Best plates for home gym

[LiterallyMe2358]

I’m moving out for a new job in November. Up until now I have used my roommates plates for our combined home gym but come November we will be going our separate ways.

What brand/set of plates should I buy? I’ve been eyeing the Fringe Sport Savage Bumpers since they are highly reviewed and look pretty cool but they are almost always out of stock.
This is going to be a lifetime purchase so I don’t mind dropping some cash but I’d prefer not to be spending 400 dollars for a pair of 45s/20 kgs.
https://www.fringesport.com/products/sa ... late-pairs

[Wilhelm]

Are you dead set on getting bumpers?

[Hardartery]

Let's see. New user, this is the only post, touting an equipment company I've never heard of. Hard to take it seriously,

[Wilhelm]

Eh, Fringe isn't all that fringe

But yeah, wondering if there will be follow up discussion.

I think the Rep Equalizers are nice, and less expensive than the Rogue Six Shooters.

[augeleven]

Well posting here worked - they’re all sold out.
Do bumpers last a lifetime though?
Assuming you use them?

[LiterallyMe2358]

Yeah you got me I am a paid shill. Fringe sport just paid me 50 cents to make this post

[Wilhelm]

Yeah you got me I am a paid shill. Fringe sport just paid me 50 cents to make this post

lul


So, are bumpers all you're considering?

[LiterallyMe2358]

Yeah you got me I am a paid shill. Fringe sport just paid me 50 cents to make this post

lul


So, are bumpers all you're considering?

Yeah, not a big fan of deadlifting with irons and at this point I would much rather have all bumpers than a mix of iron and bumpers for the aesthetics

[bobmen10000]

Rogue Echo v.2 are really good bumpers; they are very durable, not very thick (more on the bar) and they do come up fairly frequently on Rogue. The colored ones are sweet but they rarely come up for sale. https://asmanyreviewsaspossible.com/202 ... ment-list/ is a good page to follow for Rogue updates.

[Wilhelm]

I don't pay much attention to bumpers, but there's Vulcan and Omni Fitness too.

Damufunman uses the Vulcan iirc.

Welcome to the site, btw, @LiterallyMe2358 : )

[LiterallyMe2358]

Rogue Echo v.2 are really good bumpers; they are very durable, not very thick (more on the bar) and they do come up fairly frequently on Rogue. The colored ones are sweet but they rarely come up for sale. https://asmanyreviewsaspossible.com/202 ... ment-list/ is a good page to follow for Rogue updates.

How would you say they compare to Rogue Fleck Plates? I had been eyeing those too

[augeleven]

You’ll probably end up mixing a little bit any way for change plates, right? Not sure how strong you are but with the deadlift, loading a weight that uses a lot of plates like 390 is going to take up some space on the bar. 475 would be a no-go on my OBP lockjaw style clamps

Something to think about

[Wilhelm]

You’ll probably end up mixing a little bit any way for change plates, right? Not sure how strong you are but with the deadlift, loading a weight that uses a lot of plates like 390 is going to take up some space on the bar. 475 would be a no-go on my OBP lockjaw style clamps

Something to think about

The "compact" iron 45s could be useful.
Bumpers are a little taller than regulation 45s, but the 15.5" one would for sure be off the floor.
Easier to load too with no jack needed for them.

[bobmen10000]

Rogue Echo v.2 are really good bumpers; they are very durable, not very thick (more on the bar) and they do come up fairly frequently on Rogue. The colored ones are sweet but they rarely come up for sale. https://asmanyreviewsaspossible.com/202 ... ment-list/ is a good page to follow for Rogue updates.

How would you say they compare to Rogue Fleck Plates? I had been eyeing those too

Fleck are wider/thicker, have not actually used them however so can't compare bounce or durability. I would imagine most of the fleck style plates are made in the same plant(s) in China, so you should look for the cheapest price & availability versus manufacturer. I don't believe anyone else makes the Rogue Echo V.2 specs, could be wrong on that though.

[hector]

Rogue Echo v.2 are really good bumpers; they are very durable, not very thick (more on the bar) and they do come up fairly frequently on Rogue. The colored ones are sweet but they rarely come up for sale. https://asmanyreviewsaspossible.com/202 ... ment-list/ is a good page to follow for Rogue updates.

I have Rogue V2 bumpers. Can confirm they're the shit. I like them.

[hector]

In my opinion, assuming you can hit 135+ on all your lifts, all you need in bumpers are 45s.

A few sets of 45 echo v2 bumpers and then, like Wilhelm suggests, some change plates or some cheap small diameter iron plates will let you load easily.

[psmith]

Vulcan Alphas are specifically warrantied for outdoor use, unlike any other virgin rubber bumpers that I know of, if that matters to you. I believe they also have a "hooked" steel insert, along with Fringe and maybe one specific line of Rogues.

Rn I myself would like to be able to lift outside and ideally fit a bit more weight on a trap bar than I can with current crumb rubber 45s, wondering if I should get Wright crumb 55s plus or minus a pair of deep dish 100s (made in USA but even deep dish iron in the parking lot is probably no bueno, also expensive with shipping), just get Vulcan Alphas (would probably work but not made in USA, also expensive) or get a set of Hi-Temps and a couple pair of their 65s (cheap per pound and made in USA but 17.5in diameter means I'm stuck with Hi-Temps and maybe some cheap iron.). We'll see how it goes.

[damufunman]

As @augeleven pointed how, how strong are you? If you plan on pulling over about 500lbs, then you'll probably have to get competition-style bumpers to get enough weight on the bar.
I have the Vulcan standard bumpers, and overall they're good, though leave a bit to be desired in quality, namely one of my 15kg bumpers doesn't lay square to the rest; there's a gap on one side between the edge of adjacent bumpers. Other than that they've been great.

[FredM]

Vulcan Alphas are specifically warrantied for outdoor use, unlike any other virgin rubber bumpers that I know of, if that matters to you. I believe they also have a "hooked" steel insert, along with Fringe and maybe one specific line of Rogues.

I have these and highly recommend. (10,25,35,45,55)

I highly don't recommend Fringe anything. I have their technique 10 lb plates and they're crap. Alphas are goign to last longer, and Vulcan's plate-collar fit (on alphas too) is industry leading. Strength Co gets a lot of well deserved praise for their fit on collars (I have those too) but I never see anyone talk about Vulcans and my alphas fit just as well. Unless you're going to lift more than 500 lbs very regularly and your dead set on bumpers -- go Vulcan Alphas. I can squat and bench with the alphas and no collars and rarely have to reset them.

[Hardartery]

Okay, I'll assume you are actually legit, seeing as you have posted again. I dont like any bumbers that only have the little metal ring where it mounts to the bar. The ring gets loose and messed up over time. If you are trying to invest long term, and you have to have bumpers, ante up a little for ones with the wide metal like the cmp plates. They mount better and last forever. As for aesthetics, we have very different viewpoints on that. I think those fleck plates and the Fringe ones that you linked are both hideous. Like clothing from the 70's hideous. Calibrated plates are the way to go long term if you lift much, space on the bar becomes a premium pretty quick with bumpers.