The market is full of weight plates for sale, but not every plate from the line-up would be ideal for your home gym. In order to maximize your investment, you should know some important things to look for when buying weight plates.
Weight Material
Most professional-grade weight plates are manufactured out of cast iron. The material is thick enough and resistant to damage, while the production process allows for increased accuracy in dimensions due to minimizing shrinkage. Polyurethane-coated cast iron is also another great option if budget allows. This type of coating protects the iron from rusting and increases durability exponentially.
There are a few drawbacks with cast iron besides its heavyweight (compared to steel). It is not suitable for outdoor use because it is prone to rust.
Steel weight plates are another great choice, being much more affordable than both options mentioned above. They are durable and long-lasting, resistant to damage, have no risk of rusting, but they can be noisy when dropped on a hard surface which might disrupt your workout.
An alternative option would be take-gates with bumper plates or steel discs used in Olympic lifting. Steel take-gates are coated with rubber to prevent scratching up the floor beneath them. Bumper plates are made out of dense rubber, so there’s little chance you’ll injure yourself dropping them on the ground – just make sure they fit tight enough, so you don’t have any issues putting them back on the bar.
Weight Diameter and Plating
If you’re looking for weight plates to use with an Olympic barbell, then you’ll need to look for plates that have a diameter of 450mm or more. Anything less than this will not fit onto the bar correctly. The thickness of the plate is also important, as you’ll want something that’s at least 2mm thick, so it doesn’t bend or dent over time.
The finish or plating of the weight plates is also something to consider. Cheap plates can often have a poor finish which can wear off over time, exposing the metal underneath and causing rusting. It’s best to find weight plates with a good quality coating that will protect the metal underneath them.
The shape of the plate
If you want to save space when you store your weights in your garage or your home gym, then finding weight plates for sale that are hexagon-shaped is a good option for you. This shape can be stacked together well and saves up both floor space and storage space at the same time. On the other hand, round-shaped weight plates can be stored more easily if they have a hole which allows for easier stacking. They allow room for larger hands to grip them, too — something to consider if you need bigger plates.
