300lbs Olympic Weight Set

This is the most common weight set I, as well as the big box stores, sell and for a good reason! You get 2 of every size plate from 2.5 – 45 pounds, an extra pair of 5s, and a nice 7ft 45lbs bar. And all nice and matching… what’s not to love?

A few things actually… read on for more info

Pros:
-Fair price point for a starter weight set
-Every size plate included for easy incremental changes
-Matching plates

Cons:
-Comes with a pair of 35 pounds, which a lot of people aren’t a fan of
-The 7ft bar is a hex bolt bar, meaning it doesn’t spin as well/as smoothly as other bars
-Manufacturing tolerances are generally wide on these bars. Some hold 400-500 pounds no problem. Some can barely take 300 pounds of plates

Now, I’ve posted 3 pictures, with 3 different styles of these sets. Which ones should you go with?

Black cap set (1st pic): These plates will be the thinnest and are the “standard” diameter for 45s, meaning your deadlifts will be at the correct height

Fitness Gear grip plate set (2nd pic): These plates are excellent as they have the grips and are very smooth to the touch. They are going to be thicker than the other styles though, and the plates are also of a shorter diameter than “standard”

Weider grip plates (3rd pic): These plates look the “coolest” to some, yet I’ve noticed the handles are a bit rough/pointy and can be more cumbersome to use than the fitness gear. Also, like the fitness gear set, they are thicker/shorter diameter than “standard”

Who would’ve thought there’d be so much to say about a set of weights? Hopefully my experience will help you make a better buying choice! Get some good lifts in and tune in next Sunday for another equipment feature 💪