Rogue Fitness has been selling Bumper Plates for years, but up until this point hadn’t done much with iron plates. That changes with the release of the Rogue Machined Olympic Plates.
Rogue Fitness
Rogue Machined Olympic Plates
Product Highlights
- Cast-iron plates sold in pairs or as a 245-lb set
- Hammerstone finish with black text
- Range from 2.5 lbs to 45 lbs
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Precision machined
- Unique finish
- Good value
Cons
- Not meant for dropping
- Customers sometimes report cosmetic issues
Bottom Line
If you're looking for a solid set of iron weight plates, Rogue Machined Olympic Plates are a solid choice. These cast-iron plates are made with precise tolerances only to be heavier, not lighter, than the reported weight. If the weight is lighter, Rogue will replace the plate.
Rogue Fitness is known for their bumper plates, but in recent years have begun releasing items for those outside of the CrossFit market.
Most recently and notably, Rogue has released new machined Olympic Plates.
For those unaware, machined plates are different from cast iron plates. The majority of plates you see in commercial and home gyms are cast iron plates. To oversimplify the process, iron is poured into a cast that is the shape of the plate and left to cool.
Machined plates take a block of steel and using a machining tool, often a CNC Machine, iron is cut away until what resembles a weight plate is left. This is superior for multiple reasons including the fact that it’s less prone to cracking and is more precise.
In fact, these plates are so precise that they are guaranteed to be within +2% of the stated weight which is pretty good for a machined plate at this price.
There are six-shooter and traditional hub plates available.
These are unfortunately made overseas, but do come with a 5 year commercial warranty.
Rogue Fitness
Rogue 6-Shooter Olympic Grip Plates
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The Rogue 6-Shooter Olympic Grip Plates are the best value iron plates Rogue Fitness currently makes.
- These feature an aesthetic design (to most) that harkens back to the the Ivanko Revolvers, but with six holes, instead of seven.
- The holes, although allow for a unique look, also allow the plates to be handled easier.
- The 6-Shooters are highly accurate for a cast iron plate at a guaranteed weight of +/-
- 1% of the stated weight.
- Despite having a more unique design, these plates are actually cheaper than the Rogue Machined Olympic Plates.
- Utilizing a gray hammertone paint will allow the plates to look good for decades despite getting chipped.
Cons
- Only available in LB, not KG as of this writing.
- One reviewer noted that their only negative was that the coating on the inside of the holes on the plates rub off on the ribbing of the barbell.
Bottom Line
The Rogue 6-Shooter Olympic Grip Plates are the best value cast iron plates that Rogue Fitness makes or sells on their site. We’ve tested and reviewed them and like that they feature an aesthetic design with accurate weight tolerances for a price that’s better than many other offerings. If you need plates, want something that will hold up for decades and look good while doing it, we recommend the 6-Shooters.
