(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best strenght training plates

First of all, congrats on getting ready to do Starting Strength! As someone who is around 10 weeks into the program I can tell you that it works...if you follow the program.

Make sure to follow along / post form checks over at r/startingstrength and listen to the Barbell Logic Podcast (hosted by two Starting Strength coaches).

Anyway, a few thoughts on the equipment:

• I have the X3 flat foot short. It is awesome and super sturdy. I have no real complaints whatsoever and I'm happy that I didn't have to bolt it into anything (mine's in the basement). The depth (around 30"?) is more than enough.
  
• If you can, I'd highly recommend only making the center of at least the deadlift portion of your platform 40" wide. That is what mine is and it 1) First perfectly inside the X3 so the flat feet are entirely on rubber and 2) means that I'm never in danger of catching the edge of my weights on the wood instead of stall mat.
  
• I have the 160lb set of the Vulcan bumpers and wish I had two more of those 45's instead of the CAP ones I have that are slippery and a slightly larger diameter. If you want bumpers those are a great choice.
  
• I have the CAP OB-86PBCK that I got for just over $100. At that price it is totally worth saving some money vs. the B&R. But at over $200 now, I'd just get the B&R if money isn't an issue.
  
• Make sure to budget for some smaller iron plates as well. (2x2.5's, 2x5's, 4x10's). I have these and [these]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000ATDRF/) CAP ones and for the price with prime shipping are great and all weighed their exact weights. Depending on ceiling height, you may need even more of these for your overhead press. I can't do an OHP with bumpers in my basement so I just load up the bar with lots of 25's, 10's, 5's, etc.
  
• Don't forget weight collars. I just got these and I like them A TON better than my original spring collars.
  
  Alternate Black Friday Options
  
  
• Right now the Rogue Ohio Power Bar Back Zinc version is on sale for $245 plus 5 for $5 shipping. That combined with the Rogue Echo 260lb set would save you over $100.
  
  EDIT: Forgot a couple things..
  
  
• Bench - Remember that 300lbs includes YOU and the weights. I weigh 155 and would already exceed that things capacity so you're right to get a new flat bench. However, I would get the Rep Fitness flat bench instead. You will see that thing praised very highly around here vs. the Titan. I have it and the overall quality of that thing vs. my Titan X3 (which keep in mind, I love) is night and day in terms of the packaging, welds, powder coat...even the instructions.
  

I use bumpers in my home gym and transitioned from a standard, 7ft Olympic bar to a 15 lb "training bar" that's 6 ft a few months ago. I started doing 5/3/1 and some of my warm-up weights were lower than 45 lb, necessitating a lighter bar.

I've really liked moving to the 6' bar. Deadlifts feel about the same, but my squat & bench balance feels so much better! I'm 5'6", for reference.

With the one I bought (link below), my plates from the standard Olympic fit just fine, too.

That being said, I don't think you'd hurting anything with a 7ft - it seems to me to be a personal preference & what fits your plates. You might try a free day pass to a local gym that has both and see which you like better?

I bought this bar: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R93GJ74/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And use these plates (would love a set of Rogues, but these have been great, too):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I18FHOW/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We used some small excercise weights, but here is a link to a diving weight you can buy in sizes from 1 to 12 lbs.

For something more precise, something like these may be better, albeit more expensive.

The piece we used is closest to this one, which allowed us to run a rev extrusion through it to mount it more securely.

In all honestly, each of the weights above should work more or less the same, but which is the best will depend on how much weight you need to add, and where you can mount it.

Ordered these from Amazon on Friday night, May 17 and they arrived at my doorstep on Monday, May 20. This is super fast considering I am in Hawaii and also that shipping was free (good luck finding any fitness supply that will ship weights free of charge!). Weights were shipped via USPS. The 20lb arrived in a USPS flat rate large box while the 10lb arrived in a USPS padded envelope. The 20lb box arrived heavily beaten but sufficiently taped. Inside the box was a ton of cardboard rolled up to protect the weight and the Yes4All branded box. Within the Yes4All box was another box and within that was the weight wrapped in bubblewrap. The 10lb arrived just in the padded envelope and then the Yes4All box with the weight wrapped in padding.

Unlike the Rogue fitness ruck plates, the Yes4All has the weight engraved in rather than raised which creates a smooth, flat surface.

I did a super scientific weigh in on my consumer level scale and the 20lb came in at 19.2lbs and the 10lb came in at 9.5 lbs. Will weigh again when I have a more precise scale.

