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Bumper plates are an essential piece of gym equipment in just about any garage gym. They have versatility and function that you can’t get from your standard iron plates—notably that they can be dropped from overhead, making them great for functional workouts and a multitude of exercises.
Still, when it comes to bumper plates, there are a lot—alot—of options out there made to suit a variety of individual needs. Rogue, a trusted company on the strength equipment scene, has a budget-friendly option with their Echo Plates. In our Rogue Echo Bumper Plates review, we’ll go over the good, the bad, and the ugly (just the smell!) on these budget-friendly bumper plates with a thinner profile than most of its competitors.
We’ve Tested More Bumper Plates Than We Can Load On a Bar—Or Several Bars
We have researched and tested dozens of bumper plates and taken notes on the rubber used, durability, appearance, and noise. In addition, we’ve researched prices, warranties, and availability on bumper plates, all to determine what the best bumper plates are, and which will best suit each person based on their needs in their home gym.
In my weightlifting career, I have used a variety of kilogram and pound bumper plates, including the Rogue Echo Bumper Plates. Over the last 24 years in this sport, I have learned what to look for in a long-lasting bumper plate. Not only that, but we have a team of certified personal trainers, CrossFit coaches, and competitive athletes all here to give you the best information possible, so you can make an informed decision in your purchases.
Rogue Echo Bumper Plates
Rogue Echo Bumper Plates
Product Highlights
- Great value for the quality
- Black-and-white contrast for easy weight identification
- 88/100 durometer rating
- 3-year warranty
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Tremendous value
- Shore A Durometer rating of 88
- Weight tolerance of these bumpers is +/- 1%
- Great for general training and CrossFit
- White lettering offers great contrast
- Stainless steel insert rings
- 25-45 lb plate variants are warrantied for 3 years
Cons
- Wide plates
- Maximum you can fit on the bar is less than 500 lbs
- May smell bad out of the box
Bottom Line
The Rogue Echo Bumper Plates are a great value plate based upon our review. Although they're cheaper than Rogue's flagship HG 2.0 Plates, they have extremely similar specs and warranty at a much lower price. If you need bumper plates for your garage gym, these are a great option. If you need them for your commercial facility or CrossFit Affiliate, we'd suggest going with something like Hi-Temps.
A Quick Look at the Rogue Echo Bumper Plates
Rogue Fitness has been around for awhile, starting in 2006 in a garage, and amassing itself to be a leader in the strength and fitness industry. They supply equipment for a multitude of events and competitions, including USA Weightlifting competitions and the CrossFit Games. Rogue provides quality equipment for athletes of all levels. The Rogue Echo Bumper Plates are no different, as they have been officially approved for use in the Army Combat Fitness Test.
Compared to other Rogue bumper plates, the Rogue Echo Bumper Plates come in at a lower price point, being an affordable option for home gyms. However, these plates still have great value in spite of a lower price. The plates are constructed of virgin rubber with stainless steel inserts, all to provide a solid product that will last. They actually have almost identical specs compared to the more expensive Rogue HG 2.0 Bumper Plates, except they are a thinner bumper plate, making them well worth the price.
Another standout is the thinner plate width with the 45-pound plates. At only 2.4 inches, this is thinner than most standard bumpers out there; only competition bumpers are thinner. Most standard bumpers struggle to fit much more than 400 pounds on a bar, which is fine for most people. However, for those needing more weight on the bar, the thinner Echo Plates are great for those who want to do some heavy deadlifts, or even cleans.
Before You Buy
- Rogue Fitness offers these plates as pairs or in three sets: 160, 230, and a full set of 260 pounds. If you are wanting more weights than their sets offer, it can start to get expensive buying multiples.
- The Echo Bumper Plates come in black as well as a color option. Outside of being color-coded and having a higher price tag, the plates are identical. Additionally, the color bumper plates offer a 55-pound pair!
- Although we did not experience this ourselves, these plates can smell out of the box. Typically, the smell of new rubber bumper plates will die down after some use, but be prepared for that initial whiff!
