REP fitness hex dumbbell vs Rogue loadable dumbbell

This is a comparison between the Rep fitness hex dumbbell and Rogue loadable dumbbell the including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more information.

Overview and review of the Rogue loadable dumbbell

The Rogue loadable dumbbell combines the design of a barbell with a dumbbell. This saves space and cost to have a full set at home. The loadable dumbbell costs $135 and is not sold in pairs. This article has been originally posted in "which dumbbell to get from Rogue".

Most popular Rogue dumbbell in 2020

This is an overview of the most popular Rogue dumbbells on Marathon-Crossfit.com based on views and click through rates to Rogue Fitness for purchases. If you want to dig deeper on the data you will find explanations under what were the most popular Rogue products in 2020.

The most popular Rogue dumbbells on Marathon-CrossFit.com in 2020 were:

The Rogue loadable dumbbell is a good option to save space in a home gym. It avoids that you have to have an entire rack of dumbbells for various weight iterations. This is not particularly great in a commercial gym scenario as you want multiple people to be able to train at the same time. You can read the full review of the Rogue loadable dumbbell via this link.

The Rogue Urethane dumbbells are the rolls Royce among the Rogue dumbbells. Urethane is supposed to last longer than rubber. My main positive about the Urethane dumbbells compared to the rubber hex dumbbells is that they are round. That makes them easier to handle and store. In a commercial setting, you need to consider that the Urethane dumbbells come in at a higher price tag which hits heavier when you buy in bulk. You can read the full review of the Rogue Urethane dumbbells by following this link.

The Thompson fatbell is a hybrid between a Kettlebell and a dumbbell and a nice extra to any gym which already has all of the bases covered. There might be better ways to spend your money to develop strength like grip strength tools. Still, they are fun. You can read the full review for the Thompson fatbells via this link.

Overview of the Rogue loadable dumbbell

The Rogue loadable dumbbell is basically a shortened Rogue Ohio bar. The Rogue Ohio bar is the best selling backbone of the Rogue barbell portfolio. The loadable dumbbell is available in a 15 and 10 lb version. The 15 lb version doubles the available sleeve space so you can add more weights. The Rogue loadable dumbbell is compatible with your barbell plates. You can also get specially fitted dumbbell weights with a smaller diameter which I recommend. The big plates are usually in the way when they get close to your body. On a barbell, they are further away as the shaft is longer. The specs of the Rogue loadable dumbbell are:

Sold Individually, NOT in Pairs
Made in the USA
DB-10 - 200,000PSI

DB-15 - 200,000PSI or 190,000PSI Tensile Strength Steel
28.5MM diameter knurled handle
Bronze Bushings & Snap Ring Design
Length:14.25" (DB-10) 20.5 (DB-15)
Load Capacity: ~100LB (DB-10)
Rogue branded endcaps
Available as package with set of Rogue OSO Collars
Compatible with any standard Oly plates and/or Rogue Dumbbell Bumper plates

A solid combination of a barbell, dumbbell and the idea of the power block to save space. Probably one of the best executed of its kind in the market in terms of design and finish.

Pros of the rogue loadable dumbbell

They look great and the finish is a high standard. The loadable dumbbell will also save a lot of space in a home gym setup compared to a whole wall of kettlebells or dumbbells. Compared to the power block the mechanism to change between weights is easier and a lot more durable. They are functional, nice to look at and can be dropped without risking to break them.

Cons of the Rogue loadable dumbbell

In a commercial gym setup, I think they are too expensive as they are not sons in pairs and not user-friendly enough. I can already see the mess when purple start loading their own dumbbells and leaving all the little parts scattered on the ground. In most gyms, it’s bad enough with plates and the usual rubber dumbbells. Imagine if all of the dumbbells also have multiple parts to them.

Alternatives to the Rogue loadable dumbbell

Alternatives to the Rubber Hex dumbbells are

Rubber Hex dumbbells
Rogue Urethane dumbbell
Power block classic elite dumbbell
Rogue Kettlebells

The rubber hex dumbbell is pound for pins the cheapest dumbbell with a rogue logo on it. They are also sold in pairs. If you like the hex design for your commercial gym I think this is the one to go for in bulk.

The Rogue Urethane dumbbells are slightly higher quality than the rubber hex. As the name suggests they are made of urethane instead of rubber which makes them more durable. Personally I think the main reason would be aesthetic and functional to get them over hex dumbbell. They are round instead of a hexagon. I never liked that design myself.

The Power block dumbbell is a classic design for home use. It follows the same idea as the loadable dumbbell to save space in a home setting. This is the most compact it can get for lifting dumbbells with many options in denominations. The only downside is the clicking mechanic to change between weights which is prone to break and that the block can a little too big when moving big weights. Here the loadable dumbbell might be less error-prone if you have the space to store the change plates.

Kettlebells are always a good alternative to dumbbells. You can do almost all dumbbell movements with kettlebells while kettlebells also offer the Turkish getup and kettlebell swing as great conditioning exercises. The only negative with kettlebells is that I haven’t seen a great loadable Design for them yet to save space. If I was in the market for a big set I dumbbells I would get a wall of kettlebells instead. Especially if you have very heavy kettlebells it will set you apart from other gyms. It all depends on the clients you want to target as bodybuilders usually prefer dumbbells.

