Core Fitness® Adjustable Dumbbell Weight Set by Affordable Dumbbells

When my significant other told me that she wanted to start working out, I looked at our set of free weigh set of 3, 5, 8, and 10lbs and thought this may be good for warm ups, but wondered what we would be lifting for resistance training. We had precious little room, and my friend had another brand of these adjustable weights where the plates kept falling off, and almost hit him in the head, so I didn't think this type of product was a realistic possibility. After doing a bit of research on Amazon, Wirecutter, user reviews on other sites and elsewhere, the internet persuaded me that the plates falling off was limited to certain other brands of adjustable dumbbells, and I really was amazed at how many different versions of adjustable dumbbells exist on the market. Ultimately, if we were going to go forward with this, we had to narrow down our search. And we did. When considering design, appearance and space they took up, we decided that we liked the Core (this one), the Nuobell and the Snode. The Snode was the most expensive, and is the only one with a drop guarantee. I can't drop weights in my house, we would, at minimum, destroy the floors, and knowing myself, I'd probably break some bones in my foot (or worse) while I was at it. The Nuobell was very nice, but when compared with the Core, I did not see that much of a difference to justify the higher price - although I probably would get the Nuobell if I need a set with 80 lbs upper limit (not looking likely just yet). As you may have guessed by the fact that the review is here, we bought this one. Have to say, am very pleased. It is better than expected, the plates don't really move much when you lift and the adjustment mechanism works like a charm every single time. After using this set for nearly a year, I can confidently say, I have zero fear of any of the plates falling on my head when lifting, although I would recommend putting a drop of WD40 in each grooves between the plates in the rack as it helps them slide in and out easier. With the sole exception of the rack sometimes coming up when you lift the entire amount of weights (documented in other reviews), the set has been excellent (I ended up zip tying them to the wooden workout bench I built). I am a fan of the rubber grip, as I find that metal grips sometimes chafe my hands (remember, home work out, no chalk, no gloves, no nothing, just deciding to work out and going to work out). This set makes me want to work out. We use it multiple times a week at various weights and it has been great. To us it has been better than expected and is worth every penny. Hope this helps with your shopping decision and good luck.

I never do anything half-*ssed regarding significant purchases, i.e., I research professional reviews and also get a take for personal reviews, especially the negative ones. Essentially, I gather my information and determine what is and what isn't important. Same deal with these weights . . . So, this is what I determined about what was really important to me: 1. All parts were sturdy and well made/constructed; 2. Similar to number 1, that the weights had zero to minimum movement while working out; 3. The weight set was "compact" even when using maximum load of 50lbs; and, 4. The company supported their product with excellent customer service (note: I do not know this personally, but from what I have read, they do a good job of this). All of the aforementioned were answered positively by what I read and reviewed. So, what was my first impression? The delivery was on time and the packaging was excellent. Two boxes were delivered to my door, and I had zero issues with the boxes/packaging. Assembly was simple. Fast forward to working out everyday (upper body one day and lower body the next) the last few weeks and I am extremely impressed with my weight set. Why? First and foremost, I discovered for myself what others had already discovered - this is a quality weight set, with little to no movement of the weights while in motion; and the set is compact, where someone lean like myself can easily maneuver the weights while doing various exercises. For example, when you are doing overhead tricep extensions with one weight at maximum weight (50 lbs), it is very important that you have a good two handed grip while maneuvering into the overhead position. I was concerned before buying the weights that the adjustable mechanism would interfere or not be comfortable either during the process of getting into the position or actually doing the tricep extension exercise. NO WORRIES . . . IT IS QUITE COMFORTABLE - BOTH GETTING INTO THE POSITION AND DOING THE ACTUAL EXERCISE. Regarding the actual adjustment mechanism, it is well made and so simple to use. One turn of the wrist and you move the weight dial up or down. Simple. The only issue - a minor one - is removing the weights from the floor rack when you exceed approximately 25 or more lbs. This is simply rectified by using your foot on the side bar of the rack. Quite frankly, more times than not, it never happens if you remove the weights in a firm and deliberate manner. Conclusion? I am quite impressed with this adjustable weight set. Price was outstanding, as I only paid $249.91 and I am fairly confident that this weight set will last the rest of my life due to the quality of materials used to make this set.

Really happy with these. The grip is good but not knurled, if that matters. The heads are quite wide, it doesn't impact many movements for me but I am quite tall. If you were trying to do single-dumbbell behind the head tricep movement, it might be too big for that. I don't think it's much wider than a standard, larger (i.e. 60lb) dumbbell in the gym though. It's easy to adjust weight, unrack, and rerack it with a bit of care. If you get careless and whip it out quick at an angle, you might pull an extra plate out with it. If you use it reasonably, that's not an issue for me at all. It's very easy to get the plates back in the device if you do pull one out on accident. I'm very happy with the quality for the price. To get higher weight adjustable dumbbells that are similar or higher quality is a big increase in cost, so this to me is a great entry adjustable dumbbell set if you don't need or want more than 50lb yet.

