CAP Barbell Adjustable Dumbbell Weight Set, Multiple Options

I agree with other reviewers who say that users must be sure to check that the nut holding the plates in place should be tightened before using. I have on a few occasions noticed that it becomes quite loose even when just sitting on the floor for a few days. Luckily I read the reviews before use so I made sure to check every time, so I haven’t had any issues of the nut actually falling off of the bar. I did notice the rubber smell at first but didn’t find it unbearable. The rubber smell was gone within a few days. I live in such a small apartment so its really nice just having the two bars and the ability to change the weights – rather than a stand with several different sized dumbbells. I wouldn’t have room for that. I have recommended these dumbbells to some of my friends who also live in small spaces and have lower budgets. I think overall they are very convenient and reliable.

When originally considering this product I was very concerned with the number of negative reviews/comments that people were leaving about these dumbbells. After deciding to take the risk, I felt the need to write a review since I believe that the negative reviews are overblown and overly dramatic. I will hopefully address the main concerns that you as the prospective buyer are having while considering this product. If you don’t care about the details I have a TLDR at the bottom =)

1. Smell: These weights do not smells like daisies; no dumbbells do. However, the smell is NOT as bad as people are saying. I would highly recommend leaving these weights outside (and/or washing them) to let them air out and control the smell, but it is not immediately overpowering. When the package arrived I slowly opened the box waiting for a toxic stench to explode out, but it never came. It was not until I lifted a plate out of the box that I noticed the smell people mentioned (the chemical applied to prevent rust), and it was not very strong. I left mine in the garage to air out and noticed a slight change in the smell of the garage, but nothing extreme. I would certainly keep them out of the house to be safe, but for $40 a quick wash or airing out was worth it to me.

2: Quality: If you are looking for professional dumbbells that are made of top quality materials then look elsewhere. But if you are looking for a solid set of starter weights, this is your product. I will say that the first time I removed a collar a small piece of metal broke off, but it did not affect the functionality of the piece. Also, I noticed someone mentioned that the collar lets the weights slide…this was incorrect in my experience. The collars seem to hold the weights snugly in place, so there should be no problems there. The quality is by no means great (unbeatable for the price though), but it is good enough that I trust it will last and serve its purpose.

3. Case: I saw a few people talking about how the case broke easily. The case seems fairly sturdy if it is treated well. A case breaking or not will depend on your delivery man. The weights are packaged very well inside a few boxes (Amazon ships it out in an excessively large box), and in my experience there were no cracks. The sliders to keep the box closed seem pretty lame, but I’m one of those people who isn’t going to sweat it if the case breaks.

I hope I covered the main concerns that most people were having. My honest review of this product is that this is unbeatable for the price. $40 with free shipping (mine came in 2 days) is great, and these are exactly what I was looking for. And NO I was not paid for this review and think Amazon should be ashamed of including paid reviews.

TLDR: Does NOT smell that bad (easily fixed), decent quality, best bang for the buck for somebody looking for starter dumbbells.

UPDATE 1/25/14: I now have two sets of these (it was cheaper than buying weight individually), and they are holding up great after over a year and a half of use. I’ve noticed the collar shifts slightly when you get over 30lbs, but never enough that it’s a problem. Be confident in purchasing these as starter weights.

UPDATE 7/31/16: My original bars are still going strong. The collar shifting still happens on occasion, but not to the point where it interferes with my workout. I’ve purchased additional plates for it and added them just fine – any 1″ plate should fit just as well as the originals. So these have held up strong for 4 years…zero complaints here. One thing I forgot in the original review – you may want some lifting gloves. The metals isn’t forgiving on your hands, so if you don’t want big calluses, invest in a cheap pair of gloves.

The CAP Dumbbell Weight Set is an excellent addition to any home gym! The quality is top-notch, and the variety of weight options allows for versatile workouts. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced lifter, this set has you covered. Plus, it’s compact and easy to store. Highly recommend for anyone looking to elevate their fitness routine!

Están hechas de Buenos materiales, y son “bonitas” (tanto como unas pesas pueden llegar a ser). El mecanismo de cerrado es firme, aunque hay que apretarlo bien, de lo contrario se puede ir abriendo al hacer uso de las pesas, lo que es muy incómodo.

Una buena adición para el gimnasio o la casa.

This is an all around okay weight set. I bought this along with a set of 8 standard 10 lb plates. I figured it would be cheaper just buy this set rather than to go out and buy two dumbbell bars and some light weighted plates at a store. The set includes 30 lbs in plates in small increments (5, and 2.5 lb) with two 5 lb handles (more like 3.5 lb). I figured beforehand that the set didn’t include enough weights to really get a good workout, but that is why I bought a set of 10 lb plates along with it. When it comes time to drop weight during my workout, dropping in small increments with the 5 and 2.5 lb plates come in handy.

The plates seem to be of average to above average quality. I did not notice any significant toxic smell as some reviewers have raised concerns about. It did however have a slight smell of oil, but after a week it had gone. I am not sure what the strength of the handles are, but I feel safe loading them up to 80 lbs and I am sure you can go beyond that. The handles can take 4 plates each side with a little bit of thread left to spare. The knurled part of the dumbbell handle really shreds my palms when lifting heavy weights, so I either have to use gloves or wrap the handles. The spin-locks have to be re-tightened after every other set. It is an annoyance but not big of a deal. I have experienced other handles/spin-locks with the same problem so I was expecting this. The rubber washer on the spin-lock always gets stuck on the plates, so when it comes time to change weights, you always have to pry them off. Otherwise, I would say the handles are of average quality. The case that the weight set was enclosed in was completely demolished when I received it. I am guessing it was due to the latch opening and the weights becoming free and rocking around during shipment. I don’t think I would have used the case regularly either way, but it still would have been nice to have it intact.

Overall, I would say that I got what I paid for – a dumbbell set of average quality at a good price.