Rogue Dumbbell Bumpers Review 2024

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The Rogue Dumbbell Bumper Plates are a cool innovation for strength training. As with anything made by Rogue Fitness, they are very well done and can be just as effective in training. If you do a lot of dynamic dumbbell work and want to easily interchange weight, these are a great option. However, they are not designed to be dropped overhead.

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Rogue Dumbbell Bumper Plates

Designed specifically for use with our Loadable Dumbbells, Rogue's cylindrical Dumbbell Bumpers come in six weight increments (10LB, 15LB, 25LB, 35LB, 45LB, 55LB)–each measuring the same 230MM in diameter. This unique patent-pending design allows athletes to load on more weight, customized to their training level, while still maintaining the compact look and feel of a traditional dumbbell.While Rogue's DB-10 and DB-15 Loadable Dumbbells are compatible with other Olympic plate options, our specialized Dumbbell Bumpers offer a new opportunity for a more centralized weight distribution and easier handling. Each Dumbbell Plate is also built to the same quality as our full-size Rogue Color Training Plates, with a tested Shore A durometer of 88, along with a chrome-plated insert and bright color finish. The weight tolerance is +/- 1%, and all plates include exclusive Rogue branding.There is no better way to get the most out of your Rogue Loadable Dumbbell than with the addition of these plates. The cylinder shape of the Rogue Dumbbell Bumper means that each weight increment, from 10LB up to 55LB, has the same 230MM diameter (roughly 9"), creating a much more compact and natural-feeling dumbbell. The three largest plates (35LB, 45LB, and 55LB) are a universal 150MM in thickness, as well. The center inserts are cut-out to fit over the Loadable Dumbbell collar for a secure fit.Rogue Dumbbell Bumpers are essentially condensed versions of our standard full-size Rogue Color Training Plates. The quality rubber construction and 88 Durometer–paired with a solid chrome-plated insert–ensure long-term durability. Color finishes are used in the same pattern as our traditional plates (Black / Green / Yellow / Blue / Red) for easy on-sight recognition, and the exclusive branding includes the Rogue logo above and below the collar opening.Additional Specifications:Bumper-Cylinders (Patent Pending) for Use with Rogue Loadable Barbell Durometer: 88 Weight Tolerance: +/- 1% Diameter: 230MM / 9.1" Chrome-Plated Hub Branding: Rogue Logo Weight Increments: See BelowPlate Sizes & Thickness10LB (Black) - 33MM 15LB (Black) - 45MM 25LB (Green) - 120MM 35LB (Yellow) - 150MM 45LB (Blue) - 150MM 55LB (Red) - 150MM

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Why Dumbbell Bumper Plates

The Rogue Dumbbell Bumpers are not a necessary peice of equipment. However in saying that, it must be understood that most pieces of equipment are unnecessary. As we showed in our Ultimate Home Gym Guide, most people can get away with a squat rack, barbell, and plates. Based upon that definition, everything outside of that is unnecessary and even those things could be viewed as unnecessary. There are many who are stronger than you or I who gained their strength through lifting stones and logs.

I hear many comments that say ‘X’ piece of equipment is unnecessary; here’s the reality though, if you have a home gym, you have unnecessary things.

So, with that said, the reason dumbbell bumper plates are even a thing today is becausethey’re convenient. Ever since Rogue released their Loadable Dumbbell Handle, I was excited to see what they would innovate weights wise. The reason I say that is because you can’t use regular bumper plates or metal plates with the handle; they’re too awkward and way oversized. I actually bought twelve 10 lb plates so I could do dumbbell rows.

RELATED: Best adjustable dumbbells

The Dumbbell Bumpers allow you to drop the dumbbell from hip height or lower without damaging the floor or the plates and allow for easy weight changes. The same reason traditional plates come in different weights is the reason the Dumbbell Bumper Plates have different weights. Easier loading and exchanging of plates as well as the ability to put multiple plates on the bar that sit evenly.

Video Review

Unboxing

Once again, my UPS guy (his name’s Jason, we see each other a lot) showed up with a half friendly, half come get your heavy crap honk as he pulled up to my driveway. I ran out to the truck and was surprised to see the condition of the boxes.

