Picking Plates - Don't Buy Bumpers

When most people are building out their home gym, they think they need bumper plates. Seems like a logical choice as many assume they're easier on your foundation and make less noise... but is that really the case? Let's take a look.

Make sure you check out the other videos in this series!

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[BasementBrandon]

5:00 to skip me trying to talk you out of buying bumpers.

[freakied]

Not one mention of filling the bar with 25s and 10s and making a 225lbs clean and jerk looking like 500lbs for IG...

[JoelP]

I love the sound of metal plates when I'm training.

[shaneduquette]

I've got some Rogue Echos with the 2.4" thickness and 1% tolerance for $1.33 per pound. They were cheaper than Rogue's machined plates, they fit on the bar beautifully, they're quiet enough that I can lift while my baby is napping, and so far I haven't needed a deadlift platform—I've been lifting on ceramic tile over concrete.

If I ever deadlift more than 600 pounds, I might need to get a couple thin metal plates… but I'd be too stoked about going so far beyond my predicted genetic strength potential that I wouldn't really care.

Totally stoked with bumper plates, especially considering that they're cheaper than machined plates.

[dustinmcd]

As someone who will never pick up more than 600 pounds (what should be fine with comp plates), I feel like it lets me get the most use of my sleeve capacity 🤣.

[johnnywayne]

Shhhh! ...I was planning on selling my "LIGHTLY USED" bumpers. You're going to chase away potential buyers.

[fko]

10 pound bumper plates making cross fitters look strong since 1999

[thomasdhdh]

if you do any olympic style exercise in your workout, they are worth it. last thing you wanna be doing is dropping those iron cast plates flat on the ground.

[andylee]

I love how you're so calculated and thorough with your videos/ explanations.
Seriously a one-stop shop for anyone who's looking to have fitness equipment at their home.

[spiloFTW]

Just buy two 20 or 15 kg bumpers for power clean/snatch and add 5/10kg steel plates when you get better. Normal people dont need 600 pounds in bumpers thats just silly.

[Enyalus]

Okay but how are you gonna get all those sweet IG likes squatting 375lbs without the bumper plates making it look like 600 is on the bar?

[lawlessjff]

Never once heard him mention, “And you can buy 3/4” 4x6 stall mats and lay them on your floor to really deaden any sound from metal plates!” I use these and drop 90lb DBells on them and u barely heard a thud

[codyrogers]

You also have to consider the use of bumper plates outdoors. I like to use them for sleds, yokes and farmers carry that’s used outdoor and in the streets. Steel plates would cause major damage to the pavement/ concrete when dropped. In my gym it’s steel plates in doors and bumper plates outdoors. You lightly touched on this subject, but warrants serious consideration in my opinion

[tynado]

I like to use my bumpers in the driveway. When it's a nice day I enjoy training outside. They're also good for strongman movements such as log press

[sadisticbutcher]

This is great advice. It’s also easier to tell how much weight is loaded on the bar with iron plates since they aren’t all the same diameter. I went with Rep equalizers - accurate, look nice, easy to handle and great value.

[mg]

Agreed, I almost always use steel, but I like bumpers for the first plate in landmine work and for outdoor workouts. I only really use about 90 lbs of my 420 lbs of bumpers frequently, but I use most of my 650 lbs of iron all of the time. Bumpers are overrated unless you are an Olympic weightlifter.

[ediot]

My Rogue (Echo) bumpers are almost dead on for stated weight. I love them for Benching and Squatting, but they are not great for Deadlifting because I cannot get enough weight on the bar.

[jelkins]

I have a set of the fringe sport comp bumpers and love them. Would recommend to anyone. I don’t do a lot of oly lifting but it’s nice to be able to work it into a routine. Another thing I like about the free shipping companies like Titan and Fringe Sport is that you can build or add elements to your gym piece by piece over time rather than being forced to buy in bulk to save in shipping.

[victorkrese]

I find lighter bumper plates useful. A set of 10’s or 15’s (lbs.) are be useful for light deadlifts to estimate proper height. Those could be placed on the bar first the the rest of the weight added. This would only be useful up to 135 however. Just a thought. I agree with everything else

[denisesommers]

Great video! I own 4 bumper plates to use for hip thrusts just for the convenience of being able to roll the bar over my legs. Most of my plates are the Dick’s Sporting Fitness Gear plates and the 45 are so small, I had to elevate them on steps or other plates. It really made me dread thrusting.