Best Rogue Fitness Bumper Plates
Anybody who is seriously considering starting a garage gym or simply investing in some quality lifting equipment has probably looked into buying bumper plates. If you donβt know, bumper plates are the weighted disks or plates that are made of high-density rubber.
They are for the most part built to a standard diameter and are used for Olympic and Crossfit lifts where the loaded barbell is then dropped to the floor.
If you did look for some you were probably overwhelmed by the variety and were unsure of which choice was right for you.
Today, we are going to go over some different bumper plates offered by Rogue.
Rogue has got to be one of my favorite fitness companies. They are committed to creating quality products manufactured right here in the states is impeccable and is reflected in their products being used in formal competitions around the globe.
Rogue is always focused on creating the best possible products and they always seem to improve and add a certain luxury to some of their merchandise.
Side by side, Rogue products just have a cleaner and more sophisticated look to them than the competition. Alright! Thatβs enough swooning, letβs get into some details for these bumper plates.
Best Rogue Fitness Bumper Plates
#1. Hi-Temp Plates - Best Overall
The Hi-Temp bumper plates are manufactured in Tuscumbia, Alabama making them one of the few American-made weightlifting plates on the market.
Itβs not often a coincidence that products made in America usually rank among some of the most well-made products on the market, which is no exception in the case of the Hi-Temp plates.
Made of a nearly indestructible combination of vulcanized rubber and a 2β stainless steel insert.
These types of plates are often referred to as crumb rubber plates.
They sometimes have slight imperfections due to the nature of the process but the integrity of the piece is extremely solid. Of all the Bumper plate options, these are the most durable.
A key design component of these plates is that the collar on the bumpers is inset from the plane of the plate, allowing for better protection when multiple plates are on the bar.
I really did not enjoy the bounciness of these plates, they end up all over the place with the slightest drop.
That being said, they are very durable as a result, which helps protect both the plates themselves and the floors of the workout space.
Rogue offers a lot of options for purchasing full sets of plates from 160lb to 1000lb sets.
With the 1000lb option, you are only paying a measly 1.87$ per pound of weight! Itβs also an added bonus that the shipping is already factored into the cost of the plates.
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#2. Competition Plates - Runner-Up
These Competition plates are an International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) standard with a 450mm diameter and chrome-plated steel disc insert with a 50.4mm collar.
The competition plates are available in both pound and kilogram options.
The weights come color-coded to make it much easier to tell the total weight at a glance.
These are the best choice for anyone seriously into lifting, competitions, or training.
I found that these plates had very little bounce to them and just smacked the ground. This was nice as I did not have to run around chasing them as they rolled away from me.
The finish of the plates is a very nice gloss-matte textured finish and typical of Rogue to make a very simple product that much more elegant.
A nice design feature of these plates is the raised rubber flange around the outside diameter of the plate.
This prevents the direct metal-on-metal contact that causes scratches and damage. The edge of the plate also has a very convenient lip to help lift off the floor or rack.
Rogue offers 3 sets of full plates; 210lb, 300lb, 320lb plate sets and take a seat because they are expensive.
The largest set comes in at a cool 1300$ which only comes with 2 of each 25-35-45-55 lb plates. At 4$ per pound, these are definitely the most expensive plates on the list, but also by far the best of the best and you wonβt regret your decision.
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#3. HG 2.0 Plates - Best Budget Option
The HG 2.0 plates are also an International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) standard 450mm diameter and chrome-plated steel disc insert with a 50.4mm collar.
These plates are already battle-tested at the Crossfit Games, so you know they will be quality and very durable.
As if you needed more proof of how solid these plates are, they just got approved for use for the new Army Combat Fitness Test.
My experience with these plates is that they rock. They are budget plates and yes, they are cheap and made in China which I donβt like but they are decently durable and get the job done.
If youβve been to the gym anytime recently, chances are you were lifting these types of plates when using the barbell.
