Important Notice To Readers: The Ironmaster Quick-Lock Adjustable Dumbbell System is simply the best adjustable dumbbell system on the market. Quick-Lock Adjustable Dumbbells outperform Powerblock and all other similar systems. Total Physique Online has used this system extensively and it receives our highest recommendation. However, Total Physique Online is no longer officially endorsing Ironmaster LLC. This is not a decision that was made lightly. It was arrived at after much discussion and consideration.
For the time being, I have decided to allow my Ironmaster posts to remain public. I am doing this for informational purposes only, primarily due to requests from several readers. In addition, as a courtesy to my all readers I am leaving the comments for Ironmaster products in place. These comments are very valuable and serve to help folks make a good choice regarding their purchases. Additionally, my reviews of Ironmaster products will also remain unchanged. It should be noted that at some point in the near future, these pages may be removed or replaced.
For the record, I enjoy the flagship Ironmaster products. I have considered it a privilege to recommend them to you, my readers, for the past three years. Ironmaster Quick-Lock Dumbbells are superb. So is the Superbench produced by Ironmaster. In my view, these two products are in a class of their own.
It is my sincere hope that in time certain concerns will be addressed. If and when that happens, then I will be able to revisit this decision. However, until such a point in time, Total Physique Online will not be reconsidering its position regarding this matter.
Again, it should be noted that these recent changes have nothing to do with the quality of the Ironmaster product line whatsoever. Rather, certain other concerns came to light over the course of a six month period and, as a result of these concerns, a change of direction was decided upon. During the next few weeks I will be introducing new products of superb quality, so stay tuned. I truly wish Ironmaster nothing but the best. – Webmaster
The Ironmaster Quicklock Dumbbell is a superb adjustable dumbbell system that is vastly superior to the PowerBlocks, not to mention the fragile SelectTech’s and all the rest, in just about every way. If you are in the market for the best adjustable dumbbell set available, and you do not mind saving a few dollars in the process, then Ironmaster Quicklock adjustable dumbbells are for you. I hope this review will help you make the right choice.
Related Pages:
Quick-Lock Dumbbell Stand Assembly
Ironmaster Quicklock adjustable dumbbells have been around for several years, and I had been eying them for a good while prior to this post. The looked tough as nails, functional and designed by people who understood what strength training is all about. I recently obtained my own personal set, and I am using this review to share my experiences.
As is often the case, the passage of time brings change. An opportunity presented itself and I was able to get a set of these dumbbells. I want to thank Matt and the folks are Ironmaster for making such a tremendous product.
This is part 1 of a 2 part review.
The purpose in this segment is to give you a better idea of what the Ironmaster Quick-Lock Dumbbell System is and what it looks like up close and personal. The photos in the following paragraphs are click-able.
Click on a picture to enlarge it. Click it again to close it. Have fun!
This photo is a pic from my last post on building the quality stand that comes with your system. The stand is one solid piece of work. It has to be, because of the 240+lbs it will be storing.
You might have noticed something missing in the above photo. Did you happen to catch it? The weights! Where are the weights? Well, as I mentioned earlier last week, they sort of got lost. UPS found them and finally delivered them to me. What follows is a revealing pictorial of that evening. Hopefully, this will help potential buyers have a much better idea of what they are getting.
The standard plates come in two boxes. Each of the two larger boxes seen in the photo contains 12 standard 5 lb. plates and two standard 2.5 lbs plates. That allows you a total of 65 lbs. to add to each dumbbell handle [Note: the boxes have some heft to them, so be careful]. In case you are curious, the dumbbell handles (with screws inserted) weigh 10 lbs each without any plates in place, so that brings the total potential weight of each dumbbell to 75 lbs! Not bad, eh? But it gets better.
If you opt for the 120 lb add-on kit, you will then receive an additional two boxes containing two 22.5 lbs plates each (for a total of four plates). The plates are app. 2 1/2 inches thick, and add an additional 45 lbs to the already stout 75 lbs, for a grand total of 120 lbs. In the 2nd photo, you can see two smaller boxes on the bench. That is the 120 lb add-on kit (and yes, the bench with the white frame is an Ironmaster Super Bench.)
The plates come in three sizes. This photo gives you good idea of what each plate looks like.
At first glance, the plate design seems odd. The Quick-Lock plates are not round like you have come to expect from traditional dumbbell plates. Additionally, the plates are concave on one side and convex on the other. This design serves a very useful purpose, allowing the plates to neatly “stack” into each other as seen in the next photo.