We’ve reviewed a LOT of Rogue Fitness Equipment and a majority of the time; the outside boxes are often in just as good a condition as the contents.

Thankfully, despite the outside of the boxes looking less than excellent, what rested inside was safe and sound.

Rogue Dumbbell Bumper Plates Review

Rogue Fitness is known for introducing new, unexpected and innovative pieces of training equipment to market. Through their storied history that despite having such a large presence, is actually a very short one, Rogue has pushed the boundaries to help produce better athletes and healthier people through strength equipment.

You’d be hard-pressed to go through the comments section on any Rogue social media post and not see at least a couple of comments like the following:

“Way overpriced!”
“Who would ever even use that?”
“Rogue just wants your money!”

4.29 Rogue Fitness

Rogue Dumbbell Bumper Plates

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Although these comments annoy me to no end, they’re always there. First off, if something is more than you want to pay, simply don’t buy it–it’s called voting with your dollars. The same goes for whether you would use it or not; just because you wouldn’t use it, that doesn’t mean nobody would use it. I say all of thisbecause I’ve seen more of these types of comments on posts involving the Dumbbell Bumpers than any others.

The Rogue Dumbbell Bumpers are not for everyone, but they are for someone and for the people who decide to use them, they will be more than satisfied.

In typical Rogue fashion, nothing about the Rogue Dumbbell Bumpers is underdone. From the rubber used to the unique cut-out in the hub, the Dumbbell Bumpers are high quality, effective, and to be honest, they’re just plain cool. For those like me that geek out over new equipment, this is one of the “coolest” pieces of strength training to be released in 2017.

As stated, the rubber used isn’t cheap. Granted, as with all Rogue Bumper Plates, they’re still being imported from most likely China, but that fact doesn’t mean they’re not high quality.

The way you achieve a stable bumper is through the use of a high-density rubber, as measured through a durometer rating, as well as a large center hub. The width of the Dumbbell Bumpers also plays a role in its stability as there is more contact of the bumper plate with the ground.

The durometer rating, being a measure of rubber density, tells quite a bit about how the bumper plate will perform over time. The lower durometer rating a bumper plate has, the softer it is, and therefore the more likely (often times) it is to break down. A lower durometer rating will also indicate a higher bouncing rubber; if you think of durometer ratings in terms of things outside of strength training, a bouncy ball would likely have a very low durometer rating while a horse stall mat would have a high durometer rating.

The durometer rating of the Rogue Dumbbell Bumpers is an 88. When we compare this to Rogue’s other bumper plates, it’s on the upper end regarding ratings. Their premier bumper plates are the Rogue Competition Plates which have a durometer rating of 94. The bumpers that are most like the Rogue Dumbbell Bumpers (I’d assume they use pretty much the same rubber) are the Rogue Color Training 2.0 Plates which have a durometer rating of 86.

I go into all of this detail to illustrate that the Rogue Dumbbell Bumpers aren’t just made to look cool, they’re also going to be very durable.

The inside of the Dumbbell Bumpers feature the same chrome-plated hub that’s used on Rogue’s Training Plates and should prove to provide good corrosion resistance, but also helps Rogue to remain within +/- 1% of the stated weight.

Everything about the Dumbbell Bumpers is pretty standard for bumpers, sans them being both wider and shorter. However, there is one part of the bumper plate that is honestly a pretty intelligent move on Rogue’s part. Instead of the Dumbbell Bumper sitting flush with the barbell/Loadable Dumbbell Handle collar, Rogue has cut out a piece of the bumper plate hub to allow it to encapsulate the sleeve collar. This was imperative for Rogue to keep the Dumbbell Bumpers the height they have them, while also allowing for a smooth place to rest your hand.

I decided to purchase the 10 lb, 25 lb, and 45 lb bumper plates thinking this would allow me to get the maximum weight combinations for my dollar. Due to the 10 lb bumper plate being so thin, they will fit on the bar along with the 25’s, while an OSO collar keeps them in place. What this means is there’s little need for the 35 lb dumbbell bumpers, because you can combine the 25 and 10 lb options to arrive at the same weight.

