Best Bumper Plates Review In 2022

As a collegiate athlete who has trained in several small to world-class gyms, I’ve been able to test out different types of bumper plates on the market. 

Out of the nine bumper plates that we got to test and research, we recommend the Rogue Echo Bumper Plate because it has all the requirements for a quality bumper plate and its affordability.

These Rogue Bumper Plates are made with superior sturdiness and material, ensuring they withstand all the impact when you drop the bar. 

Made with vulcanized rubber with a 2-inch stainless steel insert, they are affordable and perfect for daily use.

The Top Bumper Plates Reviewed

Product Image	Product's name	Material/Warranty	More Info
	Best All-Around Rogue Echo Bumper Plates	Virgin Rubber 10 lb - 15 lb for 3 months 10 lb - 15 lb for 3 months	View latest price
	Best Affordable Rep Fitness Bumper Plates	Recycled Rubber 10 lb - 15 lb for 6 months 25 lb- 45lb for 3 years.	View latest price
[amazon fields="B071RFLR2T" value="thumb"]	Best Quality Alternative [amazon fields="B071RFLR2T" value="title" title_length="100"]	Virgin Rubber 10 lb, 15 lb, 25 lb, 35 lb, 45 lb for 1 year	[amazon fields="B071RFLR2T" value="button"]
[amazon fields="B07DKWDZ85" value="thumb"]	Best Garage Gym Option [amazon fields="B07DKWDZ85" value="title" title_length="100"]	Virgin Rubber 10 lb, 15 lb, 25 lb, 35 lb, 45 lb for 1 year	[amazon fields="B07DKWDZ85" value="button"]
[amazon fields="B00I18FF6C" value="thumb"]	Best Beginner Option [amazon fields="B00I18FF6C" value="title" title_length="100"]	Recycled Rubber 10 lb - 15 lbs for 6 months 25 lbs - 45 lbs for 3 years	[amazon fields="B00I18FF6C" value="button"]
[amazon fields="B00IN8N9JK" value="thumb"]	Best Durable Option [amazon fields="B00IN8N9JK" value="title" title_length="100"]	Virgin Rubber 10-15LB for 1 years 25-45LB for 3 years.	[amazon fields="B00IN8N9JK" value="button"]
	Best Set Option Vulcan Strength 160 lb Bumper Plate Set	Virgin Rubber 10 lb - 15 lb for 1 year 25 lb- 55lb for 3 years.	View latest price
[amazon fields="B00ERADU9M" value="thumb"]	Best Crafted Option [amazon fields="B00ERADU9M" value="title" title_length="100"]	Recycled Rubber 10 lb, 15 lb, 25 lb, 35 lb, 45 lb for 1 year	[amazon fields="B00ERADU9M" value="button"]
[amazon fields="B01MQ2Q9S5" value="thumb"]	Best Thick Option [amazon fields="B01MQ2Q9S5" value="title" title_length="100"]	Recycled Rubber Not Listed	[amazon fields="B01MQ2Q9S5" value="button"]

Find the Best Bumper Plates for You

Rogue is one of the largest American distributors and manufacturers of strength and conditioning equipment. 

From CrossFit and military to collegiate and professional sports teams, Rogue has become a household name to all North Americans that want trustworthy and reliable sports equipment.

These Rogue Bumper Plates are made with superior sturdiness and material, ensuring they withstand all the impact when you drop the bar. Made with vulcanized rubber with a 2 inch stainless steel insert, they are affordable and perfect for daily use.

If you’re looking for a quality bumper plate made from a reputable brand, we recommend using Rogue Echo’s Bumper Plates.

Rep Fitness is a fitness equipment manufacturer and supplier that provides innovative and high-quality solutions for all your fitness gear needs. 

These Rep Fitness has definitely tried to change what you’d expect from regular bumper plates. Instead of the boring black-colored bumper plates, they provide plates in different colors, depending on the weight.

These plates are made with solid rubber with a steel insert, increasing each bumper plate’s overall durability. Each set of weights are thin (2.5” width thickness), so you can stack more plates on the bar. This also means that they won’t bounce as high.

With tests on the Rep Fitness Bumper Plates to endure over 15000 drops from 8 ft, you know these plates will last for a long time.

ProSource is a US supplier of commercial exercise equipment. Focused on combining integrity, quality, value, and knowledge, they attempt to create fitness equipment with thoughtful design and proper product implementation.

The ProSource bumper plate is a great competitor against reputable brands such as Rep and Rogue. These bumper plates are an amazing design while providing a different look than most common black bumper plates.

