I'm thinking about buying some for personal use and making a small garage gym here in the next few months. I do a lot of workouts by a track or football field and need to transport weights.

Where do you get them the cheapest/best quality for your money? I'm on a fairly tight budget.

I'm on a budget also and I bought a bar and bumpers from Pendlay barbell.

The bumpers are sturdy so far, they get a fair amount of work throughout the week.

The bar has good spin and the knurling is comfortable too.

It looks like the economy bumper and HD bar are on sale right now for $585. You'll get 255lbs total with the set. So if you have a extra pair of 25's,10's and 5's you change around for almost anyone.

http://www.pendlaybarbell.com/busetwecbuhd.html

http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?cid=114&m=PD&pid=3049

I've never had any problem with Elitefts. I can't comment on the Troy plates.