Weight plates are indispensable accessories for strength training and home training. They are used as weights for short and long dumbbells, as standalone training aids and on many power machines. Weight plates are offered by a variety of manufacturers in different sizes, materials and shapes. The basic purpose of the weight plates is, of course, to provide the trainees with a certain weight. But not every one Weight plate is equally suitable for every purpose.

The classic weight plates are made of cast iron or steel. These weight plates are almost indestructible and have a central bore with a diameter of 25 mm, 30 to 31 mm or 50 mm, to push them on dumbbell bars can. Cast iron weight plates are available in matt black or in chrome finish. If chrome plated weight plates are used, it is recommended to use a soft floor mat, as the chromium layer may easily flake off on contact with a hard floor. A floor-saving alternative are weight plates, which are covered with a robust plastic. These weight plates leave no marks on hard and soft floors and are quieter when dropped on the floor. Another advantage of the plastic coating is that you can see at a glance with the colors, how much weight is on the barbell with colored coatings.

Classic weight plates made of cast iron offer the set of ScSPORTS with 2 pieces of 10 kg weight plates. The weight plates have a bore with 30/31 mm diameter and are therefore suitable for all weight bars with a diameter of 30 mm.

Especially for private gyms, weight plates were developed, which are made of plastic with a compacted mineral filling or entirely of plastic. These weight plates are even softer and more elastic than the cast-iron weight plates encased in plastic. However, when training with high weights, these weight plates have a disadvantage. Due to the less heavy material, these weight plates are larger than others and therefore fewer discs with a high weight can be placed on the barbell.

For a long time, only weight plates with a circular shape were available. For some years, however, are offered from weight plates in square shape or with a flattening. Square weight plates usually have eight or more areas on the circumference, which prevent unintentional rolling away of the weight bars and discs. The same function has a single, large flattening found on some weight plates. In these weight plates, however, care must be taken that the flattening on both sides of the dumbbelllocated in the same place.

More and more widespread find weight plates with two or more handle openings. In many cases weight plates are used as independent training weights. Either they are held directly without a rod in the hand or attached to a rope used as a weight. The grip holes facilitate the handling of the weight plates in this type of training. These discs are called Gripper weight plates. The Gripper weight plates have another advantage over conventional weight plates. Dumbbell weights lying flat on the floor can be lifted more easily thanks to the handle openings and, when changing the weight plates, these discs are much safer to handle. However, the Gripper weight plates are a bit larger than normal weight plates. The missing weight in the handle openings must be supplemented elsewhere.

For beginners, the purchase of a dumbbell set with small gradations is recommended. Weight plates are available from a single weight of 0.5 kg. With small gradations, the weight can be increased slowly and adapted to your own strength development. If with big weights and one barbellTo be exercised are weight plates with a large diameter of advantage, as they raise the barbell further away from the ground in a more favorable position.