The Finest Weight Plates to Purchase for Dwelling Gyms in 2023

Weight plates are a foundational a part of any top-tier home gym surroundings. Should you compete in a energy sport resembling powerlifting or Olympic lifting, they’re important for coaching. Even in case you’re an off-the-cuff lifter or beginner, you must have weight plates in your weight room as a result of you should use completely different ranges of resistance for varied workouts to get greater, stronger, and leaner. 

All through my greater than twenty years of coaching, I’ve used all kinds of plates, together with plates with handles, bumper plates, and every part in between. I do know which of them are higher fitted to various kinds of coaching, together with powerlifting, CrossFit, Olympic weightlifting, and normal energy coaching. That’s why I created the record of greatest weight plates beneath — that can assist you discover the precise ones in your model of coaching.

How We Selected the Finest Weight Plates

We selected the plates on this record primarily based on a mixture of first-hand expertise, analysis, and buyer evaluations. Our staff members have used the merchandise beneath of their dwelling or business gyms, and we’ve additionally tried almost a dozen units of weight plates in our Breaking Muscle testing facility. We thought-about completely different value factors, sorts of coaching, and coaching environments to give you the record beneath.

Whether or not you’re on the lookout for bumper plates, forged iron weight plates, and even plates with handles, we dedicated the time to discovering one of the best of one of the best. If we wouldn’t need them in our dwelling gyms, we received’t advocate them for yours.

Our High Picks for the Finest Weight Plates

Finest Weight Plates Total: REP Health Black Bumper Plates

The REP Health Black Bumper Plates are our high total decide due to their sturdiness and flexibility. The rubber they’re made out of can face up to loads of use and nonetheless present the mandatory resistance in your progressive strength workouts. The rubber additionally permits the plates to bounce when they’re dropped as a result of it absorbs the pressure from the drop, serving to to guard your ground from harm.

Bumper plates’ “bounciness” is usually decided by a shore A durometer ranking that measures the hardness of the rubber on a scale of zero to 100. The upper the rating, the much less probably the plates will bounce. REP hasn’t disclosed the durometer ranking of the Black Bumper Plates however states that they’ve a low bounce, so we expect it’s secure to imagine that the durometer ranking is someplace between 80 and 90.

They can be utilized for Olympic weightlifting, CrossFit, and even beginner-level exercises. Regardless that the 45-pound plates are thick (2.8 inches), they’re not so thick that they take up extra house on the barbell sleeve. In addition they received’t take up an excessive amount of room on a storage rack. (For perspective, 45-pound forged iron plates are typically round 1.5 inches thick, whereas some 45-pound bumper plates will be greater than three inches thick.)

You should buy REP’s Black Bumper Plates in pairs starting from 10 to 45 kilos in addition to units starting from 160 to 340 kilos. The white letters and numbers stand out towards the black rubber, giving them a pointy aesthetic and permitting you to simply establish the plates you want.

A bonus level for these REP plates, particularly, is that the 10-pound plates are about an inch thick, whereas different manufacturers’ 10-pound plates are round 0.8 inches. These different manufacturers discourage dropping a barbell loaded with solely 10-pound plates as a result of the plates can bend, which some consult with as “taco-ing.” Nonetheless, you’ll be able to drop the REP 10-pound plates, as their thickness makes them much less vulnerable to bending.

Finest Price range Weight Plates: REP Health Outdated College Iron Plates

If you wish to lower your expenses or are taking pictures for a extra hardcore look in your house fitness center, these REP Health Outdated College Iron Plates match the invoice properly. The raised lips make the plates simpler to carry and cargo onto your favorite barbell. They’re about half the thickness of bumper plates as a result of they’re fabricated from iron, which is denser, so you’ll be able to load extra of them onto the bar. 

The REP Health Iron Plates vary in weight from 2.5 to 45 kilos, and the smaller 2.5- and five-pound change plates let you progress extra regularly if wanted. That is particularly useful on lifts just like the overhead press, wherein many lifters wrestle to make giant jumps in weight.

For the reason that plates aren’t machined, they might have dings, chips, or different small imperfections. This shouldn’t have an effect on their efficiency, nevertheless. In addition they might probably acquire rust over time, however they’re nonetheless dependable for normal health and energy coaching. Even powerlifters will get good use from them, although they aren’t ultimate for CrossFit or Olympic weightlifting since they will’t be dropped. Dropping a barbell loaded with iron plates can damage your ground, and the metal-on-metal friction could cause extra put on and tear on the barbell.

