These dumbbells might be what you're looking for if you're starting a home gym and don't have the space and money for static weight dumbbells or high-end adjustable dumbbells. However, there are some pros and cons that come along with the product so allow me to walk you through my experience.
Pros:
The knurling is good, nothing special, gets the job done. These work with and without chalk as well as with straps. If you're used to a regular barbell with knurling, it's pretty similar.
They're super cheap. Let's be real, you're considering these because of the $1-$1.20 per pound price point.
They save space vs. static weight dumbbells. They take up the space of give or take 2 dumbbells. When they're not loaded heavy, you have to find somewhere to store the extra weight plates, which can be a hassle, but it's manageable.
The weights weight relatively true. I was surprised to see that these weights are fairly accurate, and the inaccuracies tend towards heavy. I liked this.
CAP Barbell has good customer service. One of the dumbbells had an issue and I had it replaced in a few days. Definitely don't hold your tongue if something is wrong with these.
Cons:
Something was wrong with mine initially. One of the collars wouldn't stay on and I deduced it to be due to the bar itself. They sent a replacement promptly – see customer service pro above.
The quality of the coating is sub-par. It will flake off a bit especially when you first get them, and some of the plates may need a 'de-burring' to get rid of sharp edges.
Dumbbell Bench Press and similar movements will be difficult with these because the bars dig into your legs pretty bad. I recommend getting a pair of tennis balls and cutting a small X in each one, slotting them over the end you'll use as the bottom. However, when loaded to capacity, this may not work as well.
They take a surprisingly long time to load and unload. This is a hassle, and is one of the biggest cons vs. static weight dumbbells. You may spend a couple minutes messing around with little 2.5 and 5 lb plates and the spin locks, which can take away from your workout.
Overall: 3/5
These dumbbells serve me decently well, I love using them for dumbbell flies, lateral raises, romanian deadlifts, dumbbell rows, and several other movements. However, their drawbacks make the price point fair – not better.
