REP fitness Urethane dumbbells vs adjustable kettlebell

This is a comparison between the REP fitness urethane 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 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:

Round dumbbell design with solid steel handle
Fully knurled handles for maximum grip
Friction welded for extreme durability
Tolerance: +/- 3% accuracy on all dumbbells
CPU urethane coating is the most durable urethane available
Custom logos and color combinations available (12-16 week lead time, ordered as part of full gym outfitting)
Size ranges available in 5 lb increments to match your training needs

5-50 lb
5-100 lb
55-75 lb
80-100 lb
105-125 lb
130-150 lb

Handle diameter sizes

5-50 lb - 32mm diameter handle
55+ lb - 34mm diameter handle
6-inch handle length

REP urethane dumbbell pairs are available for purchase too
5-50 lb set fits on (1) REP Dumbbell Rack.

Rack measures at 84" long x 34" tall (37" with dumbbells loaded) x 24" deep

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

The pros of the REP Urethane dumbbells are:

Cheaper than the ones from Rogue Fitness
Round
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

Cons of the Urethane dumbbell are:

Limited use cases
Price
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

Alternatives to the REP Urethane dumbbell are:

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.