The bells are rather large -- no tapering as with Bowflex -- and I do wish I could add weight in 2-1/2 lb increments, at least up to 25 lbs, as with Bowflex, but as the Bowflex bar remains the same length, no matter how many weights are on it while the CF bars grow incrementally with the number of 5-lb plates attached. For lower weight exercises such as for my shoulders (after having had 4 rotator cuff surgeries, I use a set of non adjustable dumbbells and I no longer do ab exercises while hanging from a chin-up bar. Exercise is addictive. My last ortho surgeon, a "sports medicine" doctor, admitted that after breaking his arm, he was back doing curls after a week and broke the arm again, proving that even medical doctors can be as stupid as the next guy. His office is always filled with patients -- most of them, these days, young women. Dumbbells can be especially dangerous, as unlike with a barbell, your arms cannot train or help each other. So, it is important to have a good set of dumbbells, and keeping in mind the dangers, unless you have the room and want to invest in a set of single dumbbells, these from Core Fitness may suit your needs and fancy. As with all good tool, you must them with respect in hopes of not dropping them and damaging the mechanism. But let's see how long they last. Update: NOT QUITE A YEAR. One the set did not pick up the 5 lbs weight and now will not go back into the rack. Unless I can figure our how the mechanism works and fix it, I have just thrown about several hundred bucks. Not sure if there is a warranty. Quit a SCARE. But I figured out how the mechanism worked and solved the problem. Now can use my dumbbells again. BUT BEWARE! I was on my own. So others who purchase this set don't get discouraged and toss the out or get frustrated and damaged the mechanism, just remove the 5# weights from the cradle, reinsert the empty bars correctly, and twist. That will release the dumbbell mechanism in the dumbbell and allow you to twist it until all the weights are off. Then reload the 5# endplates and -- voila! -- you are back in business. UPDATE: Had these since July 2019 -- almost three years -- and used them regularly 3-days a week. Still just as good as new. Great investment. I've been exercising with weights since I bolstered my Charles Atlas exercises with those of Mr. America (1947) Steve Reeves, and I can tell you that these are the greatest development since Atlas introduced the "dynamic tension" for fast and convenient and cheap muscle building. Update: 6/24/22. Still going like the Energizer Bunny! I have to admit, I dropped one and thought it broke. But I fixed it in minutes by taking it back to no plates, then adding plates. Contrary to some raters, I would rate these as tops. As for the company that makes them, I can't say, as I have no complaints. Nor can I make a comparison, with similar dumbbells by other makers. All I know is these do everything claimed and more.

Pros: VERY easily and quickly adjustable. I wanted a single mechanism (compared to other brands I saw where you’d have to dial in EACH side of a single dumbbell), and these fit the bill. Also, they seem relatively sturdy so far. They are decently compact and don’t have the empty frame sticking out at the ends like some other brands do. Cons: as you start getting heavier, they stick in the crates. Not just a little or sometimes. A lot, every time... 20 lbs and under, it’s not an issue. 35 lbs and up, it’s super annoying. At around 25-35 lbs, if you grab the dumbbell, the whole thing starts to come up, but if you hold it just an inch or two up and give it a little shake, the crate still has enough weight/plates left on it, that it will eventually slip off and fall. At 40-50, more of the weight is obv on the dumbbell and the crate isn’t heavy enough to slip off, so the shaking it off “trick” doesn’t work. You have to hold the crate down with your other hand to free the dumbbell. You can’t pick up both dumbbells off the crates at once, need to do one, set it down, then do the other. Guess I should try out their stand and see if that holds them down enough, but it’s kind of obnoxious that that’s almost a requirement to have a smooth workout. Overall, glad I got them. I was looking for something simple to get back in shape. Bought these, an adjustable bench, some (heavy duty) resistance bands, and a pull-up bar. They get the job done. My only regret is that I wish I got something heavier for the DBs. But those options start getting pretty pricey. So, for a basic home gym, these are pretty decent. If you’re looking to get a jump start on your fitness, do it. Get these. If you’re more intermediate, I’d guess that it’s probably worth getting their stand too in hopes that the weights sticking in the crate isn’t as obnoxious. If I get the stand, I’ll update this review. If you’re more advanced, probably skip these and invest in getting heavier ones.