The REP Outdated College Iron Plates have a three-percent weight tolerance, which means their listed weight should be inside three % of their precise weight. That is adequate for many lifters, however if you wish to guarantee your weights are extra exact, you might wish to contemplate calibrated plates as a substitute. Calibrated plates should be inside one % (or much less) of their listed weight.

Finest Rubber Weight Plates: Rogue Echo Bumper Plates

The Rogue Health Echo Bumper Plates vary from $45 for 10-pound plates to 260-pound units for lower than $600. That is helpful for lifters on a funds who wish to use rubber plates for workouts resembling snatches that will name for the load to be dropped after every rep. The plates are additionally ultimate for CrossFitters who don’t need to spend so much of money, as you should use them for high-rep deadlifts, energy snatches, or different barbell actions in your exercises of the day (WODs).

The diameter of those plates (450 millimeters) is equal to the specs set by the Worldwide Weightlifting Federation (IWF), although they aren’t the identical because the plates you’d use in a contest setting. Competitors bumpers are color-coded and are sometimes thinner than coaching bumper plates. However aggressive Olympic weightlifters can nonetheless use them in coaching as a result of they’re sturdy and have a useless bounce. In line with Rogue, they’ve a shore A durometer of 88.

The Echo Bumper Plates can be found in 10-, 15-, 25-, 35-, and 45-pound choices. The ten- and 15-pound plates solely include a 90-day guarantee, however the remainder have a three-year guarantee.

It’s essential to notice that the 10-pound plates can’t be dropped when used on their very own. They’re solely 0.8 inches thick and may bend or crack in the event that they’re dropped. Amanda Dvorak, an editor on the Breaking Muscle staff, examined the plates and famous how skinny the 10-pounders have been in individual. You undoubtedly don’t wish to go towards Rogue’s recommendation and drop them.

Nonetheless, the rubber overlaying makes them appropriate for indoor or outside exercises. We additionally just like the distinction of white lettering and numbers towards black rubber. Amanda commented on the sharpness of this aesthetic and the way straightforward it was to select the weights she wanted when she examined them for her exercises.

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Finest Iron Weight Plates: Bells of Metal E-Coat Machined Iron Plates

We contemplate the Bells of Metal E-Coat Machined Iron Plates one of the best iron weight plates as a result of their high-quality craftsmanship and sturdiness. The shiny e-coat provides them a glossy, shiny look and helps forestall rust. Should you prepare in a non-climate-controlled room resembling a shed or barn, this may be essential, as rust can negatively diminish the lifetime of the plates.

Coming in at 0.5 to 1.2 inches thick, these plates are thinner than most competitor plates, which will be greater than 1.5 inches thick. You’ll have the ability to match extra plates on the bar for heavy squats and deadlifts. They match snugly on the barbell because of their 1.99-inch gap diameter (Olympic barbells have sleeves which might be round two inches in diameter) and are much less more likely to shake or bounce whilst you’re shifting the bar. That may assist present smoother reps whilst you’re performing your units. 

The machined manufacturing course of that Bells of Metal makes use of ends in plates with a smoother edge that makes them extra comfy to deal with. Regardless that the lip isn’t as deep as it’s on different manufacturers’ plates, you’ll be able to nonetheless simply maintain onto the plates when loading or unloading the barbell or shifting them round your fitness center.

The plates can be found in 2.5 to 45 kilos. The two.5- to 10-pound plates have a weight tolerance of three %, and the 25- to 45-pound plates have a weight tolerance of 1 %. Which means a 10-pound plate might weigh 9.7 kilos, whereas a 45-pound plate might weigh 44.55 kilos.

The precise weight will probably be shut sufficient to the listed weight that almost all informal lifters received’t discover a major distinction of their exercises. However in case you’re a aggressive powerlifter, you might wish to contemplate plates with a smaller weight tolerance of 10 grams (0.002 kilos) to make sure your weights are as correct as attainable in your coaching.