• Adjustable Bench ($129.45)
  
  
• Squat Rack ($119.07)
  
  
• Barbell + Clamps ($67.89)
  
  
• Treadmill ($379.99)
  
  
• Dumbbell Set ($119.97)
  
  
• Plates Set ($369)
  
  
• Another set for a really good deal ($49.99)
  
  Total cost of all that is 1235.36 dollars. Then you save up for..
  
  
• This bad boy with all the parts ($1280.10)
  
  And you're all done. :-) That is all you need for the gym. You cover everything there. Start from there and keep working forward. You can toss in a yoga mat or two. It shouldn't be too hard to get + his clients would most likely love to workout in a private space where they pay less & get a free training session or two.

I need to get better about visiting this sub. Just now seeing this targeted talk.

I like a mix for my dumbbells and I'm actually restructuring what I have in my gym.

For the lower end of the weight 5-40, I am moving to solid hex dumbbells. I like these for 2 reasons, no rolling, quick weight changes for the ability to "run the rack", do pyramids, ladders, etc.

For middle ground I just use spin locks with standard plates.

For heavier weight I will swear by pro-style handles with rubber endcaps. I need to have a solid feeling in my hands and It needs to be able to rest comfortably on my thighs.

That's why I love 5/3/1! My OHP progress definitely isn't linear and I get stuck at/go up and down around the same 1+ for forever, but it's so satisfying to finally break through.

Have you considered bringing your own fractional weights or some washers and making your OHP programming calculations round to the nearest lb/half lb/whatever? I have washers because they used to be wayyyy cheaper than the fractional weights. TBH I'm too lazy to carry them to the gym, but when I was using them they were pretty helpful in working up my OHP in smaller increments.

Agreed. I've never heard of a gym without 2.5kg (5 pounds) weights. That would make the minimum jump on bicep curls to be 5kg (10 pounds)! I'd just buy plates and leave them in the gym as a donation.

Side note, I have a home gym and I have down to 0.6 kg (1.25lb) plates and really enjoy them for progression. For things like curls and OHP, I try to increase by 1.25kg (2.5lbs) every session.

Edit: in the U.S. at least with pound sizes, it would only cost $15 dollars total to buy 2x5lb and 2x2.5lb plates: https://www.amazon.com/CAP-Barbell-2-Inch-Olympic-Plate/dp/B01B262OB8/

I found Valor Fitness Olympic Plates on amazon that ships to Malaysia and for 190 kg in weights, it is around $2900. It's advertised as an Olympic plate so I was just wondering does that mean it will definitely fit on any other 2.2m Olympic bars or do the bars have to come from the same brand as the weights?

EDIT: https://www.amazon.com/Valor-Fitness-BPX-10-Bumper-Plate/dp/B00NUM4IOY?th=1&psc=1 the plates im talking about ( for reference )

I'd go further and say that you shouldn't just get 2.5lbs plates, but a set of microplates like this: https://www.amazon.com/Friendly-Swede-Fractional-Strength-Training/dp/B01N07C8WX

In addition to 5lbs for squats and deadlifts, you should expect to be doing 2.5lbs jumps for bench presses, presses, and power cleans for most of SS. The smaller increments will be useful later on.

Yes, well, as long as the free stuff isn't 300-Pound Olympic Weight Set

The very best thing to do would be to buy yourself some 2.5lbs plates. like this
Your idea of 10lbs every 2 workouts is fine until they arrive, but those small jumps really help later in the progression.

I wish they were vintage 100s! Unfortunately I'm pretty sure they're just these. They look very similar. I picked these up from a guy who got them from a local college turned university. They came with an A-frame plate rack for $120.

I've been using Phrak's GSLP, just with adjustable dumbbells, plus a few sets of 1" weights at 1.25lb, 10lb, and 25lb, also from amazon.

Basically you can put this together just with amazon.

Here's the replacements I used:

• Upper body:
  
  • one-arm DB OHP
    
  • one-arm DB bench press, using a couple floor risers similar to this as a bench
    
  • one-arm DB rows
    
  • DB curls, or chinups (if have chinup bar)
    
• Lower body:
  
  • DB swings
    
  • DB clean and push-press
    
  • DB reverse lunges
    
    Increases:
    
    
• for upper body, since all lifts are one-armed, just increase the weight by 1.25lb plate each time (instead of 2.5lb on a bar, it's 1.25lb on a dumbbell). Yes, this means you'll have a slightly unbalanced DB, but 1.25 is very low; it's easy to balance by gripping close to that side
  
• for lower body, increase by 2.5lb per DB (instead of 5lb on a bar)
  
  

I got these on sale for $3 each https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XP89NUW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 but they are pretty expensive now.

