CLEARANCE: Sport Bumper Plates 2.0

Bumper plates are manufactured to withstand drops onto the floor, which is desirable for Olympic weightlifting (snatch, clean and jerk, hang cleans), where you often drop the plates onto the ground. Iron plates are better for lifts that do not involve the weights hitting the ground (such as bench press, squats, and curls), because they can cause damage to the floor, the barbell, and to the plates themselves. There are many more factors to consider, too, such as noise, aesthetics, price, how much you need to load on the bar, size, and different weight jumps. Read all about bumpers vs. iron plates here.

To extend their lifespan, try to drop plates as close to straight down as possible. If your bar collars (Spring Clips) get loose during a workout, try to retighten them so your plates always land straight up and down. This will lessen the sideways force on the bumper plate insert. Also, flooring with some type of give (like heavy-duty rubber mats or a weightlifting platform) will help absorb some of the impact from dropping the plates.

When bumper plates arrive, unpack, and let them air out for a few days to allow any odor, however faint, to air out.

We do not recommend this, because iron and bumper plates can have slightly different diameters, meaning all the force from dropping the weights goes into the larger plate, causing those plates and your barbell to wear more quickly. It is best to keep all plates on your bar of the same type.

They have a thinner width – up to 21% thinner, depending on the weight. They also are made extra durable via a larger stainless-steel weight disc in addition to a zinc-coated stainless-steel insert. The black rubber is accented with upgraded raised, colored lettering and lines for a clean, modern look. And the 2.0s also have a more accurate weight tolerance -- from 3% to 2%.

REP offers a range of bumper plates, all designed to handle drops safely during your workouts. Here's a breakdown of the different types and how they compare:

Black Bumper Plates are the most basic option—durable, dependable, and great for general training.

Colored Bumper Plates feature all the great things of the black, plus color IWF color-coding.

Animal Print Bumper Plates bring a bold, fun look to your setup, while still holding up under serious training.

Pinnacle Plates are a step up, offering a softer bounce and improved long-term durability. They're made from recycled crumb rubber, feature IWF color-coded flecks, and include a unique mountain-inspired design.

Competition Bumper Plates follow IWF color standards. Competition Plates are built to spec for Olympic weightlifting, offering the highest durability, the lowest bounce, and the thinnest profile.

Hi-Temp Bumper Plates are made in the USA from recycled, vulcanized rubber. This material is more resilient under stress and environmentally friendly.

Sport Plates 2.0 are thinner than Black and Pinnacle plates, but slightly thicker than Competition Plates. They’re quieter than standard bumpers — producing 10% fewer decibels when dropped from overhead — and offer a lower bounce. Like REP’s other premium options, they follow IWF color-coding, with the addition of a bright orange 15lb plate to give you more options with weight jumps.