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:
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Quick-adjust is fastest and most convenient on the market. Push down and twist to add or remove weight.
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Available in kg or lb options
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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...
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Matte powdercoated surface provides a secure grip.
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Rubber bottom to protect your floors.
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Competition style shape that stays consistent no matter which weight is selected.
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Each Kettlebell includes 5 different weight settings
Available in 3 size options, in kg or lbs.
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16kg: 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 kg settings
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24kg: 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 kg settings
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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
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
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Price
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Moveable parts
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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 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
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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-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
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.