I own a Bowflex home gym, but it can't accommodate some exercises I wanted to do. Rather than ditch the Bowflex and buy a complete set of free weights, I decided on dumbbells. I did a lot of research and knew I wanted a set that was adjustable. While Power Blocks are very popular, I found them difficult to adjust and use as my forearms kept hitting the cross bars around the handle. I also looked at Bowflex SelectTech, Weider Core, XMark, Universal PowerPak and any others that offered quick adjustability. The thing about all of them was the size. You pick up the entire length of the dumbbell no matter what weight you select. The Iron Master Quick Lock is an exception and although I liked them, they were cost prohibitive. I first found these dumbbells under the Stairmaster label (which were also cost prohibitive) and I liked how the weight stacks, i.e. the length of the dumbbell adjusts for the weight you select. Then I saw the same set under the Core Fitness label at Dick's Sporting Goods. They were $399 at the store, but a quick search on Amazon got me to the (affordable) price of $299. After my first workout, I know I made a good decision. The plates are encased in plastic, so they don't clink and clank while using them. The action to change weight is simple and very easy to use. I also like that the bottom of the plates are flat to prevent them from rolling off if you put them on the floor. The way the plates lock together makes them feel like one solid piece while using. The handles are large and ergonomic with a rubber coating in the middle which makes them very comfortable to hold. I'm very pleased with the purchase and believe they will last for some time to come.. UPDATE Over a year later and with 3 to 4 workouts a week these are holding up great. I even dropped one onto the hardwood from about 3 feet up when I got over extended on a fly and it suffered no damage. They'l probably last longer than I will.

I've been building out my home gym since my kids have picked up and rekindled my passion/hobby for weight lifting. These are my second set of adjustable dumbbells, my first set are the Pro Forms which are fine but if I had done more research I wouldn't have gotten and would have gotten these instead. It's ok though since there's three of us working out it helps to have multiple sets. Theres two big advantages these have over the Pro Form, first is ease of adjustment, just twist the handle, done. Second is 5 lbs vs 10 lbs increments which was the primary motivator to get this set and why I wouldn't have gotten the Pro Form if I had known about this set. (I was in a bit of a hurry, like I said the Pro Forms are fine, but just wish they had 5 lbs increment instead.) Couple of things to note, I wish the handle was knurled steel but that's a personal preference and for me one area where the Pro Forms have an advantage, but this is a personal preference, not really functional though we'll see how the handles on these fare over time. Assembly was easy, the weight selection mechanism is actually kind of ingenious. It feels well made but the core is made of plastic, so it can only feel so well made but that's what helps to keep the cost down of these amazing dumbbells. One thing of note when you're using them you need to be mindful of positioning when returning the dumbbells to the carrier/remaining weight plates. Same for when you take them out, sometimes they'll get stuck. However this problem isn't unique to these dumbbells. Overall, 100% would recommend.

This is the closest of the quick adjust dumbells to a real dumbell and it is also the fastest. If you are doing workouts with minimal time between sets, these are the ones to get. To me, all the other quick adjust dumbbells are awkward, bulky, and not like real dumbbells. Changing weight is so incredibly easy. You will spend more valuable time working out than fiddling with changing weights. The only drawback I can see is that the set is not expandable to over 50 lbs. But I doubt I would want to rely on an adjustable dumbbell when using that heavy of a weight anyway. I just use my spin lock dumbbells when going that heavy. There is a small amount of play from the plates. Nothing noisy or annoying by any means. I suppose that there has to be a little play or the plate pickup/drop mechanism wouldn't work as smoothly. When doing the 10 pound setup on one of the dumbbells, sometimes I have to slightly move the plate in order to return the dumbbell in the cradle. I couldn't figure out why it did this on one side, on just one dumbbell. MInor annoyance but I hope it doesn't get worse over time. I am not sure why people are saying that you need to have the stand because you definitely don't. I just set mine on the floor. Maybe for people who don't like to bend over but if you can't bend over then weightlifting is not for you anyway. I have been careful when using these and not throwing them down on the ground when pushing to failure. I will update the review after a long term usage as I have only been using them a week. So far very impressed. Update after a year and a half: these still are working as well as they did on day one. I use them several times a week and love them. I even made some custom magnetic plates so I can add on 2.5 pounds if 5 pounds is too big a jump for some exercises. That would be one improvement if these came stock with the plates that I made.

Best set of dumbbells money can buy. They are very intelligently designed, perfectly balanced and can be used by anyone. 10/10 recommendation for this product.

We've been using these dumbells in our home gym for 6 months and we're super impressed. The weights are easy to select/change and are sturdy out of the base station. What's really assuring about them is that the weights slide into V-shaped slats. So when I'm on a bench and the weights are over my head its re-assuring to see that they're secured by more than just the locking pin. "IF" there were ever a failure the weight likely wouldn't fall on me...because the V-shaped groove wouldn't allow it. The weights have remained locked during 'fast' (snap type) exercises and the handgrips have a moderate texture that provides grips without being as aggressive as knurling.

Very compact, easy to use and assemble. I am very impressed so far after about a dozen uses.

fonctionnent très bien. Mise a jour. 2 month later Update: 2 months later Selcted 10 lbs One of then broke from 1 feet high fall working abs with weight between my feet. Very fragile weights. 👎🏾

These things are great got here fast. Super easy to use only complaint is when 50lb is selected they don’t want to come out of the sleeve.