CAP Barbell Cast Iron Hex Dumbbell

You can't beat the value for a full set of dumbbells than an old set of cast iron hex heads. They're not super accurate so I would love to upgrade eventually, but these definitely do the job.

These are the weights that my gym started with, and I wasn't sad to see them go. They feel gross, they look ugly, but they do weigh a weight.

I buy these rusted fix them up repaint them and resell them

What can I say besides it does its job well and a great price I’ve sourced all mine used

They’re a staple in a lot of home gyms and do exactly what I need them to do, I have noticed the coating can chip pretty easily with regular use.

They weigh about what they should, feel fine in hand, and stand up to moderate abuse. The paint chips easily and if not kept in a climate controlled environment, they are prone to rust but treat them right and they'll last for decades.

I pieced these together over years, the 10’s I have are probably 30 years old. 20’s I picked up 20 years ago, the 30’s I picked up probably 15 years ago (the rest of my dumbbells are other brands). These aren’t anything fancy and get the job done. The 10’s being the oldest have a lot more chipping on the outer coating. The 20’s and 30’s are a lot better on the finish with no real flaking or chopping. One of the 30’s when used almost feel like it has some sort of void inside and you can feel it in vibration and almost hear it when it clanks of ether with the other dumbbell. I’ve wondered if this one will break over the years but it seems fine. The weight isn’t affected either. The 20’s and 30’s each had a little “slag” near the hex heads that I had to file down because it was sharp and could cut your hand if you weren’t careful. Over all they do what they are supposed to and have lasted for decades. They were all picked up from Walmart over the years too. I’d probably get them again if I had to, but I prefer the two “USA Sports Hex Dumbbells” I have for 40’s and 50’s. There is no real texture or knurling on the dumbbell handles. They are a basic dumbbell and not a premium option.

If you're looking for a full set of dumbbells and are on a budget, these metal hex dumbbells are a good option. I went the long route of buying them secondhand through FBMP or CL, and managed to amass a set up to 65 lbs (thus far) over the course of 10+ arduous years. Though it was economical, this method came with a price. e.g. inconsistencies in the quality or build of the dumbbells, waiting indefinitely for your desired weight to be listed, and putting up with annoying sellers who insist that you buy the entire set - and trying to negotiate them into reasonableness, etc. One added perk of buying the metal hex dumbbells instead of the rubber ones - a perk I couldn't have anticipated at the outset - is that you can use micro-loading magnets to fill in missing weights without having to buy prohibitively more expensive pairs as the weights get heavier. Although I also own adjustable dumbbells (Power Block) as well as loadable dumbbell handles, I appreciate having a dependable full set at hand. Although these are not the most accurate in terms of weight tolerance, and their "knurling" is often merely decorative, they are real workhorses in my gym that I wouldn't want to be without.

Some of the best dumbbells to start with since they are cheap, but we have bent countless pairs before

The knurling and overall quality is ok, but I prefer the straight handle over the bulged handles on my more expensive DBs. They’re better in general, and will accept a fat grip.