| Unit | Size | Type | Weight range | Weight increments | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Starring 200 lbs Check Discounted Price | L:15.75" W:8" H:8" | Adjustable, classic collar | 5-100 lbs | 5.0 lbs | 1 year |
If you’re looking for cheap adjustable dumbbells, one of the Starring sets may be exactly what you need. In fact, for the Starring 200 lbs dumbbell set, you will get approx. 1 pound of iron for 1$, which is not bad at all, and they pretty much cover users from beginner to pro.
The Starring 200 lbs adjustable dumbbells feature a classic design, no fancy adjustment system, just plain ol’ cast iron plates, threaded bars and collars. But even though they’re simple dumbbells, there are several aspects you ought to know about them. Therefore, in this review we’ll try to cover in detail, as many aspects as possible about the Starring 200 lbs dumbbells set.
Technical Details and Specifications
- Dimensions: 15.75L x 8W x 8H inches (40L x 20.3W x 20.3H cm) (each)
- Weight range: 5-100 lbs (2.26-45 kg) (each)
- Weight increments: 5 lbs (2.26 kg)
- Handle (sleeve) diameter: 1.125″ (2.85 cm)
- Included weight plates:
- 4 x 2.5 lbs (1.1 kg)
- 4 x 5.0 lbs (2.2 kg)
- 16 x 10 lbs (4.5 kg)
- Warranty: 1 year limited
Overall construction
The first aspect to be clarified here, is that this is a dumbbell set, not just one. It consists of two handles, four collars and weight plates up to 100 lbs for each dumbbell, a total weight of 200 lbs.
As we’ve mentioned above, these are all-metal dumbbells, featuring cast iron weight plates and steel handles. The handles are threaded, and feature a chrome finish, with knurled grips. The knurling on the grips is not excessively abrasive. However, in case you feel it’s not 
comfortable enough, the problem can easily be solved with a pair of workout gloves. The chrome finish on the handles is pretty durable, and should last for many years of use, also preventing the handles from catching rust.
The weight plates are not threaded like the bar, thus they don’t need to be screwed onto the bars. You simply load them up and then secure them with the supplied collars. They’re dyed with a thick, black enamel, which prevents them from rusting, and should last for many years of use.
One of the downsides of these dumbbells is that the bars are not 1″, like the Standard ones. They’re slightly thicker, with a sleeve diameter of 1.125 (2.8 cm). Now, this shouldn’t be a problem if you only use the supplied weight plates. But in case you already have Standard weight plates, with 1″ holes, they won’t fit on these bars. Conversely, the weight plates supplied with this set will be a bit loose on a Standard dumbbell bar, and will rattle. But nonetheless, the weight plates can be used with 1″ standard handles.
The last aspect that requires mentioning here, regards the length of the bars. These bars are slightly longer than the Standard dumbbell bars. They’re 15.75″ (cca 40 cm), similar to the XMark adjustable dumbbells, or the Bowflex 552, while a Standard 1″ thick bar, is 14″ (35.5 cm) long. Now, this shouldn’t be a problem with any of the exercises that can be carried out with these dumbbells. It’s just that they’re a bit bulkier. Also, in case you’re wondering, the total diameter of the biggest weight plates is approx. 8″ (20.3 cm).
Adjustment system and increments
These dumbbells don’t offer a fancy adjustment system as the Powerblock dumbbells, for example. This means weight adjustment for each dumbbell takes a bit of time, as you have to unscrew the collars, load or unload plates, then put the collars back on. But on the good side, the Starring 200 lb dumbbells don’t have any plastic elements in their construction, thus they don’t require extra care when handling them. Also, you can be sure they won’t break during push-ups or other exercises that put pressure on them.
The only non-metal elements in the Starring dumbbells construction are the rubber rings, meant to prevent the rattling of the first loaded plates.
This set includes 24 weight plates: 4 x 2.5 lbs (1.13 kg), 4 x 5.0 lbs (2.26 kg), and 16 x 10 lbs (4.5 kg). The bars weigh 5 lbs (2.26 kg) each. Therefore, you can adjust the weight on each dumbbell in increments of 5 lbs, up to 100 lbs.
The Pros
- Sturdy, all-metal construction, without any plastic elements that may fail and cause injuries;
- Space-savvy, you don’t need a rack for them. You can either stack the weight plates, or simply load them on the bars, and store the dumbbells that way;
- Versatile free weights, offering the possibility to use multiple weight combos in order to alternate exercises;
- Chrome finish on handles, black enamel on weight plates, keeps rust away;
- Weight range between 5 and 100 lbs, great for users of all levels;
- They basically cover the full range of exercises that you can achieve with dumbbells;
- Anti-slip handle;
- Excellent warranty for a dumbbell set.
The Cons
- Handle may be a bit abrasive for beginners;
- The classic adjustment system may be a hassle for some users.
Final Word
The Starring 200 lbs adjustable dumbbells cover quite an extensive weight range, which makes them an excellent choice for users of all levels. They feature a sturdy construction, without any plastic elements. They’re space-savvy and versatile, each one replacing 20 fixed dumbbell. They may not have the sleek aspect of the Bowflex 1090 or PowerPak, and the fast adjustment system, but on the other hand they’re considerably cheaper. So, if you’re looking for a cheap adjustable dumbbell set, this is definitely one to put on your list.