Are Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells for sale the best in the home gym fitness industry? Our well researched, deep, detailed review will take a look at all the good side and cons of the highly rated Ironmaster Quick-Lock dumbbells; from weight range, build quality, to adjustability. You can be sure to get an honest opinion from Jays Home Gym.
We’ll even have a look at the cool stand Ironmaster sell with their 75lb dumbbells pair, Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells vs Powerblock, nothing will be missed in our Ironmaster review.
Table of Contents
Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells Review
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Natural Fixed Weight Dumbbell Feel
When you take out this kind of money on a pair of adjustable dumbbells, one of your first concerns will be, Can it handle all the exercises I often do with fixed weight dumbbells? Are they going to feel awkward or natural?
I’m talking here of their size, If the dumbbell handles are too long they’re going to get in the way when dumbbell benching or overhead pressing, if the plates are too “bulky” or large, will they get in the way of curls and hit your chest? And you will be happy to know that the Ironmaster pair does not.
It’s awesome to see that Ironmaster, unlike its competitors, has thought their design through long and hard, and with their compact design, you should have no problems with the above, first big thumbs up to Ironmaster.
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Product Description
Weight range of dumbbells – 5-75lb per dumbbell – Expandable to 120-165lbs
Dimensions – 6.5″ x 6.5″ x 14.5″ (W x H x L)
Stand dimensions – 14.5″ x 19″ x 2
Lifetime warranty
Heavy duty construction
Handles weigh 5lb on their own
32 different weight settings, adjustable in 2.5lb increments
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Weight
The 75lb set should be heavy enough for majority of users, the Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells are intended for the more experienced lifters, but there is nothing wrong with a newbie starting out with a heavy duty set like the ironmasters.
As a lot of people will be reading this review, your first set of dumbbells are fast grown out of. I began my lifting hobby with a 50lb York set 15 years ago and outgrew them in 6 months; I couldn’t lift any more weights on the handles if memory serves me right.
And if you are searching for some other adjustable sets in this range you might want to be careful, because unlike the Ironmaster pair, a couple of them do not let you add extra plates.
So first, if you are a beginner, an amateur or looking to upgrade, be aware of a weight range that will allow expansion packs for future growth and secondly please do not spend over $500 on a set of Ironmaster if you are not pretty sure you are going to be continue lifting in the future.
Ironmaster do not sell 54lb pair without the stand, this could be a smart idea to begin with and add as you grow.
The dumbbell’s weight increases in 2.5lb increments, presenting you with about 30 different weight settings, making them one of the most versatile pairs of adjustable dumbbells on the market.
If you think how many pairs of fixed dumbbells you would need to have something similar in your home gym, you really do begin to see why the adjustable dumbbell is such a great space saving bit of kit.
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Add On’s ( expansion kits)
What you and many experienced weightlifters are going to like about the Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells are the options of the add-on kits and let’s say they’re pretty big, the first set increases the weight of each dumbbell up to 120lb and the second to 165lb, I’m sure this will cover just about any lifter out there.
For each set, there are 2 extra length locking pins, as the standard ones you receive with the dumbbells are not long enough when the additional weight is added to both ends.
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Ease of Adjustment
Unlike the dial system of the Bowflex or the twist locks of the Core Fitness adjustable dumbbells, you will see that the Ironmasters take considerably more time to adjust.
Even the pull pin system and Powerblock is a much faster design to adjust compared with the Ironmaster’s Quick Lock system. You’re looking at around 20 seconds to change each dumbbell, 40 secs in total between sets.
Depending on how you’re training the short time taken adding/removing plates for most, shouldn’t be a deal breaker but I think it’s the only setback you will find with this pair of dumbbells.
The locking pins are knurled on each end helping with grip especially useful if your hands are sweaty, another nice little design feature from Ironmaster.
The steel locking pins lock very tight with no rattles and provide a nice solid feel.
