Athletic Works 100 lb Cast Iron Weight Plate Set vs CAP 110lb Elite Olympic Grip Plate Set

Buy the CAP 110lb Elite set if you have an Olympic (2-inch) bar or want plates you can grip and load by hand. Buy the Athletic Works 100 lb set if you own a standard 1-inch bar or dumbbell handles and want a basic cast iron starter set. The CAP set has three-hole grip cutouts, a baked enamel finish and a 2-inch center hole, which makes it the more versatile and easier-to-handle set. The Athletic Works set is plain cast iron with no grip holes and a 1-inch bore, so it only fits standard equipment. Owners of both rate the iron itself as solid; the CAP set gets more praise for handling and finish, while the Athletic Works set is seen as a simple, no-frills option.

• Choose the Athletic Works 100 lb set if you already own a standard 1-inch bar or dumbbell handles and want plain cast iron plates to build on.
• Choose the CAP 110lb Elite set if you have an Olympic 2-inch bar or want grip holes that make plates easier to carry and load.