Customer Reviews

Cap Barbell 40-Pound Dumbbell Set

5 star:		(181)
4 star:		(82)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

These are decent weights - carry case arrived damaged, it was replaced for us - the weights themselves are solid and easy to handle.

Caveat: a 40 pound set is not much weight - I figured it would be plenty for me as I'm just getting into this, but actually my wife's outgrown them as well.

Thing is, the bar weighs 5 pounds, you get 15 pounds of assorted weight for each of the two bars, total 40 pounds, this allows you to set up from 5 to 20 pound dual dumbbells or a single up to 35 pounds - not quite enough to get there from here.

Plan on adding a few more 5 pounder or 10 pounders to it, is all - they are available separately so no big deal. I've set these bars up with 65 pounds of weights with no problem using 10 pounders.

The bars are good quality and have rubber washers to lock the weights in place.

For some exercises the 14 inch bars get in the way compared to simple hex dumbbells, and it does take a while to change weights between moves, but it's tolerable, especially compared to blowing $500 on adjustable weights with plastic adjustment tabs, no less.

For the price, keep a couple sets around - you get more versatility in weight, and you get the ability to set up 2 sets for yourself at a time - allowing quicker workouts at the weight of your choosing without investing in a zillion separate dumbbells.

Would definitely do again.

It's your basic Chinese-made slide-on dumbbell set. The vendor shipped quickly, and the case arrived undamaged. One of the two bars is about 1/8" longer than the other, making it a little more difficult to insert back into the case. That bar also didn't have the two rubber washers on each end of the handle that the other bar did, making the weight plates harder to snug up and more 'clangy' (is that a word?). Easily fixed with a trip to the hardware store and the purchase of a few 1" ID O-rings. Knocked off one star for my gas costs.

As another reviewer states, having a few more weight plates around is convenient. I bought an extra four 10# plates on sale at the local sports store. Any standard 1" ID plate will work. The total cost of this set plus the extra plates was still less than 1/4 the cost of an adjustable set, and suits my needs just fine.

The quality is what you expect. They are your basic set of dumbbells. The carrying case will likely get damaged in shipment. Mine had a dented corner and broken latch.

But the case would be the least of my worries. Like the other reviewer, mine came with an incredibly strong gasoline scent and the bars are covered in this oily slightly sticky... substance. It leaves your hands smelling of gas even after a couple washes.

My boyfriend really wanted a set of adjustable dumbbells where he could get a bench and lift weights at home. I don't know much about weights (i.e. quality, sturdiness, difference in material, etc..) but from what I can tell, he's pretty happy with it! Compared to the other sets that range from at least $200 to $350 for the weights, I think the fifty bucks I spent was a good deal. They don't look at nice and sleek as the other more expensive weights, but they do the job. So like I said, I don't know much about weights and did not realize that 40lbs meant the total weight of everything! I thought it was 40lbs per weight. He was looking for 50lb weights each, so that explains how I got these so cheap. However, this brand sells identical weights that you can buy online, or even at Sports Authority, which I did. I got him four more individual 10lb weights, so now it's about 40lbs per dumbbell. If he wanted, I think he could use one dumbbell and attach enough weights to make it 50lbs for one dumbbell. And the 10lb weights were about $10 apiece, so overall it only cost about $100 which is still cheaper. They do smell kind of funny, but I don't know if that's just what weights smell like?

Shipping: ***** This product arrived 1 day before the delivery date - That's always a nice surprise. My case also came without a cardboard box. Only zip ties around the case. That was nice because that way it doesn't come damaged. Case and latches are perfect.

Quality: **** This set is pure iron: Black painted cast iron plates. Standard iron/chrome plated diamond textured handle grips. And chrome plated screw caps.

Some people have complaint about the rubber washers in between the cap screws and the plates falling out, which is true since they are not glued to the cap screws or plates. This is not a problem however since the rubber washers are completely unnecessary. I removed them and put them back in the case. The caps tighten just as well without the washers.

Some people also complain that the weights become loose and start to "clang" in the middle of your set. I actually have experienced this too, but maybe only 1/10 times I'm working out, and remember this is WITHOUT the washers that I take out. And if it does become loose, I just tighten them when I'm done. IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL. These are light weights and they're not going to fall off the handle. Sometimes I don't even tighten it - I actually like the sound of the iron clang.