Finest Metal Weight Plates: Rogue Calibrated Metal Plates

The Rogue Health Calibrated Metal Plates are made for heavy coaching. They’re so skinny that you should use them to load as much as 1,500 kilos on a conventional Olympic bar — the 55-pound plate is simply 27 millimeters (one inch) thick. There aren’t many individuals coaching in a house fitness center that would wish that a lot weight, however you’ll be able to match as many plates as you want on the bar with house to spare. 

Not like rubber plates, metal plates aren’t meant to be dropped, so that they aren’t the only option for Olympic weightlifting. However powerlifters and energy coaching fanatics will respect each the color-coded plates and the way exact they’re. The colours signify common requirements for varied weights:

• Purple = 55 kilos / 25 kilograms
• Blue = 45 kilos / 20 kilograms
• Yellow = 35 kilos / 15 kilograms
• Inexperienced = 25 kilos / 10 kilograms
• White = 10 kilos / 5 kilograms
• Black = 5 kilos / 2.5 kilograms

The Rogue Calibrated Metal Plates are verified to be inside 10 grams (0.002 kilos) of the quantity listed on the plate. If you wish to have absolute confidence within the weight you’re making an attempt to carry, you must go for calibrated plates like these.

The kilogram plates are authorized by the Worldwide Powerlifting Federation (IPF), which is taken into account the highest powerlifting league on the planet. The pound plates aren’t authorized as a result of the IPF makes use of kilos to find out weight in competitors however are made with the identical specs. Each variations have a 50.4-millimeter collar opening and vary from 90 millimeters to 450 millimeters in diameter.

There’s a little further funding that comes with the IPF certification for the kilo plates and the accuracy with which these plates are manufactured. The 45-pound pair prices round $225, however non-calibrated plates of the identical weight from different manufacturers value nearer to $150. Luckily, you will be assured that the Rogue Calibrated Metal Plates will probably be there for each exercise you participate in for the foreseeable future.

Finest Urethane Weight Plates: Titan Urethane Bumper Plates

Urethane is a mixture of rubber and plastic that’s rather more resistant to wreck than different supplies used to make plates. Urethane plates like those from Titan Health can face up to many drops, slams, and bounces that different supplies might not.

The Titan Urethane Plates are very sturdy and would serve Olympic lifters nicely in coaching. Regardless that the colours are vibrant (they make the most of the identical shade requirements listed above in our evaluation of the Rogue Calibrated Metal Plates), they’ve a easy look to them. Nonetheless, they do their job successfully and may face up to a whole bunch of drops. You should utilize them indoors or outside, and the colours shouldn’t fade, nor ought to the fabric crack or chip simply.

Moreover, whether or not you purchase them in pairs or in a full set, you received’t need to cope with the odor that’s widespread with different rubber plates available on the market.

They’re thick, with the 55-pound plate coming in at 56 millimeters (2.2 inches), in comparison with metal or iron plates that usually high out at about 1.5 inches thick. Nonetheless, they’re nonetheless thinner than different common bumper plates we’ve seen, which will be over three inches thick. They’ll take up house on the barbell, which can be a detriment to those that can squat or deadlift 400 to 500 kilos or extra. Nonetheless, this is also a great factor as a result of the weights can distribute the impression of the drop higher than thinner plates.

Apparently, though they’re imagined to have a useless bounce, Amanda Dvorak (Breaking Muscle’s Opinions Editor) didn’t discover that to be the case when she examined them. She loaded a barbell with the 10-kilogram plates and famous that they rebounded fairly excessive when she dropped the bar from hip peak. Nonetheless, she didn’t check the heavier plates, and it’s attainable that they’ve extra of a useless bounce than the lighter ones since they’re thicker.

Extra sturdy fitness center gear means a larger return on the funding, and that’s what you’ll get with the urethane bumper plates from Titan.

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Finest Bumper Weight Plates: PRx Crumb Bumper Plates

Crumb rubber plates are among the many hardest available on the market. They’re made out of recycled rubber, which will be extra sturdy than virgin rubber, and so they shouldn’t trigger vital ground harm when they’re dropped. Moreover, they may make much less noise than different types of rubber or iron plates.

The PRx Crumb Bumper Plates can be utilized for all ranges of coaching in any surroundings. They’re able to face up to quite a few drops from overhead, although you shouldn’t drop a barbell loaded with solely the 10- or 15-pound plates. They don’t have the thickness to assist that form of impression on their very own.

