The Finest Weight Plates to Purchase for House Gyms in 2023

Weight plates are a foundational a part of any top-tier home gym surroundings. For those who compete in a power sport corresponding to powerlifting or Olympic lifting, they’re important for coaching. Even when you’re an off-the-cuff lifter or beginner, you need to have weight plates in your weight room as a result of you should utilize totally different ranges of resistance for numerous workout routines to get greater, stronger, and leaner. 

All through my greater than twenty years of coaching, I’ve used all kinds of plates, together with plates with handles, bumper plates, and all the pieces in between. I do know which of them are higher fitted to various kinds of coaching, together with powerlifting, CrossFit, Olympic weightlifting, and normal power coaching. That’s why I created the record of finest weight plates beneath — that will help you discover the proper ones on your model of coaching.

How We Selected the Finest Weight Plates

We selected the plates on this record primarily based on a mixture of first-hand expertise, analysis, and buyer critiques. Our group members have used the merchandise beneath of their dwelling or industrial gyms, and we’ve additionally tried almost a dozen units of weight plates in our Breaking Muscle testing facility. We thought-about totally different worth factors, kinds of coaching, and coaching environments to give you the record beneath.

Whether or not you’re on the lookout for bumper plates, forged iron weight plates, and even plates with handles, we dedicated the time to discovering one of the best of one of the best. If we wouldn’t need them in our dwelling gyms, we gained’t suggest them for yours.

Our Prime Picks for the Finest Weight Plates

Finest Weight Plates General: REP Health Black Bumper Plates

The REP Health Black Bumper Plates are our prime general decide due to their sturdiness and flexibility. The rubber they’re made out of can face up to lots of use and nonetheless present the required resistance on your progressive strength workouts. The rubber additionally permits the plates to bounce when they’re dropped as a result of it absorbs the drive from the drop, serving to to guard your ground from harm.

Bumper plates’ “bounciness” is usually decided by a shore A durometer score that measures the hardness of the rubber on a scale of zero to 100. The upper the rating, the much less doubtless the plates will bounce. REP hasn’t disclosed the durometer score of the Black Bumper Plates however states that they’ve a low bounce, so we expect it’s protected to imagine that the durometer score is someplace between 80 and 90.

They can be utilized for Olympic weightlifting, CrossFit, and even beginner-level exercises. Though the 45-pound plates are thick (2.8 inches), they’re not so thick that they take up extra area on the barbell sleeve. In addition they gained’t take up an excessive amount of room on a storage rack. (For perspective, 45-pound forged iron plates are usually round 1.5 inches thick, whereas some 45-pound bumper plates could be greater than three inches thick.)

You should buy REP’s Black Bumper Plates in pairs starting from 10 to 45 kilos in addition to units starting from 160 to 340 kilos. The white letters and numbers stand out in opposition to the black rubber, giving them a pointy aesthetic and permitting you to simply establish the plates you want.

A bonus level for these REP plates, particularly, is that the 10-pound plates are about an inch thick, whereas different manufacturers’ 10-pound plates are round 0.8 inches. These different manufacturers discourage dropping a barbell loaded with solely 10-pound plates as a result of the plates can bend, which some check with as “taco-ing.” Nevertheless, you’ll be able to drop the REP 10-pound plates, as their thickness makes them much less liable to bending.

Finest Finances Weight Plates: REP Health Outdated Faculty Iron Plates

If you wish to lower your expenses or are taking pictures for a extra hardcore look in your house gymnasium, these REP Health Outdated Faculty Iron Plates match the invoice properly. The raised lips make the plates simpler to carry and cargo onto your favorite barbell. They’re about half the thickness of bumper plates as a result of they’re manufactured from iron, which is denser, so you’ll be able to load extra of them onto the bar. 

The REP Health Iron Plates vary in weight from 2.5 to 45 kilos, and the smaller 2.5- and five-pound change plates will let you progress extra progressively if wanted. That is particularly useful on lifts just like the overhead press, wherein many lifters wrestle to make massive jumps in weight.

