Guide · Loading pins
Choose a loading pin for the plates you own
Match the loading pin to your plate bore, then check the maker's rating and whether a carabiner is included. Rogue, Lattice, Arm Kombat and Golden Grip compared.
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Short answer
Match the loading pin to your plates' center hole first: a pin for 1 in standard plates or one for 2 in Olympic plates. Then check two things on the maker's page: the load rating it states for that variant, and whether a carabiner comes in the box. If a maker publishes no rating, treat the rating as unknown.
Picks that fitAll picks and how to choose
- Titan Fitness Loading PinCheck price on Amazon
Step 1: know your plate bore
A loading pin hangs from the cable and holds plates. Its job is to match your plates' center hole, the plate bore. Plates come in two common families: 1 in standard plates and 2 in Olympic plates. Our pin diameter guide explains why the pin's shaft is not the same number as the hole.
Step 2: compare what makers state
| Model | Plate family or diameter, as stated | Height or length | Rating, as stated | Carabiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rogue Loading Pin | 1.91 in diameter[1] | 12 in, steel | None published | Not included (strap also not included) |
| Lattice Lifting Pin | 1 in / 25 mm pin, compatible with 1 in and 2 in plates[2] | Listed dimensions 10 x 10 x 28 cm | 130 kg (287 lb) | Not included |
| Arm Kombat loading pin | For 1 in plates[3] | 12 in | 400 lb | Included |
| Golden Grip loading pin | 25 mm (1 in) or 50 mm (2 in) variant[4] | About 32 cm (12.5 in) | 150 kg (25 mm) or 180 kg (50 mm) | Included |
A few notes on that table:
- Rogue. Rogue lists a 1.91 in diameter, a 12 in length, steel construction and USA manufacture. It ships one pin and says the strap and carabiner are not included.[1] It publishes no load rating, and its page does not name a plate family.
- Lattice. Lattice states a 130 kg (287 lb) maximum load, and describes a cork base and a carabiner-friendly mounting hole, with no carabiner included.[2]
- Arm Kombat. It lists a 12 in height, a 1 lb weight and a carabiner, and states a 400 lb maximum load for this model.[3]
- Golden Grip. It states its ratings per variant: 150 kg for 25 mm and 180 kg for 50 mm. Do not apply one variant's figure to the other. It has a steel loop at the top, and a carabiner is included.[4]
What stays unknown
Most makers do not publish a usable loading length, the part of the pin that actually holds plates. Rogue lists only a 12 in length and does not split total from usable length.[1] Arm Kombat's page states no shaft diameter, usable length, base or material. Rogue's instruction sheet could not be read, so we cite nothing from it.
Lattice lists dimensions of 10 x 10 x 28 cm and a weight of 0.6 kg, but it does not say whether 28 cm is the pin's height or a shipping size.[2] We cannot turn any of these into a plate count. Plate thickness varies too.
A note on 2 in plates on a 1 in pin
Lattice says its 1 in pin is compatible with 2 in plates. Reviews on its page note Olympic plates may move around on the pin.[2] Compatible does not mean snug. If you own only Olympic plates, a pin made for 2 in plates is the closer match.
Step 3: plan the connector
If the pin has no carabiner, you need one that fits both the pin's eyelet and your cable end. See will my carabiner fit the attachment.
A pick for Olympic plates
Picks that fit1 product
Choose the Olympic loading pin, for 2 in Olympic plates. Titan rates this pin for 300 lb, says it may not fit some tight-tolerance or specialty plates, and does not include a carabiner, so order one that fits its eyelet.
More on choosing
On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' is Amazon.com or Titan.
Titan Fitness Loading Pin
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Questions
Which loading pin fits Olympic plates?
One whose maker lists 2 in plates. Golden Grip sells a 50 mm (2 in) variant and Lattice says its 1 in pin is compatible with 1 in and 2 in plates, though 2 in plates may move around on it.[4][2]
How many plates fit on a loading pin?
Most makers we read do not publish a usable loading length, so we cannot say. Lattice lists dimensions of 10 x 10 x 28 cm, but it does not say whether 28 cm is the loadable part.[2]