Olympic Plates Explained

Bumper plates are rubber and designed to be dropped. Calibrated plates are machined steel held to a tight tolerance for competition. Iron plates are the most affordable per kilogram and suit loaded carries, machines and static work.\n\nIf you lift in a home gym and drop the bar, buy bumpers. If you compete in powerlifting, buy calibrated. If budget matters most and you never drop the bar, iron does the job.