REP fitness hex dumbbell vs TITAN Urethane dumbbells
This is a comparison between the Rep fitness hex dumbbell and TITAN Urethane dumbbells the including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more information.
Overview and review of the TITAN Urethane dumbbells
This is an overview of the TITAN Urethane dumbbells including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more information.
Overview of the TITAN Urethane dumbbells
Price: $48.99 - $670.99
Urethane dumbbells are the Ferrari under the dumbbells which are available on the market. Urethane lasts longer than rubber and is more forgiving when it us dropped. There fore Urethane dumbbells are priced higher than most other dumbbells you will find in the market In addition Urethane dumbbells are usually round instead of hexagonal. This makes them easier to handle when you lift or transport them in your gym. The full specifications of the TITAN Urethane dumbbells are:
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Urethane provides greater shock-resistance perfect for dropping repeatedly.
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Urethane maintains its looks and shape far longer than tradition rubber.
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Each handle features knurling for a secure grip.
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Black matte finish for a clean, professional look.
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Dumbbells are sold in pairs and are available in 5 pound increments from 5 - 120 LB.
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Handle Diameter: 1.25"
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Handle Width: 6"
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Weight: 5 - 120 LB Single | 10 - 240 LB Pair
Urethane dumbbells are the luxury version of dumbbells which you should get if you expect a lot of use out of them or if you like to just have the best of everything. Otherwise rubber hex dumbbells might be a better choice to save some money.
Pros of the TITAN Urethane Dumbbells
The pros of the TITAN Urethane dumbbells are:
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Price
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Round design
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Durability
As with most TITAN products you will get a comparable piece of equipment for roughly half the price when compared to brands like Rogue Fitness or Eleiko. Especially for an item like dumbbells, which you usually buy in bulk and are not that safety critical, this is nothing to be sneered at.
Urethane dumbbells are usually designed in a round shape compare to the hex design of the cheaper rubber dumbbells. It can be a matter of state, but especially very heavy dumbbells are a lot easier to manage, store and move around when they are round.
Urethane lasts longer than rubber. So especially if your gym is highly frequented or you plan to abuse the dumbbells outdoors and leave them in the rain or moist place, than Urethane might be the better choice.
Cons of the TITAN Urethane dumbbells
The cons of the TITAN Urethane dumbbells are:
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Price
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Space requirements
While the price of Titan products is always lower than the competition the price for Urethane dumbbells or plates is generally a lot higher than for rubber. If you are building a gym on a budget or a home gym with just one user, I personally do not see it justified to spend that much more compared to rubber dumbbells. Unless you like the good things in mind and having a gym is peanuts for your budget. If you are this kind of buyer i think it is also unlikely that you would be shopping at TITAN.
Dumbbells which are fixed in weight are not necessarily the best for home gyms or any other places that are constrained in space. A full rack of dumbbells ranging from 5lbs to 120lbs or even higher takes up an entire wall. If you are training by yourself this is a lot of space to give up and money to invest on material that you will not use very often.
Alternatives to the TITAN Urethane Dumbbells
Alternatives to the TITAN Urethane Dumbbells are:
The Titan rubber hex dumbbells are the cheaper version of the Urethane dumbbells. You will have the same functionality and space requirements, but at a lower cost and with a different shape. The hexagonal shape makes the hex dumbbells a bit harder to handle and transport. The rubber is also more prone to wear off over time. In return you save on the purchase as the material is cheaper. The rubber hex dumbbells are a good alternative for home gyms that have the space for a full rack of dumbbells, but do not want to spend the money on Urethane. When you are the only user of the dumbbells longevity becomes less of an issue, as the usage will not be as high.
The neoprene lightweight dumbbells are an alternative for anyone who wants to do yoga or other exercises with slightly more weight than body weight. They tale up less space and are cheaper than the Urethane dumbbells. These dumbbells are aimed at stay at home moms who follow programs like bikinibodymommy. Professional gyms can place these in the dedicated ladies area. Athletes can use these for recovery and mobility exercises to work on problematic ranges of motions.
The TITAN Olympic dumbbells come in a 36-inch, 20-inch, and 15-inch version. These adjustable dumbbells are a great solution for home gyms with limited space. You can use the plates you already have to load these individually.This way you have a wide range of weights at your disposal without having to give up the storage space for an entire rack of dumbbells.
Conclusion for the TITAN Urethane Dumbbells
Urethane dumbbells are a great choice for gyms with high traffic in the free weight area. In this scenario they will suffer a lot of abuse and be transported the gym around a lot. The round shape and the Urethane will help so that you have fewer dumbbells to replace. TITAN themselves as a brand also presents an opportunity to gym owners to expand into high weight dumbbells without breaking the bank too much. While the 20-40lbs dumbbells also might be gotten from a brand with a better reputation for high quality, like Rogue or Eleiko, the big bomber dumbbells could be purchased from TITAN. Reason here is to save half the cost on dumbbells that 90% of your members can not use as they are too heavy.
For home gym owners I personally think that Urethane dumbbells are not a great choice. You will not put the mileage on them that warrants paying the extra money compared to rubber hex dumbbells. IN terms of space requirements one of the Olympic dumbbells might be the best choice.
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:
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Fully knurled handles for maximum grip
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Ultra-low odor rubber
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The heads of the dumbbells are securely attached via friction welding for extreme durability
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Handle diameter sizes
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2.5lb - 22mm diameter handle.
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5lb to 15lb dumbbells - 28mm diameter handle.
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17.5lb+ dumbbells - 34mm diameter handle. The thicker 34mm handle adds comfort on heavier weights.
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REP Fitness dumbbells come with a lifetime warranty for home use. 1 year warranty for commercial use.
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
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Price
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Metal handle
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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
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Hex design
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Rubber
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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
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.
