Eleiko XF Bumper
Overall
User Review
( vote) Summary
The Eleiko XF Bumper is a recycled crumb rubber option that provides a surprisingly low entry-level cost, at least by Eleiko standards. While the bounce could use some improvement, the plates offer a surprisingly low level of noise during bounces and they provide a low vibration point. They are comparable to the thickness of hi-temp plates while offering a solid overall design.
Pros
- Low noise during bounces.
- Low vibration.
- Great for indoor and outdoor use.
- Decent starting price point (by Eleiko standards).
Cons
- The bounce could use some improvement.
- A little thicker than we prefer (but not bad for crumb rubber plates).
If you’re in the market for high-end bumper plates that are surprisingly slim on the wallet, at least by quality standards, look no further than the Eleiko XF Bumpers. While the brand is typically synonymous with emptying your wallet, the XF Bumpers offer a surprisingly economical option that provides some surprising features we’d like to see incorporated into other bumpers from competing brands.
Let’s start with the biggest selling point. Reviews across the web have noted to very important features of the Eleiko XF Bumpers. First, they make a lot less noise when dropped, second they vibrate less. If you have neighbors who are annoyed by your heavy weight drops or your box gym sounds like a freight train is constantly driving by, this is a big selling point.
There’s a video at the bottom of this review that showcases just how quiet a drop with Eleiko bumper plates can be even on hard surfaces.
As noted, these Eleiko plates are considerably cheaper than the company’s other offerings, and part of that value arrives due to the manufacturing of the plates. Each plate from 10 to 45 lbs is manufactured with compressed recycled crumb rubber. The material is soft and durable, which adds to the sound-dampening, and shock absorption noted above. Recycled crumb rubber doesn’t have the same quality feel as virgin rubber and urethane plates, but it’s still decent on wear and tear.
Because the plates feature crumb rubber, it should be noted that they will bounce more than a more expensive option and even more than some less expensive options from other manufacturers who use virgin rubber. Still, the bounce is relatively low, and you’re getting a quality product.
As an added bonus, crumb rubber plates tend to stand up the best to outdoor lifting, with maybe the exception of one of our favorite options, the Vulcan Alpha Bumper Plates.
The width of these plates is more comparable to Hi-Temp plates than a traditional bumper made with virgin rubber. Honestly, if you’re not lifting 800 pounds, this shouldn’t be a huge consideration, especially if you are using a standard bar that tends to offer between 15 and 16.5 inches of available sleeve space.
We believe that bumper plates are home gym essentials, and the Eleiko XF Bumpers fit the bill for a top-notch option if protecting our flooring is important to you.
