Plasticīefore bumper plates were developed, technique plates made of high quality, dense plastic were the norm for Olympic lifts. Urethane is uncommon outside a pro gym setting, so these bumpers didn’t make it onto our list. BUT they’re not any more durable, and weight accuracy is about the same as with rubber. In many cases, urethane plates are more expensive than rubber bumpers, and they tend to be quieter when dropped. This is a newer material in the bumper world. Others use proprietary mixes to add durability and set their products apart from the competition. Some manufacturers mix rubbers, like virgin and rubber crumb, to give the plates more strength or abrasion resistance at different price points. It offers excellent abrasion resistance and impact resistance and has more tensile strength than recycled rubbers. The biggest difference is that SBR rubber is synthetic. SBR rubber is also becoming more commonplace, especially in competition bumper plates. Virgin rubber has less odor and lasts longer than recycled rubbers. Oldani also says these plates are generally thinner, making it easier to load more plates at once. They’re denser than rubber crumb and don’t bounce as much when they hit the ground, which adds to their durability. Virgin rubber plates are durable but have a sleeker finish that Oldani says makes them more susceptible to scuffing. Expect rubber crumb bumpers to be a little thicker and have a little more bounce when they hit the ground. Oldani says they’re typically more affordable while still being durable. One kind of recycled rubber, called rubber crumb or crumb rubber, wins the recycled rubber popularity contest because bumpers made with it can be used outdoors. Recycled rubber usually comes from recycled tires. Materials play a huge role in the quality and durability of bumpers, so we paid extra attention to them in the selection process.īumper plates are made of recycled/rubber crumb, virgin rubber, SBR rubber, a rubber mix, urethane, or plastic (though plastic plates are technically called technique plates). So, what makes one bumper plate better than another? Here are the factors we considered when choosing the best. For example, a 10-pound (lb.) bumper is the same diameter as a 45-lb. Plates vary in thickness based on weight and composition. And no matter the weight, they’re all the same diameter, though diameters can vary among manufacturers and plate lines.Ī standard bumper plate is 17.7 inches (in.) in diameter. Bumpers differ from standard weight plates in that they’re made of various kinds of rubber, and sometimes urethane (which is kinda like a rubbery plastic), rather than steel.
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