With a low thickness and a premise diameter using high-density materials, you’ll find that you can add more to the bar. As the weight is exactly up to 1% of tolerance, when you put these bumper plates on your bar, it will be balanced on both sides of your bar.

These are great options for individuals looking to do Olympic style lifts or want to drop heavy weights onto the ground. 

FringeSports is the official supplier for garage gym owners. Known for their customer support and their innovation, they pride themselves in providing the best products on the market. 

The Fringe Sport Bumper Plates are similarly designed to Rogue’s bumper plate; however, they are more denser and have a thicker finish. They find the balance between design, affordability, and durability.

Each plate is color-coded, helping you differentiate each bumper from one another. These weights are also labeled in both kgs and lbs.

With a 1% weight tolerance and precise plate diameters, each bumper plate will weigh very similar. Reducing the imbalances that it may cause from bumper plates not being the exact weight at each end of the bar.

The Fringe Sport Bumper Plate is made with durable rubber that provides minimum dead bounce is a great choice for individuals that do high-intensity workouts.

X Training specializes in providing a complete range of fitness equipment to fit any gym size. From bumper plates, barbells to timers and kettlebells, they have a product that can help you reach your fitness goals.

They are sponsors to many big competitors and events and continue to find ways to give back to their community.

The X Training Premium Bumper Plate is great for individuals that have a stricter budget. Although their quality is not as high as their other competitors, they accomplish your basic needs of a bumper plate.

They are durable, have a black paint finish, a 2% weight tolerance, and have a low bounce. These bumper plates are thicker than standard due to using higher density materials, meaning it will take up more space on the bar.

If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly and affordable bumper plate, we recommend you have a look at X Training’s Premium Bumper Plate.

OneFitWonder Bumper Plate Set is another creation by Fringe Sports. These are manufactured to go toe to toe with any bumper plates on the market. 

Constructed using virgin rubber, you know that these bumper plates will be durable, have low density and low bounce. 

This is seen by testing over 30,000 drops on all of their plates instead of standard competitors only dropping 15,000 times, ensuring you have peace of mind when doing heavy squats, deadlifts, and Olympic lifts.

The 160 lb bumper plate set comes in pairs of 45, 25, and 10 pounds. One big difference is that these bumper plates don’t produce an odor that stinks up your house. They are designed to be easily gripped, preventing you from dropping the weight and breaking your floor.

The OneFitWonder 160 lb Bumper Plate Set are study plates that will last for a long time. If you don’t want the hassle of ordering individual sets of plates, we recommend looking at OneFitWonder’s set.

Vulcan Strength Training Systems is the primary supplier of Olympic Weightlifting Equipment, Commercial Gym Fitness Equipment, Home Gym Equipment, and Equipment for CrossFit. 

As a 100% Veteran owned company, they are constantly developing new and innovative products that meet strength training demands in today’s age.

The Vulcan Strength Bumper Plate set is made with new virgin rubber, which avoids the rubber tire smell you get from other bumper plates. They have a consistent low bounce for safety and are made to fit the International Weightlifting Federation standards.

Vulcan Strength has also tested their plates to 30,000 drops from a height of 9 feet. There were no signs of damage to the rubber surface or deformation of the stainless steel inserts.

The Vulcan Strength comes in a set of 45’s, 25’s, and 10’s.

If you’re looking for a bumper plate that will last for decades, we recommend having a look at Vulcan Strength’s 160lb Bumper Plate Set.

XMark focuses on exceeding expectations of the fitness industry. From the attention to detail on all their equipment to be responsive to all your needs, they focus on delivering an exceptional customer experience to you. 

Known for their craftsmanship and functionality of each of their products, you know that all their fitness equipment will be of high quality.

XMark Fitness Bumper Plate is made with the same craftsmanship you’d expect. Made with premium all-natural virgin rubber provides you with a slim profile and a dead bounce. This also means any very limited odors coming from the bumper plates.

Following International Weightlifting Federation standards, the new 2 inch stainless steel inserts allow the bumper plates to slide smoothly onto the bar. With different color coding labels, you can easily identify which weight is on each bumper plate. 

If you’re looking for a bouncier and thicker bumper plate, we recommend you have a look at XMark Fitness’s Bumper Plate Set.

TITAN is known for its quality strength training, strongman, and gymnastic equipment. With an excellent reputation for their customer service, they are always looking to leave you completely satisfied with all your purchases with them.

