REP fitness rubber grip dumbbell vs adjustable kettlebell

This is a comparison between the REP fitness rubber grip dumbbells and the REP fitness adjustable kettlebell. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the REP adjustable kettlebell

This is an overview of the REP fitness adjustable kettlebell including pros, cons, and alternatives. The original was published under which rep fitness strength equipment to buy. Follow the links for more details.

REP Adjustable Kettlebell $119

The REP adjustable kettlebell is one of the better adjustable systems out there. It is a rebrand of a mass-produced kettlebell option from China so if you see the same design for a lower price with a different sticker on it go for it. The best thing about this adjustable dumbbell is that it keeps the integrity of the kettlebell in tact when being adjusted. The list of specifications runs as follows:

Quick-adjust is fastest and most convenient on the market. Push down and twist to add or remove weight.
Available in kg or lb options
Each individual weight is secured with it's own internal nylon thermoplastic fastener. Provides a quiet bell with no rattling or shifting during swings, snatches, etc...
Matte powdercoated surface provides a secure grip.
Rubber bottom to protect your floors.
Competition style shape that stays consistent no matter which weight is selected.
Each Kettlebell includes 5 different weight settings

Available in 3 size options, in kg or lbs.

16kg: 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 kg settings
24kg: 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 kg settings
40lb: 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 lb settings

This is a good option if you buy into the idea of adjustable equipment. I am personally not a huge fan of it for kettlebells but can see the benefits in a confined space.

Pros of the REP Adjustable Kettlebell

The pros of the REP adjustable kettlebell are:

Price
Space requirements
Integrity of the kettlebell

While this kettlebell might seem pricey at first it becomes a very cost-efficient option when you take into account how many solid kettlebells you would have to buy to get the same result. This is especially true the heavier the adjustable kettlebell option is you are getting.

Another big pro of this kettlebell is that you get multiple kettlebells in the shell of one and therefore save a lot of space. If you are serious about your kettlebell routines but live in a small apartment, then this is the solution you have been waiting for.

Compared to other adjustable kettlebell designs i personally think that this is one of the best in the industry. Other designs usually sacrifice the integrity of the shape of the kettlebell to be adjustable which makes them awkward to swing or impossible to press. With this design, you can be sure that the kettlebell stays the same shape when add or subtract weight for your workouts.

Cons of the REP Adjustable Kettlebell

The cons of the REP adjustable kettlebell are:

Price
Moveable parts
Time for adjustments

If you want to get two kettlebells for circuit training you are already talking around $250 for this adjustable kettlebell. For that budget, you can seriously consider getting multiple normal kettlebells, especially when you are not that strong.

The challenge with moveable parts is that you can lose them. If you lose a part you can not use the adjustable for its original intend anymore. This will not happen when you simply get solid kettlebells.

Adjusting the kettlebell on the fly is always slower than just grabbing a different weight. Be mindful of that, especially when you buy it for follow-along YouTube training.

Alternatives to the REP Adjustable Kettlebell

Alternatives to the REP adjustable kettlebell are:

REP regular kettlebells
Rogue regular kettlebells
TITAN regular kettlebells

REP also offers a set of regular kettlebells made of cast iron. If you are shopping for smaller kettlebells I would go for a set of these rather than an adjustable kettlebell depending on how much space you have available. TITAN also offers kettlebells at various price points if you wanted to compare. With both of these vendors, you will buy a kettlebell that has been produced overseas and shipped.

If you want kettlebells that have been fully produced in the United States with American steel you can head over to Rogue Fitness. They are quite proud that they localized this production line during the pandemic to become independent from overseas shipments. It also feeds directly into their strategy to be the best and most patriotic American fitness brand.

Conclusion for the REP Adjustable Kettlebell

I personally have a little bias against anything adjustable as this usually means that the engineering has to be compromised and the equipment is more likely to malfunction or break. But that is just me. If you want only one kettlebell at home and not stack your entire hot press or under the stairs storage with weights, then this is a great option and one of the better ones compared to other adjustable kettlebells.

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:

5 to 20lb - 30mm diameter handle.
25lb+ - 34mm diameter handle.
Dumbbell heads are securely attached via friction welding, an extremely durable process.

5-50lbs
55-75lb
80-100lbs
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

The pros of the REP rubber hex grip dumbbells are:

Rubber grip
The relatively low price point

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

The cons of the REP rubber hex dumbbell are:

Rubber
Kettlebells vs Dumbbell
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

Alternatives to the REP rubber grip Hex dumbbells are:

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.