REP Fitness Urethane Equalizers - 1 Year Review

Been getting a lot of questions about these lately, must mean they're back in stock!
Buy some here: bit.ly/3wbtpey
My First Impressions Video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4WopKWoa9Wdibs
GarageGymReviews Video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4mTgHmXmddseac
Instagram: basementbrandon
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Got a home gym question, product idea, or want to work together?
Email me here: [e-mail]

[@ediot6969]

Using the hole on the sleeve is also a great idea if you are limited with headspace for OHP.

[@BasementBrandon]

Good call

[@TeamoJr]

That’s genius

[@REPfitness]

Really cool idea we haven't thought of - props to whomever sent that in! Shorter basements for OHP for taller people like Brandon or to mimic a less stable bar press.

[@bourrelle]

@@REPfitness Woah Rep Fitness commenting! Hey i would love to buy your stuff but i live in Canada :(

[@REPfitness]

Solid review Brandon! Urethane just looks good for so long - and we wanted a smaller logo on these premium plates compared to the massive logo other brands sometimes put on for a more sleek look. Sound dampening, and you can fit 800lb+ on the barbell so pretty much all mere humans should be good. We have a full set in our employee gym and never had a problem throwing the plates around with one or two hands (cue jokes already mentioned below). As always, enjoy watching your reviews.

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks all, these plates are legit and could see a high end gym outfitted with them.

[@rayjbb1494]

Looking forward to shipping to the UK/Europe in 2023. Will be upgrading to these or the Rogue 6-shooter Urethane plate whichever is available first for Europe shipping

[@jones786]

I have them at home and absolutely love them. Can't think of anything not to like. Home gym people underrate urethane coated plates, they are so nice to have vs. cast iron.

[@kevinperry5816]

I have a low ceiling basement. Loading the plates on the bar through the hex hole would allow me to actually overhead press. Never thought of that before

[@BasementBrandon]

There ya go!

[@SirSketchable]

Idk if you have a drop tile ceiling or anything but I've been having some success on OHP going parallel with the joists and the plates go between them

[@FitnessNews24]

Wow.....game changer!

[@kevinperry5816]

@@SirSketchable that's what I normally do but 45s are too big. I have to do 25 or smaller. Sometimes the 25s still bump a bit

[@franisdaman]

@@FitnessNews24 let’s see you make a video trying that gym hack! 🙏

[@JoelP1961]

I originally wanted the cast iron version of these or the Rogue six shooters, I got impatient for either of them to come into stock so I bought these. No complaints whatsoever though, they are holding exceptionally well out in my garage after a year of use. Thanks for posting this! 👊

[@BasementBrandon]

Yeah you've been putting in work on them!

[@mattwypijewski4192]

Love the subtle swap to 35’s.

[@BasementBrandon]

:)

[@Ragnvaldr89]

Brandon: My above basement dwelling brother. No ones perfect. What he’s secretly meaning: “Your gym is a skid mark on the underpants of society.”

[@BasementBrandon]

I just have to show extra love to team basement since we never get to "see the light"

[@ORAOralSurgery]

Impeccable timing, just had 2/3 my order for these delivered yesterday and the other 1/3 today. 750lbs worth, but alas, no 35s in my set. The only 35s “allowed” are part of my bumper plate array. My gym, as yours, is in my basement, but you have great ceiling height. Mine cuts off at 90”. I’m only 6’1” but still for overhead presses, snatches and jerks I have to use the Rogue dumbbell bumpers for clearance issues. That limits the max weight I can use but no other solution for the Olympic lifts, because the hole in the REP plates won’t help me, but OHP I can see. I’m relatively new to your channel and have found you to be totally legit. Super legit. Mad respect for your tenacity in training, efforts, time you spend on your reviews, content and insight.

