Anyone looking for a slick new pair of highly durable weight plates may want to take a long, hard look at the Rogue Deep Dish Plates. Before we dive into this review though, let’s go through a quick history lesson. Before bumper plates were invented in the 60’s, deep dish plates were the plate of choice for weightlifting competitions. They have a larger surface area, which means it’s less likely you’ll crack a wooden platform when you drop the weight. The extra thickness of these plates also makes them extremely durable, possibly extending their lifespan.
The Rogue Deep Dish Plates offer weight lifters a combination of versatility and durability. They can be used for traditional powerlifts, such as bench pressing, squatting, and deadlifting, but they might not be the best fit for any lift where the barbell is dropped — like a power clean — since they won’t absorb shock as well as bumpers. Rogue designed these plates with ductile iron (which is stronger than gray iron), and the extra thickness should prevent them from bending over time. These plates range from 25 to 100 pounds, and are available in individual pairs or as a full set. If you’re looking for some very sturdy weight plates, we think these could be the next great addition to your home gym.
Main Takeaways
- These deep dish plates come in pairs (ranging from 25 to 100 pounds) and full sets. The number of plates you get in each set will vary depending on which one you choose — they range from 230 to 1,000 pounds.
- The ductile iron used to make these plates makes them more durable than plates that utilize gray iron, so they can be used for all your lifts.
- The extra thickness of these plates will prevent them from bending or cracking over repeated use.
These ductile iron weight plates are available in individual pairs, and full sets. They're also thicker than your standard weight plates, which makes them more durable.
Rogue Deep Dish Weight Plates Video Review
Our Reviews Writer, Jake, tried these plates out for himself. He talks through their pros and cons, price, features, and more in this in-depth video review.
Rogue Deep Dish Weight Plates Highlights
When building out your home gym, versatility is key since not everyone has the space for a wide variety of equipment. Regarding weight plates, athletes tend to look for bumper plates to add to their gym, and for good reason — they’re durable and can handle all styles of lifts. These deep dish plates also check off those two characteristics since they’re thick enough to be dropped and not bend on you. With these, Rogue brought back the iconic look of the deep dish plates used before the 60’s, mixed with modern-day production.
The E-coat finish is thinner than a powder coat finish — it adds to its corrosion resistance — and the ductile iron used makes them stronger and more durable. Since you can purchase these plates in both individual pairs and full sets, there is an option out there for athletes of all levels. The pairs range from 25 to 100 pounds, so if you need some lighter change plates, you’ll have to mix in another style. The sets range from 230 pounds up to 1,000 pounds — each one varies in the included weights, and some of the options are actually customizable.
While you can definitely perform Olympic-style lifts with these plates, they’re thicker than Olympic plates and do not meet the International Weightlifting Federation competition standards. That extra thickness also may not be ideal for elite powerlifters since you’ll likely run out of room on your loading sleeves (and that goes for storage on weight horns as well). There aren’t any handles to assist you in loading or unloading your barbell, but the “lip” from the deep dish design gives you a nice surface area to grab.
Who Should Buy Rogue Deep Dish Plates
- Anyone looking for highly durable and versatile weight plates for their home gym will appreciate these thicker ductile iron plates since they can handle being dropped from various heights.
- The multiple buying options in pairs and full sets make it possible for athletes of all levels to find plates that fit their needs.
- Accuracy with weights is a big deal, and Rogue is about as spot-on as possible with these plates. So if you want some plates that are true to their actual weight, we think you’ll be happy with these.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Rogue Deep Dish Plates
- Even though these are some of the most affordable plates that Rogue has, they still may be a bit pricey for some buyers.
- The extra thickness may not be ideal for powerlifters looking to really load up some heavy weight, and could also be a problem in terms of storage.
- Athletes with a heavy emphasis on Olympic-style lifts may want to opt for some bumper plates since they will most likely protect your barbell more effectively.
