Olympic Cast Iron Plates 100kg Set: Is It Right for Your Gym?
By Gym Equipment | Built to Work | Home & Commercial | NORTHERN | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: Buying Guides
A practical buying guide to the Northern Olympic cast iron 100kg plate set: weight options, home gym fit, and when cast iron beats bumper plates.
Quick answer
Buy the Northern Olympic cast iron 100kg set if you train mostly barbell lifts on a stable platform and want a durable, budget-conscious plate set with paired 5kg, 10kg, 15kg and 20kg plates. Skip it if you regularly drop loaded bars from overhead or need bumper-plate bounce and floor protection.
What the 100kg total actually covers
A 100kg set is a starting strength package, not a forever collection. With pairs of 5kg, 10kg, 15kg and 20kg plates, you get 100kg of plates plus your bar. That is enough for most beginners to load squats, deadlifts, presses and rows for a long time, but advanced lifters will likely need extra plates or a heavier base set.
The paired sizes also matter for warm-ups and technique work. Having 5kg and 10kg pairs lets you make smaller jumps than a set built only from 20kg plates, which is useful when you are learning a lift or returning from a break.
When cast iron is the smarter choice
Cast iron plates are dense, compact and generally more affordable per kilogram than bumper plates. They suit controlled barbell training: squats in a rack, bench press, overhead press, rows and deadlifts lowered with care. The Northern plates use a black powder-coated finish with silver lettering and a precision-machined hole, which helps with smooth loading and unloading on a standard Olympic bar.
Cast iron also takes up less width on the bar than thick bumper plates at the same weight, so you can fit more plates on before the bar gets crowded. That is a real advantage in a small home gym with a short bar or limited storage.
Where cast iron falls short
Cast iron does not absorb impact. If you drop a loaded bar from overhead, you risk damaging the plates, your bar, and your floor. For Olympic weightlifting, CrossFit-style workouts, or any training where you bail from lifts, bumper plates are the safer choice.
The set is also heavy to move and store. Plan for a reinforced floor area and a plate tree or wall storage that can handle the load. If you train in an upstairs room or a shared space, check the floor loading before buying.
Cast iron vs bumper: the practical split
Choose cast iron for slow, controlled strength work and a tighter budget. Choose bumper plates for dropping, bouncing, and mixed modal training. Some lifters keep both: cast iron for rack work and bumper plates for the platform. That is a sensible long-term setup if you have the space and budget, but it is not necessary to start.
Decision rules for the 100kg cast iron set
- Match the set to your training style: If your program is squats, presses, rows and controlled deadlifts, the 100kg cast iron set is a good fit. If you drop bars from overhead or do Olympic lifting, choose bumper plates instead. Write down your main lifts before buying; the answer usually becomes obvious.
- Check your current strength level: A 100kg plate total plus a 20kg bar gives you 120kg of load. If your working squats or deadlifts are already near or above that, plan to add extra plates soon or buy a larger set. Add up your heaviest working set plus warm-up plates before committing.
- Confirm bar and floor compatibility: The plates fit standard Olympic bars with a 2-inch sleeve. Use a stable platform or rubber matting, and check that your floor can handle the loaded bar and storage. Measure your bar sleeve and storage space before ordering.
- Budget for storage and extra plates: Cast iron plates need a sturdy tree or rack. Factor in storage and at least one extra pair of plates if you expect to progress within a year. A plate tree is part of the real cost, not an optional extra.
Product facts
- Olympic Cast Iron Plates - 5kg/10kg/15kg/20kg x 2 (100kg Set): The set includes pairs of 5kg, 10kg, 15kg and 20kg plates, totaling 100kg. This gives you small and large increments for warm-ups and working sets without buying separate pairs immediately.
Olympic Cast Iron Plates - 5kg/10kg/15kg/20kg x 2 (100kg Set) - Olympic Cast Iron Plates - 5kg/10kg/15kg/20kg x 2 (100kg Set): Plates are cast iron with a black powder-coated finish and silver lettering, plus a precision-machined hole. The machined hole supports smooth loading on a standard Olympic bar, while the coating helps resist wear in a home gym.
Who should buy it
Best for
- Home lifters doing controlled barbell strength work on a stable platform
- Beginners and intermediate lifters who need a complete starter set with small increments
- Small gyms that want compact plates that load easily on a standard Olympic bar
Not for
- Olympic weightlifters or anyone who regularly drops loaded bars
- Lifters whose working sets already exceed roughly 120kg total including the bar
- Upstairs or shared spaces where floor loading and noise are a concern