[@BasementBrandon]

Don't worry I won't hold the lack of 35s of against you, just means more for me :)

[@ORAOralSurgery]

What’s your shirt size? I’ll have to order you Kabuki’s new “Boycott 35s Tee”

[@jamespaul3064]

Mine arrived yesterday ..... VERY NICE! Thank you for all the information on your site. I have used your site to build my gym!

[@BasementBrandon]

That's awesome, hope you enjoy them!

[@vintageweightspgh]

Nice work, Brandon. It’s interesting to hear your impressions after using them for a year.

[@BasementBrandon]

They're really nice plates. Would totally be cool with these in a commercial setting.

[@jparreno]

learned from this video: Coops hands are small. 🤣

[@BasementBrandon]

Just jokes.

[@SirSketchable]

Weirdly small hands for someone that's 6'8 375lbs

[@jparreno]

@@BasementBrandon yessir... that’s actually why I like following you both. Love the camaraderie and back and forth between you two.

[@filb]

@@BasementBrandon Jokes....but with a hidden truth in it hehehe

[@xeqshunner]

😂

[@DylanKJohnson]

I've been heavily debating swapping out my Rogue calibrated plates for these. I miss the feel of a nice, easy to grab plate but was a bit concerned with the hole style for the reasons you covered. Might just hope for Rogue to have $5 shipping in November and try to get urethane 6 shooters 😆

[@higherlifts420]

Or check out American Barbell and get their rubber grip hole plates. If you email them they can quote you the same grip hole plates in urethane instead of rubber :)

[@BasementBrandon]

I don't like how their urethane version differs from their cast one for some reason.

[@vgman94]

@@BasementBrandon I never knew they offered a urethane version. How does it differ? I haven’t been able to find a photo of their urethane model.

[@BasementBrandon]

@@vgman94 search ROGUE 6-SHOOTER URETHANE OLYMPIC GRIP PLATES

[@Baneslayer]

I own Steel Plates, Rubber Plates, Crumb Plates and Urethane Coated Plates.... My favorite set to use is the Urethane coated plates.. They match my urethane coated dumbbells. They look and feel beautiful. they are a joy to use. I love them. I recommend them over any other plate for a home gym.

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@turkishdelight6032]

Off topic, but I cleaned up my gym today and used your old basement cleaning video as inspiration. It would be great to see you drop an updated video on cleaning your current gym since there are much more people with equipment and stall mats now

[@BasementBrandon]

I'll see what I an do

[@hawkeytown]

I have all rubber coated ones from REP with the red inlay and they are beautiful plates, 100% happy with them for a almost a year now.

[@BasementBrandon]

Nice!

[@shift3389]

Thank you, your review saved me from buying these plates after I saw how the handles fit in your hands. I ended up going with the round hammer strength grip plates that have a very generous handle on them. Great review!!!

[@BasementBrandon]

Glad I could help!

[@SimonLi]

Exactly 10 min video I see you getting that 🍞 👑

[@BasementBrandon]

luck of the draw!

[@dennislagace]

Brandon, great update! I’ve been lurking for too long but finally hit that “sub” button. Why do you keep multiple sets of iron plates? How do you think about selling vs holding? (maybe worth a video?) My goal is to upgrade to these Rep urethane plates, but curious if there are any good practical arguments to keep the old ones?

[@BasementBrandon]

Most of it is due to review purposes, but they don't all stay. No need for all of them

[@dennislagace]

That makes a lot of sense, thanks for reviewing all this gear on our behalf!

[@vgman94]

My home gym set up has me using my Powerblocks for most workouts a barbell would do, so my search for plates is mainly for a leg machine to help my knee health and to use the plates for workouts themselves (overhead presses, around the worlds, etc). From the insight in this video, it seems Rogue or another six shooter is probably the way to go unless I find something else.

[@BasementBrandon]

I like the six shooters or revolvers best in terms of the "hole" plates as they're easiest to grip and move around.

[@twistedbarbell3950]

My favorite plates from my collection and they have held up quite nicely!

[@BasementBrandon]

Glad you like them!