You slide the lock pin through the dumbbell until it reaches the stopping point and then with an easy half twist of the wrist the pins lock in place, add this with their compact design and you have an Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells that feel solid and not too far from the natural feel of a fixed weight dumbbell.
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Durability & Build Quality
Ironmaster have always been top master of quality especially in dumbbell sets production. Their adjustable dumbbells definitely prove this. Ironmaster have been making some of the most sought after and respected home gym equipment since 1978.
There’s no need to worry about experience her too, with 40+ years worth of it, Ironmaster knows what they’re doing when it comes to high-quality home gym equipment.
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Ironmaster Quick Lock Dumbbells Video
Ironmaster Quick-Lock Adjustable Dumbbells Demo
Watch this video on YouTube
The weight plates are square in shape and have indented grooves that attach together with 1″ sized hole diameters, the plates are machined to fit tight to prevent any rattle.
The plates are cast nicely and have the Ironmaster logo and name cast into them, looks quite amazing as well as their weight in kgs and lbs. A square plate will also prevent any rolling dumbbells,
The handles’ diameter is 1.25″ with a medium knurling, coated in chrome, some of you will prefer 1.5″ handle diameter for heavy presses but 1.25″ works and you shouldn’t encounter any problems, there has been no mention of the 1.25″ handle causing any issues in the many reviews I have read.
Unlike the PVC coated iron plates on some of the other competing adjustable dumbbell pairs I have reviewed, the Ironmasters can be dropped, you need not worry about filmsy plastic parts with these Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells you can drop from height when training to failure and not worry about destroying the dumbbells.
They’re built to last long, an old-school/new-school dumbbell, with Ironmasters patented Quick-Lock design feature that does speedy adjustment times. And when they say a lifetime, they mean it!
The Ironmaster dumbbells come with a lifetime warranty. This shows that this company has a lot of faith and assurance in their fitness products.
The handles on their own weigh only 5lb and feel solid, add the pins weighing 2.5 lb each and you arrive at a total empty handle of 10lb, a good weight feeling quality and heavy duty.
The Ironmaster dumbbells come with a lifetime warranty. Shows this company has a lot of faith in its fitness products.
The handles on their own weigh 5lb and feel solid, add the pins weighing 2.5lb each and you get a total empty handle of 10lb, a good weight feeling heavy duty and quality.
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The Stand
Designed to take up minimal space, the Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells stand is fast to assemble and is a worthwhile bit of kit to buy alongside the dumbbells. Complete with 3 shelves there’s easily enough room to accommodate the extra weights from the add-on packs.
There is space on top of the stand to keep dumbbells locked and ready for your next session. Each shelf is coated with a rubber layer to help prevent the stand from rust.
Pros
Features a Lifetime – warranty
Can be expanded to up to 165lbs
Dumbbell rack included
Plates will fit on any standard 1″ bar
Simple to disassemble for storage
More than 30 different weight settings
Cons
Longer adjustment times
Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells Review vs PowerBlock Adjustable Dumbbells
There are lots of decisions to make when you decide on building your own home gym. The time and effort it takes to visit the fitness club can become a pain in the butt and put a damper on your motivation. I just dislike getting on a roll at the club doing a circuit and then get to place where I have to wait for the next machine or weight set.
A lot of serious fitness minded people are investing in a home gym setup – this totally makes sense.
One piece of equipment worth investing is a set of dumbbells. If you have space, a complete set of the old style is fine but if you are going to be cramped for space, look into the adjustable sets. Their best features are the space and time they will save you.
I’ve decided to do a comparison of the Ironmaster vs PowerBlock in this section. Let’s look at the features list on each and see what we come up with.
Features List For Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells
- Fast Lock Design
- Minimal weight each is 5 lbs
- Maximum Each is 75 lbs
- Increments of 2.5 lbs.