The thicker plates just like the 45’s will probably take up loads of actual property on the barbell sleeve. PRx hasn’t disclosed the thickness of those plates, however different crumb bumper plates we’ve seen will be as thick as 3.9 inches. PRx’s crumb bumpers seem like about the identical thickness, which doesn’t shock as since crumb bumper plates often come from the identical producer. Nonetheless, they supply a cosy match to the barbell sleeve, which is able to assist minimize down on the wear and tear and tear of the bar.

You will get the PRx crumb bumper plates in strong black or select color-flecked plates. They’re made with the identical crumb rubber, however the color-flecked plates have little pops of shade that correspond to the common color-coding system described above.

Like all crumb bumper plates, the PRx plates are very bouncy. When Amanda Dvorak (an editor on the Breaking Muscle staff) dropped a barbell loaded with the 45s from hip peak, it rebounded a few inches above her knees. That is essential to notice in case you don’t need your barbell to bounce uncontrollably and harm different gear in your house fitness center.

Moreover, Amanda discovered the plates to be slippery and troublesome to deal with when her arms obtained sweaty. She recommends toweling off your arms earlier than dealing with the plates in case you don’t need them to fall out of your grip.

Crumb rubber plates received’t ever be seen in a sanctioned powerlifting or Olympic weightlifting contest, however in case you want huge plates for a low value, crumb rubber is the way in which to go, and PRx has very high-quality merchandise that you would be able to depend on for years.

Finest Weight Plates With Handles: Power USA Rubber Coated Olympic Weight Plates

Power USA’s Rubber Coated Olympic Weight Plates are dependable weights and can be utilized for various workouts with out a barbell since they’ve handles. For instance, you should use them for lateral raises or bicep curls. The grip plates even have grooves within the handles to forestall them from slipping out of your arms when loading them onto a barbell or storage rack.

They’ll’t be dropped on the ground like rubber bumper plates, however they’d be an exquisite asset for normal energy coaching in a storage fitness center setting. You should buy them in units of 4 for the five- or 10-pound plates; in pairs for the 25-, 35-, or 45-pound plates; or in units of as much as 640 kilos.

The Power USA Rubber Coated Olympic Weight Plates are straightforward to keep up and look after. Should you get chalk or filth on them, you’ll be able to merely wipe them with a humid rag and delicate dish cleaning soap. They’re additionally rust-resistant, making them a superb possibility for humid storage or basement gyms. These plates can assist you initially of your health journey and supply the resistance you want as you get stronger and prepare tougher.

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Finest Olympic Plates: Eleiko IWF Weightlifting Coaching Plate

Eleiko is taken into account the model for Olympic lifting, and these coaching bumper plates are virtually similar to these utilized in Worldwide Weightlifting Federation (IWF) competitions. They’re licensed to be inside 0.5 % of the said weight, which is among the many lowest weight tolerance we’ve seen

They’re straightforward to carry and slide onto the barbell as a result of their rounded edges and raised lips, and so they have a minimal bounce. They are often dropped safely with minimal danger of damage to you or harm to your gear. As a result of they’re made with SBR, an artificial rubber identified for its distinctive sturdiness, you’ll be able to count on them to final for years.

Whereas the Eleiko IWF Weightlifting Coaching Plates can be utilized for bodybuilding and normal health coaching, they’re a bit overkill for people who don’t compete in Olympic weightlifting. They don’t are available pairs, and a single plate can value greater than $400. That is almost double the price of competitor plates which might be offered in pairs.

Moreover, they aren’t obtainable in kilos just like the others on this record, because the IWF solely acknowledges kilograms in competitors. 

Regardless that these plates are greatest for the snatch and clear and jerk, they will also be used for front squats, again squats, push presses, and loads of different workouts. They don’t are available 2.5- or five-kilogram choices, which can make progressive overload (gradual will increase in weight) more difficult, however you will discover different plates in these weights on Eleiko’s web site.

Completely different Kinds of Weight Plates

There are numerous sorts of weight plates, and the coaching self-discipline you comply with will decide that are greatest for you.