Price
You can purchase these Deep Dish plates from Rogue in pairs and full sets. Before shipping and taxes, a 25-pound pair of these plates will cost you right around $120, the 35’s are about $170, the 45’s are around $180, and the 100’s will run you around $360. There are also seven different full sets that you can purchase, which is definitely the cost-efficient way to go about buying in the long run.
Beginners may want to go for the 230-pound set, which will run you about $580. Anyone more advanced may be better off with the 500-pound set, which is nearly $1,300, and powerlifters who do decide to snag these plates will probably benefit from choosing the 1,000-pound set for about $2,500. The cool thing about the 500-, and 1,000-pound sets is that they’re customizable, so you can pick and choose your weight options. Once again, these definitely are not “cheap”, but the durability of these plates could keep them in your gym for the duration of your weightlifting journey, making the price tag worth it, in our opinion.
Overall Build and Quality
These Rogue Deep Dish plates are manufactured in the United States, forged with ductile iron, and feature an e-coat to add to their corrosion resistance. Ductile iron is stronger than gray iron, so they should last you for over ten years, and the extra thickness will also add to that lifespan. You can find cheaper iron plates out there, but those are likely cheaper for a reason — they’re made of lesser-quality materials, and won’t last you as long. These are top of the line, and can really take a beating.
Features
These Deep Dish plates from Rogue really don’t have that many features at the end of the day, but there are still a few that stand out to us. They’re thicker than Olympic weight plates, but a little bit thinner than bumper plates. The 45-pound plates are just under two inches thick, making them over 1.5 inches thicker than the Olympic-style plates from Rogue.
The thickness and diameter will vary since the 25’s and 35’s are considered “change plates.” They’re meant to go on top of the 45’s and 100s, so ideally, they shouldn’t be hitting the ground, and don’t need to have the same dimensions. The “lip” on these plates caused by the deep dish appearance gives you a nice surface area for carrying, but it’s still not as effective as a handle. The machining on these plates is also super smooth, and we didn’t notice any imperfections in the production — plus, the e-coat finish gives them a really nice look that doubles as protection from corrosion.
Weight Options
Pairs of these deep dish plates range from 25 to 100 pounds, and you can choose from various sets to purchase. When looking for the set that is the best fit for your needs, you can select from seven different options that range from 230 pounds to 1,000 pounds. If you need to add more plates to your gym, you can always do so with individual pairs. Each full set does, in fact, consist of various plates depending on which set you go with.
The 230-pound set includes two 25, 35, and 45-pound plates. The 270-pound set consists of six 45’s, while the 320-pound set includes two 25’s and six 45-pound plates. The 410-pound set comes with two of every weight option, including the 100’s. The 570-pound set consists of four 25’s, six 45’s, and two 100’s. The 500 and 1,000-pound sets are fully customizable, so you have the option of selecting the number of plates you want for each weight option, just as long as you don’t exceed that weight limit.
Weight Plate Design
Rogue designed these deep dish plates with ductile iron and applied an e-coat to add to the aesthetic, and provide corrosion resistance. These plates are thicker than your traditional weight plates, meaning they will demand more space on your loading sleeves and weight horns. So these may not be the best fit for powerlifters or anyone tight on storage space.
Since they are, in fact, deep dish, you have a large surface area to get a grip when changing out your weight. However, your grip won’t be as secure as a plate with handles, so standalone exercises like a front shoulder raise may be a little bit more difficult with these plates. The back of the plates are flatter than the state of Kansas, so picking them up off the floor may also be a bit of a difficult task.
Color
These deep dish plates are uniform in color. They sport a black e-coat finish that resembles a cast iron skillet.
Labeling
The inside of the plates is where you will find the labeling for each weight plate.
The lettering matches the rest of the plate in terms of color, but since the font is raised, you can easily see the weight of each plate.
Handles
These plates do not feature any type of handles, but because of the deep dish design, you do have a solid surface area to grab each plate. This “lip” will vary on each plate depending on how thick they are. So, for example, the 100’s and 45’s will be “easier” to grab than the 25’s and 35’s.