Same brand for $2 each you can get these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZKJ08I0 pretty sick deal I would say.

They have cheap ones now on amazon. $1.28 each and free shipping if you add them on to a $25 order. Mine are coming today.

Personally, I'd like a(n):

• FlipBelt
  
  
• 1.25 lb plates
  
  
• Dip Belt
  
  
• Jump rope
  
  
• Anatomy Textbook (or other fitness related textbooks, especially coffee-table type books)
  
  and, of course...
  
  
• Giftcard: for athletic clothing (especially somewhere that sells women's weightlifting shoes, as that's what I actually need right now), massages, yoga classes, food...
  
  

In this order (more or less)

1. Squat rack (or go for a full power rack)
   
2. Adjustable bench
   
3. Quality 7' barbell
   
4. Weights, bumper or otherwise
   
5. Caps
   
6. More weights as needed
   
7. Adjustable Dumbbells
   
   Get some horse stall mat as well to put down. Thick stuff (3/4" or thicker) - like this

I found a nice set of metal olympic ones on Amazon for $35 or so. Don't get the plastic ones as they tend to stick on the bar.

Trademark Innovations Exercise Plates Fractional Weight Plates - 2 Each of 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1 Lb. Total Set of 8 by 1/4-1 lbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0746NR6M5?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Not a freaking tank, not yet anyway, however the cheapest bar/bumper plates I have found hover around $900 anyway, and that set gave me the most weight for the buck.

I kept looking around, this set from Amazon plus this bar will "only" set me back around $650 for 305 lbs of weight (260 lbs worth of bumper plates plus the bar)

I found a pair of them with free shipping for 19.98 on Amazon

Is this good?

Personally, I use the Hex dumbbells. I have between 5lbs - 35 lbs; All in 5 lbs increments, PLUS a set of 12's. I use the full range! So you will have a lot of trouble with only 2 weights. I also have four magnet weights. They each add 1.25 lbs. That being said, you can save a lot of money by using the resistance bands.

You can get away with resistance bands for the entire muscle building process. More bang for the buck. Someone else mentioned the Manduka mat. DEFINITELY worth the expense! The cheap ones just don't cut it. They flop around a lot and wear out faster. 1 yoga block (You don't need 2 for this program). A pull up bar is nice, but not necessary if the band set you pick up comes with a door wedge.

You can buy a pair for like $15

For your first question, I'd say buy some fractional plates to see if you can go up a little at a time. I was stuck at 165lbs for a year and a half on bench press. I had been stuck at like 65lbs on my overhead press for a long while and adding 5lb increments was just too much for me, so I bought 1.25lb plates and bring them with me in my gym bag. I use them a lot more than I ever thought I would. I just got mine on Amazon.

For your 2nd point, I would LOVE to know that too! My mom just had surgery to get hers removed and I'm so tempted to if it is still there when I lose the weight I want to lose.

I picked up a pair off amazon.

Here.

Or here.

Or here.

Or any of the other links.

> progressive overload issue as dumbbells increase by quite a bit per step

1.25 lb magnetic microplates could be a fix if your DBs are metal. Or 0.625 lb ones for smaller increase.

What did you drop?

amazon.ca I'm not a huge fan, but they sell a lot of cheap shit. I bought some collars with free shipping for like $11. I'm sure they have 1.25lb and other micro plates with free shipping for reasonable prices.
there are even some that are like $2, but I think you have to buy other shit, so they will ship it but if you just search micro plate, fraction plate, etc. there are a couple different styles/prices.
Btw, you do the same thing I do and spell "Rogue" the wrong way :P but I find their shipping prices terrible.

I recently bought a 300lb weight set, one thing I found out through my research was that I don't know the first thing about a nice bar (knurling types and location, argh) and weight seems to cost about $1 per lb.

I ended up buying a VTX by Troy set, 300lbs, including the bar, which was $439 with free shipping. (Here's a link if you're interested: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MX5ZS2/)

That set for $200 is priced very aggressively. So aggressively that I'd be suspicious. Bodybuilding is a pretty reputable site, and the price on amazon is about 2x. There are some complaints about rough quality on the weights, but that's easily dealt with with either a dremel or chisel.

My opinion, that appears to be a hell of a deal on a low range product and it'll definitely get the job done.

edit: Just clicked on Order, the shipping is $111.92. There's the catch!