[@LukesGarageGym]

I need to give this company a shot. My gym is like ALL Titan. Love Titan but it’s good to have some variety.

[@BasementBrandon]

They make some good stuff!

[@LukesGarageGym]

@@BasementBrandon I’ll need to check it out!

[@anpham4071]

Love your following channel! How durable are these for deadlifts? Do the holes weaken the integrity of the plates?

[@BasementBrandon]

They shouldn't, they're still iron on the inside.

[@JB-su5vi]

Great reviews sir. For a garage gym in NC would you pick these over Rogue machined Olympic plates? The price is about the same. I like the look of the Rogue's grey and black but was thinking the Rep urethane would hold up better. Thanks for any input.

[@BasementBrandon]

So I had Rogue Machined (six shooters) in my garage set up and they help up fine. I think in this case it's more personal preference.

[@JB-su5vi]

@@BasementBrandon Thanks for the input I rolled with the Rogue machined plates. Your videos definitely help, keep up the good work sir.

[@michaelrachmiel8709]

Great channel and excellence content! I,m also a basement guy. Anyway originally wanted a pair of 45,s but now I'm leaning toward rogues calibrated 55,s. I'm just using them for belt squats and leg presses. The question do they chip alot and any rust issues? The humidifier is set at 40% to eliminate any rusting.

[@BasementBrandon]

The paint will chip over time but for a single user and if you're not an a-hole with them it shouldn't be bad at all.

[@FitnessNews24]

Plates are cool, but we want to see the the truck!

[@BasementBrandon]

lol

[@tomlyons7066]

Hi Brandon! Love the content, fellow Basement Gym Rat here...lol You often mention Ivanko Plates. Any experience or reviews of the Ivanko RUBO Plates?

[@BasementBrandon]

I haven't seen many of them out in the wild TBH!

[@tomlyons7066]

@@BasementBrandon They are 1.5" wide Thick rubber on the outside of the 45s so they cousion the flood for deadlifts almost like a bumper The rubber also keeps them quite for home use Accurate weight and tight hole tolerance Easy to grip and durable up to commercial gym standards Downside is price and they are rare I think they are some of the best plates out there personally!

[@danielsmith6896]

Great video. I have a good lead on the American Barbell Olympic Rubber plates; but, they are only 17 inches in diameter (much smaller than most). Would you steer clear or pull the trigger? Insight appreciated.

[@BasementBrandon]

I don't like that, but I guess the only time it would be an issue is with deadlifting. Would put the bar lower and make it slightly harder, but that might be a good thing too lol.

[@HypocriticalElitist]

Extremely informative, thank you.

[@BasementBrandon]

Glad it was helpful!

[@saitejagatadi9711]

which plates are good option for home gym (Let's say I want to use them for 20 to 25 years with low maintainenance)

[@BasementBrandon]

I did a whole series on plates. I think best value/quality would be machined plates.

[@pz_not_ez]

Been using these as my favorite 2.5 and 5 lb change plates. Bumpers are getting too big to fit on the bar and weight pins, so a couple pairs of these 45s are probably gonna be next step. That price though, guh.

[@BasementBrandon]

I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[@jerseyjim9092]

I loved the urethane revolver style plates when my gym got them but after a few years they started showing signs of wear especially around the sleeve hole.

[@BasementBrandon]

Interested to hear what kind of wear. Unfortunately in a commercial space all equipment will age a big faster.

[@jerseyjim9092]

​@@BasementBrandon They were rubber coated. My mistake.

[@richards6431]

Review the Rep V2 Rubber Coated plates. They have many of the same specs but are a lot cheaper. Perfect for home gym.

[@BasementBrandon]

I think my concern with them is they're smaller than what's considered standard diameter. They're 17" where most plates are 17.7"

[@richards6431]

@@BasementBrandon I just measured mine at a little over 17.5 inches. And per the REP website they are listed at 444mm. That is a 3mm deficit on a deadlift which probably is not noticeable. The Rep website also shows the urethane plates as measuring both 17.7 and 17 inches in diameter. I thought damn 17 inches is small for such an expensive plate. Perhaps it is a misprint.