In use, the Dumbbell Bumper Plates along with the Loadable Dumbbell Handle are actually much more versatile than I was expecting. I thought they’d be great for dumbbell snatches and rows, but I’ve found myself throwing them into all sorts of workouts.

Here are a few different movements I’ve done with the Dumbbell Bumpers without much awkwardness or issue:

Snatch
Clean and Jerk
Kroc Rows
Lateral Raise
Overhead Press
Bench Press
Curls (all angles (for the gainz))
Turkish Get Ups
Tricep Kickbacks (just kidding)
Behind the Neck Tricep Extensions

I’m sure there are many more movements that can be done for those of you that like to get really creative as well.

To prevent the comments section from blowing up with whether you can drop the dumbbell bumpers or not, here’s my opinion. I have no problem dropping them from waist height. However, I would not advise dropping them from any higher than that. There’s no issue with the bumpers and handle taking the impact, but due to their size, they will land unevenly and fly all over the place.

The Rogue Dumbbell Bumpers are more than simply a cool toy; they’re useful and real piece of training equipment. If you do CrossFit, these are perfect for most movements involving a dumbbell, and if you own a training facility, these are sure to increase excitement in workouts (which does matter.)

Suggested Improvements

The Rogue Dumbbell Bumpers exceeded my expectations, but there are a couple of improvements I’d like to see.

The first one is a custom collar for the handles that will cause the end of the dumbbell handle to be the size of the bumper plates and smooth. This would allow you to rest the dumbbell on your knee without it digging into your skin.

The second improvement would be for Rogue to introduce all-metal versions of the bumpers. Most movements would be just fine with metal plates, and you could load even more weight on.

Full Rating

Rogue Dumbbell Bumpers

Product Brand: Rogue Fitness

Product Currency: USD

Product Price: 52.50

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
4.3

Rogue Dumbbell Bumper Plates

Construction – 4.5

Versatility – 4.5

Value – 4

Usefulness – 4

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Rogue Dumbbell Bumpers FAQs

Is bumper dumbbell good?

The Rogue Dumbbell Bumper Plates are a cool strength-training innovation. They’re well-crafted and may be just as useful in training as anything else manufactured by Rogue Fitness. These are a wonderful alternative if you perform a lot of dynamic dumbbell exercises and want to effortlessly switch weights.

Can you use bumper plates on dumbbells?

For lighter, more precise dumbbells, plates are preferable. Dumbbell bumpers allow you to pack a lot of weight into your dumbbell handles at a lower price. Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that rubber change plates aren’t the only plates that may be used on dumbbell handles.

Can you use 25 lb plates on dumbbell?

Because prefab ones may be 80-90 pounds but have smaller ends, but placing two 25-pound plates on a loadable becomes awkward. Plate diameter, not weight, is the limiting element in both cases. Because of the way large diameter plates restrict forearm movement, they can’t be utilized for dumbbell workouts.

RELATED: Dumbbell Leg Workout

Where to Purchase

4.29 Rogue Fitness

Rogue Dumbbell Bumper Plates

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Coop Mitchell

Cooper is a graduate of Missouri State University with a degree in Finance. He found his love for fitness while training for hockey, a sport he played with various teams throughout his career, including Lindenwood University, St. Louis AAA Blues, and the St. Louis Jr. Blues. At IFP, Cooper focuses on the training layout and client experience. In addition to co-owning Intentional Fitness & Performance, Cooper runs the website and associated channels for Garage Gym Reviews. When not eating tacos or staring at a screen, Cooper can be found with his Wife Mollie, son Ezra, and dog ‘famous’ Amos.

Rogue Dumbbell Bumpers In-Depth Review

4.29

Rogue Fitness

Why Dumbbell Bumper Plates

Video Review

Unboxing

Rogue Dumbbell Bumper Plates Review

4.29

Rogue Fitness

Suggested Improvements

Full Rating

Rogue Dumbbell Bumpers

Rogue Dumbbell Bumper Plates

Rogue Dumbbell Bumpers FAQs

Is bumper dumbbell good?

Can you use bumper plates on dumbbells?

Can you use 25 lb plates on dumbbell?

Where to Purchase

4.29

Rogue Fitness

Coop Mitchell

Further reading