REP Rubber Coated Hex Review

The REP Rubber Coated Hex dumbbells may appear just like many of the other standard dumbbells in our lineup. And while they perform in line with many of our other high-performing dumbbells, there's one key design feature that helps them stand out and makes them ideal for a certain type or place of workout. The REP Rubber Coated, as the name implies, are fully coated in black rubber, handles and all. This coating is great for the longevity of the dumbbell, helping to prevent rusting and chipping, but is also superb for cold-weather workouts, when grabbing cold steel with bare skin sends a numbing chill right through the middle of your warmup routine. These dumbbells are among our favorites for that reason alone. They are a great recommendation for anyone looking to outfit a garage gym that might expose their equipment to cold or humidity.

Performance Comparison

Exercise Versatility

Like most of the other standard dumbbells in our lineup, the REP Rubber Coated are versatile enough for a wide variety of strength levels and exercise types. There are no moving parts, so there's little risk of things breaking during the most demanding dynamic exercises like clean and jerks or snatches. And with their compact size — relative to adjustable style dumbbells anyways — there's no impact to range of motion for things like dumbbell bench press or overhead press.

We logged hundreds of repetitions with the REP dumbbells, performing every kind of exercise we could think of. Not once did we have an issue pressing, pulling, swinging, carrying, or even dropping them. While it's generally ill-advised to drop weights, we pushed the limits for testing and wanted to make sure that even if you failed a lift and had to drop the weight, they'd hold up to the crash, assuming you had a quality gym floor in place that could survive the impact as well.

Ease of Use

When it comes down to it, dumbbells are pretty easy to use. Sure, there's an endless amount of exercises you can do, and physical trainers might correct your form all day long. Dumbbells, though, are generally straightforward: you grab them and lift them. Still, we put each through the paces to determine what small nuances and design features helped some weights stand out from others and which were the most user-friendly. This is where the REP Rubber Coated Dumbbells stood out from the crowd.

It might not change the functionality of these dumbbells at all, but the rubber coating on the handle of the REP Rubber Coated free weights makes a world of difference in how comfortable these dumbbells are to grab, especially when you're working out in your garage gym in the dead of winter. As anyone who has gripped bare steel can attest, working out can be a lot more difficult when grabbing the weights is painful. The rubber coating helps insulate the metal and your fingers and is much easier to use during the winter.

Even with the rubber coating, there is still a very secure grip to the REP weights. The knurling is present on the rubber, so you won't miss out on that traditional dumbbell feature. It's just as pleasant to grab during the summer months, and we felt confident swinging this weight overhead even with sweaty hands.

The handle length diameter is in line with what we'd expect from most weights of this size. The handle length is 4.5 inches for all weight sizes, while the diameter is 30mm for weights up to 20 pounds and 35mm for weights 25 - 100 pounds. We liked the slightly larger diameter found on the lower weight range compared to other dumbbells in our lineup that were narrower diameters. Even our testers with smaller hands felt secure using these dumbbells.

Weight Options

We researched the total product set for the REP Rubber Coated dumbbells and were impressed with the overall weight range. However, we think there was room for more variety between weight increments in the lower weight ranges. Weights are available in five-pound increments.

The REP Rubber Coated line ranges from 5 - 100 lbs, though not all can be purchased individually. You can buy any pair of weights from 5 - 50 pounds individually, and there are sets ranging from 5 - 50, 5 - 75, and 80 - 100 pounds. For most garage gyms we think this is exceptionally appropriate.

Construction Quality

The quality of the REP Rubber Coated free weights was above average, and we noted no issues during testing. The rubber coating feature that we loved for its insulation and grip is also helpful in extending the life of these dumbbells by preventing rust from accumulating on the handle. For garage gyms in particular, where moisture & humidity are pervasive, this is a great bonus. Despite the addition of the rubber coating, each of these dumbbells was slightly under their target weight of ten pounds — but not by much. A net difference of negative 0.75% was a relatively minor discrepancy.

The rubber that coats the handle of the REP Rubber weights is the same low-odor rubber that the head of each dumbbell is coated with. The rubber coating on the handle helps with your grip and prevents rusting and chipping, while the rubber head of each weight helps protect your floors and equipment. Throughout our testing, we noticed no issues with the quality or durability of these dumbbells.

Storage

The REP Rubber dumbbells are slightly more compact than others in our lineup and the entire REP product range. You might not notice this at first glance, but the decreased footprint can help save space on your garage floor or storage rack, if you have one.

Our testing team had a standard dumbbell storage rack and found the REP dumbbells fit just fine. However, it is worth noting that if you're a REP loyalist and have the REP Fitness Modular Storage System DB & KB Tray, these do not fit on that rack. They will fit on other REP dumbbell racks, though! The compact size does not impact the usability of these dumbbells at all.

Should You Buy the REP Rubber Coated Hex Dumbbells?

We've tested several different types of REP dumbbells and are confident in recommending the REP Rubber Coated dumbbells to anyone looking to outfit a garage gym, whether you're in a cold, humid, or perfectly temperate environment. These quality free weights are easy to use, comfortable, and are available in a wide range of weight options to suit your needs.

What Other Dumbbells Should You Consider?

If you're looking for a group of dumbbells, perhaps just starting to outfit your home workout space and want a variety of options, the CAP Coated Hex Set with Rack is our top choice for a set of dumbbells, with a storage rack included. The set of five dumbbells ranges from 5 to 25 pounds, providing a variety of weight options. It's also our recommendation for those looking to save money, as it has one of the lowest prices per pound in our lineup. An alternative option for a variety of weight ranges is the Core Home Fitness Adjustable Set. It's a bit more of an investment, but it can significantly cut down on floor space thanks to its built-in adjustability. If you already have a home gym, especially if you have Olympic weight plates on hand, the Titan Fitness Loadable Olympic Handles are another style of adjustable dumbbells that boast an incredible 400lb max weight capacity, four times that of other adjustable dumbbells in our lineup. Lastly, if all the above sound intimidating or just aren't what you're looking for, there are single dumbbell options like the Amazon Basics Rubber Encased Hex that are user-friendly and affordable, or beginner-friendly styles like the Amazon Basics Neoprene and J/Fit Set with Rack that are color coded to help easily identify the weight you're looking for, and come in a variety of weight ranges below 20 pounds.