Ironmaster HEAVY HANDLE PLATE KIT - anyone use it?

[matrix563]

https://www.ironmaster.com/products/...dle-plate-kit/

anyone used these yet? will ironmaster honor the warranty still if dropped?

seems awesome but cmon 149 for 30 lbs? lol. thats approaching blob territory

would be cool to make my 165 lb ironmaster dumbbells go to 180 lbs each.



i think at the price it is they could have just made some heavier handles. a second pair of handles is useful. i managed to snag a second pair for 50 at a play it again a few years ago.

[dskoo65]

definitely on my radar, simply because it now makes for a shorter dumbbell at any given weight.

[ampire]

The Ironmaster handle space is pretty long, IIRC 6.5", pretty good idea for using up some of that space in a more practical manner.

[supramax]

Great idea. $1,419 US (1,760 CAD) plus tax for a pair of 180 lb dumbbells isn't a deal breaker, but I can get these guys:



up to 175 lbs each at a cost of $450 CAD plus tax for the pair. You'd be a bit more limited in exercise selection, but WTF are ya gonna really do with a pair of 180 lb dumbbells, anyway?

[dskoo65]

$149 to add increments of 170, 175, and 180...or 125, 130, and 135...or 80, 85, and 90 lb pairs. it makes sense to me vs procuring separate dumbbells at those weights.

[supramax]

$149 to add increments of 170, 175, and 180...or 125, 130, and 135...or 80, 85, and 90 lb pairs. it makes sense to me vs procuring separate dumbbells at those weights.

Absolutely, it makes sense if you've already got the 75 lb set, the 120 lb add on kit and the 165 lb add on kit. The heavy handle plate kit is a really smart idea.

[chadsalt]

Doesn't make much sense to get to 90, just buy the 120 add on. Maybe to get to 135 if you're big into the DB workouts. And if you need 180...good for you.

[eddiegoodfellar]

I like them, but its a pass for me. My 7 year old son likes to use the dumbbells unloaded in the gym with me. 20lbs is just to much weight for him. If it was easier to remove the weights I'd consider it.

[MGM711]

$149 to add increments of 170, 175, and 180...or 125, 130, and 135...or 80, 85, and 90 lb pairs. it makes sense to me vs procuring separate dumbbells at those weights.

Conceptually, this makes a lot of sense, but the price is on the steep side just to gain 15lbs a side. Maybe if there's a sale, this is something I'd consider...taking the 120 to 135 would be cool.

[supramax]

Conceptually, this makes a lot of sense, but the price is on the steep side just to gain 15lbs a side. Maybe if there's a sale, this is something I'd consider...taking the 120 to 135 would be cool.

Look at it this way: If you've already got the 75 lb set, the 120 lb add on kit and the 165 lb add on kit, you're already in for $1,260. Another $150 is nothing.

[MGM711]

Look at it this way: If you've already got the 75 lb set, the 120 lb add on kit and the 165 lb add on kit, you're already in for $1,260. Another $150 is nothing.

That's one way of looking at it, but I'm into the 120s at roughly half that amount, so the $150 is a much larger amount.

[supramax]

That's one way of looking at it, but I'm into the 120s at roughly half that amount, so the $150 is a much larger amount.

In that case, I probably wouldn't do it, either.

[blue9steel]

Interesting, but at that price it doesn't feel worth it. I've got the 120lb set and if I needed more I'd just order the next set. If you've maxed out the 165lb set, then sure it's way cheaper than buying individual 170s, 175s & 180s. Although if you're that strong an extra 15lbs might not be enough range and it might be time to switch to spin locks or some other option with more flexibility.

[ncsuLuke]

What are you guys doing that 165 lb dumbbells aren't enough?

[supramax]

What are you guys doing that 165 lb dumbbells aren't enough?

Farmers' Walks and hang squats.

[jdboyd78]

Interesting idea, kinda expensive for what they are. I love my fat grips, seriously doubt these would work with them anyway. I have the 120s now, been thinking of going up to the next set.

https://www.ironmaster.com/products/...p-adapter-set/

[matrix563]

Interesting idea, kinda expensive for what they are. I love my fat grips, seriously doubt these would work with them anyway. I have the 120s now, been thinking of going up to the next set.

https://www.ironmaster.com/products/...p-adapter-set/

i hated those things. felt cheap and i cant understand why they didnt make them out of metal

[chadsalt]

i hated those things. felt cheap and i cant understand why they didnt make them out of metal

X2. Not metal because they would cost $300.

[weisgarb]

Doesn't make much sense to get to 90, just buy the 120 add on. Maybe to get to 135 if you're big into the DB workouts. And if you need 180...good for you.

