The weight tolerance of an uncertified plate may be up to 10% higher than its expected tolerance. The actual weight of a genuine competition plate is guaranteed to be within 10 grams (0.02 LBS) of the claimed weight. This will add considerably to the cost of the overall product price, with no benefit for those who do not plan to compete in Olympic event. This means they are not “real” competition plates, but are officially “training plates.” This distinction makes no difference to anyone who is not participating in IWF approved competition.įor a manufacturer to gain IWF Certification is expensive. Many companies claim to offer bumper plates that meet IWF standards, but very few are actually IWF certified. The bounce mainly depends on the durometer shore rating of the plate materials (more on this soon). Competition bumper plates usually have more dead bounce than training bumper plates. It also comes in different colors and is usually quite expensive. The steel hub is heavy so that it can be mounted on a bar. The steel hubs used in bumper plates are usually constructed in two parts and then bolted together to hold the rubber tight. This is a better option for athletes, as it allows them to use a sturdy rubber plate to maximize the barbell’s load area. By using solid steel core embedded into a solid rubber plate, manufacturers are able to reduce the plate thickness by about 40%. 2.Competition Bumper PlateĬompetition bumper plates are plates that conform to the IWF specifications for size, tolerance, and color. For those reasons, training bumper plates are cheaper than other types.īumper plates that are marked‘Olympic’are compatible with Olympic bars. It also makes the plate more likely to warp.

This limits the amount of weight that can be loaded onto the bar. Training bumper plates may use metal ring, making them thicker than a competition plate. Recently, however, manufacturers have started making color versions, some of them with cool graphics. The training bumper plate is the most common bumper. Many bumper plates now have a steel hub in the center that adds weight without adding thickness. As the years passed, their use was extended to commercial gyms and, then, for home use. Bumper plates were created for Olympic Game competition to overcome these problems. The earliest plate versions also limited the amount of weight that could be added to the bar due to their thickness. However, these proved to be unsafe and impractical in terms of lifting and lowering the weights. In times past, weightlifters used cast iron plates. This is designed to make it safe when lowering a loaded bar from the top position of the snatch or clean and jerk movement without damaging the floor, the bar, or the bumper itself.īumper plates have the same weight range as conventional cast-iron weight plates. An Olympic-sized plate (450 mm in diameter, 50.4 mm for steel hub) is usually made of thick, dense rubber. Bumper plates are strictly made to the size and weight standards specified by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). For bumper plates, however, the diameter remains constant, with only the thickness varying. The thickness and diameter of weight plates vary with the weight of the plate. Bumper Plate Types Types by Function 1.Training Bumper Plate Factories located in Xiamen mainly focus on high-end bumper plates. Qingdao has a much larger export volume and its products are relatively more expensive than those from the Nantong area. Those in Qingdao and its environs mainly produce rubber plates, while Nantong factories predominantly manufacture urethane bumper plates. Most of the Chinese bumper plate factories are located in Qingdao, Nantong and Xiamen. That’s because we’ve gone the extra mile to interview 10 experienced workers from 7 bumper plate factories to give you the insider knowledge that you won’t find anywhere else. We believe we’ve put together the most comprehensive bumper plate buying guide available online. What durometer rating is best for a bumper plate?.Which type of bumper plates should I buy?.What’s the difference between a bumper plate and weight plate?.

In this article we provide the knowledge you need to make smart bumper plate buying decisions. Choosing the right bumpers for your members, however, requires some research and insider insights. Bumper plates are an essential part of any modern gym.

Olympic crumb bumper plates