Because the plates aren’t machined, they might have dings, chips, or different small imperfections. This shouldn’t have an effect on their efficiency, nonetheless. In addition they could doubtlessly acquire rust over time, however they’re nonetheless dependable for normal health and power coaching. Even powerlifters will get good use from them, although they aren’t ideally suited for CrossFit or Olympic weightlifting since they’ll’t be dropped. Dropping a barbell loaded with iron plates can wreck your ground, and the metal-on-metal friction could cause extra put on and tear on the barbell.

The REP Outdated Faculty Iron Plates have a three-percent weight tolerance, which means their listed weight have to be inside three % of their precise weight. That is enough for many lifters, however if you wish to guarantee your weights are extra exact, you could need to contemplate calibrated plates as a substitute. Calibrated plates have to be inside one % (or much less) of their listed weight.

Finest Rubber Weight Plates: Rogue Echo Bumper Plates

The Rogue Health Echo Bumper Plates vary from $45 for 10-pound plates to 260-pound units for lower than $600. That is helpful for lifters on a price range who need to use rubber plates for workout routines corresponding to snatches which will name for the burden to be dropped after every rep. The plates are additionally ideally suited for CrossFitters who don’t need to spend so much of money, as you should utilize them for high-rep deadlifts, energy snatches, or different barbell actions in your exercises of the day (WODs).

The diameter of those plates (450 millimeters) is equal to the specs set by the Worldwide Weightlifting Federation (IWF), although they aren’t the identical because the plates you’d use in a contest setting. Competitors bumpers are color-coded and are sometimes thinner than coaching bumper plates. However aggressive Olympic weightlifters can nonetheless use them in coaching as a result of they’re sturdy and have a lifeless bounce. In response to Rogue, they’ve a shore A durometer of 88.

The Echo Bumper Plates can be found in 10-, 15-, 25-, 35-, and 45-pound choices. The ten- and 15-pound plates solely include a 90-day guarantee, however the remainder have a three-year guarantee.

It’s essential to notice that the 10-pound plates can’t be dropped when used on their very own. They’re solely 0.8 inches thick and may bend or crack in the event that they’re dropped. Amanda Dvorak, an editor on the Breaking Muscle group, examined the plates and famous how skinny the 10-pounders have been in individual. You undoubtedly don’t need to go in opposition to Rogue’s recommendation and drop them.

Nevertheless, the rubber protecting makes them appropriate for indoor or out of doors exercises. We additionally just like the distinction of white lettering and numbers in opposition to black rubber. Amanda commented on the sharpness of this aesthetic and the way straightforward it was to select the weights she wanted when she examined them for her exercises.

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Finest Iron Weight Plates: Bells of Metal E-Coat Machined Iron Plates

We contemplate the Bells of Metal E-Coat Machined Iron Plates one of the best iron weight plates attributable to their high-quality craftsmanship and sturdiness. The shiny e-coat offers them a glossy, shiny look and helps forestall rust. For those who practice in a non-climate-controlled room corresponding to a shed or barn, this may be crucial, as rust can negatively diminish the lifetime of the plates.

Coming in at 0.5 to 1.2 inches thick, these plates are thinner than most competitor plates, which could be greater than 1.5 inches thick. You’ll be capable to match extra plates on the bar for heavy squats and deadlifts. They match snugly on the barbell because of their 1.99-inch gap diameter (Olympic barbells have sleeves which are round two inches in diameter) and are much less prone to shake or bounce whilst you’re shifting the bar. That may assist present smoother reps whilst you’re performing your units. 

The machined manufacturing course of that Bells of Metal makes use of ends in plates with a smoother edge that makes them extra snug to deal with. Though the lip isn’t as deep as it’s on different manufacturers’ plates, you’ll be able to nonetheless simply maintain onto the plates when loading or unloading the barbell or shifting them round your gymnasium.

The plates can be found in 2.5 to 45 kilos. The two.5- to 10-pound plates have a weight tolerance of three %, and the 25- to 45-pound plates have a weight tolerance of 1 %. Because of this a 10-pound plate could weigh 9.7 kilos, whereas a 45-pound plate could weigh 44.55 kilos.

The precise weight might be shut sufficient to the listed weight that almost all informal lifters gained’t discover a big distinction of their exercises. However when you’re a aggressive powerlifter, you could need to contemplate plates with a smaller weight tolerance of 10 grams (0.002 kilos) to make sure your weights are as correct as doable on your coaching.

