Core Fitness® Adjustable Dumbbell Weight Set by Affordable Dumbbells

I never do anything half-*ssed regarding significant purchases, i.e., I research professional reviews and also get a take for personal reviews, especially the negative ones. Essentially, I gather my information and determine what is and what isn't important. Same deal with these weights . . . So, this is what I determined about what was really important to me: 1. All parts were sturdy and well made/constructed; 2. Similar to number 1, that the weights had zero to minimum movement while working out; 3. The weight set was "compact" even when using maximum load of 50lbs; and, 4. The company supported their product with excellent customer service (note: I do not know this personally, but from what I have read, they do a good job of this). All of the aforementioned were answered positively by what I read and reviewed. So, what was my first impression? The delivery was on time and the packaging was excellent. Two boxes were delivered to my door, and I had zero issues with the boxes/packaging. Assembly was simple. Fast forward to working out everyday (upper body one day and lower body the next) the last few weeks and I am extremely impressed with my weight set. Why? First and foremost, I discovered for myself what others had already discovered - this is a quality weight set, with little to no movement of the weights while in motion; and the set is compact, where someone lean like myself can easily maneuver the weights while doing various exercises. For example, when you are doing overhead tricep extensions with one weight at maximum weight (50 lbs), it is very important that you have a good two handed grip while maneuvering into the overhead position. I was concerned before buying the weights that the adjustable mechanism would interfere or not be comfortable either during the process of getting into the position or actually doing the tricep extension exercise. NO WORRIES . . . IT IS QUITE COMFORTABLE - BOTH GETTING INTO THE POSITION AND DOING THE ACTUAL EXERCISE. Regarding the actual adjustment mechanism, it is well made and so simple to use. One turn of the wrist and you move the weight dial up or down. Simple. The only issue - a minor one - is removing the weights from the floor rack when you exceed approximately 25 or more lbs. This is simply rectified by using your foot on the side bar of the rack. Quite frankly, more times than not, it never happens if you remove the weights in a firm and deliberate manner. Conclusion? I am quite impressed with this adjustable weight set. Price was outstanding, as I only paid $249.91 and I am fairly confident that this weight set will last the rest of my life due to the quality of materials used to make this set.

The bells are rather large -- no tapering as with Bowflex -- and I do wish I could add weight in 2-1/2 lb increments, at least up to 25 lbs, as with Bowflex, but as the Bowflex bar remains the same length, no matter how many weights are on it while the CF bars grow incrementally with the number of 5-lb plates attached. For lower weight exercises such as for my shoulders (after having had 4 rotator cuff surgeries, I use a set of non adjustable dumbbells and I no longer do ab exercises while hanging from a chin-up bar. Exercise is addictive. My last ortho surgeon, a "sports medicine" doctor, admitted that after breaking his arm, he was back doing curls after a week and broke the arm again, proving that even medical doctors can be as stupid as the next guy. His office is always filled with patients -- most of them, these days, young women. Dumbbells can be especially dangerous, as unlike with a barbell, your arms cannot train or help each other. So, it is important to have a good set of dumbbells, and keeping in mind the dangers, unless you have the room and want to invest in a set of single dumbbells, these from Core Fitness may suit your needs and fancy. As with all good tool, you must them with respect in hopes of not dropping them and damaging the mechanism. But let's see how long they last. Update: NOT QUITE A YEAR. One the set did not pick up the 5 lbs weight and now will not go back into the rack. Unless I can figure our how the mechanism works and fix it, I have just thrown about several hundred bucks. Not sure if there is a warranty. Quit a SCARE. But I figured out how the mechanism worked and solved the problem. Now can use my dumbbells again. BUT BEWARE! I was on my own. So others who purchase this set don't get discouraged and toss the out or get frustrated and damaged the mechanism, just remove the 5# weights from the cradle, reinsert the empty bars correctly, and twist. That will release the dumbbell mechanism in the dumbbell and allow you to twist it until all the weights are off. Then reload the 5# endplates and -- voila! -- you are back in business. UPDATE: Had these since July 2019 -- almost three years -- and used them regularly 3-days a week. Still just as good as new. Great investment. I've been exercising with weights since I bolstered my Charles Atlas exercises with those of Mr. America (1947) Steve Reeves, and I can tell you that these are the greatest development since Atlas introduced the "dynamic tension" for fast and convenient and cheap muscle building. Update: 6/24/22. Still going like the Energizer Bunny! I have to admit, I dropped one and thought it broke. But I fixed it in minutes by taking it back to no plates, then adding plates. Contrary to some raters, I would rate these as tops. As for the company that makes them, I can't say, as I have no complaints. Nor can I make a comparison, with similar dumbbells by other makers. All I know is these do everything claimed and more.