Rubber bumper plates are utilized in many business gyms for CrossFit and Olympic lifts. They’ll serve storage fitness center house owners very nicely, too, as a result of they are often dropped with out the pressure from these drops damaging the middle or outdoors of the plates, creating holes within the ground, or bending the barbell itself.

Rubber plates will be created from urethane, virgin rubber, or recycled crumb rubber. Crumb rubber is often extra cost-efficient however has a decrease durometer ranking and, due to this fact, the next bounce. Urethane is sturdy and affords extra of a useless bounce as a result of it’s a tougher materials.

Forged iron or metal weights are extra strong, and they’re historically thinner. Whereas bumper plates will be almost 4 inches thick (particularly if they’re fabricated from crumb rubber), iron and metal weights are often solely a few inches thick. That lets you add extra of them to a bar so you’ll be able to prepare with extra weight. The worth level for iron plates is usually decrease than for rubber plates as nicely.

It’s also possible to discover calibrated metal weight plates. They’re designed to be inside 0.25 % or 10 grams of the listed weight. That is helpful for aggressive lifters who wish to make sure the weights they carry in coaching are as correct as attainable, to allow them to really feel extra assured about their makes an attempt throughout a meet.

Advantages of Weight Plates

Weight plates can virtually be known as an important merchandise on a listing of must-have health gear. Plates can be utilized on Olympic barbells or on specialty bars like lure bars to regulate the load you’re making an attempt to carry, permitting you to regularly get stronger over time.

You possibly can even use them as a coaching instrument on their very own. Plates with handles will be held and used as a type of resistance for actions resembling shrugs, curls, and rows. You could possibly additionally maintain plates with out handles with each arms to do workouts resembling entrance raises or Russian twists.

What to Think about When Shopping for Weight Plates

Coaching Type and Objectives

What coaching self-discipline you comply with will enable you to decide one of the best weight plates to purchase. Olympic lifters and CrossFitters ought to use rubber bumper plates so you’ll be able to drop your barbell from overhead with out inflicting harm to the plates, the bar, or your ground. Nonetheless, powerlifters and people who don’t plan on dropping their weights might go for iron or metal plates as a substitute. As a result of they’re thinner, you’ll be able to add extra of them to a barbell. 

Sturdiness

If you understand that you simply’ll use your weight plates typically, you’ll need ones that may maintain as much as heavy use, resembling urethane rubber plates. Should you prepare outside or in a room that isn’t temperature-controlled, search for plates that may face up to cold and warm temperatures and being dropped on concrete. Crumb rubber plates received’t crack or chip simply when used on tough surfaces, however the metal inserts are likely to come out sooner due to how bouncy the plates are. This locations extra stress on the barbell and the plates, growing the probability of the inserts popping off. Practically any form of bumper plate can have rust-resistance capabilities, however in case you choose metallic plates, these with a powder coat or e-coat will probably be much less prone to wreck.

Price range

As with all different endeavor, you wish to ensure your hard-earned cash is being invested correctly. Plates can value wherever from $1 per pound to as a lot as $5 per pound. The fabric and manufacturing of plates will think about these prices.

Iron plates was less expensive than bumper plates, as bumper plates have extra materials. Nonetheless, the hole has closed inside the final couple of years as a result of a rise in the price of iron for the producers.

Transport and the origin of the fabric also can affect the worth. If the supplies are sourced from abroad otherwise you stay near a selected model, you probably received’t spend as a lot cash.

One other factor to contemplate is whether or not you wish to purchase one pair of weight plates at a time or buy a set with a number of pairs. In our expertise, shopping for them in units is probably the most cost-effective possibility.

It’s essential to remain inside a monetary vary you’re comfy with, however I do recommend that investing in greater high quality plates as soon as can be higher financially in the long term.

Guarantee

Should you’re going to half methods together with your hard-earned {dollars}, then you definitely wish to know that you simply’re getting one of the best return on funding. If one thing goes incorrect, then you must have the ability to get that cash again. Most corporations have strong warranties in the case of fitness center gear resembling plates, dumbbells, and barbells. Take a look at these insurance policies earlier than you hit the order button.

Most bumper plates have two or three-year warranties for bigger weights with smaller weights (10-15 kilos) having 90-day warranties as a result of how skinny they are often and the probability they might undergo harm if dropped on their very own. Think about all of the above and take into consideration your coaching surroundings so you can also make the only option attainable.