Finest Metal Weight Plates: Rogue Calibrated Metal Plates

The Rogue Health Calibrated Metal Plates are made for heavy coaching. They’re so skinny that you should utilize them to load as much as 1,500 kilos on a standard Olympic bar — the 55-pound plate is simply 27 millimeters (one inch) thick. There aren’t many individuals coaching in a house gymnasium that would want that a lot weight, however you’ll be able to match as many plates as you want on the bar with area to spare. 

Not like rubber plates, metal plates aren’t meant to be dropped, in order that they aren’t the only option for Olympic weightlifting. However powerlifters and power coaching fans will admire each the color-coded plates and the way exact they’re. The colours characterize common requirements for numerous weights:

• Pink = 55 kilos / 25 kilograms
• Blue = 45 kilos / 20 kilograms
• Yellow = 35 kilos / 15 kilograms
• Inexperienced = 25 kilos / 10 kilograms
• White = 10 kilos / 5 kilograms
• Black = 5 kilos / 2.5 kilograms

The Rogue Calibrated Metal Plates are verified to be inside 10 grams (0.002 kilos) of the quantity listed on the plate. If you wish to have absolute confidence within the weight you’re trying to raise, you need to go for calibrated plates like these.

The kilogram plates are authorised by the Worldwide Powerlifting Federation (IPF), which is taken into account the highest powerlifting league on the earth. The pound plates aren’t authorised as a result of the IPF makes use of kilos to find out weight in competitors however are made with the identical specs. Each variations have a 50.4-millimeter collar opening and vary from 90 millimeters to 450 millimeters in diameter.

There’s a little additional funding that comes with the IPF certification for the kilo plates and the accuracy with which these plates are manufactured. The 45-pound pair prices round $225, however non-calibrated plates of the identical weight from different manufacturers price nearer to $150. Happily, you could be assured that the Rogue Calibrated Metal Plates might be there for each exercise you participate in for the foreseeable future.

Finest Urethane Weight Plates: Titan Urethane Bumper Plates

Urethane is a mixture of rubber and plastic that’s rather more resistant to wreck than different supplies used to make plates. Urethane plates like those from Titan Health can face up to many drops, slams, and bounces that different supplies could not.

The Titan Urethane Plates are very sturdy and would serve Olympic lifters nicely in coaching. Though the colours are vibrant (they make the most of the identical colour requirements listed above in our overview of the Rogue Calibrated Metal Plates), they’ve a easy look to them. Nonetheless, they do their job successfully and may face up to lots of of drops. You need to use them indoors or outdoor, and the colours shouldn’t fade, nor ought to the fabric crack or chip simply.

Moreover, whether or not you purchase them in pairs or in a full set, you gained’t need to cope with the odor that’s frequent with different rubber plates in the marketplace.

They’re thick, with the 55-pound plate coming in at 56 millimeters (2.2 inches), in comparison with metal or iron plates that always prime out at about 1.5 inches thick. Nevertheless, they’re nonetheless thinner than different common bumper plates we’ve seen, which could be over three inches thick. They’ll take up area on the barbell, which can be a detriment to those that can squat or deadlift 400 to 500 kilos or extra. Nevertheless, this is also a superb factor as a result of the weights can distribute the impression of the drop higher than thinner plates.

Curiously, despite the fact that they’re alleged to have a lifeless bounce, Amanda Dvorak (Breaking Muscle’s Evaluations Editor) didn’t discover that to be the case when she examined them. She loaded a barbell with the 10-kilogram plates and famous that they rebounded fairly excessive when she dropped the bar from hip top. Nevertheless, she didn’t check the heavier plates, and it’s doable that they’ve extra of a lifeless bounce than the lighter ones since they’re thicker.

Extra sturdy gymnasium tools means a larger return on the funding, and that’s what you’ll get with the urethane bumper plates from Titan.

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Finest Bumper Weight Plates: PRx Crumb Bumper Plates

Crumb rubber plates are among the many hardest in the marketplace. They’re made out of recycled rubber, which could be extra sturdy than virgin rubber, and so they shouldn’t trigger vital ground harm when they’re dropped. Moreover, they may make much less noise than different types of rubber or iron plates.

The PRx Crumb Bumper Plates can be utilized for all ranges of coaching in any surroundings. They’re able to face up to quite a few drops from overhead, although you shouldn’t drop a barbell loaded with solely the 10- or 15-pound plates. They don’t have the thickness to assist that form of impression on their very own.

