Weight plates represent the foundation of every effective strength training workout. For a long-term fitness goal, it is a must to buy durable weight plates especially if you are setting up a home gym or looking to change gym accessories. However, identifying the right weight plates may not be an easy task for the customer since it is normally associated with several risks. To assist you in avoiding a similar mistake and saving your cash, we have provided the five primary mistakes you should not make when buying weight plates below. So, if you consider the below-discussed points, you’ll be in a position to select weight plates that would serve you for many years.
- Overlooking Material Quality
This is quite important and one of the major mistakes one should not consider when out shopping for weight plates. More to the point, weight plates themselves are not created equal rather they are made of diverse materials thus inherently affect their functionality and durability. Although they may be cheaper compared to other plates manufactured through better materials, it can be tempting to purchase cheap plates but they scratch, crack or degrade more often. This shortens the life of the equipment and may place your safety while exercising at risk.
2. Ignoring Weight Accuracy
One does not think about buying weight plates and using them without confirming the accuracy of the weight marked on them is common. While it might be easier to assume that a 45-pound plate will actually have a mass of 45-pound, this is not always true – especially from substandard products. Weights may interfere with your training calculations and the progress you have made due to illogical weights or asymmetrical exercises. When selecting weight plates it should be advised that one should go for those that adhere to a narrow weight tolerance; these are normally in a range of about 1-2% of the weights printed on the plates.
3. Underestimating the Importance of Plate Design
Aesthetics of the weight plates play a very important role in the functionality of the plates and the usability since the design is not limited to the appearance. One common mistake which people do is to select plates solely based on their aesthetic appeal or price without consideration as to other essential design factors. For instance, the plates also contain an ergonomic handle design that makes it easier to slide and stack them onto the bars,’ hence reducing the risk of injuries while making your exercises much more productive.
4. Disregarding Compatibility with Equipment
Failure to ensure that your weight plates are compatible with the current exercising gear is another blunder that leads to frustration. Weights plates are not compatible with every type of bar or other training equipment in direct contact with the plates. For example, the standard weight plates are of 1 inch hole diameter while the Olympic weight plates have a 2 inch hole diameter. Buying plates that do not fit your equipment or bar makes them almost useless. Also consider the outside diameter of the plates as well, if you plan to use them with specific equipment or for lift where height of the plate above the ground matters, for example, deadlift.
5. Neglecting Long-Term Durability Factors
This means that while initially considering weight plates a specific type of investment should be made with further considerations of long-term durability problems. A common mistake is to take no account of what will happen to the plates in, say, five years and focus solely on how they appear or how they feel. For your plates to remain functional and attractive some factors such as fade, chip and rust resistant are important traits.
Conclusion
Purchasing the solid weight plates is one thing that you should not overlook when you are concerned with your search for good exercise equipment. You’ll be well on your way to choosing weight plates that will serve you faithfully for years to come if you avoid these five common mistakes: underestimating the value of plate design, not considering equipment compatibility, not considering material quality, not considering weight precision, and not considering longevity characteristics.
