, I have been in that stocked these they just seemed to disappear over time.
 

Alternatives to the REP Fractional plate set

 
Alternatives to the rep fractopnal plates are:
 
  • Rogue fractional plates
  • TITAN fractional plates
 
These are not hugely different and it comes down to price. Remember that you will pay the shipping costs, so don't cut off your nose to spite your face. If you have a big order with TITAN or Rogue just throw the fractional plates in rather than getting them separately from REP causing shipping cost.
 

Conclusion for the REP Fractional plate set

 
Fractional plates are great for small lifters in general or big lifters who just need 5kg extra on their one-rep max or someone who wants to push some awkward lifts or grip exercises to the next level. Most average gym clients will not know how to use these properly and lose or break them.
 
 

Hi-Temp Bumper plates $25

 

Overview of the REP Hi-Temp Bumper plates

 
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:
 
  • 5lb
  • 10lb
  • 15lb
  • 25lb
  • 35lb
  • 45lb
 
Good, budget-friendly option.
 

Pros of the REP Hi-Temp Bumper plates

 
The pros os the Hi-Temp bumper plates are:
 
  • Price
  • Durability
  • Can be used outdoors
  • 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

 
Cons of the REP HI-Temp plates are:
 
  • High bounce
  • Sleeve space
  • Hard to pick up
  • 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 competition 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

 
Alternatives to the REP HI-Temp bumper plates are:
 
 
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.
 
 

Rep Urethane Coated Equalizers $15

 

Overview of the Rep Urethane Coated Equalizers

 
The REP Urethane coated Equalizer plates are a great way on how REP fitness thought about innovation in the fitness space and applied to their product line to make something that saves cost while still being durable. Urethane plates are said to be one of the most durable plates you can have for a gym. The problem is that it is costly to produce dumbbells or plates completely made of Urethane. So rep took their successful equalizer plate design and applied a Urethane coat to them. What you get is a very affordable, cool-looking plate for your home gym or for commercial use that is also durable. The full specifications of these plates are:
 
  • Six (6) precision-cut holes so athletes can move these plates comfortably from any angle.
  • Cast iron plates are coated in a commercial-grade ultra-durable CPU urethane that is highly impact-resistant and shock absorbent.
  • CPU Urethane has virtually no odor.
  • Attractive embossed logo and weight markings with white inlay.
  • Grip cutouts for easy handling.
  • 3% weight tolerance.
 
Plate Dimensions (width/diameter)
 
  • 2.5LB: 6.25” / 0.9"
  • 5LB: 8” / 1”
  • 10LB: 9” / 1.4"
  • 25LB: 12” / 2"
  • 35LB: 14” / 2"
  • 45LB: 17.6” total diameter / 1.8" thickness
 
These plates are great for commercial use as they are easy to pick up from the floor and handled all kinds of exercises. If I owned my own gym for clients instead of a home gym, I would probably get these plates.
 

Pros of the Rep Urethane Coated Equalizers

 
The pros of the Urethane Coated Equalizers are:
 
  • Easy to handle
  • Forgiving
  • Cool design
  • Attractive price
 
These plates live up to the "better, faster, cheaper" credo that often cited in business to create a better solution. These plates are easy to put away, pick up from the ground, and load onto the barbell based on their six holes. The design also makes them look cool as the holes are not round but hexagonal.
 
The Urethane coating makes them more forgiving than regular iron plates so you will not have sharp edges or rubbing off other equipment in your gym. All of this at a very attractive price point makes this a serious contender, especially for commercial use.
 

Cons of the Rep Urethane Coated Equalizers

 
 
  • Iron plates inside
  • The Integrity of the plates comprmised
  • No color options
 
I personally think these are a lot better than the regular Equlizer plates and absolutely worth the extra money compared to these. But you still have to keep in mind that you are buying an iron plate with a Urethane coating, not a Urethane bumper. This means that these plates will take a bigger toll on your floor and equipment when dropped from overhead than an actual Urethane or bumper plate. Don't believe that this behaves just like a bumper for your lifts. It behaves like an Iron plate with a bit of cushioning. If you ever have used an Iron kettlebell with plastic coating you get what I mean.
 
While the holes are great for moving the plates around, the integrity of these plates is compromised. They are more likely to crack or warp under heavy use than plates that have a full disc. In a mass use scenario where you have spare plates and can have a rollover contingency for a franchise that does not matter that much, but for your home gym it does matter when one or two of your 55s crack and you are short for your heavy cycles.
 
Compared to other bumper plates you have no color options on the equalizers. If you wanted to get black anyway, no harm done.
 

Alternatives to the Rep Urethane Coated Equalizers

 
 
 
The REP equalizer plates are an alternative to save a little money for more or less the same thing. Especially if you are not intending to use the plates for Russian twists or other exercises where you hold the plates you might as well go for the non-coated option and get some spare change to buy something else.
 
The Rep rubber-coated Olympic plates are an even more budget optimized option out of the REP plate lineup. You can also carry these around very easily and they do the trick of providing weight to your barbell. I personally don't like their design and would rather buy the Coated Equalizers. But that's just me.
 
The REP HI Temp bumper plates are in my opinion the better option for someone who is intending to do a lot of CrossFit or Olympic lifting at home but is on a tight budget. For this type of training, you need on average less weight on the bar than for powerlifting so the thickness of the plates does not matter as much. What does matter is the damage to your equipment and floor when dropping weights from overhead which will be considerably less with the bumpers than with the equalizers. Yes, the rubber coating does help, but you are still dropping plates with a metal core from overhead.
 
The Rogue 6 Shooter plates are in my opinion the right plates for someone who mainly does powerlifting at home, but is fed up with how hard iron plates are to handle. These will be easier on your back and you will be delighted that it has become a lot easier to load and deload your barbell with those 700 pounds you pull in meet preparation. They also make that nice rattling metal sound that anyone who can lift more than three wheels for reps loves. They are not great for commercial use as they are simple iron plates with holes in them. For that scenario, the urethane-coated equalizers are still better.
 
Rogue HI temp bumpers are an alternative to consider to the REP HI Temp bumpers if you are mainly into oly lifting. Stay away from the equalizers if you are intending to drop your plates from overhead often and compare the low-end bumper options for your need between different vendors.
 
TITAN is the friend of everyone who wants to make their home gym dollar stretch as far as possible. As long as you do not mind minor quality issues and know how to assemble things without instructions or sand down / widen some drilled holes, TITAN is your best option to get the most home gym for your buck.
 

Conclusion for the Rep Urethane Coated Equalizers

 
The REP Urethane Coated Equalizers are from my perspective some of the best plates in the market for commercial use. They look good, are practical, do not cost a lot and will not be wrecked by the average joe in your gym. You also can get quite a lot of them on a plate tree which is also important for commercial use. If your clientele is heavily into Oly lifting you might get real bumpers instead. For a home gym, I also think that they are nice, but I would lean to more upmarket plates or something really cheap like simple iron plates in this scenario.
 
 

Rep Equalizer iron plates $10

 

Overview of the Rep Equalizer iron plates

 
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.
 

 

Topics: Powerlifting, Garagegym, Home Gym, Bodybuilding, REP Fitness

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