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REP fitness hex dumbbell vs TITAN Olympic Dumbbell

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Jun 27, 2021 9:00:00 AM

REP fitness hex dumbbell vs TITAN Olympic Dumbbell

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

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Overview and review of the TITAN Olympic dumbbell

This is an overview of the TITAN Olympic dumbbell including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more information.

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Overview of the TITAN Olympic dumbbell

Price: $42.99 - $74.99
 
The Titan Olympic dumbbell comes in three sizes. These are 36-inch, 20-inch, and 15-inch. With these sizes you get the possibility to have a shortened barbell and use it like a dumbbell. You can use your change and fractional plates to load the barbell. This saves money and space, especially in home gym setups. The full specifications of this dumbbell are:
 
 
- Knurled handles for better grip.
- Titan Branded endcaps
- Compatible with Olympic plates
- Overall Length: 20-in
- Handle Length: 5.75-in
- Handle Diameter: 28mm.
- Loadable Sleeve Length: 6.5-in.
- Sleeve Diameter: 50mm.
- Knurling: Medium
- Sleeve Coating: Chrome
- Weight Capacity: 500 lb.
- Weight: 12.1 lb. Each | 24.2 lb. Total
- Quantity: 2
 
Be aware that only the 20-inch version is sold in pairs and that the 15-inch and 36-inch come in singles. Read the fin print on each version to get their specifics.
 

Pros of the TITAN Olympic dumbbell

 
 
  • Price
  • Space requirements
  • Flexibility
 
One of the main point in favor of TITAN fitness equipment is their price.  TITAN strategically positions themselves at half the price to Rogue Fitness and Eleiko for comparable products. The Loadable dumbbells are no exception to this. If you are on a budget and like the idea of a loadable dumbbell, TITAN is a good vendor to get your supplies.
 
Loadable dumbbells have the advantage that you can adjust them with the plates you already have. This makes them a lot more space efficient than regular urethane or rubber dumbbells. Just stack the plates on and work away with the weight of your choice. If you lack space in your home gym setup a pair of loadable dumbbells is the best options to cover dumbbell exercises in a wide range without having to pole vault into your gym every morning.
 
Another plus of Olympic loadable dumbbells is that they are compatible with standard plates from all vendors. Especially if you already invested in your home gym and intend to get a barbell and rack too, this is cost and space efficient. There are other solutions in the market which provide flexible weight choices but they are usual not as flexible. The widely know  block systems only work with the same weights and once the mechanics break you need to get anew set of dumbbells.
 

Cons of the TITAN Olympic dumbbell

 
The cons of the TITAN Olympic dumbbells are:
 
  • Cumbersome setup
  • Needs more space than a stackable system
  • Only one pair of handles
 
If you like to run the dumbbell rack up and down for bodybuilding exercises, this is not for you. With regular dumbbells you have the advantage that you can switch fast between weights. With Olympic dumbbells you have to take the plates on and off between sets if you want to work with different loads.
 
Especially in hotels this might also not be the best solution. Most hotel gyms do not have plates and therefore the Olympic dumbbells are more trouble than they are worth. If you want to have a full set of dumbbells in a hotel on a minimal footprint, the stackable dumbbell systems are a better option even though they are more prone to break.
 
For a very busy gym Olympic dumbbells are also not the best solution. If you have a lot of clients training at the same time you also want to provide them with a lot of handles and material. With an Olympic dumbbell you are focusing all of the options on one handle to save space. In a commercial gym you want multiple weights so that multiple clients can train at the same time. 
 

Alternatives to the TITAN Olympic dumbbell

 
Alternatives to the TITAN Olympic dumbbell are:
 
 
Cast iron dumbbells are cheaper than rubber or urethane dumbbells as they are easier to produce. They are little more prone to rust and also not great for dropping on the ground. Apart from that it is easier to acquire a full set to have multiple options for your training, if you have the space to store them
 
If you want to switch fast between different weights and not wreck your floor rubber hex dumbbells are good value for money. The only downside is that you will not the space to store multiple pieces to work through a full range of loads.
 
Adjustable chrome dumbbells are a little cheaper than the Olympic dumbbells as they already come with the weights included. They are a good option when you just want dumbbells in your home to work on your physique and do not plan to build an entire gym. IN other scenarios they are not really the best option, as the weights only fit to the respective handles.
 

Conclusion for the TITAN Olympic barbell

 
Loadable dumbbells are great for home gyms to save space while still being able to train with a wide variety of different loads. The TITAN loadable dumbbells are also a budget friendly option to get a loadable dumbbell into your home gym. Commercial gyms should invest in a rack of rubber hex dumbbells or urethane dumbbells depending on budget. Very affluent home gym owners also might fill their massive space with a full rack of dumbbells.
 

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 pounds5 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.

Topics: Powerlifting, Dumbbell, Garagegym, Home Gym, Bodybuilding, REP Fitness