Neoprene Coated Dumbbells Nice By Joan Young on Jul 28, 2008 - Updated Oct 15, 2011

These dumbbells come in various weights and have a good feel to them.

I asked for some one-piece dumbbells for Christmas a few years ago, and by adding to those, I now have a pair each of 3 lb, 5 lb, and 8 lb weights.

I'm not sure how much there is to say about hand weights. But I do have some others that were given to me later that I don't like nearly as well, so I can at least tell you why I like these better.

The weights that I like are tightly covered with colored neoprene. The 3 lb weights are black, the 5 lb-ers are blue and the 8 lb ones are maroon. This makes it really easy to grab the ones you want. The neoprene adheres tightly to the metal underneath so that there is no sense of structural slippage when you pick them up. The ends of the dumbbells are hexagonal so that the weights do not roll if you set them down on a flat surface. And the neoprene feels secure in your hands.

Now, the reason that I know enough to say all that is because the other weights that I have are covered in smooth vinyl, and they are all the same color. They are slightly hexagonal, but they do tend to roll, and I don't like the way they feel in my hands at all. They are slippery and the vinyl is slightly loose in its covering of the core of the weight.

Well, I guess I learned that my previous attitude of “Who cares? Weights are weights.” was wrong.

Both sets have the number of the pounds stamped on the ends.

They are made in China. Since I received all of them as gifts I don't know the exact price. But I believe that the 8 pound ones are around $10 each, with the smaller weights being less.