You may have heard the terms ‘standard’ and ‘Olympic’ thrown around for different weight plates. While they may seem more or less the same, there are some important technical differences between the two you should consider before choosing the best one for your workout.
The main difference between a standard and Olympic weight plate is the diameter of the hole used to mount the bar. Standard weight plates will have a specific centre hole size, meaning they will only fit onto a bar with a 25mm diameter. Olympic plates, on the other hand, require a bar with a 50mm sleeve. This is important as it means that a standard weight plate won’t fit onto an Olympic bar. While it is technically possible to fit an Olympic weight plate onto a standard bar, as the Olympic hole will be bigger than the standard bar’s diameter, it’s not recommended as the weights will not be properly secured, making them unsafe to use.
There are other key differences that can affect your workout that are worth keeping in mind. Olympic weight plates are commonly used in competition weight lifting, meaning they are built to standardised measurements set by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to meet the requirements of competitive events. Olympic weight plates are commercial grade and are designed to withstand being dropped. CORTEX Competition Olympic plates being made with a high-quality PolyUrethane coating, designed to reduce bounce back and endure high intensity usage. Others, such as the Tri-Grip and bumper plates have a strong, rubber coating. This means that professional weight lifters will almost exclusively train with Olympic weights. However, if you’re not quite blazing the international weightlifting scene just yet, the standard weight plates are comparatively cheap weight plates that are better suited to the average user. CORETEX standard weight plates are built with heavy-duty cast iron or PVC coating, designed to be rust and chip free, and ensure durability.
Click here for more info on Olympic Barbells.