Summary for the Rogue loadable dumbbell

The Rogue loadable dumbbell is a great option for the dedicated home gym owner who wants to save space and doesn’t mind the cost per dumbbell. This is a purchase that will make you happy and doesn’t make you look cheap. If you have to buy in bulk to cover the needs of more than five people you are probably better off with the hex dumbbells to save cost. Unless you are a rich university or NFL team who can afford to only buy the best for your athletes. You pay them millions, don’t be cheap on the equipment. Sends the wrong signals to your best athletes.

Overview and review of the REP fitness hex dumbbell

This is an overview of the REP fitness hex 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 Hex Dumbbell $674

These are the standard rubber hex dumbbells that save you money if you want to get a decent full set of dumbbells in your home. For commercial use, they might be a bit cheap, but will still do the trick. The full list of specifications runs like this:

Fully knurled handles for maximum grip
Ultra-low odor rubber
The heads of the dumbbells are securely attached via friction welding for extreme durability
Handle diameter sizes

2.5lb - 22mm diameter handle.
5lb to 15lb dumbbells - 28mm diameter handle.
17.5lb+ dumbbells - 34mm diameter handle. The thicker 34mm handle adds comfort on heavier weights.

REP Fitness dumbbells come with a lifetime warranty for home use. 1 year warranty for commercial use.
Dumbbell sets range from 5 to 50 pounds, 5 to 75 pounds, and 5 to 100 pounds

A solid option for an ambitious or small budget with the goal of having a full 5 to 100 pound dumbbell rack.

Pros of the REP Rubber Hex Dumbbell

The pros of the Rubber Hex dumbbell are:

Price
Metal handle
Easily stacked

The main argument for these dumbbells is that they make a full dumbbell rack affordable for a home gym or if you really want to go all the way on massive commercial set up. With rubber hex dumbbells you can still stay under $1000 for a full rack from 5 to 100 pounds.

These dumbbells have a metal handle instead of neoprene or rubber. The extra grip this provides is very welcome on heavy dumbbells.

Another bonus for storage is that these can be stacked easily even without having a dumbbell rack. This makes it an attractive option when you just want to have a pile of them in the corner for group classes without taking up the entire width of a wall.

Cons of the REP Rubber Hex Dumbbell

The cons of the REP rubber hex dumbbell are:

Hex design
Rubber
Harder to clean

The hex design can get very annoying when the dumbbells get heavy. The bigger the dumbbell is the more you want it to be round to be easier to handle for pushes or rolling it around the gym. So if you are a serious lifter you might also want to be serious about your dumbbells and look into Urethane dumbbells.

Rubber dumbbells have a shorter shelf life than rubber dumbbells. The more people use them over a day the more relevant this becomes. For home gyms, I personally don’t think that the longevity aspect should play a big role as you won’t put the time on them. In a commercial setting, you quickly buy twice, and then you might as well get Urethane dumbbells the first time around.

Compared to the rubber grip alternative from REP fitness you will have a harder time cleaning these dumbbells. The metal handle will need a brush whereas the rubber handles will only need a wile with antibacterial cloths.

Alternatives to the REP Rubber Hex Dumbbell

Alternatives to the REP rubber hex dumbbell are:

The REP rubber grip hex dumbbells are the better option if you want something a little easier on the hands and to clean. I personally think that for this purpose you can save a lot of money by just going for the neoprene dumbbells that you can get in most well-stocked retailers or on Amazon. At least if you are buying for your home gym.

The REP Urethane dumbbells are the choice for serious home gym athletes with a generous budget or commercial buyers. These dumbbells will last longer and are also easier to handle. The only downside is that you have to invest north if $1000 to get a full 5 to 100-pound set.

The Rogue Urethane dumbbells are very similar to the REP urethane dumbbells and it all comes down to branding which one you should buy. Especially as both of them are imported. If you want to save some money the REP urethane dumbbells would be better. Compared to the hex dumbbell the main reason to get Urethane is the round shape.

The Rogue loadable dumbbell is in my opinion an excellent choice for a home gym that wants to optimize a generous budget. They are made in the US and combined for the specific dumbbell bumper weights are great fun to use in a home gym to save money and space on a high-quality build. They will still not be as cheap as a full set of rubber hex dumbbells when you tally up all components but why more versatile for one user. If you need dumbbells for multiple users the hex dumbbells or multiples of urethane dumbbells are the better options.

TITAN is the cost leader among the lineup of REP fitness, Rogue fitness, and TITAN fitness. If you want to get your equipment as cheap as possible while not getting utter crap then TITAN is the way to go. Be aware though that TITAN is known in the industry for the most quality issues between these three brands.

Conclusion for the REP Rubber Hex Dumbbell

The REP rubber hex dumbbell is a solid option for a home gym on a budget that you want to fill with a full set of dumbbells fron 5 to 100 pounds. In commercial settings I would lean more towards the REP Urethane dumbbell option.