TechRadar Verdict
The Core Home Fitness Adjustable Dumbbell Set innovates the adjustable dumbbell, creating a satisfying workout experience that will leave you raring to get your hands around them, day after day.
Pros
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Premium feel for a great price
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Plate changes are smooth, swift and secure
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Leaner profile than some rival models
Cons
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Dumbbells often stick to cradle after weight changes
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Fewer weight options than some competitors
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30-second review
If you’re serious about home workouts, you’ll have likely given some thought to investing in an adjustable dumbbell system. They take up far less space than a rack of fixed weights and are much, much quicker to change than basic plate and collar models. Core Home Fitness has entered the adjustable dumbbell market with a dumbbell set that boasts some attractive features at a very competitive price.
Core’s Twist Lock technology is the real star here: its one-handed twist system is far and away the most efficient system we’ve encountered in an adjustable dumbbell set, allowing you to quickly and smoothly change the weight of each dumbbell with just one hand.
This does come at a slight cost though: the Core Adjustable Dumbbells tend to stick in their cradles far more than other models, which can be somewhat frustrating. While you could easily solve this by securing the cradles to a surface or by purchasing the additional home dumbbell stand, it remains as the one significant performance issue in an otherwise flawless experience.
Price and availability
At the time of writing, the Core Home Fitness Adjustable Dumbbell Set is available for $359.99 (about £280 / AU$480) via the company’s website. At that price, the set makes for a very attractive proposition, costing the same or less than many competing adjustable dumbbells. When you consider that several of their features are undoubtedly the best in class, Core’s dumbbells are a leading contender that should definitely be on your radar.
Also worth considering is the Core Home Fitness Adjustable Dumbbell Stand. Presently retailing for $159.99 (about £120 / AU$210), the adjustable stand allows you to fix the cradles at a height that works for you. The added bonus here is that this also fixes the cradles into place; if Core’s system has a flaw, it’s that the weights can stick in the cradle if it remains unsecured. The adjustable stand is a simple way to fix this issue, while also making your home gym look the part, but it is an extra cost to consider.
Weight range
Core’s dumbbells sit largely within the range of most adjustable dumbbell systems, offering a weight range that scales from 5lb up to 50lb. Plates can be adjusted in 5lb increments which is broadly in line with its competitors.
Although they aren’t quite as adjustable as the Bowflex SelecTech 522 model which offers increments of 2.5lb, Core’s dumbbells more than make up for that with the sleekness and ease of their design. However, if smaller increments are of particular importance to you, it’s worth weighing up this factor.
Design and features
The innovative nature of Core’s design means that this is really where this adjustable dumbbell set comes into its own. The Twist Lock system allows for single-hand changes, meaning you can adjust both dumbbells at the same time, a crucial feature if you’re looking to quickly change weights during a frenzied back-to-back superset.
Furthermore, the dumbbells shift size depending on how much weight you have loaded. This isn’t the case with other models we’ve tested, meaning that at their lowest weight, the dumbbells measure 9in, making them almost 10in smaller than other adjustable models bearing the same weight. Even at their heaviest, Core’s product are just 14.5in long, which is still several inches shorter than rival dumbbells.
It goes without saying that having a much leaner profile across the weight range makes it easier to maintain form during sets; clunky dumbbells often get in the way when you’re working through the negative movement of those all-important bicep curls, to give just one example.
The weight feels well-distributed across the dumbbell, no matter how many plates you have attached, while the locking system feels secure and doesn’t shift as you manoeuvre them. The rubber handles are chunkily ergonomic and definitely offer a better grip than rival models.
While the rather dull matte plastic plates don’t possess the most attractive finish, they are slightly flattened at the bottom meaning you have a slightly more stable base for dumbbell push-ups or renegade rows. Plus, the cradles that the weights sit in are constructed with an eye-catching aluminum frame and help to offset the uninspiring flat color of the weights.
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