The thicker plates just like the 45’s will doubtless take up lots of actual property on the barbell sleeve. PRx hasn’t disclosed the thickness of those plates, however different crumb bumper plates we’ve seen could be as thick as 3.9 inches. PRx’s crumb bumpers seem like about the identical thickness, which doesn’t shock as since crumb bumper plates often come from the identical producer. Nevertheless, they supply a comfortable match to the barbell sleeve, which is able to assist minimize down on the damage and tear of the bar.

You will get the PRx crumb bumper plates in stable black or select color-flecked plates. They’re made with the identical crumb rubber, however the color-flecked plates have little pops of colour that correspond to the common color-coding system described above.

Like all crumb bumper plates, the PRx plates are very bouncy. When Amanda Dvorak (an editor on the Breaking Muscle group) dropped a barbell loaded with the 45s from hip top, it rebounded a few inches above her knees. That is essential to notice when you don’t need your barbell to bounce uncontrollably and harm different tools in your house gymnasium.

Moreover, Amanda discovered the plates to be slippery and tough to deal with when her arms received sweaty. She recommends toweling off your arms earlier than dealing with the plates when you don’t need them to fall out of your grip.

Crumb rubber plates gained’t ever be seen in a sanctioned powerlifting or Olympic weightlifting contest, however when you want large plates for a low worth, crumb rubber is the way in which to go, and PRx has very high-quality merchandise which you can rely on for years.

Finest Weight Plates With Handles: Pressure USA Rubber Coated Olympic Weight Plates

Pressure USA’s Rubber Coated Olympic Weight Plates are dependable weights and can be utilized for various workout routines with no barbell since they’ve handles. For instance, you should utilize them for lateral raises or bicep curls. The grip plates even have grooves within the handles to forestall them from slipping out of your arms when loading them onto a barbell or storage rack.

They’ll’t be dropped on the ground like rubber bumper plates, however they’d be an exquisite asset for normal power coaching in a storage gymnasium setting. You should buy them in units of 4 for the five- or 10-pound plates; in pairs for the 25-, 35-, or 45-pound plates; or in units of as much as 640 kilos.

The Pressure USA Rubber Coated Olympic Weight Plates are straightforward to take care of and look after. For those who get chalk or grime on them, you’ll be able to merely wipe them with a humid rag and delicate dish cleaning soap. They’re additionally rust-resistant, making them a wonderful possibility for humid storage or basement gyms. These plates can assist you firstly of your health journey and supply the resistance you want as you get stronger and practice more durable.

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Finest Olympic Plates: Eleiko IWF Weightlifting Coaching Plate

Eleiko is taken into account the model for Olympic lifting, and these coaching bumper plates are nearly similar to these utilized in Worldwide Weightlifting Federation (IWF) competitions. They’re licensed to be inside 0.5 % of the said weight, which is among the many lowest weight tolerance we’ve seen

They’re straightforward to carry and slide onto the barbell attributable to their rounded edges and raised lips, and so they have a minimal bounce. They are often dropped safely with minimal danger of harm to you or harm to your tools. As a result of they’re made with SBR, an artificial rubber identified for its distinctive sturdiness, you’ll be able to count on them to final for years.

Whereas the Eleiko IWF Weightlifting Coaching Plates can be utilized for bodybuilding and normal health coaching, they’re a bit overkill for people who don’t compete in Olympic weightlifting. They don’t are available in pairs, and a single plate can price greater than $400. That is almost double the price of competitor plates which are bought in pairs.

Moreover, they don’t seem to be obtainable in kilos just like the others on this record, because the IWF solely acknowledges kilograms in competitors. 

Though these plates are finest for the snatch and clear and jerk, they can be used for front squats, again squats, push presses, and loads of different workout routines. They don’t are available in 2.5- or five-kilogram choices, which can make progressive overload (gradual will increase in weight) tougher, however you will discover different plates in these weights on Eleiko’s web site.

Completely different Varieties of Weight Plates

There are numerous kinds of weight plates, and the coaching self-discipline you comply with will decide that are finest for you.

