Overview
CAP Barbell's 40 lb. Dumbbell Set & Case is an affordable and efficient piece of exercise equipment for a home gym, especially if you have space constraints. With fully adjustable weight resistance from 5 to 20 pounds, the set replaces the need for 7 sets of dumbbells and can be conveniently stored away in a small plastic case when it's not in use. The set has durable cast iron handles and plates and rubber trimmed collars to ensure a secure fit. The dumbbells are also full coated with a semi-gloss finish to prevent rust and damage to the set. Each of the handles is ergonomically designed and weighs 5 pounds. There are four 2.5-pound plates and four 5-pound plates. If you would like to step up your workout, you can purchase additional plates for the set separately. With the CAP Barbell 40lb. Dumbbell Set, you will be able to perform a number of full body exercises in the comfort of your own home without the clutter of 14 dumbbells lying around.
You can purchase the CAP Barbell 40lb Dumbbell Set & Case online at retailers like Amazon.com or Walmart.com for about $39 or on dickssportinggoods.com for about $50. According to Amazon, the full list price is $99.99.
Product Report Card Grade
We give CAP Barbell's 40-lb. Dumbbell Set & Case a B+ because it is an affordable dumbbell set that offers 5 weight resistances (5 lbs - 20 lbs) in a small carrying case that can easily be stored away in a closet when not in use. While it is a great adjustable dumbbell set, we had to deduct points because there were complaints about the poor manufacturing quality of the dumbbells themselves and the plastic cases. Additionally, some customers complained about a strong chemical odor (there is also a warning on the box that indicates the dumbbells contain harmful chemicals). Additionally, it can take a little while to adjust the weight on the dumbbells, so they are not appropriate for speed circuits.
Date Reviewed
May 2012
May 2012
May 2012
Pros
Very highly-rated and affordable weight set for home gym; case is compact and convenient for storage; 7 weight settings replaces need for buying 7 pairs of dumbbells
15 weight settings in 1 dumbbell set provides great functionality and saves space; can increase weight resistance in small increments, which helps prevent muscle strain and is better for building muscle strength and endurance; durable design; dial adjustment system does a good job of securing the plates to the handle, which eliminates clanking noises and pinching; comfortable grip, so weight lifting gloves are optional; great for P90x enthusiasts
Very affordable traditional dumbbell set for home or small gym; handles have comfortable and secure grips; hexagon shape keeps them in place when put down; great for P90x enthusiasts
Cons
Multiple complaints around poor manufacturing quality and that the plastic carrying case cracked very easily; many reviewers stated that the dumbbells had a really strong chemical smell; Warning: "This product contains one or more phthalate chemicals known to the state of California to cause birth defects and other reproductive harm."; not great for speed circuits because you can't change weight very quickly; 20 lbs isn't very much weight for full body workouts even if you are only shaping and toning, so you'll most likely have to purchase additional plates; more than a few reviewers noted that their dumbbells weighed a few pounds less than advertised.
Relatively expensive; a few complaints about the dial adjustment system sticking or catching on plates; stand is sold separately and expensive ($149) but somewhat necessary to avoid back strain
Manufacturing quality is reportedly average (ex. paint chips really easily and metal burrs in grip that were never polished down); some reviewers were annoyed that you had to buy dumbbells individually; takes up a lot of space depending on how many dumbbells you buy; noisier than rubber coated dumbbells; Warning: "This product contains one or more phthalate chemicals known to the state of California to cause birth defects and other reproductive harm."
Type
Adjustable Dumbbell Set (manual adjustment system)
Adjustable Dumbbells (automatic dial adjustment system)
Dumbbells (sold individually)
Weight Range
5- 20 lbs
5 - 52.5 lbs
1 -50 lbs
Number of Weight Resistances
Price (MSRP)
$99.99 MSRP (available for around $49.60 - $64.99)
$549 MSRP (available for around $299 - $349)
Available for around $9.49 - $69.99
Warranty
If you purchase from CAP Barbell or from an authorized retailer, the dumbbells have a 30-day warranty that only covers manufacturing defects. It does not cover "paint peeling, rust, rips, cuts and tears, dents, bent handles, loose heads if dropped or any other signs of misuse such as knocking dumbbells together".
Bowflex® SelectTech® offers a 2-year limited warranty on all parts and a 6-week satisfaction guarantee to allow you to try the 552 Dumbbells in your home. If you don't like them, you can return them for a full refund (less shipping and handling).
