What is the difference between Olympic Bumper Plates, Olympic Tri-Grip Plates and Olympic Competition Bumper Plates?Updated 10 months ago
The primary differences between Olympic Bumper Plates, Olympic Tri-Grip Plates, and Olympic Competition Bumper Plates lie in their design, construction, and intended use. Here's a breakdown of each type:
Olympic Bumper Plates
- Construction: Made from dense rubber, these plates are great for doing deadlifts with.
- Design: They are typically uniform in diameter regardless of the weight, with varying thickness depending on the weight.
- Use: Ideal for deadlifts, squats, landmine or other exercises utilising a rack or bench.
- Noise and Floor Protection: The rubber construction helps to reduce noise and protect flooring when dropped.
- Weight Range: Generally available in standard weight increments (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 kg).
Olympic Tri-Grip Plates
- Construction: Usually made of cast iron or steel, sometimes with a rubber coating for added protection.
- Design: Feature three grip holes (tri-grip) for easier handling and loading/unloading on bars and machines.
- Use: Suitable for general strength training, bodybuilding, and machine-based exercises. They are not designed to be dropped.
- Versatility: The tri-grip design allows for use in a variety of exercises, such as plate curls, lateral raises, and more.
- Weight Range: Available in various increments, typically starting from 1.25 kg and going up to 20 kg.
Olympic Competition Bumper Plates
- Construction: High-quality rubber with a metal insert, specifically designed to meet the standards of competitive weightlifting.
- Design: Uniform diameter like standard bumper plates, but with tighter weight tolerances and often color-coded according to international standards (e.g., 10 kg is green, 15 kg is yellow, 20 kg is blue, 25 kg is red).
- Use: Used in official weightlifting competitions. They are designed to withstand more rigorous use and multiple drops from overhead.
- Precision: These plates have strict weight accuracy and durability standards, making them more expensive than regular bumper plates.
- Certification: Often certified by weightlifting federations like the IWF (International Weightlifting Federation).
Summary
- Olympic Bumper Plates: General use, made of rubber, safe for dropping.
- Olympic Tri-Grip Plates: General strength training, easy to handle, made of cast iron or steel.
- Olympic Competition Bumper Plates: High precision, competition use, strict standards, certified.