Because most people won't need more than 90 lbs, and switching between the standard 75 and the 120-lb add-on kit is a pain in the ass. I suspect most people who buy the 120-lb add-on kit rarely use it.

I doubt there are many people pressing more than 90 lbs, and there are enough alternatives to dumbbell rows (landmine, low-row from a cable machine) that you could get away without having dbs for them. You need the extra weight for farmers walks or suitcase carries, but again, I don't think that's a large percentage of their audience. For some people, these don't make much sense, but for the majority of their market I think the kit's a good idea. At least, it would be if it were more affordable.

[dskoo65]

it wouldnt make sense for them to be much cheaper. the alternative for many would be procuring a pair of 90's (as an example). even used that could be $100 easy. plus, this solution makes for a pretty compact 90lb dumbbell.

[Murser]

I ordered both of them. FedEx says they’ll be here next week.

[chadsalt]

Because most people won't need more than 90 lbs, and switching between the standard 75 and the 120-lb add-on kit is a pain in the ass. I suspect most people who buy the 120-lb add-on kit rarely use it.

I doubt there are many people pressing more than 90 lbs, and there are enough alternatives to dumbbell rows (landmine, low-row from a cable machine) that you could get away without having dbs for them. You need the extra weight for farmers walks or suitcase carries, but again, I don't think that's a large percentage of their audience. For some people, these don't make much sense, but for the majority of their market I think the kit's a good idea. At least, it would be if it were more affordable.

Won't need more than 90#? That's not a very optimistic attitude

As for loading the 75#+, I have stripped/loaded 100's, if not 1000's of tons on barbells over the decades and thought nothing of it. Why is everyone of the opinion DB HAVE to be instant?

[piratelifebad]

Why is everyone of the opinion DB HAVE to be instant?

Once you go full dumbbell set, loadable DBs just seem annoying and tedious to use. For me, it also disrupts the flow of the workout. Same reason I would never have a lat tower or functional trainer without a weight stack.

[Murser]

Once you go full dumbbell set, loadable DBs just seem annoying and tedious to use. For me, it also disrupts the flow of the workout. Same reason I would never have a lat tower or functional trainer without a weight stack.

FWIW I sold a set of 20-100lb hex, and bought a set of Ironmasters. I don’t regret it.

[chadsalt]

Once you go full dumbbell set, loadable DBs just seem annoying and tedious to use. For me, it also disrupts the flow of the workout. Same reason I would never have a lat tower or functional trainer without a weight stack.

So you lack patience or focus?

I used commercial gym for years before home gym, no problem adapting to adj DB. This probably deserves its own thread.

[piratelifebad]

So you lack patience or focus?

Absolutely on the lacking patience part. For focus, it's the opposite. I'm probably too focused/OCD. I use an app to log and manage my workouts, everything is measured down to the second. I don't have a lot of time to workout as well. Not to mention things like supersets, working out with a partner, alternating dbs between sets without returning to the stand and changing weights, less damage if you drop urethane/rubber, etc.

Basically, a full set of DBs compromises on the space they take up and the cost(YMMV). Adjustable dumbbells are a compromise for everything else.

[MGM711]

Once you go full dumbbell set, loadable DBs just seem annoying and tedious to use.

Speaking for myself, but I'm sure many garage guys share my same thoughts here, I don't choose loadable DBs out of preference or thinking they're better but rather the issue of space or space savings. If I had an infinite amount of space and money, I would have a set of pro style DBs to 175, but since I don't have either, adjustable DBs are the best way to have a heavy DB in a small contained area.

[irongrandpa]

Before I accumulated my full set of York roundheads, I had a set of 5 - 50 roundheads and Ironmasters that went to 120lbs. I left the heavier IM plates on the handles all the time (55lb DB) then adding was pretty easy for anything heavier.

Changing plates on the IM was never a problem IMO, just as changing plates on a barbell isn't. I have to catch my breath between sets after all.

[daniel327]

Absolutely on the lacking patience part.

Basically, a full set of DBs compromises on the space they take up and the cost(YMMV). Adjustable dumbbells are a compromise for everything else.

I'm with this guy. Life's too short for me to waste time in the gym. I've got a set of IMs that just sit on the stand unused. I only used them once or twice before procuring a full rack of real DBs.

[ncsuLuke]

I'm with this guy. Life's too short for me to waste time in the gym. I've got a set of IMs that just sit on the stand unused. I only used them once or twice before procuring a full rack of real DBs.

I don't have the space for real DBs but that's why I got a pair of Powerblocks up to 90 lbs. Just so much easier than the IMs, those things are such a PITA. Now I just use them for anything above 90.