Bumper Plates vs. Steel Plates

Bumper plates include a metal core with a thick rubber overlaying and are made to be dropped. Lifters contemplate them a safer possibility as a result of there’s much less danger of harm to your ground if you should bail a carry. As a result of bumper plates are thicker, the load is distributed additional throughout the barbell and additional away out of your heart of gravity. This will make the load really feel simpler to carry.

Steel plates have been round for so long as the barbell itself and are historically thinner. They are often made out of forged iron or metal. You possibly can’t drop them with out the danger of damaging your ground since they don’t bounce like rubber plates. They’re additionally a lot noisier than bumper plates, and the noise can disrupt different people in your house.

Calibrated vs. Uncalibrated Plates

Calibrated metal or iron plates are licensed to be inside .25 % or 10 grams (whichever is much less) of the load listed on the plate. Calibrated plates are utilized in competitions and are validated earlier than being placed on the platform. If the load will not be listed as calibrated, then it’s undoubtedly uncalibrated, which means it may be wherever inside one to 3 % of the load listed on the plate. A forty five-pound plate, for instance, might weigh wherever from 43 to 47 kilos, and you would need to weigh it your self to know for positive.

Calibrated plates generally is a more sensible choice for aggressive powerlifters as a result of the weights you carry will probably be extra exact. However since they value $0.70 or extra per pound than uncalibrated plates, most dwelling fitness center house owners who wish to lower your expenses will probably be simply tremendous with non-calibrated weight plates.

Weight Vary

Bumper plates usually vary from 10 to 45 kilos for American weight plates or 5 to 25 kilograms for worldwide plates. Metal or iron plates can go from 2.5 to 45 kilos or 1.25 to twenty kilograms. Some corporations make plates as excessive as 55 or 100 kilos or 25 or 50 kilograms.

Last Ideas

The burden plates are part of the inspiration for a lot of dwelling fitness center house owners, and the sort you purchase must be a cautious resolution to make. They’re actually the resistance you’ll use to achieve your private health targets. Think about the kind of coaching self-discipline you comply with, your coaching surroundings, and your funds when selecting the plates you wish to use. The best weight plates can present the challenges you should get higher for years to return.

Finest Weight Plates: Facet-by-Facet Comparability

Finest Weight Plates Total

Description:

• Weight vary: 10 to 45 kilos
• Weight tolerance: One %
• Supplies: Rubber, metal inserts
• Thickness: One to 2.8 inches

Finest Price range Weight Plates

Description:

• Weight vary: 2.5 to 45 kilos
• Weight tolerance: Three %
• Supplies: Iron
• Thickness: 0.5 to 1.5 inches

Finest Rubber Weight Plates

Description:

• Weight vary: 10 to 45 kilos
• Weight tolerance: One %
• Supplies: Virgin rubber, stainless-steel inserts
• Thickness: 0.83 to 2.4 inches

Finest Iron
Weight Plates

Description:

• Weight vary: 2.5 to 45 kilos
• Weight tolerance: One to 3 %
• Supplies: Forged iron
• Thickness: 0.5 to 1.2 inches

Finest Metal Weight Plates

Description:

• Weight vary: 0.25 to 55 kilos
• Weight tolerance: 10 grams
• Supplies: Metal 
• Thickness: 4.5 to 27 millimeters

Finest Urethane Weight Plates

Description:

• Weight vary: 10 to 55 kilos
• Weight tolerance: One %
• Supplies: Urethane, chrome-plated metal disc insert
• Thickness: 24 to 56 millimeters (0.94 to 2.2 inches)

Finest Bumper Weight Plates

Description:

• Weight vary: 10 to 45 kilos
• Weight tolerance: Unknown
• Supplies: Recycled crumb rubber
• Thickness: 1.25 to three.25 inches

Finest Weight Plates With Handles

Description:

• Weight vary: 2.5 to 45 kilos, 0.5 to 25 kilograms
• Weight tolerance: Unknown
• Supplies: Iron with rubber coat
• Thickness: Unknown

Finest Olympic
Plates

Description:

• Weight vary: 10 to 25 kilograms
• Weight tolerance: 0.5 %
• Supplies: Rubber
• Thickness: 35 to 58 millimeters

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