Rubber bumper plates are utilized in many industrial gyms for CrossFit and Olympic lifts. They’ll serve storage gymnasium homeowners very nicely, too, as a result of they are often dropped with out the drive from these drops damaging the middle or exterior of the plates, creating holes within the ground, or bending the barbell itself.

Rubber plates could be made out of urethane, virgin rubber, or recycled crumb rubber. Crumb rubber is often extra cost-efficient however has a decrease durometer score and, subsequently, the next bounce. Urethane is sturdy and provides extra of a lifeless bounce as a result of it’s a more durable materials.

Forged iron or metal weights are extra stable, and they’re historically thinner. Whereas bumper plates could be almost 4 inches thick (particularly if they’re manufactured from crumb rubber), iron and metal weights are often solely a few inches thick. That lets you add extra of them to a bar so you’ll be able to practice with extra weight. The worth level for iron plates is usually decrease than for rubber plates as nicely.

It’s also possible to discover calibrated metal weight plates. They’re designed to be inside 0.25 % or 10 grams of the listed weight. That is helpful for aggressive lifters who need to make sure the weights they raise in coaching are as correct as doable, to allow them to really feel extra assured about their makes an attempt throughout a meet.

Advantages of Weight Plates

Weight plates can nearly be referred to as an important merchandise on an inventory of must-have health tools. Plates can be utilized on Olympic barbells or on specialty bars like lure bars to regulate the burden you’re trying to raise, permitting you to progressively get stronger over time.

You may even use them as a coaching device on their very own. Plates with handles could be held and used as a type of resistance for actions corresponding to shrugs, curls, and rows. You would additionally maintain plates with out handles with each arms to do workout routines corresponding to entrance raises or Russian twists.

What to Think about When Shopping for Weight Plates

Coaching Type and Targets

What coaching self-discipline you comply with will show you how to decide one of the best weight plates to purchase. Olympic lifters and CrossFitters ought to use rubber bumper plates so you’ll be able to drop your barbell from overhead with out inflicting harm to the plates, the bar, or your ground. Nevertheless, powerlifters and people who don’t plan on dropping their weights could go for iron or metal plates as a substitute. As a result of they’re thinner, you’ll be able to add extra of them to a barbell. 

Sturdiness

If you understand that you just’ll use your weight plates typically, you’ll need ones that can maintain as much as heavy use, corresponding to urethane rubber plates. For those who practice outdoor or in a room that isn’t temperature-controlled, search for plates that may face up to cold and hot temperatures and being dropped on concrete. Crumb rubber plates gained’t crack or chip simply when used on tough surfaces, however the metal inserts are inclined to come out sooner due to how bouncy the plates are. This locations extra stress on the barbell and the plates, rising the chance of the inserts popping off. Almost any form of bumper plate may have rust-resistance capabilities, however when you choose steel plates, these with a powder coat or e-coat might be much less inclined to wreck.

Finances

As with every different endeavor, you need to make certain your hard-earned cash is being invested correctly. Plates can price wherever from $1 per pound to as a lot as $5 per pound. The fabric and manufacturing of plates will think about these prices.

Iron plates was less expensive than bumper plates, as bumper plates have extra materials. Nevertheless, the hole has closed throughout the final couple of years attributable to a rise in the price of iron for the producers.

Transport and the origin of the fabric can even affect the worth. If the supplies are sourced from abroad otherwise you reside near a specific model, you doubtless gained’t spend as a lot cash.

One other factor to contemplate is whether or not you need to purchase one pair of weight plates at a time or buy a set with a number of pairs. In our expertise, shopping for them in units is essentially the most cost-effective possibility.

It’s essential to remain inside a monetary vary you’re snug with, however I do counsel that investing in increased high quality plates as soon as could be higher financially in the long term.

Guarantee

For those who’re going to half methods along with your hard-earned {dollars}, then you definately need to know that you just’re getting one of the best return on funding. If one thing goes mistaken, then you need to be capable to get that cash again. Most corporations have stable warranties on the subject of gymnasium tools corresponding to plates, dumbbells, and barbells. Try these insurance policies earlier than you hit the order button.

Most bumper plates have two or three-year warranties for bigger weights with smaller weights (10-15 kilos) having 90-day warranties attributable to how skinny they are often and the chance they may endure harm if dropped on their very own. Think about all of the above and take into consideration your coaching surroundings so you can also make the only option doable.

