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REP x PEPIN Fast Series Adjustable Dumbbells

PJ

Introduction

The REP X Pepin FAST series Adjustable Dumbbells (or REPPINS as many people call them) are one of the most hyped up home gym products in recent memory. Are they everything you want to be - OR are they OVER HYPED? Let’s discuss…

Overview

The product is Available in three weight option 85 LBS, 105 LBS, and 125 LBS…and if you don’t think you need the 105s or 125s yet – no worries – just buy the 85s…and buy the extra plates when you are ready.

If you buy the 85s you get these two big boxes (each contains a cradle, an adjustable handle, two 2.5 LBS Adder Weights, and 10 x 10 LBS plates. You will also get another little box which contains 8 more x 10 LBS plates. If you but the 105s, you get a second box of 8 X 10 LBS plates, and if you buy the 125s you get a 3rd box of 8 X 10 LBS plates.

While they are expensive, when you compare the cost of a full set of of dumbbells from 10 LBS to 125 LBS (in 5 pound increments) - even if you go with cheap Rubber HEX dumbbells - you will still save thousands of dollars. Additionally, you will save a ton of space by going with adjustable dumbbells instead of fixed dumbbells.

Specifications

Here are the prodcut’s specifications:

  • Cradle Length: 18.9"

  • 85lb Dumbbell Length: 14.5"

  • 105lb Dumbbell Length: 16.4"

  • 125lb Dumbbell Length: 18.3"

  • Cradle Width: 5.3"

  • Height (Cradle With Dumbbell): 7.2"

  • Height (Cradle Without Dumbbell): 4.9"

  • Usable Handle Length: 4.9"

  • Handle Diameter: 34mm

  • Plate Diameter: 7.0"

  • Cradle Weight (When Empty): 10.8lbs

Value Proposition

These dumbbells are the perfect BALANCE of the following characteristics:  

  1. ABILITY TO GO HEAVY

  2. DURABILITY

  3. SPEED TO ADJUST

  4. COMPACT DESIGN

Between these four dimensions, the product strikes a near perfect balance. These are currently no other available products that balance these four dimensions so well. There are of course other options that may be better than the REPPINS in one or more of these four areas – but no other dumbbell currently offers the perfect blend of these four characteristics like the REPPINS do.

For example: The ELITE EXP Powerbocks are plenty durable, but cannot go as heavy. The ELITE EXPs max out at 90 LBS – which Is the primary reason why I initially considered purchasing the REPPINS. The ELITE EXPs are also not as compact. At 90 LBS, the REPPINS are 3/4” shorter than the ELITE EXPs.

And of course, there are also NUOBELLS. They are faster to adjust, but cannot go as heavy as the REPPINS, topping out at only 80 LBS. Further, NUOBELLS are not as durable as the REPPINS, since they have some plastic components, and are not as compact. At 80 LBS, the REPPINS are 1” shorter and ½” more narrow.

When considering other adjustable dumbbell options, there are also Iron Master and PRO Series Powerbocks. Both are very durable and can go heavy (even heavier than the REPPINS depending upon the configuration), but neither are not as fast to adjust and will not be as compact.

I know that is not a comprehensive list there are also – SNODE, TRULAPs, BOWFLEX, and many others…but none of those other options strike the perfect balance in these specific 4 categories like the REPPINS do.

That being said – there are certainly more factors to consider than just these 4 characteristics to consider, such as: cost, safety considerations, aesthetics, etc. Amongst these other categories other options are a better fit for you.

In conclusion, the REPPINS are an excellent product. They are  well balanced, I love the 34mm knurled handles, and I love the durability, speed of adjustment, and compact design. That being said, there are some definite drawbacks that need to be called out in spite of all the hype surrounding the product.

Issues/Critiques

  1. FLAT STORAGE ONLY: REPPINS are designed exclusively for flat storage and operation. You must remove/add them from/to the cradle in a completely vertical manner. Removing/Adding the REPPINS from/to the cradle at an angle will cause the plates to get jammed.

  2. NOISY: The dumbbells can be quite noisy - especially at lower weight denominations. This is a minor critique. You have to leave a gap between the components otherwise removing/adding the dumbbells from/to the cradle would be more difficult. But the noise can be a little annoying – especially if you like lifting in silence. Now for me this is not a major issue because clanging/banging metal is a noise I like when I am lifting.

  3. ROLLING: Due to the 12-sided design of the plates (i.e., dodecagon), the dumbbell can roll towards/away from you if you do not set it down in a completely flat manner. If they roll towards you, the side rail hits the back of your hand, and it is not comfortable. This edge is beveled to make it MORE comfortable, but it still does not feel good.

  4. HANDLE LENGTH: In order to keep the design compact – they made the useable portion of the handles only 4.9” long. This is good and bad. I want the dumbbell to be as compact as possible, but if you have unusually large hands, it could be an issue.

  5. RINGS ON ADDER WEIGHTS: The Adder weights have a “key chain” wire ring that rubs against your wrist during operation. It’s just a little annoying. I will likely trim the wire ring using wire cutters so that the rings hang more vertically (due to gravity) and will no longer rub against my wrist.

  6. SELECTOR PIN: This is the biggest issue that I have with the dumbbells. The weight selector pins protrude out far enough for your knuckle to pop them out mid set. If the sliding rail (which keep the plates from falling off) also moves after this occurs, it could cause the plates to fall off the dumbbell during operation. REP needs to fix this ASAP.

Summary

I know this article seems a bit harsh. It mainly focuses on the negatives. The reason: there is already enough content out there singing the praises of the product, and not enough content (in my opinion) providing the unvarnished negatives of the product. That being said, I still love the product, and I am glad that I bought them. This product will likely be in my home gym for many years to come. I love them!

If you wish to purchase your own, please consider making that purchase by clicking on my affiliate link here: https://bit.ly/DBL-REPPINS . Using this link before you purchase does not increase the price to you in any way -but it does support this channel. Much appreciated!

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