- Built from Welded Steel
- Chrome Plated Handles
- Storage Tray Comes With The Set
- Add on Kits are available Up To 120 lbs. Each Dumbbell
Features List For PowerBlock Adjustable Dumbbells
- Comes with a Weight Selector Pin
- Lowest Weight Each 5 lbs
- Maximum each is 50 lbs.
- Increments of 2.5 lbs.
- All Parts are metal
- Rubber coated Handles
- No Storage, Can buy a Stand Separately though
- Can Expand to 70 or 90 lbs. Each dumbbell
Judging by the features highlighted above, the Ironmaster will allow you to use more total weight with each dumbbell if that is a concern for you.
The Design Of Each Set
A visual assessment of the Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells vs powerblocks reveals that the Ironmaster looks more like your Dad’s style of workout equipment. When lifting the PowerBlock, you might want to reach through a cage to grab the handle to lift the dumbbell which seems a bit awkward.
The Ironmaster is kind of shorter than the Powerblock, and to me, it appearance is neater. However, it honestly doesn’t have anything to do with its functionality, but it is obvious.
Some people enjoy the cage effect of the Powerblock and say it feels safer for the wrist. While others feel that the cage gets in their way.
Basic design of each set is quite acceptable and they both are smaller than the old style of dumbbells. We are also looking at saving space with each set but then that is a feature of all adjustable dumbbells.
How Easy Is It To Change The Weights?
To change the weights on the Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells, you loosen the large, partially threaded pin on each end of the dumbbell, take off or add the weight, put the pin back in and turn it until it locks. You will need to do this 4 times and it takes around 52 seconds to add another increment of weight.
How cool is that?
With the Powerblock, you change the weight like you do a weight stack at the gym. You pull the selector pin out and lace it in a different weight slot. To do this to both dumbbells, it takes from 10-15 seconds, now that is quick!
If you have the habit of throwing or dropping your weights when you’re done with a set, each products says that’s okay. Both sets have a warranty on them but they are a big investment to just throw around.
Other Details of Powerblock adjustable Dumbbells vs Ironmaster Dumbbells
For as low as $69, you can now purchase a stand for the PowerBlock dumbbells of various styles and they’re nice to have so you don’t have to do a lot of bending over to pick up the dumbbells. PowerBlock dumbbells are guaranteed for up to 10 years.
The Ironmaster 75 LB Quick-Lock Dumbbell Set comes with a stand that is totally worth having. Many customers think it could be a bit bigger as the dumbbells barely fit on it. The Ironmaster products are guaranteed for life with no-frills lifetime warranty.
The handles on the Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells have a 6.5″ grip width inside. They are chrome plated steel with knurled grips. The weights tighten up solid so there is not rattling. Still a good idea to chick the pin every now and then.
The Handles for the PowerBlock are in the middle of the unit surrounded by four padded wrist supports and it is also padded. Check out our full review on the PowerBlock and Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells weights.
As far as price is concerned, the PowerBlock adjustable dumbbells cost more than the Ironmaster. Niot much difference is in the price as each brand has different total weights in a set.
Decision Time
As you now understand that both of these adjustable dumbbell sets would be a great plus to your home gym, although I very much prefer the ease of use and design of the Ironmasters. Both are well built but the PowerBlock takes minimal time when changing weights in between exercises.’
You can purchase add-on kits of reach set and they both take up less floor space compared to traditional weights. Good luck making your decision, you can’t go wrong with either of these great products. It depends on a personal choice for you. Feel free to read what are the best adjustable dumbbells to buy for your gym to see more options.
To Sum Up
These are solid Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells, and you’d find them space saving if you want a fixed dumbbell but want to save bucks, efforts and space.
The pair are made to take the heat and will just take about all you can throw at them, with the extra weight add-ons and a lifetime warranty, you shouldn’t have to buy another set of dumbbells in your lifetime (if you so wish).
Fantastic weight range, great design and a cool stand to keep everything together makes Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells for sale one of the best possible options when considering the best adjustable dumbbells for the money.
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