Guide · Loading pins
1-inch vs 2-inch loading pins: why the shaft is not the plate hole
"1 inch" and "2 inch" name plate families, not a loading pin's shaft. What Rogue, GymPin, Golden Grip, Lattice, Arm Kombat and Spud actually list.
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Short answer
"1 inch" and "2 inch" name plate families, not a loading pin's shaft. A pin made for 2 in Olympic plates has to be a little smaller than the 2 in (50.8 mm) hole to slide through it. Buy the pin whose maker lists your plate family, and read any shaft figure as that maker's number for that model.
Picks that fitAll picks and how to choose
- Titan Fitness Loading PinCheck price on Amazon
The label is the plate, not the pin
Standard plates have a 1 in center hole and Olympic plates a 2 in hole. When a loading pin is sold as "1 inch" or "2 inch", the number usually names which plates it takes. It is not a measurement of the shaft.
A 2 in hole is exactly 50.8 mm.[1] A shaft that slides through it must be smaller.
What makers actually list
| Maker and model | What the maker lists | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| GymPin Original | Plate-loading end 155 mm long and 49.5 mm in diameter, for 2 in Olympic plates[2] | A 49.5 mm end for a 50.8 mm hole |
| Rogue Loading Pin | 1.91 in diameter[3] | Rogue's figure for this model; Rogue does not name a plate family |
| Golden Grip loading pin | 25 mm (1 in) and 50 mm (2 in) variants[4] | Variant names tied to plate families |
| Lattice Lifting Pin | 1 in / 25 mm pin, compatible with 1 in and 2 in plates[5] | One pin, two plate families, with a loose fit on 2 in plates |
| Arm Kombat loading pin | For 1 in plates[6] | "1 inch" is the plate family; the shaft diameter is not published |
GymPin is a stack adder rather than a cable loading pin, but its spec shows the principle clearly: a 49.5 mm end made for a 50.8 mm hole.[2][1]
Rogue's 1.91 in pin
Rogue lists its Loading Pin with a 1.91 in diameter.[3] That is smaller than a nominal 2 in hole. Rogue's page does not say which part the diameter measures, and it does not mention Olympic or 2 in plates. We do not claim a plate family for it on Rogue's behalf; if you are unsure, ask Rogue.
One pin, two plate families
Lattice says its 1 in / 25 mm pin is compatible with 1 in and 2 in weight plates.[5] Reviews on its page note that Olympic plates may move around on the pin. That fits the numbers: a 25 mm shaft is much smaller than a 50.8 mm hole. "Compatible" here means the plates go on, not that they sit snugly.
Separate products for separate families
Spud makes this explicit. It describes its 1 in strap loading pin as made for standard plates with a 1 in hole, and sells a separate Olympic strap pin for 2 in plates.[7][8] The two are not interchangeable. Golden Grip does the same with its 25 mm and 50 mm variants, each with its own rating.[4]
How to choose
- Check your plates' center hole: 1 in or 2 in.
- Buy a pin whose maker lists that family, or a variant named for it.
- If you own both families, a pin for each family fits more closely than one pin for both.
- Treat any shaft figure as the maker's number for that model, not a standard.
An Olympic pick
Picks that fit1 product
Choose the Olympic loading pin, for 2 in Olympic plates only; it is not for 1 in standard plates.
More on choosing
Titan rates it for 300 lb, says it may not fit some tight-tolerance or specialty plates, and does not include a carabiner. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' is Amazon.com or Titan.
Titan Fitness Loading Pin
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Questions
Will standard plates fit an Olympic loading pin?
Standard plates have a 1 in hole, which is smaller than an Olympic pin made for 2 in plates, so they will not go on. Buy a pin whose maker lists 1 in plates, such as Golden Grip's 25 mm variant.[4]
Why is my Olympic pin smaller than 2 inches?
The 2 in figure names the plate hole, which is 50.8 mm. GymPin, for example, makes the plate end of its Original GymPin 49.5 mm in diameter for 2 in Olympic plates.[1][2]
Can 2 inch plates go on a 1 inch pin?
Only where the maker says so. Lattice says its 1 in pin is compatible with 1 in and 2 in plates, and reviews on its page note Olympic plates may move around on it.[5]
Is Rogue's Loading Pin an Olympic pin?
Rogue lists a 1.91 in diameter and does not name a plate family on its page, so check with Rogue for your plates.[3]