Micro Gainz Review: Fractional Weight Plates

In this Micro Gainz review I’ll be going over their multi-color Olympic size set of 8 fractional plates.

I’ve always wanted micro plates but could never find some that were economical til now.

Fractional plates help you set new PRs in small increments because sometimes a 5 lbs jump is too large.

With micro plates you can continue to break through plateaus incrementally.

Let’s dig in!

Unboxing

Good thing about these fractional plates is that the package is small so that made it easy to hide it from the wife 🙂

Inside the box, you see a Micro Gainz branded travel bag and the micro plates organized by size and separated by cardboard.

Love that they look like mini bumper plates but these are made from metal.

The whole set includes a travel bag and 8 olympic sized plates.

• 2 green, 0.25 lbs plates

• 2 yellow, 0.50 lbs plates

• 2 blue, 0.75 lbs plates

• 2 red, 1 lbs plates

The whole 8 plate set gets swallowed by the travel bag but it keeps them in one place.

Specs

• Material – Sintered metal

• Finish – High quality multi-color powder coat

• Size – All plates are 3.5″ in diameter with varying thicknesses

• Calibrated – Accurate to specified weight by +/- 5 grams

• Compatibility – Fits 2″ Olympic size weight lifting bars (Micro Gainz also sells 1″ micro plates in black)

From the side you can see the differences in thickness.

Features

Each fractional plate comes with a pressed in logo and weight.

The Micro Gainz log is at the top of the plate.

And the weight is on the bottom.

What Are Fractional Weight Plates?

Fractional plates, also referred to as micro plates or change plates, are very small weight plates that range from 0.25 lbs up to 1 lbs.

They allow you to change the weight on a bar or dumbbell by very small increments, known as micro loading.

May seem subtle but the small increase in weight makes it easier to bust past plateaus than going up by 5 lbs increments or higher.

Do Fractional Weight Plates Work?

Yes they do!

Even though the weights are light, micro loading is still progressive overload.

By adding weight in tiny increments, fractional plates give you the ability to make constant progress every time you train.

Fractional Plates for Dumbbells

Micro Gainz also sells micro plates for dumbbells.

Only set of dumbbells I’ve seen that comes with small weight increments is the PowerBlock adjustable dumbbells.

But even then, their increments are by 2.5 lbs, you can’t go any lower than that.

The fractional plates for dumbbells clamp on to the handle with an internal spring that makes sure they don’t come off.

These are compatible with most dumbbells.

Micro Gainz vs Rogue LB Fractional Plates

Rogue also sells fractional plates in both lbs and kgs.

Besides the higher price tag, are Rogue’s fractional plates better?

Looking at some of the specs on Rogue’s site, their micro plates have a rubber coating that’s supposed to give them a tight fit around barbells.

I feel Micro Gainz’s plate fit just like regular iron weight plates without any issues.

Rogue’s micro plates have a tolerance of +/- 10 grams, which means Micro Gainz’s plates are more accurate (+/- 5 grams).

So are Rogue’s fractional worth the $30 difference? I don’t think so.

Are Micro Gainz Fractional Weight Plates Worth It?

If you like consistent progress on your lifts especially as you get stronger and you start to plateau, yes they are worth it.

Pros & Cons

What I Like

• Calibrated – Accurate to specified weight by +/- 5 grams

• Thin – Take up very little space on the barbell sleeve

• Color coded – They’re color coded like competition bumper plates so the weight is easy to identify

• Powder coat – Not only do they look cool, but they’re also protected from rust

• Price – At $45 these are the most economical set of QUALITY micro plates I’ve found

What I Don’t Like

There’s nothing I can say I don’t like about these fractional plates.

They’re accurate, good looking, and get the job done.

Where to Buy Micro Gainz Fractional Plates

You can find Micro Gainz fractional plates directly from their official website.

Or you can get them shipped directly from Amazon.

Micro Gainz Discount Code

If you’re looking for a Micro Gainz coupon code you’re in luck because I got one.

Click here and use coupon code SHREDDED for a 10% discount.

That coupon code with get you a discount on ANY Micro Gainz product.

Micro Gainz Fractional Plates Review

I like the Micro Gainz multi-color fractional plates.

They’re made in the USA so they’re higher quality than Chinese plates.

If you keep track of all your lifts and want consistent progress through progressive overload, these micro plates can help you break through stubborn plateaus.

Check Out Micro Gainz Fractional Plates Here