Dumbbell bars and weight plates - we explain

Dumbbell bars and weight plates - we explain

The home gym is being expanded and a new gym is on the cards. Which weight plates and dumbbells should I get? You are quickly faced with a large selection and nobody really knows which equipment is best at the beginning. There are iron plates, rubber plates, bumper plates, 30mm and 50mm plates and, as if that wasn't enough, there are also dumbbell bars with different diameters. Who is supposed to have an overview? 

Before you decide on any plates and bars due to a lack of information, we want to clarify the situation and provide an overview of the most common and best weight plates and barbell bars currently available on the market. Let's start with the latter.

30mm vs. 50mm dumbbell bars

Dumbbell bars with a diameter of 30mm have less weight and are usually slightly shorter than 50mm bars. Suitable weight plates also have a diameter of 30mm, although 50mm plates can also be attached. However, this is not recommended due to the lack of security and stability. Weights on 30mm dumbbell bars are usually screwed on with a so-called star lock. Basically, the smaller bars offer two major advantages: Due to their lower weight and smaller size, they are particularly suitable for beginners or for athletes who only want to or can only train with a small amount of weight. In addition, 30mm bars are slightly cheaper than their big brothers.

50mm dumbbell bars are considered classics, they are also called Olympic dumbbell bars in their "standard version". They are always 220cm long and weigh 20kg. As the diameter is larger, many athletes describe them as more comfortable: "They fit better in the hand". Compared to the 30mm bar, which allows a load of around 150kg, the 50mm Olympic bars can withstand up to 700kg. Fully rubberized weight plates can also be used on these bars, but more on this shortly. No gym should be without 50mm bars and anyone who seriously wants to train at a higher level in their own home gym should also consider such a purchase.

Cast iron with or without rubber

Cast iron weight plates without rubberized coating: the old-school bodybuilding classic. They are particularly suitable for all those who like classic strength training, where the sound of iron plates hitting each other is part of the workout. Cast iron weight plates are cast in a single piece, which makes them extremely robust. They are among the highest quality plates in the fitness world. If you like to train outdoors or have sensitive floors, you should buy the cast iron weight plates in a rubberized version, which are usually available as standard in gyms. The rubber coating protects the iron from rust and does not scratch the floor. At the same time, you can drop the weights without attracting all the attention of the gym.

Bumper plates fully rubberized

They are considered indestructible and are used in master disciplines such as powerlifting and CrossFit. Bumper plates are weight plates in characteristic colors that are relatively larger than cast iron plates due to their solid rubber coating. Bumper plates have one major advantage: they can be dropped from high up without damaging the floor, barbell or weight plate. During deadlifts, the moment when the weight is lifted off the floor is much more comfortable with these plates, as the bar is slightly higher. Even if you can't bring the weight up during squats and don't have a training partner to help you, you are less likely to injure yourself as the weight is on the floor more quickly without the body being damaged too much by the weight load.

When buying, make sure that the diameters of the weight plates match the diameters of the dumbbell bars. As with the bars, the plates are available in 30mm and 50mm versions.