The weights offer very little bounce and are a nice black on black minimalistic design using only the Rogue logo. The only issue with these plates is that they are easily scuffed and lose that fresh new look quite quickly. That being said, nice pretty-looking weights mean they donβt get used enough, so get lifting.
Rogue offers 2 sets of full plates; 500lb and 1000lb plate sets. The 1000lb plate set comes in at 1575$ which comes to 1.57$ per pound.
These are definitely the least expensive plates on the list, but definitely offer the best bang for your buck when it comes to an all-around functional set of multi-purpose plates.
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#4. Rogue Training Plates
These training plates are an International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) standard with a 450mm diameter and chrome-plated steel disc insert with a 50.4mm collar.
The training plates are available in both pound and kilogram options. The weights come color-coded to make it much easier to tell the total weight at a glance.
These weights are one of the best possible choices for anybody thatβs serious about lifting and training.
The plates are made to the same specs as the competition plates, so you know you are getting top-of-the-line quality.
They have very little bounce to them just like the competition plates and are even easier to tell at a glance how much weight is on the bar.
It is a small quality of life change but I really enjoy it and makes a little bit of a difference.
Rogue offers 3 sets of full plates; 210lb, 300lb, 320lb plate sets. The largest set comes in at 1161$ which only comes with 2 of each 25-35-45-55 lb plates.
At 3.62$ per pound, these are definitely in a similar category to the competition plates in cost and in quality.
Coming in 40 cents cheaper than the competition plates, these training plates offer top-tier quality for those seriously interested in quality equipment.
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Alternatives/Extras
Here are some extra bumper plates that offer a bit of extra variety and choice in your exercises.
These suggestions will not be full sets of weights but will complement the purchase of a full set of weights, especially those lacking in weight variety. Without any more delay, here we go.
Rogue 26βer Wagon Wheels
Wagon Wheels are designed as an alternative to setting up pulling blocks when doing deadlifts.
The Large 26β diameter of the plates lift the bar up to where the bar would normally sit using standard weights on 4β lifting blocks.
The Wagon Wheels each weigh 70 pounds and offer fantastic deadlift training benefits at a fairly inexpensive cost.
The Wagon Wheels make it significantly easier to load any additional weight onto the bar as it is already off the ground.
Additionally, because of the raised position of the bar using the wagon wheels is less detrimental to those suffering from knee or lower back injuries as well as taller athletes with larger ranges of motion.
Rogue Technique Plates
Technique plates are constructed from HDPE which is high-density polyethylene plastic.
They are constructed to the same dimensions and specifications as Competition plates however they come at a fraction of the weight.
The bumper plates come in weights of 5lb or 2.5kg and 10lb or 5kg.
These weights are intentionally constructed to the same size and shape as the real deal to help beginner or rehabbing athletes practice their starting movements from the proper height off the ground.
Always remember that one of the most important parts of lifting is the form and how well we execute it. Practicing your form and technique with lower weights of the same dimension can have a tremendous impact on your real weight lifts and balance.
Gorilla Bumpers 65lb
Gorilla Bumpers are 4β thick, meaning they are only .25β wider than a 45lb Hi-Temp plate but weigh 20lbs more.
Gorilla bumpers are a great and cost-effective way to add extra weight to your barbell if you are using Hi-temp plates or otherwise. Using only Gorilla Bumpers on a barbell will fit 4 on each side and produce a maximum weight of 565lb, just 30lb short of Competition weights!
Gorilla Bumpers are made similarly to Hi-Temp bumpers out of crumb rubber, but slightly more dense, allowing greater weight in a smaller form.
Final Thoughts
It's not hard to see that Rogue offers a very extensive selection of bumper plates for fitness fanatics to get their hands on.
Whether you are looking for something on the pro end of the spectrum in a competition bumper plate or you just need an all-around bumper plate for a home gym, these reviews will help you narrow down your choices amongst Rogues impressive offerings.