Some people also comment that the weights smell like gasoline. Let me set this straight: The weights have no scent. The case, however, has somewhat of a metal/plastic odor - the same type of smell of all the weight machines when you go to the gym. Believe it or not, the smell might actually subconciously help motivate you to work out harder. But it is not a bad smell, like the guy next to you at work.

Functionality: ***** Unlike some reviewers who don't like taking time unscrew the caps and change the plates in between sets, I actually enjoy it. I rest 1:30-2:00 minutes between sets which gives me more than enough time to change the weights. Some people are so lazy...

Some people also complain that the bars hurt their hand. True, the handles are not rubber, plastic, or foam. They are purly smooth chrome finish etched with diamond patterns. However, they don't hurt my hands because I'm used to the feel. The quality and feel of these weights is standard to that of a gym's weights. Above all, if you're thinking about your hands more than you're biceps or shoulders, you're probably not lifting enough.

Price: ***** Best $40 I've ever spent since I use these everyday and they help keep me in shape. How could you possibly go wrong?



My only complaint is that I don't have carpet in my house (all hardwood) so I have to be very careful when I change the weights and set them on the floor.

The main thing to know about this weight set is that it has a powerful toxic odor that will fill your entire apartment. You will be okay if you can keep them outside. I washed my set and some of the smell went away, but it is still too powerful to keep inside. The odor is of the type that will make you nauseous.

These dumbbells are perfect for me. I had been considering one of the $400 adjustable sets but decided on these instead, and I'm glad I did. Nothing fancy, but the quality is easily good enough for my purposes. Great price, and they're Prime eligible, which makes me think that Amazon can't be making too much profit on them after they ship a 50 lb. package for free.

edit on 12/8/09: In fact, I like them so much I ordered another set now that Amazon has them back in their warehouse.

Fast Shipping, Excellent product(weights, bars and spinners) in my opinion, I didn't give it 5 stars because I think the "hinges" on the case should be more durable and also the case had a petroleum odor to it but that went away after 5 or so days. For the case I would suggest leaving it open or taking all the items out of the case and store the case away, otherwise I feel the "hinges" would completely break after a dozen or so of opening/closing case. I have opened/closed it about 4 times and one of the "hinges" has a crack halfway through it. 2 "hinges" per case and the "hinges" are a thin flat piece of plastic. The rest of the case seems really durable and has dividers incorporated into it for the weights, and the bars and spinners are not much so for dividers, but they can still be organized. Other than that and with this in mind it should serve me for many years and has made me a excellent home starter gym until I get strong enough to buy more plates.

As others noted these smell terrible. My appartment was reeking for 3 days. Never leave them out in the open. I did wash them with soap water but they still smell. I'm currently looking for other dumbbells and consider throwing them out. So if you don't mind the smell while working out and put them away right after each use, they might be ok, but otherwise think twice before buying. I'm looking at buying some rubber coated plates which I presume don't smell as bad.

Update:
So I did toss 'em out and bought plates at my local sporting goods store for $1/pound. No more smell. I also bought the Apex Threaded Dumbbell handles. I will probably buy a second pair of handles since it is nice to have two different weight pairs set up for different excersices.

Amazon had the cheapest price on this set of weights. The shipping cost would have been $30 (for 42lbs), but I was able to have them shipped for free with Amazon's Super Saver shipping. Thats a huge advantage over many other sellers.
The dumbbells are great, I have no complaints about them or the quality. The only negative thing I would add has to do with shipping. The box they shipped it in was twice as big as the weight case so by the time it got to my doorstep the box was falling apart/ripped/smashed, I picked it up and the weight case almost fell completely out of the box. There was close to no padding or filler in the box so allowed the case to move around inside box and yes my case has a few dents in it also, but doesnt affect the funtionality of the case. Youll want to add more weight plates eventually but those can be had, used, for cheap. The rubber washers are great, they allow you to tighten the nuts/screws/locks down very tight with no slippage. Only takes 30 seconds to spin off the locks change weight and spin them back on.
Buy these dumbbells you wont regret it. Dont waste your hard-earned cash on a fancy and expensive set.