EVERYMATE Change Weight Plates 1.25LB 2.5LB 5LB Set Fraction
✅ PROS
- Machined steel construction with a durable matte finish that resists chipping and rust
- 2-inch center holes fit standard Olympic barbells snugly with no wobble during lifts
- Color-coded sizing (1.25LB blue, 2.5LB red, 5LB green) makes loading quick at a glance
❌ CONS
- Plates are bare steel—no rubber coating—so they clank loudly when stacked on metal floors
- The 1.25LB pair is thin enough that it can pinch fingers if you're careless loading the bar
The Verdict
If you’ve been stuck at the same squat or bench number for months, the problem isn’t your work ethic—it’s your loading increments. Most barbells jump by 10 pounds total (two 5LB plates), which is a massive leap for overhead press or close-grip bench. The EVERYMATE Change Weight Plates set solves that by giving you 1.25LB, 2.5LB, and 5LB pairs to fill the gaps. With a 4.8-star rating across 240 reviews, it’s clearly working for others. Here’s my honest breakdown after digging into the specs and what owners actually say.
What’s in the Box
This set includes six plates total: a pair of 1.25LB, a pair of 2.5LB, and a pair of 5LB plates. That’s 17.5 pounds of total added weight when all are loaded. Each plate has a 2-inch center hole, so they fit standard Olympic barbells—not the thinner 1-inch standard bars. The plates are machined steel with a matte black finish and color-coded edges: blue for 1.25, red for 2.5, green for 5. Simple, no branding clutter, just function.
Build Quality and Real-World Use
The standout feature here is the precision. The center holes are machined tight enough that plates slide on smoothly but don’t rattle once secured with a collar. One reviewer noted, “They fit my Rogue bar perfectly—no wobble at all, which is more than I can say for my cheap rubber plates.” That snug fit matters for something like a 1.25LB plate, where any play gets amplified when you’re grinding out a heavy set of incline press.
The steel construction is solid—these won’t flex or deform like some cheap cast-iron alternatives. The finish resists chipping, though it’s not rust-proof if you leave them in a damp garage. Most buyers reported zero issues after months of regular use. The color coding is a genuinely useful touch; when you’re supersetting and need to swap from 2.5LB to 5LB, you can grab the right plate without squinting at engravings.
What Buyers Consistently Praise
The overwhelming consensus in the reviews is that these plates do exactly what they promise: allow small, incremental progress. One verified buyer put it bluntly: “I added 1.25 pounds per side to my overhead press and finally broke through a plateau I’d been stuck on for six weeks. Worth every penny.” Another mentioned using them for progressive overload on curls and lateral raises, where a full 5-pound jump was impossible.
The durability also gets frequent shout-outs. Multiple reviewers mentioned dropping them, stacking them, and leaving them in hot garages without any cracking or peeling. The matte finish holds up better than painted plates, which tend to flake after a few months of collar sliding.
Where It Falls Short
Let’s be honest about the downsides. These are bare steel plates, so they’re loud. When you rack the barbell or stack them on a metal plate tree, they clang—hard. If you train in an apartment or early morning before the family wakes up, this is a real consideration. A rubber-coated option would solve this, but that adds bulk and cost.
The 1.25LB plates are also thin—about a quarter-inch—which makes them easy to fumble when your hands are sweaty mid-workout. One reviewer warned, “Careful loading these; I pinched my finger between the plate and the collar.” It’s a minor annoyance, not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing.
Who Should Buy This
This set is ideal for three specific groups: intermediate lifters who’ve hit a plateau on upper-body lifts, anyone doing progressive overload with small increments (especially for curls, lateral raises, or pushdowns), and home gym owners with an Olympic barbell who want precise loading without buying full sets of fractional dumbbells. If you’re a beginner still adding 5-10 pounds per session, you don’t need these yet. If you’re an advanced powerlifter working in the 90%+ range, these are essential.
FAQ
Q: Will these fit my standard 1-inch barbell? A: No. The 2-inch center hole only fits Olympic bars (50mm sleeves). For a standard bar, you’d need a different set with a smaller hole.
Q: Can I use these on dumbbell handles? A: Only if your dumbbell handles have 2-inch sleeves. Most spin-lock dumbbells use 1-inch, so check your equipment specs first.
Q: Do they come with collars? A: No—just the plates. You’ll need your own spring clips or lock collars, which you likely already own if you have a barbell.
The Verdict
Buy it if you’re serious about busting through plateaus and want precise, durable fractional plates that fit Olympic bars without wobble.
Skip it if you train with a 1-inch bar, need quiet plates for noise-sensitive environments, or you’re still progressing in 5-pound jumps comfortably.
Rating: 4.6/5 — The EVERYMATE set delivers exactly what fractional plates should: precision, durability, and small steps toward big gains. The noise and thin 1.25LB plates are minor tradeoffs for a tool that’ll last years and likely add pounds to your lifts.
Where to Buy
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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.