Overview and review of the REP fitness rubber grip dumbbell
This is an overview of the REP fitness rubber grip dumbbell including pros, cons, and alternatives. The original was published under which rep fitness strength equipment to buy. Follow the links for more details.
REP Rubber grip Hex dumbbell $699
The
REP rubber hex dumbbell is a good approach to save some costs on your dumbbell set and make it easier on your hands. The costs are slightly higher than for regular
hex dumbbells with a metal handle as worldwide sales volume is not as high for this type of dumbbell. This is a good option if the place you train in is very humid. This is also a good quality dumbbell from a solid supplier in case you are worried about buying something from a random vendor on Amazon or Craigslist. The full specifications of the REP rubber hex dumbbells are:
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5 to 20lb - 30mm diameter handle.
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25lb+ - 34mm diameter handle.
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Dumbbell heads are securely attached via friction welding, an extremely durable process.
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5-50lbs
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55-75lb
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80-100lbs
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Increments of 5lbs
A Solid set for a home gym on a budget that wants to have a full set of dumbbells or someone who just wants 1 - 3 pairs that are easy on the hands.
Pros of the REP Rubber grip Hex dumbbell
This is the easy option for a home gym owner who wants to have a full rack of dumbbells running along with one of their walls. Especially when the significant other and the children who might not be as big into fitness as yourself want to train too. If you are a powerlifter or bodybuilder who loves Iron you might want to opt for the regular
hex dumbbells or upgrade to the
Urethane version. Especially in a commercial setting.
Cons of the REP Rubber grip Hex dumbbell
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Rubber
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Kettlebells vs Dumbbell
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Hex shape
The first con is the rubber design itself. If you like steel and getting your hands a little roughed up you might prefer metal handles. Especially when you use heavy dumbbells on a regular basis the extra grip from the textured metal will come in handy.
Personally, I would always recommend buying
kettlebells of different sizes over dumbbells for any home gym scenario, unless you are dumpster diving on the internet. A
kettlebell can be used for almost all exercises you can do with dumbbells but not the other way around. The only back draw is that
kettlebells need more space to be stored if you really get 5 lbs to 100lbs in 5 lbs increments. I also do not think that this is a wise way of investing your money in a home gym. IN a commercial setting you probably want to lean more towards dumbbells than
kettlebells, as they are more user-friendly on the wrists for pressing movements.
A big con for
hex dumbbells is their handling when they are heavy. I much prefer round dumbbells as they are a lot easier to get from any surface or your legs to the shoulders for presses. Heavy
hex dumbbells are really annoying to deal with and you might want to upgrade to
Urethane for these if you are taking your training already that seriously.
Alternatives to the REP Rubber grip Hex dumbbell
The REP rubber dumbbells also have the
hex design but come with a metal handle which is better if you are intending to get a lot of a heavy dumbbells. If you are getting dumbbells from rep fitness for a yoga studio and very low resistant the
rubber gripped versions might be better.
The
REP Urethane dumbbells are the Cadillac among the REP dumbbells. They last longer as
Urethane is more durable than rubber. Their round shape also makes them easier to handle on heavy lifts and transport in your gym. Based on the price tag
Urethane dumbbells are usually a good option for commercial gyms but not so much for home gyms. Especially if you are considering an entire rack instead of some carefully selected weights.
Rogue Urethane dumbbells are very similar to the
REP fitness Urethane dumbbells. Between the two I personally think it is wholly up to your budget and whether you want your gym completely Rogue or REP themed to determine what you choose. As both dumbbells are imported the REP fitness version might be a good option to save some money on a super high-end home gym build.
The
rogue loadable dumbbell is my personal favorite for a home gym. You can use the same budget for a dumbbell rack and invest it in two rogue loadable dumbbell handles and their bespoke dumbbell weights. Saves money and space while also looking cool. This is only an option in a home gym scenario as for commercial use you want a lot of handles so that multiple people can train at the same time.
Titan is the cost leader between Rogue, Rep, and themselves. If you want the most equipment for the least possible amount of money then Titan is the way to go. If you have a lot of space they also have a way bigger selection of plate-loaded machines than the other two. If you are a bodybuilder with a lot of space to fill in a massive basement or barn, then TITAN is your friend. The only downside is that their quality control and return policies are not as up to par as with the other two vendors.
Conclusion for the REP Rubber grip Hex dumbbell
I personally think they are a bit gimmicky. However, that comes from a place of bias towards powerlifting on my end. If you want some light weights that are easy on your hands you are probably better off getting the cheap neoprene dumbbells that are usually stocked in TESCO or Walmart. The only real benefit in a commercial setting I can see is that the
rubber handles are easier to clean than the metal ones.