Rogue Color Echo Bumper Plates
Rogue Color Echo Bumper Plates
Product Highlights
- IWF Standard 450mm diameter
- Stainless steel inserts
- Quality virgin rubber makes for minimal bounce
- Color-coded by weight, 10 lbs to 55 lbs
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Options from 10 lbs to 55 lbs
- IWF Standard diameter (450mm)
- Stainless steel inserts
- Virgin rubber
- Thinner than most lb bumper plates
Cons
- Not the same width as competition bumpers
- Bad smell out of the box
Bottom Line
The Rogue Color Echo Bumper Plates are a great option of bumper plates. Thinner than most, you can load up a bar with some heavy weight. Also, it is quality made with stainless steel and virgin rubber, giving it a minimal bounce.
Are Rogue Echo Bumper Plates Worth It?
Despite being budget-friendly, the Rogue Echo Bumper Plates have great value, being constructed of virgin rubber and with stainless steel inserts. They have a durometer, or bounce, rating of 88. Most durometer ratings range from 65 to 100, and the higher the number, the less bounce. So an 88 gives these plates a dead bounce—a little give, but the bar won’t be flying through your garage gym every drop.
These plates are ideal for CrossFit use, and repeated drops. With that said, I would watch out for the thinner 10- and 15-pound plates. Dropping a bar with just a pair of 10s or 15s from overhead always has a risk of bending or damaging the plate, especially after repeated use. Fortunately, Rogue provides a 90-day warranty on these lighter plates, but if you plan on using these plates by themselves, I’d recommend lowering the barbell instead of dropping it to make it last. You could also look into sturdy urethane bumper plates.
The thin profile on these bumpers is great, but they are not the same width as competition bumper plates, so the wider width on the barbell will add more oscillation to the bar. For the Olympic lifts, the snatch and the clean and jerk, this added oscillation can change the feel of the lift, throwing off your technique or timing. If you are competing, I’d recommend looking into competition Olympic plates to get a more consistent feel for the lifts.
Great for:
- People looking for versatile plates for CrossFit and general use
- Those looking for budget-friendly, durable plates that will last
- Strong lifters needing thinner bumpers to load lots of weights on a barbell
Not recommended for:
- Those looking for 10- or 15-lb plates to drop from overhead repeatedly
- Weightlifters looking for kilogram or competition bumper plates
- People that don’t do a lot of overhead barbell movements
Rogue Echo Bumper Plates Specs
| Material | Virgin rubber |
| Weight Range | 10-45 lbs (55 lbs for the color option) |
| Weight Set Options | 160, 230, & 260 lbs (plus 210, 320, and 350 for the color option) |
| Diameter | 450 mm (17.7 in) |
| Insert | 50.6 mm stainless steel |
| 10 lb Plate Width | 0.83 in |
| 15 lb Plate Width | 1.04 in |
| 25 lb Plate Width | 1.5 in |
| 35 lb Plate Width | 1.9 in |
| 45 lb Plate Width | 2.4 in |
| Durometer (Bounce) Rating | 88 |
| Warranty | 90 days (10 & 15 lb plates)3 years (25, 35, & 45 lb plates) |
Using the Rogue Echo Bumper Plates
I’ve worked out with lots of different bumper plates and weight plates, using them for squats, snatches, cleans, jerks, pulls, and everything in between. I tend to use kilogram, competition bumper plates, but have used plenty of pound bumper plates while traveling, as well as when I owned a CrossFit gym.
The two standouts for me on the Rogue Echo Bumper Plates are their high-quality construction at a lower price, along with their thinner width compared to typical pound bumpers. As a competitive weightlifter, I need to be able to load the bar heavy sometimes, and it is often frustrating with thick pound plates. With the Echo Bumper Plates, though, I can load what I need for just about any exercise.
Construction
The Rogue Echo Bumper Plates are well built, constructed with a virgin rubber coating. This is going to be a stronger rubber than recycled rubber, or the crumb rubber you find in hi-temp bumper plates. The collar opening is large enough to fit any Olympic barbell sleeve (2 inches wide), making it easy to add to a home gym setting with an Olympic barbell. Each plate has a diameter of 17.7 inches, which is the IWF standard (International Weightlifting Federation), making these plates the right size for Olympic lifts off the floor.
