Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells Review (2024) | BarBend

Take back some space in your home gym with these ultra-durable adjustable dumbbells.

While there’s no doubting the value of a full set, the best dumbbells all share one problem — they’re hungry for floor and rack space. To maximize the versatility of this weight room staple, the Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells use a patented system to help consolidate all those individual pairs into one easy-to-use piece of equipment. OK, semi-easy. For weight room rookies and experienced lifters alike, the wide weight ranges on their two available sets may just answer the bell.

Both of Ironmaster’s cast iron and steel options safely land in the “high-end” realm of the adjustable dumbbells category, but their Quick-Lock system can help to reduce the adjustment time that holds many comparable models back. For those who don’t mind splurging to save some square footage, we think these heavy-duty workhorses are a rock-solid option. Check out our full Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells review for more and head over to the BarBend equipment testing methodology to learn about how we test all our products.

These quick-lock adjustable dumbbells go up to 75 pounds and feel like a real dumbbell when used. They're heavy duty but you do also get a lifetime warranty in case you experience any damage.

Adjustable dumbbells have quickly become an appealing option for athletes taking their first steps to building a home gym for an obvious reason — dumbbells take up a ton of space. As our expert reviewer Amanda Capritto says, “​​Adjustable dumbbells are the solution for people who want to work out at home with dumbbells, but don’t have the space to dedicate a portion of their floor to a dumbbell rack.”

After pumping out all sorts of isolated and full-body dumbbell exercises, our tester thinks they’ve pinpointed exactly who can get the most out of these durable adjustable dumbbells and rates their value a 5 out of 5. “For someone who needs to take back some space in their gym, requires a really heavy dumbbell, and is a stickler for that traditional feel, these might be the ticket,” they say.

Instead of a rotating dial or push-pin adjustment mechanism, the knurled handles might remind you of another gym staple — the barbell. “These are a lot like Olympic-style dumbbells where you load plates on each end,” our tester says. “However, the Ironmasters are much, much quicker to adjust.”

They’re perhaps not as fast as the snap-into-place mechanisms of less- expensive plastic sets, but these steel models are sure to last you a heck of a lot longer. “Steel models will naturally be more durable,” Capritto adds. “As long as you don’t drop them or throw them around (please don’t), you shouldn’t run into any real problems with durability.”

With two available sets — a 45-pound max and a 75-pound max — both weightlifting newbies and experienced lifters may be likely to find a match. Ironmaster also offers kits that push those upper limits to 120 and 165, respectively. Also, the square (with rounded corners) cast-iron plates open up movements that require resting them on a flat surface, like renegade rows.

Between the solid construction, intuitive adjustment mechanism, and wide weight range, the Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells could be a good fit for beginners and experienced lifters alike. Take a look at who we think may most benefit from securing their own pair and who should keep looking.

After testing out over 15 pairs of adjustable dumbbells, the BarBend team of competitive weightlifters, certified strength training coaches, and Olympians knows how to spot a quality set. For every pair — like the Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells — we dial up classic dumbbell exercises, including supersets and drop sets, and assign scores of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) across multiple categories like durability, ease of adjustment, and value. Read on for our detailed thoughts on these space-saving pieces of equipment.

Compared to less-expensive models that use rotating dials or snap-in-place systems, this type of mechanism takes a bit more time. But among those higher-priced adjustable dumbbells, our tester says Ironmaster is onto something. “There are a bunch of spin-lock dumbbells like this out there, but I will say Ironmaster’s Quick-Lock system is much faster.”

First, to add or remove either the 2.5-pound or 5-pound weight plates, flip the dumbbell on its side and unscrew the knurled cap. After unscrewing the cap, lift the ribbed rod up out of the handle and line up the weights on the end of the dumbbell. “Unlike other adjustable dumbbells that use similar mechanisms, when you go to put the rod back in, you’re not actually screwing it — just locking it,” our tester explains.

The process is more complicated than systems like the rotating dial of the FLYBIRD Adjustable Dumbbells, but as our tester notes, it can drastically cut down the time it takes to switch out the plates compared to others like it. “The reason this design is so much faster is because one vertical half of the shaft is smooth, while the other half has small ridges.” Once the shaft is inside the dumbbell handle, those are what physically lock it into place.

“With some other adjustable dumbbells you’d be sitting there unscrewing the entire thing, just spinning it over and over,” they add. That’s what separates Ironmaster’s Quick-Lock system from its competitors. You get the best of both worlds — the reduced wobbling and shaking of a quality high-end model, plus the quick-change capacity of cheaper plastic models with snap-and-go mechanisms.

Manually replacing each weight does have its downsides. “Even though it’s faster than if you had to screw this whole thing in, switching out the plates can be tedious,” our tester says. “Each plate is marked as 2.5 or 5, so there’s no color-coding or anything like on PowerBlocks.” That means you’ll be doing a bit of math during your workout. “At first it can be annoying doing all that mental math, but it’s kind of like loading a barbell. Over time, it becomes second nature — ‘for this movement I need one plate, for this one, I need three.’”