[@Dhobby517]

Hey Brandon, I know this is an older video but was hoping you could answer something-are the 45’s wide enough to be stored on their 1.8” sides on something like a titan/rogue mass storage rack similar to how bumpers are stored? Any insight is appreciated

[@BasementBrandon]

I believe you mean on a shelf? Def would work fine.

[@Dhobby517]

@@BasementBrandon yes, on those mass storage shelves that are just two tubes where you store plates up on their sides lined up horizontally

[@BasementBrandon]

@@Dhobby517 These should fit since they're standard diameter.

[@jerseyjim9092]

They appear to have a sleeve in the hub like bumper plates. Is that the case?

[@BasementBrandon]

Correct

[@beonguyen9344]

I just received these...any suggestion on how to remove the made in china sticker they put inside the hole...ot does not peel easily

[@BasementBrandon]

Hmm mine came off pretty easily, especially with putting them on the bar.

[@kozmo7]

Forgive me if you’ve answered this but I haven’t been able to find it… … thoughts on the eurathane 6 shooter? 1.5 width and they are ever so slightly below 450 mm Thank you dude

[@BasementBrandon]

I don't think they're necessary for most to justify the cost increase.

[@kozmo7]

@@BasementBrandon Gotcha was trying to decide between them and Rep’s offering here

[@r8der674]

Hey Brandon do you know if the Titan Series roller j-cups with safety pin fit the Rep Pr-5000, without issues? Thanks in advance.

[@BasementBrandon]

I haven't tested it but I believe so.

[@ketoketoketo]

The sibling rivalry is real.

[@BasementBrandon]

I’m more bitter grandpa 👴🏻

[@jasonskeel6474]

What would be your recommendation for a powerlifter/strength athlete?

[@BasementBrandon]

It depends on budget, but best bang for the buck is a good machined plate (to which there are several options from BoS, Rogue, StrengthCo, Troy, Ivanko) IMO.

[@Calbinosaurusrex]

What made me not get these was that the design stopped at the 25s. If the change plates had the holes too I for sure would've bought them

[@BasementBrandon]

I think it's hard for companies to do this at lower weight and still make them accurate.

[@Calbinosaurusrex]

@@BasementBrandon it totally makes sense why they don't! I still got plates from them, just different ones. It was purely the Aesthetics I wanted those plates for, so not a big deal.

[@TheDuckKlr]

I have bigger hands and I actually like the shape of these holes vs the 6 shooter. The round holes feel like they smash my fingers together and this shape seems to spread them out differently. Weird

[@BasementBrandon]

Def strange. these ones feel tiny for me.

[@TheDuckKlr]

Do you feel that is enough of an assortment of plates?

[@BasementBrandon]

Nope, I have completely different ones now :)

[@zauche81]

What is best cleaner to get rid of this initial film which is on the urethan plates ? Thanks in advance !

[@jamesc4378]

I used rubbing alcohol. It seemed to work ok.

[@BasementBrandon]

I dunno, I didn't get to remove it as it went on my floor lol

[@mfchunkyrice]

Did they equalize?

[@BasementBrandon]

oh DID they ever

[@Christian-ui2vb]

I want the 6 shooter Urethane plates soo bad, bc I love the 6 shooters but I’ve seen peoples plates chipping and I’m not the biggest fan of the silver/gray look. But they are ridiculously expensive

[@BasementBrandon]

My six shooters were great! Loved them. I just think the strength co are more aesthetically matching to my gym and I wanted to have made in USA plates if possible.

[@DV-dk5hd]

you really like calling coop out on the hand size. funny

[@BasementBrandon]

Coop is the man!

[@jpp500]

Need to get me some urethral equalizers

[@BasementBrandon]

yeeep

[@TheNativeClassic]

*Whispers*: subtle shots fired, subtle shots fired.

