One pair of 45# bumpers enough?

[Brandon Enos]

I want to buy some bumper plates, but since their expensive, wondering if I could get by on just getting a pair of 45s? What if I had a 45# bumper on each side along with a 45# iron on each side, the bumpers will still do their job and protect the floor and what not correct?

[Derek Weaver]

I'd think so. I wouldn't put the iron there also as it'll still make contact with the ground. But a 35 plus a 10 does the trick.

How many other plates do you have at your disposal that aren't bumpers?

[Brandon Enos]

Two of 45, 35, 25; four 10s; two 5s; four 2.5 (only 3 are usable though, one of the ones it came with wasnt drilled correctly).

[Derek Weaver]

cheaper to just add in some of the smaller plates. Do you have some sort of a stall mat or other rubber padding to protect the floor? If you do, then I'd think you could actually use the 45 steel plates with the bumpers, at least for the slow lifts.

If you're gonna be snatching and C&J'ing 225 lbs. and up, just use the 35 +10... and 2.5's are cheap at Play It Again Sports or some other place like Sports Authority.

[Dave Van Skike]

Iron 45's hit the floor because the bumper compresses and the iron stays the same.

my facilty only has two sets of 45 bumpers so we do the same thing, 35's and tens or you coudl supplemtns with those shittay rubber wrapped metal plates that will work as well, they won't stand up to mega abuse but with a bumper takign the brunt you'll get more life out of both.