The weight tolerance of these plates is +/- 1%, which is pretty typical of training plates. In our experience with these plates, that range held true.
The black plates have white lettering depicting the brand and the weight of the plates, which range from 10 pounds to 45 pounds. The white lettering on the black plate is a little addition that makes the weight look sharp. If anyone is worried about the white paint wearing off over time, the lettering is also raised, like most training bumper sets, so you’ll still be able to see the weight on the training plate, even with a scuff mark. The Color Echo Bumper Plates also have raised white lettering, but something about the white on black really pops.
The Rogue Color Echo Bumper Plates also have a 55-pound plate available, unlike the black bumpers. I mention this because of the plate thickness; even the 55-pound plate is thinner than a lot of other 45-pound bumper plates, at 2.75 inches wide. This makes these plates designed to get some weight on the bar.
Another thing we noticed was the angled edge on the plates. This is a little touch, but this angled touch makes a flat bumper much easier to pick up from the floor. It’s a more robust angle than most competitors, which again helps with lifting the plate with ease.
Durability
Minimal bounce is good for you and the bumpers. WIth a durometer rating of 88, these plates are going to be fine dropping from overhead, as well as having less noise than bouncy plates. The one caveat I would add would be the thinner 10- and 15-pound plates. At 0.83 and 1.04 inches wide respectively, these plates will not last as well with repeated drops. This is typical in most training bumper plates, so I always recommend that if these bumpers are the only thing on the bar, control the bar back to the floor, so those plates last longer.
Another thing to mention is that these will not last great on just any surface. Outdoor use might be best for hi-temp weights, which will have less wear and tear from banging on a hard asphalt surface. The virgin rubber of the Echo Plates will start to show a lot of wear on an asphalt or gravel surface; a smooth garage floor or rubber mats would be great for these plates.
Comparison to REP Fitness Black Bumper Plates
There are many comparable bumper plates out there like the Rogue Echo Bumper Plates, and by brands like Fringe Sport and Titan Fitness. We’ll take a deeper look at how the Echo Plates compare to the REP Fitness Black Bumper Plates.
Both are made to be durable, made with high-density rubber, and having a stainless steel insert. The biggest difference is in the weight plates’ widths. All around, REP has wider plates. At the heavier weights, this can be a hindrance when it comes to loading up a barbell. However, this is a positive at the lighter weights. REP made their 10-pound plates extra thick, at one inch, to increase its durability and reduce the risk of the plate bending.
Although the durometer rating is not given by REP Fitness on their website, the weights have a low bounce, and are factory-tested to withstand 12,000 drops from a height of eight feet. This makes them a very durable weight plate.
The price point is comparable as well, with the Rogue plates costing less by the pair, but the REP plates are less when bought in a set. Ultimately, both of these bumper plates are good values, and the preference comes to what you need from the width of these weight plates. The Rogue plates will give you more space on the bar, while the REP plates have a thicker, stronger 10- and 15-pound plate.
| Rogue Echo Black Bumper Plates V2 | REP Fitness Black Bumper Plates | |
| Material | Virgin rubber | High-density rubber |
| Weight Range | 10-45 lbs | 10-45 lbs |
| Weight Set Options | 160, 230, & 260 lbs | 160, 190, 230, 250, 260, & 340 lbs |
| Diameter | 450 mm (17.7”) | 450 mm (17.7”) |
| Insert | 50.6 mm (2”) stainless steel | 2” stainless steel |
| 10 lb Plate Width | 0.83” | 1.0” |
| 15 lb Plate Width | 1.04” | 1.2” |
| 25 lb Plate Width | 1.5” | 1.8” |
| 35 lb Plate Width | 1.9” | 2.4” |
| 45 lb Plate Width | 2.4” | 2.8” |
| Durometer (Bounce) Rating | 88 | Not disclosed |
| Warranty | 90 days (10- & 15-lb plates)3 years (25-, 35-, & 45-lb plates) | 6 months (10- & 15-lb plates)3-year home use & 1-year commercial use (25-, 35-, & 45-lb plates) |
REP Black Bumper Plates
REP Black Bumper Plates
Product Highlights
- Extremely durable and attractive
- Ideal for cross-training and Olympic weightlifting
- 10-lb plates are extra thick (1″) to increase durability
- 45-lb plates are thinner than most at 2″
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely durable and attractive
- Ideal for cross-training and Olympic weightlifting
- 10-lb plates are extra thick (1") to increase durability
- 45-lb plates are thinner than most at 2"
Cons
- 3% weight tolerance is pretty high
- Like many rubber bumpers, may smell a little for some
- No 55-lb option
Bottom Line
The REP Black Bumper Plates are extremely durable and feature a thick 10-lb plate meant to withstand drops.
