Pace weights or Platemates?

TarHeelMom

TarHeelMom

Cathlete
Hi y'all!!!

WOW have I missed being around here! The last few months have been crazy and my online time has been pretty much limited to e-mail and a bit of lurking. Of course, in my pop-ins to lurk I managed to catch STS fever and ordered it on Day One. :)

So now, you guys TOTALLY being the Supreme Enablers that you all know you ARE}(, you have infected me with STS Preparation Buying Fever, just like you infected my role model/homegirl Gayle a/k/a Banslug ;-). I've ordered the slanted risers (early Valentine's gift from DH to me, I told him). And I'm thinking I may have to have some Pace weights or Platemates for Mother's Day (early, of course!)

Which do you recommend?? They're all kinda pricey and I want to make a wise buying choice. Most of my DB's are iron hex's, except for a very old pair of 10's that are black neoprene (I can live with that b/c the bump from 10 to 12 is usually okay.) I'm thinking where I'd use the add-on weight the most is on the 12's, 15's and 20's. (Projecting myself beyond that makes me sore in advance. ;-))

Opinions?? And good places to buy them online??

http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif Kathy S. http://planetsmilies.net/sport-smiley-5536.gif
 
My platemates are just fine, 2 and half pounds and 1 and a quarter pounds. I am not sure why you would want them smaller than that really. if you are trying to make a move from 15 to 20s, sticking on both the 1 and quarter pounders or one of the larger platemates works great. I just couldn't be bothered with a smaller increment. And yes, you can use just one platemate on a dumbell, it doesn't have to be both or nothing. I regularly just use one and do not have a problem with balance.

They aren't cheap, but I do believe them to be a worthwhile investment for which there is no substitute, whereas, slanted risers you can live without!

I can't remember where I got mine from now, had them 2 years.

Clare
 
So Kathy....what are ya buyin'????

I still haven't made MY purchase yet. LOL I think I'm hoping somebody will treat me to my BDay, which is next month! ;-)

Gayle
 
I've been playing with the idea of pace weights and platemates. I think I've decided to go with platemates. I'm planning to buy 4 2.5 pounders and skip buying 25# and 35# dumbbells. I'll pay a little less for the platemates than for the 4 dumbbells and I won't have to store the bigger dumbbells.

I'd like to have some pace weights, too, because I think they've each got their place and their use. But I think I'll make more use of the platemates and is justifiable for me based on not buying the x5 dumbbells.

April
 
Kathy, I have Platemates and now I kind of wish I had the Pace weights. Don't get me wrong -- the Platemates are great but I find that, for ME, the increased length they add to the dumbbells make them clumsy to handle in certain exercises.

ETA that I love using weighted vests and the one you're considering looks awesome! Back when I had a PT, she had me do lunges and squats with a weighted vest and I had great results with it! IIRC the one I used could hold up to 40#'s. Gosh, I think I'm talking myself into ordering it :p
 
Gayle! Hey, shrinking girl! ;-) I've read every word of your BFL progress reports and looked at the pix, and honey, you look and SOUND fantastic! I am thrilled for you!!!!!

So what am I buying? Geez, what am I NOT wanting to buy would be more like it! I swear, I've got my gifts from DH, DS's and my sister pre-planned for every occasion from now til next Christmas!! :) I ordered STS, of course. And that got me thinking about getting ready, so I started with Perfect Pushups ($39 from Amazon, an easy "buy" rationalized by free shipping ;-)). Then I moved briskly along to legs. Of course, my knees are famously wonky, and I really don't have room for a squat rack, but that hasn't stopped me from looking at the very popular Gold's Gym weight bench/squat rack combo at Walmart http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5280822

...And squat stands http://valorathleticsinc.com/store/product.php?productid=16171&cat=251&page=1

...And the Cool Vest weighted vest
http://www.ironwearfitness.com/cool-vestshort-breathable-1-to-18-lb-weighted-v.html.

At this point I'd say I'm probably gonna end up waiting to see how my knees do on STS, and if they'll stand up to more weight I'll probably just buy a weighted vest. That seems to make the most sense. Sure wish I could rationalize something more FUN, though!

Oh yeah, I've been looking at THIS very cool gadget too, for pushups and pullups and all kinds of other stuff, since I also don't have room for a Power Tower and don't have a door-mounted pullup bar: http://www.lebertequalizer.com/index.htm

As for the PlateMates vs. Pace weights, it looks to me like they are CLOSE to the same price if I were to get the 9-piece Pace weights, but it also looks like the Pace weights cost much more to ship and that PlateMates are the frontrunner (here and at VF) in terms of popularity. The word is to get 2 pair of PlateMates, by the way. So I'm still pondering this. :)

What're you gettin' and how can I enable -- er, help -- you? }(

http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif Kathy S. http://planetsmilies.net/sport-smiley-5536.gif
 
Hey Michele! Doesn't that Cool Vest look awesome?? I really do think it might be the right thing for me, in a lot of ways. But I've talked myself into waiting, because first and foremost I need to see if, with careful inching up, I can persuade my knees to let me train heavier on squats with STS. You ought to buy the Cool Vest first, how about that, and tell me how it goes! ;-)

Re: the PlateMates adding length to the dumbbells -- would Pace Weights not do the same thing??

http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif Kathy S. http://planetsmilies.net/sport-smiley-5536.gif
 
OMG, Kathy. Your MENU of items had me laughing! LOL But being the Curious George that I am, I just HAD to check out each item! :)

I've narrowed MY list down to Plate Mates vs. Pace Weights. I currently have a pair of 1/25# Plate Mates and I use them often. I've grown up to my 30# dumbells, and need to add 35s and 40s; the cost of those, though, is keeping me from buying them. SO...I believe I've gotten my mind made up on 2 more pairs of Plate Mates.

FOR NOW! LOL

Enjoy your shopping spree!

Gayle
 
>Hey Michele! Doesn't that Cool Vest look awesome?? I really
>do think it might be the right thing for me, in a lot of ways.
> But I've talked myself into waiting, because first and
>foremost I need to see if, with careful inching up, I can
>persuade my knees to let me train heavier on squats with STS.
>You ought to buy the Cool Vest first, how about that, and tell
>me how it goes! ;-)
>
>Re: the PlateMates adding length to the dumbbells -- would
>Pace Weights not do the same thing??
>

Kathy, the Pace weights won't add to the length of hex dumbbells because you don't put them on the outside ends. Here's a picture showing where to attach the pace weights on a pair of hex dumbbells.

http://paceweights.com/images/home/dumbbell-placement.jpg

It looks like they attached 6#'s to that dumbbell and I doubt that I would ever need to add that much weight to one DB.

And yes, that Cool Vest is really neat! It's much nicer looking than the one I used at the gym. If I get one I'll be sure and give you a full report! :D
 
The problem I see with the pace mates is that any form of over head extension exercise (for back or triceps) would be difficult because gripping the dumbell either vertically or horizontally seems impossible with those things on, not so with platemates, plus you need to add and remove a whole less of them.


Clare
 
>The problem I see with the pace mates is that any form of
>over head extension exercise (for back or triceps) would be
>difficult because gripping the dumbell either vertically or
>horizontally seems impossible with those things on, not so
>with platemates, plus you need to add and remove a whole less
>of them.
>
>
>Clare

True enough, although for back exercises like pullovers (the one where you grasp both end caps) -- I use a heavy DB with large end caps and I can't get a firm grasp with a Platemate attached.
 
I've used a platemate on my hex dumbell for back overhead extensions with no problem gripping the dumbell vertically.

Clare
 
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