If you purchase from CAP Barbell or from an authorized retailer, the dumbbells have a 30-day warranty that only covers manufacturing defects. It does not cover "paint peeling, rust, rips, cuts and tears, dents, bent handles, loose heads if dropped or any other signs of misuse such as knocking dumbbells together."
Weight Options
Each dumbbell handle weighs 5 lbs and it comes with four 2.5-lb plates and four 5-lb plates.
Dial adjustment system allows you to change weight in 2.5-lb increments up to 25 lbs. Between 25 lbs - 50 lbs, you can adjust the weight resistance in 5-lb increments, and then the last weight setting only increases by 2.5 lbs.
Dumbbells are available in the following weights: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, 50, 35, 40, 45 and 50. (While not listed on the CAP Barbell website, Amazon has 55 and 60 pound weights as well.)
Product Design
The dumbbells' handles and plates are cast iron, and they have rubber-trimmed collars to keep plates in place. They also have a semi-gloss finish that helps to prevent rusting. The carrying case is black plastic with rack storage.
The dumbbells are black metal with red detailing and have plastic tabs that hold the weights in place.
The dumbbells are 100% cast iron and have solid steel handles for weight over 15 pounds. They are coated with a semi-gloss finish that helps to prevent rusting.
Dumbbell Shape
Round (but has carrying case)
Round (but has flat dumbbell holders)
Hexagon
Dimensions
The dumbbells are 17.32" x 8.66" x 6.69" (L x W x H).
The 552s are 15.75" x 8" x 9" (L x W x H). The optional stand measures 27.75" x 20.5" x 24.5" (L x W x H).
Varies depending on weight
Extras
N/A
A free DVD ("Secrets of the 4-Step Rep") is included with your purchase and will teach you over 30 different exercises with 80 variations.
N/A
ProductReportCard Editors' In-Depth Review
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Very affordable weight set for home gym (plus, if you buy from Amazon and you are Amazon Prime, you don't have to pay shipping costs)
- Case is compact and convenient for storage
- 7 weight settings replaces need for buying 7 pairs of dumbbells
Cons
- Multiple complaints around poor manufacturing quality and that the plastic carrying case cracked very easily
- Many reviewers stated that the dumbbells had a really strong chemical smell. It is related to the warning seen on most websites selling the dumbbells: "This product contains one or more phthalate chemicals known to the state of California to cause birth defects and other reproductive harm."
- Not great for speed circuits because you can't change weight very quickly
- 20 lbs isn't very much weight for full body workouts even if you are only shaping and toning, so you'll most likely have to purchase additional plates. Also more than a few reviewers noted that their dumbbells weighed a few pounds less than advertised.
Key Features
Product Size
Each dumbbell measures 17.32" x 8.66" x 6.69" (L x W x H) and the overall weight of a packed case is 41.15 lbs.
Product Design
The dumbbells have durable cast iron handles and plates with a semi-gloss finish. The carrying case is black plastic with rack storage.
Weight Resistance
Each dumbbell has a weight resistance of 5 lbs - 20 lbs. The handles each weigh 5-lbs, there are four 2.5-lb plates and four 5-lb plates. This is a total of 7 weight settings.
Warranty
If you purchase from CAP Barbell or from an authorized retailer, the dumbbells have a 30 day warranty that only covers manufacturing defects. It does not cover "paint peeling, rust, rips, cuts and tears, dents, bent handles, loose heads if dropped or any other signs of misuse such as knocking dumbbells together".
Reputation
The CAP Barbell 40lb Dumbbell Set & Case has received excellent reviews from customers online, including a 4.4/5 on Amazon.com (422 reviews) and a 4.5/5 on Walmart.com (397 reviews). On Walmart.com, 96% of customers would recommend these dumbbells to a friend. It sounds as though the set has great value compared to other budget adjustable weights and is perfect for someone needing starter dumbbells who doesn't have a lot of space for workout equipment. Despite the fact that 20 pounds isn't much weight for full body exercises, most people appreciated that they could buy standard plates for additional weight if they wanted a more challenging workout. The set is definitely not designed however for more advanced weight training or speed circuits where you need to change weight resistance very quickly.
Considering the overwhelmingly positive feedback on the CAP Barbell 40lb Dumbbell Set, I was somewhat surprised that there were still many complaints around the dumbbells' manufacturing quality and their strong fuel/chemical smell. A few customers graded the set very harshly if they had these issues, whereas others reviewers seemed to expect some defects given the affordable price and gave more generous ratings. In any case, these could be great dumbbells for light to moderate fitness routines at home. If you do decide to buy them, it sounds like you should probably wash them and store them in your garage or at least let them air out for a day or two outside before you bring them into your home.
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