Bumper Plates vs. Iron Plates

More than ever, bumper plates are being employed by the world's best weightlifting champions, both Olympic and non-Olympic, to accomplish top-level feats while remaining safe and practical.

WHAT IS A BUMPER PLATE?

Have you ever walked into a gym and seen colorful stacks of rubber-coated weight plates instead of racks with heavy iron plates? Bumper plates are what they're called.

Bumper plates, also known as training plates, have a steel core and a thick rubber protective coating. These allow you to drop weights from above without having to worry about them breaking.

These are not to be confused with Olympic weight plates that have a very thin rubber covering on them to protect them from scratching. If you try to drop one of these plates, it will immediately break as it lands.

WHAT IS AN IRON PLATE?

In most non-specialized gyms, you'll find traditional iron-weight plates. This is where your old-school bodybuilding gyms made their money.

Molten iron is poured into a sand-based shaping tool to create iron plates. Of course, the shape is that of a round plate. You'll have a solidified iron weight plate once the molten iron cools.

Weight plates come in a variety of sizes, but if you buy Olympic plates – which you should – you'll note that they all have the same standardized shape.

BUMPER PLATES VERSUS IRON PLATES

Iron plates are the more classic barbell plates seen in many gyms, and they are the reason Charles Gaines coined the phrase "Pumping Iron" to describe weightlifting.

They are utilized for many traditional bodybuilding routines with the assumption that the person doing the lift will not bailout. They are made simply by pouring molten iron into a circular shaping tool.

Dropping iron plates is a very loud noise that can damage the plates, the barbell, or the floor. As a result, several commercial gyms are substituting bumper plates for iron.

While both plates have advantages and disadvantages, having both is frequently advantageous for a range of workouts. However, if you're choosing between the two for your home gym or even commercial use, bumper plates are usually the better option due to their longevity, safety, and practicality.