Customer Experience
On Rogue’s website, there are many ways to contact the company for questions about orders, returns, and more. There is an FAQ page with answers to more common questions, but for other questions, there is a contact form and phone number to call. Additionally, Rogue has a live chat, which is helpful to talk to a representative in real time.
Rogue offers a 90-day warranty on the 10- and 15-pound plates, while the 25-, 35-, and 45-pound plates have a three-year warranty.
In addition, Rogue allows returns for any unused items in its original packaging within 30 days of its delivery. Any order can be canceled as well, so long as it is before the “Processing” stage. Once it goes to Processing, the order cannot be canceled, and you will have to look into a return.
Ordering the Rogue Echo Bumper Plates
The Rogue Echo Bumper Plates can be ordered directly from the roguefitness.com website. Rogue’s shipping system allows most in-stock orders set before 3 p.m. to be shipped the same day. They try to get your product out to you as quickly as possible. Particularly, the Rogue Echo Bumper Plate sets, both color and standard plates, have free shipping, which is big when shipping heavy items like bumper plates.
The plates come individually packed in boxes, with a decent amount of protection on the inside, including a light foam wrapping. We had no problem with the quality of the plates being beaten up from shipping.
The biggest thing to note on these bumper plates is the smell. Due to the virgin rubber, these plates can have a strong odor upon first opening. Although we didn’t experience or notice anything terrible, many customer reviews talk about the new rubber smell being strong, and being bad.
Customer Reviews
At the time of this writing, Rogue Fitness has 654 reviews (plus another 717 reviews for the color bumper plates) for the Echo Bumper Plates. Ratings average out to an impressive 4.8 stars. Most reviews are very positive, speaking highly of the low bounce and reduced noise as well as the quality of the plates and stainless steel inserts. A few of the lower-rated reviews spoke of manufacturing defects, in which the plates were being sent back for a new pair already; it appears then that Rogue is doing what they can to make it right.
Final Verdict of Our Rogue Echo Bumper Plates Review
For anyone looking for a budget-friendly, quality bumper plate for a variety of different exercises and uses, the Rogue Echo Bumper Plates are a great option for any home gym. The thinner plate width makes them a great option for stronger athletes looking to load a bar heavy as well. There are some nicer options out there, especially when considering competition bumpers, but for its price point, it’s hard to beat the value Rogue brings to this product.
Rogue Echo Bumper Plates Rating
Rogue Echo Bumper Plates
A thinner bumper plate made with quality virgin rubber. See more in our Rogue Echo Bumper Plates review on these budget friendly plates.
Product Brand: Rogue
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 637
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.1
Rogue Echo Bumper Plates FAQs
Do Rogue Echo Bumper Plates smell?
As with most bumper plates, Rogue Echo Bumper Plates will have a strong smell new and out of the box. However, the smell will lessen and eventually end in time and with use.
Are Rogue plates worth it?
Rogue FItness has a history of producing quality products. Whether you look at their high-end plates or more budget-friendly options, you will be getting a well-made product with a good amount of value as well.
What bumper plates are made in the USA?
Several brands sport some American-made bumper plates, including Rogue, Fringe Sport, and Sorinex. Most of these bumper plates made in the USA are made with crumb rubber, which is a recycled rubber, and durable for outdoor and general use.
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