While I’ve really done a variety of sports and done my exercises like this in the past, I confess that I’ve never really gotten into a consistent fitness routine over the years. With mid-life in a pandemic, I (like millions of others) have rethought my health and wellbeing. In addition to exploring various all-in-one cardio machines, I thought it would be a good idea (figuratively and literally) to pick up some weights.
After my due diligence, I arrived at Core Home Fitness. They kindly sent me their prestigious adjustable dumbbells that go from 5 to 50 pounds quickly. And while the phrase “ingenious dumbbells” may seem contradictory in other contexts, I found it pretty apt here.
The set comes with two dumbbells, 20 weights and two cradles that can be mounted on an optional stand.
Scott Tharler
A heavy box
The box the set arrived in was pretty compact; but at around 100 pounds it was certainly an impressive increase. When I was taken to the area where I would put this training station, I removed the contents and found:
- Two 5 pound dumbbells
- Sixteen 5 pound weights
- Four 2.5 pound weights
- Two cradles (pre-assembled)
The quick installation process only involved placing each U-shaped 2.5 pound weight in place in the bracket, followed by an interlocking set of four 5 pound weights four times (once for each side of each dumbbell), and then the dumbbells self . It was pretty intuitive and took no more than a few minutes from opening the box to using it.
Intuitively, turning the handle in the direction of the plus sign increases the weight and in the direction of the minus it is deducted.
Scott Tharler
Do the twist
Other systems require you to turn a knob on the end of the dumbbell, a two-handed operation; or move a gauge along the top of the weights; or (for digital systems) press a button on the bracket and then wait a few seconds for it to automatically apply the correct weights according to your selection. Compared to old-fashioned adjustable weight sets – where you manually slide individual plates onto a short dumbbell and turn a key to lock them (in theory) – each of these newfangled systems sounds like a huge improvement. But the fact that the Core Home Fitness version does the same thing with a simple twist of your wrist blows any other system.
The mechanism works thanks to notches in the bottom of the dumbbells that snap onto their counterparts on the cradle. In other words, the cradle is not just a convenient way to hold the weights, but an integral part of the adjustability functionality. And again, this simplicity – turning it towards the plus sign to add more weight and towards the minus sign for less – is what uniquely allows you to reach for the dumbbell and adjust it in the blink of an eye, so to speak.
This mechanism on the underside of the dumbbell engages in a suitable piece in the holder and thus enables adjustability.
Scott Tharler
How they perform
The weight selection worked flawlessly. For each total weight that ends in 5 (15, 25, 35, and 45 pounds) it took a little finesse to get the dumbbell smoothly sandwiched between the remaining 2.5 and 5 pound weights in the cradle. But with a little practice, it wasn’t a big deal. I found it more important to pay attention to the direction of the dumbbells so that the plus and minus symbols line up the way I wanted them to. That way, I could just walk upstairs, grab both handles, and rotate a certain number of clicks without looking closely to get the weight I wanted for the daily routine.
Aside from their adjustability, they also did well as dumbbells. No complaints at all. I like its curved, textured handle – especially in contrast to the old flat steel handles. The dumbbells felt great in my hands, whether I was doing traditional bicep curls or tricep extensions, when I lay down and held the dumbbell perpendicular to the bottom of the upper weights with both hands while I pushed the assembly over my head . (With old-school dumbbells, I’d be a little nervous about the floor slabs coming off and crushing my face.) As you move, each dumbbell felt like a cohesive unit, rather than rattling around like a handful of pieces that made it up. In short, the dumbbells were solid.
Since the weights are discreetly flat on the underside, they don’t roll away, which is nice.
Scott Tharler
The optional stand
In my youth I might have done without the booth. Maybe that seems silly. But I discovered that I like the ability to just go upstairs and not have to bend over to grab the dumbbells. Granted, it’s a bit of luxury, not strictly necessary. But it’s also a bit more appealing to the eye. It makes me feel like I have a slightly more serious home gym. So if you have the space I recommend it. I like the way it adds stature to the cradles included in the set. I just wish they had more savings (even a $ 25 discount) on buying the two as a bundle.
The stand accessories are ideal for picking up and putting down the dumbbells as well as for storage.
Scott Tharler
Should You Buy Core Home Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells?
If you want to save space and money with adjustable dumbbells, these are the ones. They’re the easiest, fastest, and easiest to use. They’re also good looking, less complicated, and tech-savvy – not to mention they are less expensive – than other popular brands in the field. In fact, the only critic that crosses your mind is that you will finally run out of excuses to avoid the curls, presses, and extensions that give you the ripped arms and toned torso that you imagined.
Buy from Core Home Fitness for $ 349.99.
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