“Of all the adjustable dumbbells I’ve tried, these might feel the most like the real thing,” our tester says of their heavy-duty construction. With steel and iron builds, scoring their durability 5 out of 5 was an easy call. “The handles are chrome-plated, plus each weight plate is hand-cast.” Unlike the rubber handles of less expensive options, the knurling on the Ironmaster handles and the balanced shape have our tester feeling right at home.

“It’s very even because the grooves on the weights keep them aligned without any space to wobble,” our tester says. For movements where you need to grip the head, like a goblet squat, you can still grip the head like you would with any traditional dumbbell. Leaving out the plastic components found in other models aims to mimic the feel of real dumbbells, but also can help increase their lifespan.

With your purchase, you’ll also get a nifty dumbbell stand to neatly store the plates and handles, but as our tester says, it’s a bit mid. “The stand is just alright,” they say. “It gets the job done, but it’s sheet metal, so I wouldn’t go slamming your dumbbell on it or anything.

Ironmaster offers two sets of their adjustable dumbbells with two different ranges — 5 to 45 or 5 to 75 pounds. Each adjustable dumbbell set comes with four 2.5-pound plates (one for both ends of each handle), but the difference is the number of 5-pound plates — 24 for the heavier option and 12 on the lighter model. The 10-pound handle is identical on both and is bookended by the 2.5-pound locking screws.

The 75-pound maximum weight is in line with other top-rated adjustable dumbbells, opening up several heavy-weight dumbbell exercises for experienced strength athletes. If that’s not enough, Ironmaster offers add-on plate kits that bump those upper limits up to 120 or an eye-popping 165 pounds.

The corners of each weight plate are rounded, but their square shape helps unlock dumbbell exercises that require placement on a flat surface. Being able to remain in place can help make your next set of dumbbell pushups or renegade rows a bit more stable.

As opposed to the round or unconventional shapes we’ve seen on other models like PowerBlock Pro or Bowflex SelectTech, this could be helpful when you need a breather. “If you’re gearing up for something like a seated shoulder press, the shape also makes it easier to rest on your legs or place on a bench,” our tester says.

When you’re contemplating investing in a set of adjustable dumbbells, BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, a certified personal trainer, recommends focusing on a few key factors. Take a look and what you need to consider before adding a pair of Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells to your garage gym.

Lining up the Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells against two other models can provide a clear look at what else is out there on the market. There are plenty of similarities with the NÜOBELL Adjustable Dumbbells and the REP QuickDraw Adjustable Dumbbells, but check out the key differences in our chart below.

Loading your cart up with your new Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells only takes a few clicks, but at checkout, you’ll have a few options. If you need to spread your purchase out over several months, you can apply for financing through Affirm. Also, anyone who’s been eyeballing more of the best home gym equipment from Ironmaster can create their own bundle to save a few bucks. Either way, if you live in the contiguous United States, shipping is free. Once your pair arrives, there’s no assembly required.

Because they aren’t available at major retailers like Amazon, the best place to purchase your Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells is directly from their website.

“Ironmaster has come out with some pretty creative pieces of equipment over the years,” our tester says of the company. “They’re not exactly known for super high-quality gear, but I do think things like their Super Bench Pro, adjustable kettlebell, and, of course, adjustable dumbbells are priced super reasonably.”

On their product page, these adjustable dumbbells average 4.93 out of 5 possible stars at the time of writing. Remember ratings that a company can manage should always be taken with a grain of salt, but our team generally agrees with the positives laid out in many reviews — durability, ease of use, and authentic dumbbell feel.

For either set of their cast iron and steel dumbbells, Ironmaster provides extra peace of mind with their lifetime warranty.

Next time you’re rummaging through your scattered dumbbell collection, just remember, there’s a better way. We really like the Quick-Lock mechanism on the Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells, as it allows for quicker changes than other high-end steel models. That said, changes will still take longer than they would on plastic sets. But the real benefit here is the cast iron and steel construction — this could very well be the last set of adjustable dumbbells you ever need to buy.

Heavy lifters rolling their eyes at adjustable dumbbells might also appreciate the optional expandable weight range and knurled handles. As long as you have the cash, we think this high-quality set could be a worthy long-term investment, as they can allow you to stick to the principle of progressive overload. If you’re tired of tripping over your never-quite-organized set or need to reclaim some square footage in your home gym, the Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells may be the space-savers you’ve been looking for.

Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells are very sturdy and we trust the build to hold up over time. However secure they may be, though, you’re still dealing with moving parts. “These things are solid, but I wouldn’t recommend dropping them. Every piece in the mechanism is durable, but those connection points could loosen over time if you repeatedly drop them.” says our tester.

“Adjustable dumbbells offer all of the same fitness benefits as fixed dumbbells — strength, hypertrophy, muscular endurance, improved bone density, etc. — but with the added benefit that they can be less expensive than a set of fixed dumbbells and they take up less space,” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto.

To adjust the weight on the Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells, you’ll place the plates you need on the end of each dumbbell, then secure the knurled locking pin screw. Rather than being fully threaded like any old screw, Ironmaster’s Quick-Lock locking mechanism uses small ridges along the shaft that lock into place once the shaft enters the end of the heavy handle kit.