Bumper Plates vs. Metallic Plates

Bumper plates include a metal core with a thick rubber protecting and are made to be dropped. Lifters contemplate them a safer possibility as a result of there’s much less danger of harm to your ground if that you must bail a raise. As a result of bumper plates are thicker, the burden is distributed additional throughout the barbell and additional away out of your heart of gravity. This could make the burden really feel simpler to raise.

Metallic plates have been round for so long as the barbell itself and are historically thinner. They are often made out of forged iron or metal. You may’t drop them with out the danger of damaging your ground since they don’t bounce like rubber plates. They’re additionally a lot noisier than bumper plates, and the noise can disrupt different people in your house.

Calibrated vs. Uncalibrated Plates

Calibrated metal or iron plates are licensed to be inside .25 % or 10 grams (whichever is much less) of the burden listed on the plate. Calibrated plates are utilized in competitions and are validated earlier than being placed on the platform. If the burden is just not listed as calibrated, then it’s undoubtedly uncalibrated, which means it may be wherever inside one to 3 % of the burden listed on the plate. A forty five-pound plate, for instance, could weigh wherever from 43 to 47 kilos, and you would need to weigh it your self to know for positive.

Calibrated plates could be a more sensible choice for aggressive powerlifters as a result of the weights you raise might be extra exact. However since they price $0.70 or extra per pound than uncalibrated plates, most dwelling gymnasium homeowners who need to lower your expenses might be simply advantageous with non-calibrated weight plates.

Weight Vary

Bumper plates usually vary from 10 to 45 kilos for American weight plates or 5 to 25 kilograms for worldwide plates. Metal or iron plates can go from 2.5 to 45 kilos or 1.25 to twenty kilograms. Some corporations make plates as excessive as 55 or 100 kilos or 25 or 50 kilograms.

Ultimate Ideas

The load plates are part of the inspiration for a lot of dwelling gymnasium homeowners, and the sort you purchase must be a cautious determination to make. They’re actually the resistance you’ll use to achieve your private health objectives. Think about the kind of coaching self-discipline you comply with, your coaching surroundings, and your price range when selecting the plates you need to use. The appropriate weight plates can present the challenges that you must get higher for years to return.

Finest Weight Plates: Facet-by-Facet Comparability

Finest Weight Plates General

Description:

• Weight vary: 10 to 45 kilos
• Weight tolerance: One %
• Supplies: Rubber, metal inserts
• Thickness: One to 2.8 inches

Finest Finances Weight Plates

Description:

• Weight vary: 2.5 to 45 kilos
• Weight tolerance: Three %
• Supplies: Iron
• Thickness: 0.5 to 1.5 inches

Finest Rubber Weight Plates

Description:

• Weight vary: 10 to 45 kilos
• Weight tolerance: One %
• Supplies: Virgin rubber, chrome steel inserts
• Thickness: 0.83 to 2.4 inches

Finest Iron
Weight Plates

Description:

• Weight vary: 2.5 to 45 kilos
• Weight tolerance: One to 3 %
• Supplies: Forged iron
• Thickness: 0.5 to 1.2 inches

Finest Metal Weight Plates

Description:

• Weight vary: 0.25 to 55 kilos
• Weight tolerance: 10 grams
• Supplies: Metal 
• Thickness: 4.5 to 27 millimeters

Finest Urethane Weight Plates

Description:

• Weight vary: 10 to 55 kilos
• Weight tolerance: One %
• Supplies: Urethane, chrome-plated metal disc insert
• Thickness: 24 to 56 millimeters (0.94 to 2.2 inches)

Finest Bumper Weight Plates

Description:

• Weight vary: 10 to 45 kilos
• Weight tolerance: Unknown
• Supplies: Recycled crumb rubber
• Thickness: 1.25 to three.25 inches

Finest Weight Plates With Handles

Description:

• Weight vary: 2.5 to 45 kilos, 0.5 to 25 kilograms
• Weight tolerance: Unknown
• Supplies: Iron with rubber coat
• Thickness: Unknown

Finest Olympic
Plates

Description:

• Weight vary: 10 to 25 kilograms
• Weight tolerance: 0.5 %
• Supplies: Rubber
• Thickness: 35 to 58 millimeters

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