[@BasementBrandon]

I gave him a heads up!

[@ramybroudefan8659]

Brandon is right about Titan Fitness. Avoid! Learned the hard way

[@BasementBrandon]

Sorry to hear :(

[@markhalstead2386]

These are my next plates.

[@BasementBrandon]

They're nice!

[@markhalstead2386]

@@BasementBrandon Ordered the other day.

[@UnknownUser-fg3fs]

your editing is getting so good... is this you or an editor? what do you use?

[@BasementBrandon]

Hey thanks. Still just a one man show, need to try to step my game up to keep up.

[@Ragnarok1881]

In some parallel universe Brandon, Omar Isof, Jeff Nippard and Eugene are lifting in that same basement.

[@BasementBrandon]

My basement is big enough for all

[@-G-Unit]

Small hand gang checking in. Any dumbbell over 75 absolutely dwarfs them….lolz….

[@BasementBrandon]

time to do some "grip" work ;)

[@timt7657]

Great analysis and insight Brandon- never would have thought of the holes. I have the intek urethane strength plates they are pretty nice with stainless steel core. Should check those out as well like to see how you rank all four companies.

[@BasementBrandon]

I actually looked at getting some branded intek bumpers previously, but was a bit out of my price point!

[@SirSketchable]

Coop got smoked in this one

[@BasementBrandon]

Had to balance out the fact I conceeded best youtube reviewer to him.

[@meisdetermined]

Two fingers bro and they become amazingly easy. Whoa..that sounds weird. Lol

[@BasementBrandon]

;)

[@slimshady2045]

yeah boi

[@BasementBrandon]

woo!

[@slimshady2045]

@@BasementBrandon i have question for you! Which is your favourite plate ever?

[@BasementBrandon]

@@slimshady2045 That's like asking which one of my kids is my favorite lol. I will say the one plates that I'm envious of but will likely never own are the Ivanko Chrome plates!

[@slimshady2045]

@@BasementBrandon yeah those plates look sick

[@gocsa]

Urethra?

[@BasementBrandon]

Yep!

[@lastfirst2241]

>when he puts in the third finger 😳

[@BasementBrandon]

just let it happen.

[@SuperBizalz]

I really like these a lot, and have the 45, 25, 10, & 5Lb. ...but not the 35s. LOL!

[@BasementBrandon]

Not a complete set then :)

[@SuperBizalz]

@@BasementBrandon LOL! You’re not wrong. Hahah!

[@cookiemonster5171]

This kind of plates doesn't smell either!

[@BasementBrandon]

lol

[@cookiemonster5171]

@@BasementBrandonI got some from ATX.

[@richardmather1906]

Lot of slop on the bar for such an expensive plate.

[@BasementBrandon]

I think part of it is b/c of the beveled edge.

[@markwurtz8759]

Crazy expensive!

[@BasementBrandon]

Urethane isn't cheap, but I think this are actually not too bad if comparing to similar options.

[@NoNameFish247]

Life… Time… Warranty…

[@BasementBrandon]

I'm not sure the context on this since it's an older video, but if you need me to expand on anything let me know.

[@NoNameFish247]

@@BasementBrandon only that the urethane plates come with a lifetime warranty for home gym use. Meaning that although expensive up front, they could be the last plates you ever have to buy. For a home gym owner to not have to worry about failing rubber coating that becomes sticky or rust on iron plates is no small matter to me. So barring scuffs and regular wear and tear, Rep stands behind this product.

[@keithhoneycutt2324]

Haha coop has small hands …

[@BasementBrandon]

but a big heart.

[@roberthicks767]

Algorithm

[@BasementBrandon]

my man

[@prnc7004]

Could have been the best reviewer until you associated yourself with a racist company, bridgebuilt. 💀💀💀

[@youngcouplesparty9006]

Ivanko Revolvers 4 Life!!!!

[@BasementBrandon]

lol