Weights: cast iron or vinyl?

chucknorris

Are there any obvious disadvantages to vinyl weights? I know that they look a bit naff, but I'm very practical, and bench pressing 75 kg is the same exercise whether it is with vinyl or cast iron plates. But I can't help thinking that I am overlooking something, otherwise why would cast iron weights so popular? I also thought that if they are used in a room with carpet, vinyl might cause less damage, although the barbell would mainly be placed back on a bench (not the floor).

Gloomendoom

They fetch less money when you get fed up exercising and want to get rid of them.

pogofish

Surely depleted uranium would have the best size to mass ratio of all and the weight of choice for Chuck Norris..?

Retrogamer

Vinyl weights are only better if you're deadlifting IMO

chucknorris

Gloomendoom wrote: »

They fetch less money when you get fed up exercising and want to get rid of them.

I haven't stopped regularly exercising since I was 16 (I'm 60 in January), although the formats of exercise have changed sometimes over the years. I remember my father saying to me that I wouldn't be going out on runs when I reached 30, but I'm I still running once a week, and the only reason that I cut down from 3 times a week was because I was picking up too many injuries. Currently I do at least one power walk every day, swim and do gym classes 3 times a week, and use the exercise bike a fair bit when bad weather reduces my walking, I also do a bit of road cycling during the summer.

We are currently house hunting, our new home will have a dedicated room for a gym with weight training bench, floor mat, exercise bike and a large screen tv (using the exercise bike gets pretty boring).

I've decided to go for cast iron weights, I'll be looking at various weight training benches soon.

Gloomendoom

chucknorris wrote: »

We are currently house hunting, our new home will have a dedicated room for a gym with weight training bench, floor mat, exercise bike and a large screen tv (using the exercise bike gets pretty boring).

I've decided to go for cast iron weights, I'll be looking at various weight training benches soon.

My remark was tongue in cheek.

We also have dedicated room for a gym. All the equipment in there, including a fairly extensive collection of iron weight plates, has been bought second hand... from people who got fed up exercising.

parking_question_chap

Not a massive difference in terms of durability. Just dont get the plastic filled ones, they can break/crack fairly easily.

stephen77

If you own the floor. Then Vinyl is better.

Anyone else floor. Cast Iron is better.