Everyone has had to rethink their gym plan over the past couple of years and find ways to keep their gains during lockdowns. The uncertainty surrounding gym closures has inspired many athletes to build a home gym.
The problem? Most of us have limited space to work with. Finding the right equipment storage options makes all the difference.
Bumper plates are some of the bulkiest pieces of home gym equipment. Yet, they’re necessary for Olympic lifters and Crossfitters who want to get in a good workout without destroying their home. Fortunately, there are several types of bumper plate storage options available.
Here are some of the best bumper plate storage stands for your home gym and how to choose the right one for you.
Want to get right into it? Here’s a round up of our top picks.
| Image | Product | |
|---|---|---|
Best Wall-Mounted Option
| Rogue 24″ Storage Stringer
| View on Rogue Fitness |
Best Multipurpose Option
| York Single Sided Bumper Plate Tree
| View on Rogue Fitness |
Best Mobile Option
| Titan Fitness Horizontal Weight Plate Storage with Wheels
| View on Titan Fitness |
Best for Small Spaces
| Rep Bar and Bumper Plate Tree
| View on Rep Fitness |
Best budget option
| CAP Barbell A Frame Olympic Plate Rack
| View on Amazon |
Types of Bumper Plate Storage and Their Benefits
There are four primary types of bumper plate storage options, each with advantages and disadvantages. Some of the key considerations to contemplate are the floor space you have available, how many plates you own, and any other mobility or safety concerns you might have.
Vertical Bumper Plate Stands
As the name implies, vertical bumper plate stands are elevated storage units that keep your plates off the floor. This type of bumper plate storage comes in a variety of styles, like the weight plate tree, A-frame plate rack, and front load racks.
Vertical plate storage is largely considered the best bumper plate storage for home gyms due to its versatility in design, minimal footprint, and ease of use. It’s generally easy to tuck a plate tree in the corner if your home gym is in a multipurpose room.
The downside of vertical plate racks is that not all of them are optimized for bumper plates, severely limiting how much you can store on one apparatus. Take the time to read whether your vertical plate rack is meant for bumpers before buying.
Some users don’t enjoy the ergonomics of vertical bumper plate stands, especially those with pegs low to the ground.
Horizontal Bumper Plate Stands
Horizontal bumper plate stands are built for thicker bumper plates and are typically the easiest to use for storage. The racks are optimized for wider plates, and there’s less risk of dropping or tipping if you have kids running around your home gym. These features make them the safest option as well.
The biggest disadvantage to using a horizontal bumper plate storage rack is that they take up the most floor space. If you have limited space, this can be a deal-breaker. However, you can get a floor storage rack with handles and wheels for easy transportation.
Wall-Mounted Bumper Plate Storage
The primary benefit of wall-mounted bumper plate storage is that they don’t take up floor space at all. Realistically, you could store something else in the space underneath to give yourself ample room to move. Many lifers also enjoy having control over the height placement to make it more convenient for their personal gym.
Safety and structural damage are the two main concerns with wall-mounted bumper plate storage. Proper installation is key, and those bad boys had better be mounted into some secure wooden studs.
There’s also a drop risk when elevating weights, especially if you share the space with kids. Or, if you do an epic arm workout and can’t lift the weight that high anymore— RIP toes.
Rack Attachments
Rack attachments are plate storage apparatuses that affix to a squat rack or power tower. As these aren’t as common in a home gym, they aren’t included in our round-up of the best bumper plate storage options for home gyms. If you have a power tower or squat rack, you should definitely consider this option, as they’re convenient and easy to install.
Top 5 Bumper Plate Storage Options
Rogue 24″ Storage Stringer
- Affordable Price
- Durable powdercoat finish
- Versatile storage options
Rogue Fitness is a trusted brand in manufacturing professional-grade home gym equipment. Their 24″ plate storage stringer is lightweight and durable, with the iconic black powder coat finish. The Stringer comes with adjustable mounting elements to fit varying stud widths and all the fixtures required for safe installation.
The interchangeable elements and the safety tilt are a few notable features that make the Rogue Storage Stringer the best wall-mounted bumper plate storage option. When you purchase your Stringer, you can choose between three shorter posts or two longer ones. As this option is small and compact, it’s feasible to purchase one of each. The posts are tilted at a 5-degree angle to keep your plates where they belong: on the wall.
Weight capacity varies based on the posts you choose. Each shorter post boasts 5″ of loading length and holds 90lbs. Longer posts hold 12.25″ and 180lbs.
The Rogue Storage Stringer is a great option if you have limited space and want high quality for your money.
York Single Sided Bumper Plate Tree
- Small footprint
- Spaced for bumper plates
- Built for stability
The York Fitness Bumper Plate tree is a fantastic vertical storage option, properly spaced to hold bumpers. As such, it’s no surprise that this gem sells out quickly.
This plate tree weighs 198lbs and boasts a broad steel base for stability. The footings have pre-drilled holes in case you’re looking to make the stand a permanent fixture. The front storage pegs are just shy of 13″ to hold multiple bumper plates, while the side pegs are 8.5″. The base is 43″ by 28″, making it ideal for home gyms.
The York Fitness Bumper Plate tree also holds two barbells for an all-in-one, multipurpose bumper plate storage system.
Titan Fitness Horizontal Weight Plate Storage with Wheels
- Welded steel transport handle
- Versatile plate sizing
- Wheels for easy movement
Titan Fitness is another well-respected brand in the world of weightlifting equipment. The horizontal weight plate storage rack is ideal for home gyms with plenty of space. The stainless steel handle and wheels make it easy to transport your weights or store them out of the way. The secure footings are also encased in rubber to protect your floor.
This horizontal weight rack holds 580lbs and has varied sizing options to account for different plate thicknesses. The rack is 54″ by 16″ and weighs a mere 44lbs unloaded. While some racks arrive looking like an IKEA project, the Titan Fitness horizontal rack comes mostly in one piece with a few simple pieces that attach in under 10 minutes.
Rep Fitness has innovated a compact weight plate tree that’s built with both bumper plates and home gyms in mind. Rather than the traditional uneven spacing to minimize height, the pegs on the Rep Bar and Bumper Plate Tree are evenly spaced to fit an Olympic plate rather than the conventional variable spacing to reduce size.
Even with the extra spacing, the Rep Bar and Bumper Plate Tree only takes up four square feet of space at 24″ x 24″. This lightweight but durable bumper plate storage system has a weight capacity of 850lbs. Some assembly is required, but Rep has an easy-to-follow video and assures you can get it done in under 10 minutes.
CAP Barbell A Frame Olympic Plate Rack
- Budget-friendly
- Durable
- Powder-coated finish
If you’re looking for something simple and affordable, CAP has you covered with their A-Frame Olympic Plate Rack. With steel construction, the base of this rack is only 20″ x 12″. It has a lower capacity of 300lbs, and pegs that are just over 4″ long.
In essence, this “little rack that could” is great if you just have a few plates, and want something simple that you can tuck away at any time. A few customers have commented on the spacing between pegs, and have easily modified the setup by drilling new holes and altering the peg positions for more space.
Choosing the Right Rack
Choosing the right rack for your bumper plates is a personal decision that depends on your space, budget, and preferences. These options are some of the best bumper plate storage options by type. Choose one that fits your home gym and clear up some much-needed floor space.
