REP fitness Urethane dumbbells vs 4-post sled
This is a comparison between the REP fitness urethane dumbbells and the REP fitness 4-post sled. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the REP fitness 4-Post sled
This is an overview of the REP fitness 4-Post sled including pros, cons, and alternatives. The original was published under which rep fitness strength equipment to buy. Follow the links for more details.
REP Push Sled $149
The REP push sled is the right tool in your box for your simulating pushing big loads. The design is optimized to have a big load of plates in the frame that than need to be pushed for a certain distance. This sled should not be used for sprints of any kind as it is not great for drag scenarios based on its triangular shape. The dimensions of this sled are:
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42" high
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40" long
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38" wide
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75 lbs
Great budget option to have a heavy sled in your arsenal.
Pros of the REP Push Sled
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Price
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Big bulky design
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Does what it says in the tin
This is a great sled for heavy pushes for big men and women who want to work on their explosiveness. With a price tag of $149 there is not a lot kid bad things you can say about it, if you really have the need for one.
Cons of the REP Push Sled
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Hard to store
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Single purpose use
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Feet design
This is a bulky piece of equipment which will be hard to stow away once you do not use it anymore. Combined with the fact that most average joes will not need the weight capacity that this sled takes you are better off getting the 4 post sled instead.
The feet of this sled are also not as well designed as the ones of the competition from Rogue. Some might like the extra resistance this provides, but you will eat away at the substance of this sled very quickly if you use it on concrete instead of grass.
Alternatives to the REP Push Sled
If you know that you will use a sled often and mainly for explosive sprints and conditioning then I think the REP 4 post sled or Rogue dogsled are the better options for you. You have a lot more possibilities of using different attachments and pushing and pulling. The only sacrifice you will be making is that this type of sled will it take as much weight as the push sled based in its design.
If you are getting a sled for max load pushes or because you are a football lineman then the Rogue butcher is the Ferrari among the heavy-duty sleds for you. The biggest difference to the REP slush sled is the price and the design of the feet.
The TITAN heavy duty sled is TITAN’s version of a max load push sled. If you like the lower price points if TITAN or if they have stock when REP does not and you are in a hurry, than this is a valid alternative. Just be aware that TITAN tends to have more quality issues than Rogue and REP.
Conclusion for the REP Push Sled
It does what it says on the tin for a good price. If you use it on grass and have the plates to max it out, then this is a good option. If you weigh under 100kg and only use your sled for conditioning get a 4 post sled instead.
Overview and review of the REP fitness Urethane dumbbells
This is an overview of the REP fitness Urethane dumbbells including pros, cons, and alternatives. The original was published under which rep fitness strength equipment to buy. Follow the links for more details.
REP Urethane Dumbbell $1355
This is a full set of Urethane dumbbells from REP Fitness. The two main advantages are that they are round and made of Urethane. Urethane is deemed to be one of the most durable materials to make bumper plates and dumbbells from. Therefore it is also the most expensive. The full specifications for these Urethane dumbbells are:
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Round dumbbell design with solid steel handle
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Fully knurled handles for maximum grip
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Friction welded for extreme durability
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Tolerance: +/- 3% accuracy on all dumbbells
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CPU urethane coating is the most durable urethane available
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Custom logos and color combinations available (12-16 week lead time, ordered as part of full gym outfitting)
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Size ranges available in 5 lb increments to match your training needs
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5-50 lb
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5-100 lb
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55-75 lb
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80-100 lb
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105-125 lb
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130-150 lb
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Handle diameter sizes
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5-50 lb - 32mm diameter handle
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55+ lb - 34mm diameter handle
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6-inch handle length
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REP urethane dumbbell pairs are available for purchase too
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Rack measures at 84" long x 34" tall (37" with dumbbells loaded) x 24" deep
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5-year structural warranty
These are great dumbbells when you expect heavy abuse in a commercial setting. For a home gym, they might be too pricey and you want to opt for hex rubber dumbbells instead.
Pros of the REP Urethane Dumbbell
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Cheaper than the ones from Rogue Fitness
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Round
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Durability
Many people who look into REP Fitness want a cheaper good quality option compared to the equivalent product from Rogue Fitness. The good news is that the REP Urethane dumbbells are exactly that as long as you are ok with products that are produced in and imported from China.
What I personally like best about Urethane dumbbells is that they are round. The hex dumbbells are in my opinion awkward to handle, especially the heavy ones. If you want to get a full stack of dumbbells for your home gym because you are a beast, I would definitely keep in mind that these are round.
Urethane is a more durable material compared to rubber. If you use these dumbbells in a commercial setting or in a home gym where you can expect erosion from the weather then these are a good option to last you longer.
Cons of the REP Urethane Dumbbell
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Limited use cases
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Price
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Space requirements
I am personally a believer in getting any weight as a kettlebell instead of a dumbbell. Kettlebells are more versatile than dumbbells and also harder to break based on their design. With a few exceptions, you can almost do any dumbbell exercise with a kettlebell but not vice Versa. So if you are already investing in a lot of dumbbell weights, then you might want to consider getting a big pack of kettlebells instead.
Urethane dumbbells are quite high priced for something that you will use little if you are building a full home gym. For many modern routines, dumbbells are accessory work and the heavy lifting is done with a barbell while conditioning is done with a kettlebell. If you want to equip your gym with a full set of dumbbells and you are not a monster lifter I would go with a full set of hex dumbbells instead and half the cost.
A full set of dumbbells needs quite a bit of space. Other options like a loadable dumbbell might be more cost and space-efficient depending on what you want to do.
Alternatives to the REP Urethane Dumbbell
The REP rubber grip dumbbells are optimized for price. The rubber handle makes them cheaper to produce, deviating from the traditional steel handle design. If you want to get a full set of dumbbells at a cheap price, this is the option for you. It just hits differently than a metal handle.
The Rogue Urethane dumbbells come in at a higher price due to the branding of Rogue. This is one of the exceptions where Rogue and REP Fitness both import the product from overseas. So technically I see no difference between the two except that you are supporting a company that is actively creating jobs in the Columbus Ohio area with their money that is also in manufacturing while REP fitness will probably lean more towards keeping staff at a minimum in the US for now.
The Rogue loadable dumbbell is a great option to save space and money for a home gym for dumbbells. It is not really an option in a commercial setting as you might want multiple handles so that many clients can train in parallel. The Rogue loadable is produced in the US as it is basically a shortened version of the Rogue Ohio bar. If you want some cool bumpers with them, then Rogue sells these too. This might be a good alternative for the patriotic home gym owner who wants a dumbbell set.
The TITAN Urethane dumbbells are also imported from China and more or less the same as the REP fitness dumbbells. TITAN is known in the industry to be more likely than other vendors to cut corners to achieve a low price. So chances are higher that you might have some minor quality issues with your delivery. Nothing that makes them not fulfill their purpose, just annoying for something you just bought new.
Conclusion for the REP Urethane Dumbbell
Urethane dumbbells are a good addition to a commercial gym, especially if you are buying a full rack of them. In a home gym, you have to ask yourself whether you really need a full dumbbell rack or not. If you just get a couple of different weights Urethane is an option. For a whole rack, I would go with hex dumbbells instead.