Fitness Gear Hex Dumbbell Review – Cast Iron Durability And Price

This Fitness Gear Hex Dumbbell review provides everything you need to know about this durable yet inexpensive cast iron dumbbell.  I’ll be going over some of the benefits and negatives for these Fitness Gear dumbbells.

More importantly, I’ll be listing what to look for in the best dumbbell sets, helping you to choose which kind to get based on your workout routines.

Dumbbell sets can be the best equipment for a home gym because there is such a variety of exercises that you can do with them.   

Training with dumbbells gives you better intermuscular coordination and also activates more muscle fibers for a more intense workout than other types of weight training.

How to Buy Dumbells

Dumbbell sets for a home gym are an excellent investment and should be on the top of the list when shopping for an exercise room or garage home gym.

The reason being is that there are dumbbell exercises to go along with every muscle group.  This makes them one of the most versatile pieces of home gym exercise equipment.

Which Pairs of Dumbell Weight Do I Need?

If you happened to have unlimited room and budget, some dumbbell sets go up to 120lbs starting with a 2.5lb pair.  This would be almost 50 pairs of dumbbells!   However, there is no need to go crazy with your dumbbell selections, at least in the beginning.

If you are on a budget, I recommend starting with a few that are critical to your exercise program.  Personally, I started out with only 3 pairs.  A 20lb set for my shoulder fly exercises, a 40lb set for my bicep curls and other arm exercises, and a 60lb pair for my bench presses.

You can simply purchase your dumbbells as needed, and get creative when choosing your dumbbell routine.

Dumbbell Shapes

The two main shapes are round and hex.  Round dumbbells work really well for certain rollout exercises and they can be easier to move around.  However, they don’t stack well, so they can take up more home gym space.

Hex dumbbells are popular since they are more stable and can be stackable.  Whether you prefer the round or hex shape, either type will fit nicely on a standard dumbbell rack.

What Are Dumbbells Made Out Of

The main types of materials that dumbbells are made out of are rubber, urethane, plastic, iron, and neoprene coated.

Neoprene dumbbells are coated in a soft, colorful material, but are less durable.  This material should be ok since these will be lighter dumbbells that don’t tend to get abused as much.  They are also quiet and safer to use.

Cast iron dumbbells are like the ones in this review.  They are louder and can do the most damage to your floor.  However, they are invincible and the most inexpensive type of dumbbell.

Rubber dumbbells are the most popular type of dumbbell and are still reasonably priced.  They are safer and quieter because of the soft rubber coating.  The negatives are that they can eventually wear out and the rubber could have a smell in a small exercise room.

Lastly, the urethane dumbbells.  These are usually the highest quality and longest-lasting dumbbell but can be very expensive.

Dumbbell Pricing and Value

The days of $1.00 a pound dumbbells are over. However, when purchasing dumbbell weights, you do still get what you pay for, so I don’t advise getting the cheapest ones possible.

What material you choose will be the biggest influence on the price range.  The Fitness Gear Dumbbells in this review are the least expensive type and the best value.

No matter what kind you choose, dumbbell sets for a home gym make a great long term investment.  A good dumbbell set lasts forever and holds its resale value.

Be especially aware of shipping costs on such a heavy product.  Luckily some distributors do still include shipping, or there may be an option for instore pickup.

Adjustable Dumbbells

This is a great alternative if you have limited workout space.  Just one set of dumbbells can adjust to give you many different weight sizes.  The Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells start at 2.5lbs and go up to 52.5lbs.

Then there are the PowerBlock Adjustable Dumbbells that are set up to add additional stages of weight.  These adjustable dumbbells can go up to 120lbs per dumbbell!

Although this is an excellent invention for a compact home gym, some feel that they are a bit bulky and others simply prefer the real thing.

Fitness Gear Hex Dumbbell Review

Iron cast dumbbells are the down and dirty old school type for a real gym workout feel.  The clinking and clanking is not for everyone, but many of us enjoy this action.

These are a heavy duty no frills workout dumbbell.  Its also one of the best bargains out there, especially for being both sturdy and high quality.

The solid iron construction is invincible, and there is a thin protective coating to keep them from rusting. The solid handles are not contoured like some other more expensive dumbbells, but they do come with a non-slip, aggressive surface.

