The Amazon Basics set is a pair of old-style threaded dumbbell bars with cast-iron plates and screw collars in a carrying case, 38 pounds in total. Tom's Guide, TechRadar and Fit&Well each rated it 3 out of 5. All three found the metal build solid for the money; all three also point out that every weight change means unscrewing collars by hand, and that 19 pounds per dumbbell is too light for many lifters.
Full review
What is in the case
Tom's Guide and Fit&Well list the same contents: two 3-pound bars, four 2.5-pound plates, four 5-pound plates and four 0.5-pound collars, for 38 pounds across the pair or 19 pounds per dumbbell. Both note that all the plates can be loaded onto one bar for single-dumbbell exercises, and that the low price makes buying a second set a realistic way to go heavier.
Fit&Well measured the set at 17 by 6.2 by 9.4 inches, the smallest of the adjustable dumbbells it has reviewed and the only one that comes in a carrying case rather than a cradle.
Solid metal, rough handles
Tom's Guide used the set for lateral raises, tricep kickbacks and one-arm swings and reported that the plates fit snugly once the collars were tightened and never felt as though one would fall off mid-set. Fit&Well found that rubber washers on the bars and collars keep the plates from clanking.
The handles divide the reviewers. Tom's Guide rated the knurling highly but less comfortable than the contoured grip on Bowflex's SelectTech 552. TechRadar found the textured handles grippy but thin, which it says suits smaller hands better than large ones. Fit&Well called the grip rough, scratchy and uncomfortable and recommends weight-training gloves.
Slow weight changes
This is the reason for the 3-out-of-5 ratings. Fit&Well timed loading and unloading at around 30 to 60 seconds per change. TechRadar warns of frequent plate swapping for anyone who alternates heavy and light exercises back to back, and says the collars need tightening between sets.
TechRadar's verdict is that the set is serviceable for beginners but will not suit people who lift heavy. Tom's Guide's is that the old-school design works as advertised for buyers who only need the basics and not much weight.
Strengths
- +All-metal bars and plates that Tom's Guide called rock-solid once the collars are tightened
- +Carrying case included, which TechRadar and Fit&Well both rate as useful for storage and travel
- +By far the cheapest dumbbells Fit&Well has tested
Watch-outs
- −Each weight change takes around 30 to 60 seconds of unscrewing collars, per Fit&Well
- −Only 19 lb per dumbbell with the plates split evenly, which TechRadar says will not be adequate for a significant number of users
- −Fit&Well found the bare metal grip rough and uncomfortable; TechRadar found the handles thin
- −Collars need re-tightening between sets, per TechRadar
How it compares
Unlike the MX Select MX55, which changes weight with a selector mechanism in 5 lb steps from 10 to 55 lb, this set is loaded by hand with 2.5 lb and 5 lb plates and stops at 19 lb per dumbbell. Like the Yes4All Cast Iron set it uses screw collars and cast-iron plates.
Rating sources
Counts as 3.02/5 in our score — this publisher's 156 scores on the site average 4.15, so its scores are adjusted up to compare fairly with other publishers.
Counts as 2.92/5 in our score — this publisher's 195 scores on the site average 4.25, so its scores are adjusted down to compare fairly with other publishers.
Counts as 3.19/5 in our score — this publisher's 2 scores on the site average 3.50, so its scores are adjusted up to compare fairly with other publishers.
Our 3.0 score is the average of these published ratings, each adjusted for how strictly its publisher scores. More about methodology.
