Are Cheap Bumper Plates Too Thick for Heavy Squats

I am wondering if these cheap bumper plates are too thick for heavy squats in my garage gym. I have a set of the economy bumpers from a local shop in Illinois and I have noticed that I am almost running out of room on the sleeves of my barbell.

I am not a world class lifter but I am moving enough weight that it is becoming an issue. I do not want to have to buy a new bar just to fit more plates on. I am thinking about switching some of my heavier plates to iron or thin competition bumpers.

Have any of you had this problem with budget bumper plates? I love the durability but the width is a real downside. I would love to hear how you manage your bar space when you are lifting heavy with thick plates.

It depends on your definition of "heavy." Most economy bumpers are about 3.25 to 3.5 inches thick for a 45lb plate. If you have a standard Olympic bar with 16-inch sleeves, you can usually only fit about 405lbs total once you add the collars.

I hit that limit pretty fast. Once you get to 4 plates, the bar starts getting really bouncy because the weight is so far out on the ends. It definitely changes the "feel" of the squat compared to iron.

That bar whip is no joke. I’m squatting over 500lbs and there is no way I could use just budget bumpers. I had to mix in some iron plates to keep the center of mass closer to the middle of the bar.

I’ve got a set of those crumb rubber ones here in London. They are massive! I can barely fit three 20kg plates on each side of my short bar. Right proper nightmare if you're trying to push for a new PB.

If you want to stay budget but go heavy, look for "competition" style bumpers. They are thinner urethane and you can fit way more on the bar. Or just buy used iron for your heavy days.

I do exactly what Arnold suggests. I put one pair of 45lb bumpers on first so I can drop the bar if I need to, then I stack old-school cast iron plates for the rest. Best of both worlds for a Canadian basement gym.

Wait, is it safe to mix iron and bumpers? I heard that the iron plates will chew up the bumpers if you drop the bar.

It's fine as long as the bumper has a larger diameter than the iron. Most iron plates are slightly smaller, so the bumper takes the impact. Just don't drop it from overhead with only one thin bumper on there.

I find the width makes the bar feel more stable actually. It doesn't dig into my back as much when the weight is spread out. Maybe that's just me though?

Actually, the further the weight is from the center, the more the bar will oscillate. For a beginner, it might feel stable, but once the weight gets heavy, that whip can throw off your balance in the hole.

I switched to urethane bumpers recently. They are much thinner than the crumb rubber ones I had. My old joints appreciate not having to deal with a bar that's shaking like a leaf.

Are the urethane ones expensive? I'm trying to keep this build affordable. Shipping to rural Alberta is a killer.

They aren't cheap, but sometimes you can find a deal. I'd say stay with the thick ones until you are actually maxing out the sleeves. Most people won't hit a 405lb squat for a few years anyway.

Good point John. I'm only at 275lb right now, so I guess I have some room to grow before I need to worry about sleeve length.

Just keep an eye on the inserts. Cheap bumpers tend to lose those center rings if you drop them frequently with a lot of weight. If you're mainly squatting and racking, they'll last forever.

I’ve had a set of economy bumpers for 2 years. I don’t drop them, and they still look new. They are definitely wide, but for the price, you can't beat them for a home setup.

Totally agree! Better to have thick plates and a heavy squat than thin plates and no squat because you spent all your money on gear.

Has anyone tried the 55lb bumpers? They are usually the same thickness as the 45s but obviously add more weight per inch of sleeve space. Might be a good middle ground.

The 55s are a great hack for sleeve space. Just be aware they are a beast to move around the gym compared to 45s. Your lower back will feel them before your squats do!