Weight Sets

I added a set of bumper plates to my home gym last year – and I use them all the time! But knowing how many bumper plates I needed to order initially and what combination was best for me was tricky to land. Here’s what I found out: At a glance… Most users need a 120kg plate set made up of 10 bumper plates (4x 20kg; 2x 10kg; 4x 5kg) Stronger users may want to start with a 110kg, 10 bumper plate set focused around heavier 25kg plates (2x 25kg; 4x 10kg; 4x 5kg) with a few extras… Add a …

How many bumper plates do I need? [ABOUT 10!] Read More »

In a home gym there are always certain compromises – and having a patchwork of different plate types is often one of them! But does it even matter if you mix bumper plates with iron ones on the bar? Not usually, but… At a glance… You CAN mix bumper plates with metal ones on the same bar Load the plates in the SAME ORDER to keep the centre of balance in the middle of the bar Mixing plate types can be helpful to reduce noise, save you money AND let you fit more weight on the bar The exception is …

Mixing BUMPER and IRON plates: THE FACTS Read More »

Yellow plates quite rare in the wild as many people love to hate them.. But WHY?! And just what is the problem with them anyway? In truth they have done nothing wrong, BUT it’s still fun to paint yellow plates as the villain! At a glance… Yellow plates should weigh 15kg or (35lbs) according to the official IWF and IPF guidelines 1.5kg fraction plates are also mandated to be yellow – but in practice it is rarer to find coloured plates in lower denominations out with a competition setting Some cheaper brands may deviate from the official colour scheme – …

YELLOW weight plates: Don’t hate them… YET! Read More »

My first lifting experience was with a cheap EverLast bench and set of concrete weights which I received as a birthday present. Fast forward around 15 years and here I am writing about gym equipment every day, lifting several times a week! What I can tell you though is that – if you can afford it – iron plates are almost always better than concrete. Here’s why… At a glance… Iron weights are better than concrete in almost every circumstance The exception is if you are BUDGET constrained, receive them as a gift or find them cheap second hand Iron …

Concrete weights vs iron weights (Winner: IRON!) Read More »

I lift with both bumper AND steel plates and the difference in feel between the two types of plate is quite pronounced. Many people experience the same – and question whether bumper plates are actually LIGHTER than their steel equivalents… Spoiler alert: No they are not – but here’s why you might THINK they are: At a glance… Bumper plates are not lighter than metal plates Some weight plates are more accurate than others which may be a small factor in how they feel (typically 0% – 1% tolerances in good quality plates depending on manufacturer spec) Barbell whip contributes …

Why do bumper plates FEEL lighter? (Hint: WHIP) Read More »

We have ALL picked up a few weight plates from eBay or similar and found they were a bit… well used. If you’ve managed to bag some old school iron you likely have encountered at least SOME rust as well! Here’s the easiest (and least-messy) way to remove rust from your gym equipment. At a glance… Rust can be removed instantly by either brushing or sanding Use 3-in-1 oil when doing so to clean and protect the metal surface Use a nylon brush as it is gentler on equipment finishes than metal bristled brushes – this is especially important on knurled barbells If you need more power …

How to remove rust from gym equipment INSTANTLY Read More »

I was delighted to pick up a 100kg Bulldog Gear Hybrid 2.0 bumper plate set to review recently. Having used steel plates exclusively for years (literally!) it is awesome to reacquaint myself with a decent set of rubber plates. Honestly, I’ve been blown away. I had high expectations, but I wasn’t expecting them to be THIS good! I’ve captured my thoughts below – but if you have any specific queries you want answered please hit me up through he contact form or comments box below! At a glance… Full size rubber bumper plates available in a black or coloured finish …

Bulldog Gear Hybrid Bumper Plates 2.0 Review Read More »