TITAN’s Fitness Bumper Plates are thicker than all the competitors at 3.5” for the 45lb plates. This can be an issue for more experienced lifters that want more weight on the bar. 

However, these are perfect for beginners that are looking for plates that are easy to grab and put on to the bar.

As they are thicker and made with heavy-duty steel, they are more durable and handle high drop without the bumper plates being deformed. The bumper plate set includes a pair of 10 lbs, 25 lbs, 35 lbs, and 45 lbs. 

If you’re for a complete bumper plate set that has all the weights you need, we recommend checking out TITAN Fitness’s Bumper Plate Set.

Bumper Plates Buying Guide

What Are Bumper Plates

Bumper Plates or Olympic-Sized Plates are made of thick, dense rubber. They are usually 450mm in diameter and have 50.4mm inserts that allow it to attach to the barbell. 

They’re designed for athletes to safely drop a barbell from an overhead position such as the clean and jerk, the snatch, or front squats. This reduces risking any damage to the bar, the plates, and the platforms.

Bumper Plates are available in both pounds and kilograms. Most plates are black; however, some companies provide different colors and labels.

The Benefits Of Using Bumper Plates

Safety

As a weightlifter, dropping a bar that has iron plates on each side from a reasonable height can damage your floors and sometimes yourself. Bumper plates reduce the impact of the drop and will provide a controlled bounce that protects you and your floor.

As iron plates have no bounce when they hit the floor and usually damage either the plate and break or chip the floor.

Noise

When rubber bumper plates hit the ground, it makes a light thud sound. When iron plates hit the ground, it makes a large bang.

If any of your lifts requires dropping your weight, then you will need bumper plates, especially if you’re lifting in a home gym and have housemates, kids, or neighbors.

Durability

Bumper Plates are made out of rubber that requires little to no maintenance. This is perfect as they are durable and won’t deteriorate if you use them in an outdoor setting or a humid environment.

While iron plates will rust extremely quickly if they are left in these environments. Iron plates often chip or flake if they aren’t maintained properly.

Weight Accuracy

Bumper Plates are made out of rubber and steel or iron inserts. These inserts are covered with rubber, which allows the measurement to be more accurate (Up to 1 – 2 % weight tolerance) than iron plates.

Lift More Heavier Weights

As bumper plates are safer and more durable to work with, you won’t have any mental blocks about breaking the floor when you drop the bar or your neighbors complaining from the noise.

What To Look For When Purchasing A Bumper Plates

Dead Bounce

Dead bounce is when your bumper plate doesn’t bounce back in the air as high. The best bumper plate will have barely any bounce after being dropped from an overhead position.

Look for dense virgin rubber on your bumper plates as they tend to have less bounce.

Center Ring Quality

The center ring is designed to prevent the bumper plate from becoming loose on the barbell. Most quality center rings are made from steel and are usually hooked inside the bumper plate. 

These hooks are inside the robber and stop the inserts from moving or shifting once the place is dropped.

Type of Rubber

There are three kinds of rubber used for bumper plates; Virgin Rubber, Recycled Rubber, or Crumb Rubber.

Virgin Rubber is more expensive as they are denser and more durable. They are overall slimmer, harder, and have less bounce when you drop it on the ground.

Crumb Rubber and Recycled Rubber is much more affordable as the materials are bonded together. This leads to the rubber to chip and becomes softer over time. It is not as durable, and it will bounce higher when dropped.

Thickness

Thinner bumper plates allow you to fit more weight onto the barbell. Lower quality bumper plates tend to be thicker without metal inserts.

If you’re a beginner, this may not affect you as much. However, if you’re an intermediate to advanced lifter, not being able to add an extra 45 lbs on can be annoying.

Design

If you’re a visual person, then you will like the color-coded bumper plates and labels. Although they are a bit more expensive, they don’t serve any extra purpose apart from visuals.

FAQs for Bumper Plates

Bumper Plates vs. Urethane Coated Steel Weights?

Urethane Coated plates are plates that normal commercial gyms use. As they are more professional looking and they’re safer and easier to move around the gym.

Urethane Coated Steel Weights are not meant to be dropped and similar costs to standard iron or steel weights.

If you’re not dropping your weight, you may choose urethane Coated Steel Weights. However, if you’re planning to drop your barbell, we recommend sticking to bumper plates.

What Do The Colors Mean Or Stand For Color-Coded Bumper Plates?

Colors are typically seen with a more higher-end bumper plate. 