Most weightlifters enjoy the hex shape feature.  This ensures that the dumbbells don’t roll around during your workout.  The stability is also nice during certain movements such as using them for push-ups.

Just be careful not to drop these weights from too high as they work well for putting dents in your exercise room floor.

Gear Fitness Cast Iron Dumbbells can be purchase in single or in hex dumbbell sets.  These dumbbell weights are sold in 5lb increments.  5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60lbs.

Shipping costs vary for the hex cast iron dumbbells, but they are available for free pick up at Dick’s Sporting Goods.  This tough, versatile dumbbell comes with a one year warranty, but they will last much longer than this.

Fitness Gear Dumbbell Benefits:

• Excellent value
• Heavy duty, solid dumbbells
• Non-slip handles
• Don’t smell like rubber
• Delivery or store pickup options
• Material won’t break down over time
• One year warranty

Possible Negatives

• May be too noisy
• Can hurt floor when dropped
• Don’t have 2.5lb increments

Benefits for Fitness Gear Dumbbells

These benefits aren’t necessarily specific to the Fitness Gear Dumbbells.  Any quality, functional dumbbell sets that come in different weight ranges will be a huge asset when putting together a full home gym setup.  Fitness dumbbells are the most versatile type of home gym equipment you can get.

This list shows that dumbbells are more beneficial than you probably thought:

• Best way to get a full body workout
• Build strength for functional movements
• Dumbbells are durable and can last forever
• Offer more exercises than barbells or kettlebells
• Training with dumbbells creates better intramuscular coordination
• A small dumbbell set doesn’t take up a lot of space
• They strengthen imbalance and promote muscle symmetry
• Dumbbells engage muscular activation from an increased range of motion
• Less expensive than a lot of home exercise equipment
• Dumbbell workout movements force engaging more muscles
• Primary method for physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Many dumbbell exercises unknowingly work core muscles

Fitness Gear Hex Dumbbell Reviews

At the time of this article, there were over one hundred positive reviews.  The average rating was 4.7 out of 5 star ratings.  Value and quality are what rank Fitness Gear Dumbbells so highly.  Click the review below to see others like it.

Alternative Dumbell Recommendation

Rogue Fitness Dumbbells

Here’s a great option if you would like to upgrade into a more comfortable rubber hex dumbbell.  These Rogue Rubber Dumbbell are extremely popular and known for their value and durability.

The weight heads are encased with heavy duty rubber for safety, cleanliness, and noise reduction.  The hex shape makes these more functional, cuts down on rolling around, and the stability makes a difference with certain exercises.

Rogue Dumbbell sets come in 2.5lb increments and the weight sizes range from 2.5lbs to 125lbs each.

The Rogue Fitness Dumbbells come standard with textured, hardened chrome handles that will not rust, and they are ergonomically shaped for a more comfortable grip.  Rogue dumbbells can be purchased in either pairs or singles.

To save money when purchasing, they are also available in Rogue Dumbbell Sets.  The most popular set is the 5-50lb range, but you may also be interested in the heavier dumbbell sets, 55-100lbs, or 105-125lbs.  All of these combinations of dumbbell sets come in 5lb weight increments.

All Rogue rubber hex dumbbells come with a one year manufacturer warranty.  To hold your dumbbell set, check out the home gym dumbbell rack also made by Rogue.

Check out my Rogue Fitness Dumbbells review.

Rogue Hex Dumbbell Benefits:

• Full selection of sizes available in 2.5lb increments
• Non-marking rubber coating
• Very durable and long lasting
• Reduced noise
• Ergonomic, textured, chrome handles
• One year warranty

Potential negatives:

• A full set takes up a lot of space
• Maybe a slight rubber smell in a small home gym

Fitness Gear Hex Dumbell Conclusion

If you are looking for durability and price in a dumbbell, I recommend this Fitness Gear Dumbbell Set.  These cast iron dumbbells come in 5lb increments up to 60lbs each.

Fitness Gear Hex dumbells may be the last set of dumbbells for the home gym that you ever purchase.  You can start out with a few of the most important sizes, and add to the collection as your workout program evolves.

I also recommend the Rogue Hex Rubber Dumbbells in case you are looking to upgrade to a rubber-coated dumbbell.

⇒ If you have any questions or comment about the best dumbbells for the home gym, please leave a message below and I will respond.