Since you don’t have a handle, though, it can be a little tricky at first to take the plates off a barbell and store them on a weight horn. This may also impact you during exercises such as front shoulder raises since the plate has a better chance of slipping out of your hands.
Product Specs
These deep dish plates are crafted from ductile iron, which is stronger than what many companies use for traditional plates. The e-coat coating adds to the aesthetic of these plates while also offering corrosion resistance. The thickness and the diameter of these plates will vary depending on the weight, but the added thickness will boost the overall durability and lifespan here.
Weight Plate Type
These are deep dish plates that are forged with ductile iron. While you can do any style of lift you want with these plates, they might cause a little damage if you drop a loaded barbell since they don’t absorb as much shock as bumper plates do.
Size and Dimensions
The overall size of these plates will increase as you go up in weight, but the collars are your standard 1.9 inches, so you can use these with every barbell. The diameter will also vary, but the 45’s and 100’s do meet the 17.7-inch standard set by the IPF. The 25’s and 35’s are smaller by design since they are technically change plates and are meant to fit on top of the heavier options.
The 25’s and 35’s are 1.3 inches thick, the 45’s are a shade under two inches thick, and the 100’s are around 2.9 inches thick. When you compare the thickness of these plates to Olympic plates, there isn’t much of a difference with the 25’s and 35’s, but the 45-pound plates are over 1.5 inches thicker, and the 100’s are nearly a full inch thicker.
So if you’re a competitor, these may not be the ideal choice for you since the extra thickness could prevent you from lifting your true max weight, and may also affect the whip on the bar. For those who don’t know, whip is the amount of bounce that occurs on a barbell in the middle of a lift, so the overall “feel” of your lifts could be impacted in a negative way.
Warranties
While the actual warranty for these deep dish plates, or any other plates, is not listed on the Rogue website, they do mention that their product will be free from material defects in workmanship. At the end of the day, Rogue makes high-quality equipment, and these seem to be as durable as you could ask for them to be.
Places to Buy
You can buy these Deep Dish Plates through the Rogue website.
Company Information
Since 2006, Rogue has been known as one of the leaders in high-quality gym equipment. To learn more about their production, you can send them a message on their website, and someone will respond via email. Or, you can call them directly at 614-358-6190.
Final Word
These deep dish plates from Rogue offer extreme durability, and they’re versatile enough to be used for all of your workout splits. While they’re one of the more affordable options that Rogue has to offer, they certainly aren’t “cheap”, so anyone on a tight budget may need to search for another option. That being said, you can get your money’s worth with these plates since they will likely last you a lifetime. Since you can snag a couple of pairs, or go for a full set, there’s an option out there for athletes of all levels to purchase.
While powerlifters may not be too crazy about the extra thickness of these plates since they dominate more space on the bar, they will enjoy their durability, as they are made to be dropped repeatedly. Regardless of experience level, these deep dish plates from Rogue can fit your needs and be a solid addition to your home gym — just be aware of their thickness before purchasing.
FAQs
Why would I want these Rogue Deep Dish plates over traditional plates?
Because of the extra thickness of these plates, they can handle more punishment than Olympic plates, and even your traditional weight plates. So long story short, you’ll likely find these to last you longer than those other options.
What workouts can I do with the Rogue Deep Dish plates?
You can honestly do any style of workout with these weight plates. Due to their durability, they can handle being dropped from various heights (like during a power clean or clean & jerk). But, keep in mind they may affect the whip on your barbell in a negative way.
How much do the Rogue Deep Dish Plates cost?
You can purchase these plates individually or as a full set. The cheapest plates are the 25’s, which will run you around $120 for a pair, the 35’s are roughly $170, the 45’s will run you around $180, and the 100’s are about $360.
The cheapest full set is the 230-pound set, sporting a price tag of about $580. The 500-pound set will run you around $1,300, and the 1,000-pound set will cost you about $2,500. While these prices may sound steep, we think the durability and longevity of these plates make them worth the price tag.
