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Bumper Plates Sets
Bumper Plates are a key necessity for any type of strength training program
Weight plates are the most heavily used piece of equipment in any gym. When purchasing bumpers for your gym, make sure to consider warranty and durability as well as company history. Vulcan Strength was founded in 2009. We fully stand behind our products and continue to focus on quality and innovation.
Bumper Plates Description:
Made to IWF (International Weightlifting Federation) Standard diameter 450 mm (17.7165 inch)
Solid Rubber Weight Plates made from virgin rubber not recycled rubber
low bounce for safety
low odor
Safe for platform use
Our plates have been tested to 30,000 drops from a height of 9 feet without any deformation of the insert or damage to the rubber surface.
Shore Durometer A 87.7 - 89.3 What is Shore Durometer? See Here
Bumper Plates Dimensions and Specifications:
Weight Plate Diameter:
- 450 mm (17.7 inches)
- Collar opening is 50.4 mm
Bumper Plate Thickness
- 10 lb - 1.06"
- 15 lb - 1.18"
- 25 lb - 1.18"
- 35 lb - 2.31"
- 45 lb - 3"
- 55 lb - 3.06"
Insert Type: Forged stainless anchored into rubber. Vulcan strength was the first company to introduce this technology in 2011. Many other brands of bumper plates used stamped in or pressed in metal inserts that can easily depart from the plate or begin to loosen with repeated drops.
Thinner Profile allows more weight plates on the barbell
Warranty: 36 months and 1 day warranty on 55 lb, 45 lb, 35 lb, and 25 lb bumper plates. 1 Year warranty on 15 lb and 10 lb bumper plates
Why Use Bumper Plates?
Bumper plates would not be in existence if not for the sport of Olympic Weightlifting. Olympic Weightlifting was included in the Olympic games as early as the 1890's. The first games featured one hand and odd lifts as well as the traditional Snatch and Clean and Jerk. Original weightlifting plates were made of steel and cast iron. As records increased it became necessary for weightlifters to drop the weights from overhead rather than risk injury to bring them down after the extreme physical exertion from the execution of the one rep maximum lift. First attempts at manufacturing rubber bumper plates resulted in very thick rubber plates that caused issue when trying to add multiple plates to the weight bar. Making the shaft of the bar longer to accommodate the thickness of the plates was not an option as it displaced the load further from the lifter's body, making the lift harder than it inherently is. Later on, Vulcanized rubber was used to create bumper plates. The process of vulcanization makes a harder, thinner, denser plate that is more durable than recycled rubber bumper plates.
Bumper Plates allow the lifter to safely drop heavy weights from over head which is an essential aspect of the Olympic Weightlifting movements. Bumper Plates also allow the lifter to safely miss lifts when beginning to learn technique based weightlifting or attempting maximal weight squats and or heavy overhead lifts.
Vulcan Bumper Plates are recommended for commercial gym use, high school and college weight rooms, Cross-training gyms, athletic training centers, home gyms, and police, military or first responder training environments.
Our black bumper plates are safe for dropping on wood platforms or athletic rubber flooring. They are not recommended for dropping on concrete or aggregate surfaces. Please see our Alpha Bumper Plates for outdoor use bumper plates.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bumper Plates
What is a Bumper Plate?
A bumper plate is a weight plate specifically made for Olympic weightlifting. A bumper plate is generally 17.7 inches in diameter and varies in thickness depending on the weight. Unlike rubber-coated metal plates, true bumper plates do not have a steel core inside. They are made through a process called vulcanization, where virgin rubber pieces are compressed with thousands of pounds of force and heat to create a dense, heavy plate.
What are the advantages of using Rubber Bumper Plates versus Cast Iron Olympic Weight Plates?
Bumper plates can be dropped from any height without breaking easily, damaging floors, or causing injury. In the earlier years of Olympic weightlifting, lifters could not drop weights from overhead due to the risk of damage or injury. Bumper plates solved this issue, allowing athletes to lift heavier safely.
Additional advantages include:
• Bumper plates do not rust like cast iron plates.
• Bumper plates do not chip like painted iron plates.
• They do not damage barbells like metal plates.
• They are quieter than metal plates.
• Safer when the lifter fails a lift.
How are Bumper Plates Made?
Vulcan bumper plates are made from virgin natural rubber and synthetic rubber compounds—never from used tires or recycled rubber. This makes them PAHS and Phthalates free. The inserts are made from forged steel and anchored into the rubber core. Virgin rubber cannot be sourced in the United States, as the Hevea brasiliensis plant does not grow domestically; therefore, all virgin rubber used in Vulcan plates is imported.
What Does Shore Hardness Have to Do With Bumper Plates?
Shore Hardness measures rubber firmness. Most bumper plates range between 85–92 SHa. While competitors often list Shore Hardness as a selling point, it’s only one factor affecting performance. Other factors like elongation to break, tensile strength, and composition are equally important. Two brands can have the same Shore Hardness yet perform differently in bounce and durability.
Are Vulcan Bumper Plates Low Bounce?
Yes, Vulcan Bumper Plates have virtually no bounce. Plates made with crumb or recycled rubber have much higher bounce, which can be distracting, performance-reducing, and even dangerous. A lower bounce does not mean less impact protection—it means better control and safety.
Who Trains With Vulcan Bumper Plates?
Anyone can use Vulcan bumper plates, regardless of experience level. They are found in CrossFit gyms, personal training studios, commercial gyms, high school and college gyms, as well as police, fire, and military facilities—and in countless home and garage gyms.
Do Bumper Plates Last a Long Time?
Yes. Vulcan bumper plates can last a lifetime depending on use. Our first plates were released in 2009, and many gyms that purchased them still use those same plates in great condition today.
How Are Your Bumper Plates Drop Tested?
We use a drop testing machine that releases weights no less than 30,000 times from a set height. The dropped weight, about 20 kilograms, simulates the load of a barbell. We have tested competitor plates as well, and none have matched our durability under the same conditions.
Do Your Bumper Plates Have a Hooked or Anchored Stainless Steel Insert?
Yes! Vulcan was the first company to innovate this method of permanently bonding steel to rubber. This proprietary process ensures the insert will not loosen or separate from the plate, even after extensive use.
CROSSFIT is a registered Trademark of CrossFit LLC. Vulcan Strength equipment is not recommended or endorsed by CrossFit
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