These colors are set to the International Weightlifting Federal standards. This allows you to calculate the weight quickly from a distance.

• Red Plates are 55 lbs
• Blue Plates are 45 lbs
• Yellow Plates are 35 lbs
• Green Plates are 25 lbs

What Does Durometer Rating On The Bumper Plate Mean?

The durometer rating tells you how hard an object is. Most bumper plates will be between 70 to 95 durometer rating.

The higher the rating, the harder the plate is, meaning it will be less bouncy and less likely to split.

Which Metric Bumper Plates Should I Purchase – Pounds or Kilos?

How Much Weight Do I Need?

It depends on your weightlifting experience and strength level. We recommend that you get more weight than you think since you can always add more weight.

If you’re building a home gym, we recommend adding more weight over time than spending thousands of dollars on plates that you might not use.

For a total beginner, we recommend a set of 20 kg bumper plates, 15 kg bumper plates, 10 kg bumper plates, and a 5 kg bumper plate. You may also need a 2.5 and 1.25 plate to increase weight incrementally.

What Lifts Do You Use With Bumper Plates?

Bumper Plates work best with Olympic weight lifting due to the amount of bar drop needed.

Olympic Lifts are very technical exercises. However, if you learn how to perform these lifts with good mechanics and techniques, your body will become more explosive and powerful. That’s why these are staples for all high performance and professional athletes in sports as it’s one of the many lifts that develop fast twitch muscles.

The Clean and Jerk

CLEAN and JERK / Olympic weightlifting and crossfit

1. You begin with the barbell on the floor close to the knees. You want the bar close to your body as this helps reduce the amount of force that you have to pull the bar up. You can try moving the bar when it’s further away from your knees and see how much more strength you need to pull it up.
2. Your feet are going to be about shoulder width apart but can be different depending on your body type. Your toes can be slightly turned out but typically should be straight.Your hand should be close to where your knees are. You can use a thumb measurement, where you place your thumbs by your knees and where your hand position is; that’s where you should hold the bar.
3. The difference between a clean and jerk pull and a deadlift is that you should be feeling that you’re pulling the weight up with your whole body and not muscling up. It should feel like it naturally gets up there from your triple extension. (The extension of your ankles, hips, and knees).
4. Now you’re set-up, you begin your first pull. Keep your arms straight and look straight ahead. Then start to pull the bar up with your back flat and chest up.
5. Once the bar is above knee caps, begin jumping straight up and extend your hips, knees, and ankles while simultaneously shrugging the bar. Remember to keep the bar as close to your body as possible.
6. When the bar gets a certain point, drop into a quarter squat position like you’re doing a front squat. And stand up while keeping your upper body straight, elbows straight, chest out, and chin tucked.
7. Now have a small dip and extend your legs and hips up like your jumping and drive the bar overhead, similar to a push press. As the barbell moves over your head, split your legs into a lunging position. Hold the jerk position and move the feet closer till you’re standing up. 

The Snatch

The Snatch: CrossFit Foundational Movement

1. The setup is entirely the same as the clean and jerk apart from the hand placement. Your hands should be a wide grip and should be close to the end of the bar. This is all to your feel on where you feel the strongest and more comfortable.
2. As you go up, you perform the exact same movements. After the bar goes above your knee caps, begin triple extending (extending the ankles, hips, and knees). However, instead of catching it with your collarbone, it’s going to be above your head.
3. When it goes above your ahead, begin to squat down below, so you end up at the bottom position of an overhead squat. Now start standing up while holding that position.

Conclusion

Having quality bumper plates can make or break your lifting experience. These plates play a significant part in your training routine and often means the less likely you’ll have to replace them.

Out of the nine bumper plates that we got to test and research, we recommend the Rogue Echo Bumper Plate because it has all the requirements for a quality bumper plate and its affordability.

These Rogue Bumper Plates are made with superior sturdiness and material, ensuring they withstand all the impact when you drop the bar. 

Made with vulcanized rubber with a 2-inch stainless steel insert, they are affordable and perfect for daily use.

If you want something for your home gym and will last longer, we recommend Fringe Sport Bumper Plates. 

They are similarly designed to Rogue’s bumper plate, however, they are more denser and have a thicker finish. They find the balance between design, affordability, and durability.

Each plate is color-coded, helping you differentiate each bumper from one another. These weights are also labeled in both kgs and lbs.

With a 1% weight tolerance and precise plate diameters, each bumper plate will weigh very similar. Reducing the imbalances that it may cause from bumper plates is not the exact weight at each end of the bar.