Excellent Curl Bar!

Excellent curl bar with handsome chrome finish and knurled hand grips. The solid steel curl bar is heavy duty and has a compact length of about 4'(48"). Also 2" diameter collars are included in the price however I recommend 'spring collars' instead of the 'ring collars' so as not to damage the chrome plating. The 4' length allows you to add a substantial amount of 2" weight plates yet doesn't take up much space in your work-out center or gymnasium. Yes there IS a substantial difference in a curl bar(versus a straight bar for enhanced bicep development) and I am very pleased and I highly recommend this to complement your other exercise equipment! Overall a great bar at a great price with super-fast shipping thank you Amazon!More detail ...

Great bar for a normal guy.

If your looking to bench press around 250 pounds maximum than this is the bar for you! I can tell that this bar isn't going to hold much more that 300 pounds without wanting to possibly bend but you can't beat it for the price when other supposedly stronger bars will now bend around 350 pounds and cost more than 200 hundred dollars. The quality of everything seems to be much weaker these days but this product is almost as good as the much more expensive ones so save some doe. ;)More detail ...

A little more weight...

The Cap Barbell Chrome Dumbbell SDC sets are very attractive in appearance. They have a sleek design that gleams in the sunlight and that can be good for motivation. The handles of the dumbbells are rough and knurled so that they are easy to grip. They are easy to wipe down and clean and they tend to keep their shine.



This 5 lbs. dumbbell is the second-lightest weight on offer. For aerobic use weighted-hands while walking and doing other exercises this is a way to go for many. The 3 lbs. level is good for beginners; for a little more burn a few more pounds resistance will help. It may not sound like much but after a while of holding them the weight begins to take its toll. After all two 5 lbs. dumbbells is the equivalent of carrying around a 10 lbs. sack of potatoes.



Gyms and hotels often have this kind of dumbbell and often the full range of these dumbbells. They range from 3lbs. per to 50lbs. per in this range of configuration: 3 5 8 10 12 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 and 50 lbs. This is a very good range. Hard core lifters will want heavier weights but that is often where machines and multiple plate weights come into the picture.



There is a very convenient thing about just going over the rack on the wall and picking up two dumbbells going to work and not having to screw plates on or use tools to adjust clamps and locks. Just pick up the dumbbells and start cranking out the reps.



Dumbbells are useful for many exercises -- from strength training to toning to aerobics. For home use one will probably only need a few sets chosen for one's own resistance level. Figure this out ahead of time because the downside of dumbbells like this is that they are not adjustable -- what you see is what you get.



Lighter weights are useful for toning; heavier weights for strengthening and muscle building. For aerobic help lighter weights are the way to go. These 5 lbs. dumbbells are good for light toning and aerobics. Remember to purchase two of them!



Remember the issue of storage -- a few sets can fit in the closet or under a table and the chrome kind will look nice. If you are serious about working out in different ways then dumbbells should be a part of that training as they are more flexible is use. A set of dumbbells is a must; a few of different weights is a good long-term investment as they do not wear out.



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Cap Barbell (3#5#8# Neoprene) ... Great STARTER Dumbell Set

I purchased my Cap Barbell neoprene dumbbell 3#/5#/8# set from another online fitness store about 6 months ago. This set is a great starter set for toning and weight training at home.



These are good quality dumbbells (comparable to Troy brand) and are colored red aqua and purple. Neoprene dumbbells are less damaging on flooring don't smell bad and (because of their hex shape) don't roll away. They are also easier to grip and more gentle on your hands (especially if you prefer to weight train without gloves).



I use these dumbbells almost daily and really like them.More detail ...

Not quite the expected quality....

When the bar arrived it was in perfect condition... I checked the bearings the straightness of the bar everything. I wanted to test the tensile strength so I loaded all 625 lb of weight that i own. It bowed when all the weight was on it as expected but when I took the weight off the center of the bar was probably displaced a whole 1/2 centimeter -- and all the weight was on it for maybe 30 seconds! If I would have done some deadlifts the bar would have been destroyed. I rolled the bar on the safety rails and watched it wobble away. I was so furious I called the distributor and requested a refund with a free pickup.



My opinion: pay the $200 for a York Power Barbell (1200lb) and save yourself the headache. This bar looks great but it definitely is no 1000-lb barbell even at static weight.



Bayou Fitness is one of the best companies I have dealt with. If you can do business with them they'll work with you and go the extra mile. Thanks Bayou!



-Phil Personal TrainerMore detail ...