Performance Fitness Systems TB560 Adjustable Dumbbells

Overall I am happy with the product. My only issue is sometimes it is not easy putting the dumbbells back on the stand. They get caught up in the weights that were left on the stand. The slots should be a little deeper to prevent the weights from flopping around when the dumbbells are removed. Other then that they work good and I recommend this product for anyone in the market.More detail ...

Good Set

These weights are pretty good the only downsides are that sometimes the lever sticks also they are only in 10 pound increments.More detail ...

Excellent barbell set w/storage rack combo!

I am VERY happy with this product! It is an excellent quality dumbell set with a very strong and sturdy rack. I highly recommend this item for anyone looking for a good range of weight level options in dumbells. This also makes an excellent start to my home gym! Shipping was prompt and they pack the dumbbells and stand VERY WELL. Kudos to the New York Barbell of Elmira Corp.More detail ...

Ironmaster Vs. Powerblock from someone who owns BOTH

After years of collecting the old standard hex dumbells and trying to maintain a home gym in the city in various apartments (usually in the common basement) I found the PowerBlock dumbells. For someone without a dedicated room (with lots of space) for their workout equipment these are fantastic dumbells. They go up to 85 or 90lbs without the add-on kit and they are super fast and easy to change the weight. They are pricey but considering the amount of dumbells they replace well worth it for the right user.



After using the PowerBlock setup for a couple years I came across IronMaster another brand with adjustable dumbells. They go to 75lbs without the add-on kit and cost a little less than the PowerBlock dumbells. I have BOTH in my home gym now and I will go over the pros and cons of each for those of you trying to decide on a set up like this.



PowerBlocks:



Pros: Well made comfortable grip fast and easy to change the weight in 10lb increments nice stand included made in USA ability to go up to 85-90lbs as is and 120lbs with add-on. Excellent for exercises where you change weight quickly or frequently. Square dumbells don't roll.



Cons: Funky design with 4 pillars around your hand/wrist. It works but it makes me nervous at higher weights that if I were to drop them I could somehow catch my wrist in there and hurt myself. Difficult to quickly switch weights in increments smaller than 10lbs. This is a problem for many exercises. Although they are sturdy and have never given out on me they rattle and the plates move a little when you use them. Again they seem sturdy but when doing shoulder or bench press it's a little disconcerting. You need to make sure the magnetic pins are fully inserted and in the right spot or disaster could ensue. The dumbells get long when using a lot of weight which can be somewhat awkward for certain exercises.



Overall: These dumbells are best for exercises where you change the weight frequently or quickly and work best for non-press exercises in my experience. The add-on kit is a nice option but the dumbells are already pretty long at 85-90lbs so it may be impractical for a lot of exercises. They were the first of their kind they are still a serious contender in this ring.



IronMaster:



Pros: Well Made. More traditional looking & feeling dumbells. Up to 75lbs as is and 125lbs with kit. Not as long as PowerBlocks no awkward pillars to stick your hand in between. Nice stand included. Great bench and other accessories available (better than PowerBlock bench after using both). No rattling or moving of plates when in use. Sturdy and well balanced and made in USA. Excellent for press exercises. Just as quick to change the weight in 2.5lb or 5lb increments as it is by 10lbs or more.



Cons: Takes significantly longer to change the weight than PowerBlocks. For press exercises I find this to be less of an issue but for curls and other quick change exercises it's a bit of a pain. No locking mechanism for the screw in pins. This has never been an issue or caused a dumbell to fall apart during use but there's no locking mechanism (or magnet such as PowerBlocks) just friction preventing the pin from unscrewing. I'm not too worried about it but it has crossed my mind.



Overall: These dumbells are best for users who use higher weights for press exercises and want the traditional look and feel of a dumbell you might find in the gym. They don't rattle or move and are very solid. They also go higher in weight than the PowerBlocks with the add-on kit and cost less. Not as good for users using ligher weight and requiring quick changes.



Conclusion: For me having both pairs is a pretty good set up but If I were to choose just one I would stick with the IronMaster. I like them for their sturdiness and lack of rattling especially when using heavy weight. In addition to the IronMaster I would buy a cheaper set of adjustable dumbells with a lower maximum weight (50lbs maybe) that could be easily adjusted in 5lb (or smaller) increments to use for curls and kickbacks etc...and stick with the IronMaster for the heavier weights where I really don't mind the extra minute of rest to change the weight! In fact I think I will sell my PowerBlocks and get a set up like this and have some money left over for Muscle Milk! :)



P.S. the IronMaster adjustable bench is the BEST I have used!More detail ...

The Most Bang for your Buck

These are great and the best price on the like to be found anywhere. They have a wider range of weight than most any for the price. They also come as a pair with a stand (you can leave the smaller stands on the floor unattached to the frame stand if you don't have room) all included unlike most of this sort. I've been using them for a couple of weeks and they're remaining quite sturdy.

The rubber covered grip with flat sides is actually innovative and underrated keeping them aligned for replacement on the stand for readjustment and it's quite comfortable.



The dumbell frames are solid hard plasic held together by bolts so it could be disassembled if replacement parts are ever needed (I don't know if they're available though) or tightening required. The adjustment switches (red) are a more flexible plastic but thick and durable. The weights themselves are black painted iron. The stand is metal and solid quick to assemble with the actual weight rests which could be used seperately if you don't have room for the stand are a solid plastic. The dumbells have idiot proof diagrams on them by the switches for reference when adjusting to the desired weight.



The "2.5 lb. adjustment" isn't quite accurate. They are really adjustable in 5 lb. increments; 2.5 lbs. on each side of the dumbell. So you could adjust them in 2.5 lb. increments but they'd be 2.5 lbs. off-balance.



If you want the convenience of adjustable dumbells with a wide range of weight and you're on a budget these are without a doubt the ones to get.More detail ...

Great Price Great Weights No frills.

They look good. (better in person)



Theyre flexible ie adjustable.



They are a fraction of the price of some of the name brand wieghts.



They are high quality.



If youre looking for modular weights and dont want to break the bank on em get these.More detail ...

Seriously flawed bar/slider/lock design

Here is my experience after replacing 2 sets in 10 days.



It has a cheap plastic bar. Here are the design flaws of this dumbbell



0. These dumbbells don't/will not have LONG life since the plastic used in bar/base will crack soon.

1. I received the dumbbells with broken cap. If you open the top cap (with red slider) you will see the entire bar/handle design is flimsy made with cheap plastic.

2. The red plastic slider will jam often or doesn't slide smoothly. The sliding/locking mechanism is based on thin white plastic strip black plastic belt and black strip (below the red slider). They are flimsy and will not last longer much. You will need to replace bar often.

3. The base to keep the dumbbells and adjust weights is also plastic. You can't just drop dumbbells if you are used to hex dumbells etc. You will have to align weights using the base to adjust. Till now this aligning process has frustrated me.

4. Lifecore may not have Quality Assurance team since I have already exchanged 2 dumbbells because of this sliding/locking/bar problem.



I wish Lifecore had made this 5/10 lbs METAL bar that could last life time. Any adjustable dumbbells should be designed to last life time. Hex dumbbells are like that. Otherwise there is no point in spending so much money on this.





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