XMarkTEXAS STAR Olympic Weights Set for Home Gym - Weight Plates for Barbells, Weightlifting & Strength Training Equipment

When I first started buying plates for my home gym more than 40 years ago, I shopped only by price. After all, they were hunks of iron, with little visible difference among them. Now there are some differences that I can appreciate. My arthritic hands have difficulty gripping 45# plates by the edge, or sliding rough iron on and off barbells. I even admire the appearance of coated plates like those made by XMark. The openings around the larger plates allow my fingers through so I can securely grip and carry a plate in each hand. The smooth, stainless steel hub allows a plate to easily slide on and off the bar when changing plates. The rubber coating, makes for a smooth, attractive surface, while reducing metal against metal or metal against floor noise, and should reduce corrosion over the years. I take pride in how my basement gym looks, and the Texas Star plates with their stylish red logo add to that pleasure. My only complaint about the plates is that the weight is difficult to read when the plates are on a bar. That problem is solved by another XMark model with raised, white poundage, which contrasts nicely against the black rubber. However, those plates have an unusual shape, presumably to keep loaded bars from rolling across the floor. I decided to use white paint pens to make the markings more visible to my elderly eyes. While this was a minor nuisance, it was definitely a labor of love. Both XMark models are packaged in heavy cardboard containers, secured within yet another container, and with sheets of cardboard and plastic bags separating the plates to avoid damage. The cardboard is also banded with study straps to help maintain the boxes. All boxes arrived a day or so before the estimated delivery date. The rubber does have a strong odor when the weights are unpacked, and I chose to unpack in my garage. The weights were coated with a light oil, which I wiped off with paper toweling. Even after a week in my garage, the plates continued to emit a distinctive odor. Following several months use, I am no longer aware of any odor from the plates. I am very pleased with the XMark plates, as well as with their shipping and delivery. I expect them to outlast me.

I am building a basic home gym in my backyard and looking for weight plates for months. During the pandemic, lots of people on FaceBook marketplace buying weight plates in bulk and selling them back with a hefty price. I was lucky to find these XMark guys on Amazon.With only $469 I got a set of 165 lbs weight plates: 2x2.5lbs, 4x5lbs (YES, 4 of them), 2x10lbs, 2x25lbs, 2x35lbs. This is the best price that I simply cannot find anywhere else at this time. With $469 you may be able to buy only 2x35lbs on FaceBook marketplace LOL. People are taking advantage of the pandemic.I feel the need to support these type of quality business. That is why I decided to write this review:. Item as described => CHECKED. Delivery Time => CHECKED__ I placed the order on Sep 9th, the estimated delivery time was Sep 22nd - Sep 25th.__ I received the order on Sep 20th => Great!. Well packages => CHECKED__ The plates are packed in pair and double boxed. There is another layer of carton to separate the two plates.__ They boxed it so well that I felt like I deserved to skip my workout today after unboxing these gorgeous.__ If you received damaged products, it definitely the delivery guy LOL.. Customer service => CHECKED__ I sent them a message through Amazon and asked them that I concerned about the possibility of receiving "refurbished" product like some of the other reviews said.__ They responded to me the next day"Hello. We do not sell refurbished products as new. A local store purchases all of our returns. I know of one buyer whose package came open in transit and he complained they looked used because they had shipping damage, but they did not leave our warehouse in that condition. Although we package the products well in heavy boxes with plastic straps, shipping damage does occur at times. All of our boxes are packed at the factory and received at our warehouse ready to ship. Thanks for your message!". The rubber smell => CHECKED__ The smell is not as bad as some people claim it to be. I opened the package and mentally prepared to handle the smell but I couldn't smell anything (Unless I put my face to the plate and take a truly deep breath) ==> The smell on these plates is what rubber should smell like.__ I hand washed these plates with mind soap and dry them with a towel, then store them in an open space. If you are one of those who love to have your garage gym, may be you should store these plates in your backyard until the smell is gone. It may be inconvenient at first that you have to go get the plates for every workout, but it is only temporary and you just add a quick warm up "Farmer Walk" set to your workout that day.. Durability => NOT checked YET__ I just received them today.__ The look and feel is pretty decent to me.__ I think that the durability and longevity of things depend 50% on the maker and 50% on the user. If you care for you stuff it will last a lot longer than you LOL. I am not one of those who love to drop you weight on the floor after each set.__ I will be using them for a long time and will update this review if something noticeably bad happen. Otherwise, you should safely assume that this is a decent look, decent price and decent quality product.Hope this lengthy review help you making your decision on whether you should go for this product!*Note:. Not a partner of XMark (or anything like that => you know what I mean). Simply just a guy who try to build his minimal home gym. Simply just want to support good business.. Simply just so happy that I didn't go broke when trying to buy some weight plates.. Simply just want to reassure those who sit in front of their computer and debating whether they should go for this set of weights.

I received my order of weights this week. Don't panic if you don't receive them all in the same shipment. Mine came in 3 separate shipments over 3 days. They were packaged well in a double box with those retaining straps. I experienced NO damage in shipping. Let me start of by saying these plates are gorgeous. The rubber is a deep black with the bright red logo insert that will not rub off like painted logos . The build quality is top notch and with the rubber coating the plates are sooo quiet. Some things to note:1. The plates have a stainless steel center insert so that weights slide on the bar easily.2. Hand grips are designed in the plates for easy plate handling off or on the bar.3. Weight markings are molded in the rubber so that you know the weight in lbs.4. They do have a slight smell, but its very similar to a new pair of sneakers, not bad. It minimizes over time.5. The plates have a very thin film of oil when you un-package them that can be wiped off with a lint free cloth.Overall I am very happy with these plates. I think you will be too.