Are you worried about where to store fixed-weight dumbbells once you buy them? Worry no more! The Core Fitness adjustable dumbbells are compact, space-saving, and easier to use.
Each dumbbell features twist-and-lock technology, enabling users to adjust the weight from 5 to 50 pounds quickly.
Since it replaces more than ten fixed-weight dumbbells, Core Fitness equipment saves a lot of space.
Besides, the dumbbell sets are affordable, enabling you to make massive savings with a one-time purchase.
The purpose of this Core Fitness adjustable dumbbells review is to help you equip your home gym with versatile equipment on the cheap. Read on for detailed descriptions of the features, pros, and cons of the dumbbell sets.
Core Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells Specifications
Core Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells Construction and Build Quality
The Core Fitness adjustable dumbbells have a compact, sturdy build that makes them highly desirable for avid lifters.
It is shorter than popular brands such as Bowflex, making it easier for you to train in a space-constrained home. Overall, using this dumbbell feels like the traditional compact fixed-weight dumbbells.
When it comes to materials, the dumbbells feature both metal and plastic parts. Even though made from solid steel, the weight plates have a PVC coating to protect them from rust.
Besides, the plastic stops the weight plates from ratting as you go through your rigorous workout sessions.
But that doesn’t mean you can drop the dumbbells anyhow on a hard surface like concrete. Careless handling can break the plastic coating, rendering the weight plates corrosive.
That means you should use the dumbbells with a little care to avoid breaking them up prematurely.
The steel handles provide a firm, comfortable grip via a soft rubber coating. Therefore, you can be sure of maintaining a firm grip on the handles while making a wide range of motions and intense exercises.
Apart from minimizing injuries to the hands, the rubber handles work in all conditions, including sweaty hands.
That also makes the dumbbells secure to hold – no need to worry about them slipping and falling on you. During weight adjustment, the handles are also straightforward to turn.
Its cradles for changing weights also feature durable steel, making them durable. When you combine that with durable weight plates, you have a sturdy dumbbell in your hands.
Regardless of how intense your workouts are, these dumbbells can hold up very well.
Core Fitness Adjustment System and Weight Increments
The Core Fitness adjustable dumbbells feature the Twist-Lock weight adjustment system, similar to the StairMasterTwistLock 100.
Adjusting the weights plates starts with placing them on a cradle, which has minor keys for unlocking handles so that you can twist them.
After selecting a particular weight plate, you need to lift it from its cradle for the hold to pick it. Then you can turn the handles and lock the weight plates into place.
All their weight plates, except 2.5-pound ones, are circular, just like the classic adjustable cast iron weight plates. Therefore, twisting the handle causes the central axle to extend and pick up the weight plates.
The handle ends hook up the weight plates, preventing the plastic coating from falling off. Once you have twisted and locked the weight plates, they cannot spin on the axle, providing you with secure workout equipment.
So how many weight levels can you have with this particular dumbbell set? Firstly, the handles weigh 5 pounds without the plates.
The dumbbells come with 2.5-pound weights and 5-pound weights, which you can use in different combinations. Therefore, you can use it to adjust the weight anywhere between 5lbs (2.26kg) and 50lbs (22.6kg).
Depending on the workout you wish to have, you can set the weight to 5lbs (2.26kg), 10lbs (4.5kg), 15lbs (6.8kg), 20lbs (9kg), 25lbs (11.3kg), 30lbs (13.6kg), 35lbs (15.8kg), 40lbs (18.1kg), 45lbs (20.4kg), and 50lbs (22.6kg).
Unlike other adjustable dumbbells that allow an imbalance between the weights on the sides of the dumbbells, Core Fitness devices don’t.
You must ensure a perfect balance between the sides to use these dumbbells. That effectively eliminates offset weight workouts from your regimen.
The Cradle
Without the cradle, the dumbbell set wouldn’t work as expected. That’s because you have to place the dumbbells in the cradle to adjust the weights.
For this particular set of dumbbells, the cradle features an aluminum/PVC combo with openings at the end to enable you to securely hold them when carrying them around. In dimension, the cradle is 16 inches (L) 9 inches (W).
When selecting the heavier weights 40lbs to 50lbs, the cradle might become shifty, making it complicated.
But that issue isn’t unique to Core Fitness adjustable dumbbells but tends to affect most similar products. Thus, one can solve it by stepping onto the cradle to stabilize it.
You can mount the cradle on a stand, which you have to buy separately. Given its 30-inch height, the frame makes it easier to pick up dumbbells and select weights.
The good thing with the aluminum/PVC cradles is the lightweight nature that makes them convenient.
Supported Exercises
The Core Fitness adjustable dumbbells allow 2.5-pound adjustments on either side, making it possible to increase the weight by 5 pounds at a time.
They, therefore, support both beginners and advanced users who want to do a wide variety of exercises. At the lower weights, you can do light activities like aerobics.
As you increase the weight, you can start more rigorous workouts, ensuring full-body training.
By the time you graduate to the maximum of 50 pounds, your fitness levels will be high enough.
The following exercises are possible with the Core Fitness adjustable dumbbells:
Who Should Buy Core Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells?
Everyone! As we have seen above, the dumbbells support a wide range of exercises for beginners and seasoned users.
The dumbbells are great at turning your home gym into a desirable place of therapy and relaxation. If you are starting, moving gradually from lower weights to the highest is the way to go.
As your muscles get used to one weight, you can give it a more significant challenge with heavier weight plates. That way, you will improve your fitness levels without ever having enrolled in a local gym.
Customer Reviews
The Core Fitness adjustable dumbbells have 590 reviews on Amazon, translating to a 4.5-star rating. From these ratings, 81 percent are 5-star, 8 percent 4-star, 3 percent 3-star, 2 percent 2-star, and 7 percent 1-star.
That means that 89 percent of the users believe this is a great product—such excellent ratings put it in the same league with products such as the Yes4All Adjustable Dumbbells.
A majority of the customers who left positive reviews hail the dumbbells for being so easy to assemble. The weight adjustment mechanism also received a lot of praise from the users for being easy to use.
Instead of wasting too much time focusing on changing weight plates, users can concentrate on what matters – exercising. Besides, users get a guide on dumbbell-based exercises to set them off to a good start.
However, some users complained of the smallest weight tab breaking after a drop from only afoot. It seems that these people weren’t exercising caution to prevent any breakages.
In some instances, the turning mechanism broke off due to the application of too much pressure. Others accused the manufacturer of not answering their calls.
Pros
Cons
Core Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells Review-Bottom Line
The Core Fitness adjustable dumbbells are some of the most affordable on the market today. They have a 5lbs to 50lbs weight range, making them suitable for both beginners and seasoned lifters.
Besides, the dumbbells are easy to use and feature a twist-lock adjustment mechanism. If you are looking for decent adjustable dumbbells on a budget, this is recommended for you.