The Core Fitness® Adjustable Dumbbell Weight Set is a smart, space-saving solution for anyone who wants the flexibility of multiple dumbbells without the clutter of a full rack. Designed for convenience and ease of use, this set is especially appealing for home gym owners and busy lifters. One of the standout features is how quickly the weight adjusts. With a simple turn of the handle, you can change resistance in seconds, which makes supersets, drop sets, and circuit training far more efficient. The compact design keeps your workout area clean and organized, and the included cradle makes storage easy. The dumbbells feel solid and well-balanced in hand, with a comfortable grip that works for both strength training and higher-rep workouts. They’re versatile enough for everything from bicep curls and presses to lunges and rows, making them a great all-in-one option. On the downside, the maximum weight may feel limiting for advanced lifters who regularly train very heavy, and the premium design comes at a higher price point than traditional plate-loaded dumbbells. However, for most users, the convenience and build quality more than justify the cost. **Overall**, the Dumbbell Weight Set is a reliable, user-friendly choice for home workouts. If you value quick weight changes, durability, and saving space, this set is a strong investment that can grow with your fitness routine. 💪

Absolutely what I was hoping they'd be when I ordered them. Very easy to use and setup, about as compact as a thing like this could be. The grips are comfy. A great upgrade to my set of static 25s and 40s. Everything fits together very snugly so you have to be a little careful when assembling or putting them back in the cradles. That said the plates are also slotted together such that it's pretty hard to mess it up. Overall very happy with these

My son has recently started lifting and asked for dumbbells to compliment the power rack and barbells that we already have in the garage. Since we don't have a lot of space, an adjustable set is what I decided on. The price on these seems competitive for adjustable dumbbells - not expensive, but not exactly cheap either. Here are my pros and cons so far. Pros: - Adjustable weights from 5 to 50 lbs (I didn't weigh them to make sure the advertised weight is accurate as that didn't matter to me). - Selection method. The way of selecting the desired weight works well. Spinning the handle to select the weight is easy and intuitive. - Compact storage. This is important if space is at a premium. We can store these in a small corner of the garage and bring them out when needed. - No bar extending past the weight. I had originally bought dumbbell handles that you can add weights to, but that meant the bar extended past the weight and could be in the way doing some exercises such as overhead ones. On these the weight gets added to the ends of the dumbbell so they act just like a full set of individual dumbbells and there is no bar extending past the weight. - Comfortable. They are not overly padded so you can get a secure grip and the contoured handle feels fine in my hands. Cons: - When selecting heavier weight, the dumbbell tends to get stuck in the carrier and you have to hold the carrier down with a free hand or foot. I fixed this by building a cart for the dumbbells that holds the carrier down. (Cart is also useful for moving them in and out of where they are stored) - Sometimes you can't select the heavier weight if the handle isn't fully inserted. Resetting the handle with a little more force works to fix that issue. - The weight rattles a little when lifting. That makes me unsure of how long the attachment method will hold up. It is working fine so far. Fine but odd: - These came as a set in 2 boxes. The first box we opened only included the weights and carrier. We figured out how to set the dumbbells up easily enough but I was expecting some instructions. The second box not only had the instructions, but logo endcaps for both dumbbells. It was clear that the 2 boxes we meant to be a set, but I wondered why both boxes weren't packed identically with the instructions and one set of the endcaps.

Sturdy, easy to use and adjust. Nice grips too. Good range of weight.

Nice weights - I've had adjustables before, but these work really well (easy to add the plates) and feel good - like regular dumbbells.

I bought these because they were well rated on Wirecutter, whose opinions I generally respect. For the first 2-3 months of use, I really enjoyed them. They were priced decently, and extremely easy and convenient to use. I particularly liked that you only needed to twist the dumbbell handle in order to adjust the weight, rather than having to adjust a dial like you do on some other brands. Unfortunately, the quality of these dumbbells was not up to par. The mechanism and gears on the handle that actually grab onto and adjust the weights are attached with glue(!) Within 3 months of light use, the gears on one of the dumbbell handles fell off entirely, along with the weights that were attached. I had never dropped these weights, so I know I did not damage them. The gears simply detached because the glue that bound them deteriorated. I thankfully was not injured, but I could have been if I was performing a press in which the weights were above my head. I was astonished that the product quality was that flimsy, but I thought perhaps it was a fluke because the dumbbells are so well reviewed. And thankfully, because these dumbbells apparently come with a 2 year warranty for parts, I called Core Fitness to request a replacement handle. That is when I learned (as other reviewers have reported) that Core Fitness has virtually non-existent customer service supporting its supposed parts warranty. I spent 4 days on the phone waiting for several hours each time to try and reach a Core Fitness representative. None of my messages were returned. When I finally was able to get in touch with someone, they asked me to send a copy of my Amazon invoice to their customer service email as proof of purchase, and promised I would receive a replacement handle. I did so immediately, but never received a confirmation. I have tried to be patient and understanding in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, but nine months has now passed since I first tried to contact Core Fitness, and despite multiple attempts to contact them, I have not once received a response. In my frustration, I turned to the Amazon reviews to see if anyone else has had this problem and how they have solved it, and was shocked to see a number of 1 star reviews reporting my exact same problem: their handle was attached with glue, the glue failed after a few months of light use, and they could not get in contact with Core Fitness for a refund or replacement. I have never written a review before, but this made me realize that I needed to: These dumbbells are of dangerously poor quality and the warranty is effectively a sham because Core Fitness will not respond to any customer service requests. Do not purchase.