In this photo, some of the benefits of Ironmaster inginuity are readily apparent.
The convex/concave design of the plates allows the them to be stacked, one onto another. This is a space saving feature that allows for safe and secure storage of the plates when not in use. More importantly, this allows you to change weights more quickly and more safely.
In addition, the plate design is a perfect match for the chrome handle face-plate which has a slight concave recess built into it as well. The plates nest into this built in recess which them prevents them from rotating so nothing can come loose. For all intents and purposes, this design creates a solid, single piece of steel once the screws are tightened into place.
Without a doubt, these dumbbells are twice as solid and ten times safer than any dumbbells I have used in any commercial gym.
Not to belabor the point, but a picture is worth 1000 words. This photo shows you just how compact and efficient a design this really is. Folks, that’s over 240 lbs of iron in a footprint of less than two square feet! Amazing!
This design offers several advantages over other similar products on the market. Both the stand and the dumbbell set are so well integrated. Gaining access to your plates when you need to go up or down in weight is a snap. You do not have to hunt for plates. You do not have to worry tripping over them. The stand is plenty roomy enough to keep everyone happy and if you train at home you simply must have a set of these.
The “screws” seen in this photo are the tie that binds, so to speak. The screws are used to hold the plates in place.
The smaller of the two screws is used for the standard 10-75 lb setup. The longer of the two screws is used to accommodate the larger and thicker 22.5 lb plates. The screws have substantial “heads” that are knurled on the edges, permitting a secure grasp so that loosening and tightening is more easily achieved. Each screw has a notch in the heads that allows you to properly line up the screws for insertion into the handles.
As you can see, these very stout and tough screws are partially threaded. The handles are also partially threaded. This approach allows the screws to be inserted into the handles where the thread design comes into play. Once the screws are inserted, you simply “lock” the dumbbell plates into place with no more than half a turn of the screw. Once the screws are locked into the handle the weight is secured. It would literally take a hand grenade to cause them to come loose.
In this photo, the screw is partially inserted into the handle in order to show you how it works.
The partial threading of the screws, combined with the unique threading of the inside of the dumbbell handles, permits the screws to slide freely, back and forth, within the handles. However, this freedom of movement can only happen when the threads of the handle and screw are properly lined up. This is accomplished by observing the notches found in both the handle-plate and the screw head. When the notches line up, the screw can be adjusted back and forth into the desire position. From there, a small turn of teh screw is all it takes to rigidly lock the plates into place. Once that is done, nothing short of an act of God is going to loosen that screw unless you manually loosen it yourself.
Here, we have the standard 75 lb Quick-Lock Dumbbell (in the background) and its better half, the 120 lb Quick-Lock Dumbbell in the foreground.
I hope this pictorial gives you a good understanding of the Quick-Lock Dumbbell System. In part 2 I will offer some tips and suggestions to help you get the most from your system.
[Editors Note: As many of you have pointed out, there is no "Part 2" for the Quicklock Dumbbells. This is largely because of my home burning down and the subsequent homelessness which necessitated me having to part with all of my strength equipment. In addition, I got very, very ill. As a result, my duties as webmaster took a back seat to my need to get well and find a home to live in. Part Two is a few months down the road as I begin to rebuild my home gym. Thanks for your understanding.]
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I am REALLY glad I came across your review. I was on the verge of ordering a set of dumbells but couldn’t decide between Bowflex,Powerblocks,Quantum etc. As a last resort I Googled “dumbells” and came across Ironmaster. After going to their website I had pretty much made my up my mind to go with them and after reading your review it’s hands down. Thanks for the very well-written, informative review and for making my decicion a no brainer!
Don, you will not regret your purchase. Having these dumbbells has totally reinvigorated my enthusiasm for training. It is a long story, and one I will write about in coming days, but first I am planning a follow-up to Part 1 of my review for the QL dumbbells. Stay tuned.
tMan; wbtpo
I’ve owned the original powerblocks, elite PBs and the Ironmasters… the Ironmasters are hands-down a superior system. I’d intended on keeping the PBs for my 2nd home, but sold the PBs for another set of Ironmasters. Bigger guys will want to spring for the add-on. What an incredible value.
I agree with you. Awesome investment for strength training! The best money anyone can spend on a strength training tool.
Amen Brother! Nice blog, btw.
I had already ordered my quick-locks but I was browsing for info and came across your site. I’m stoked. Great write-up and your site is really well done. Thanks for all the time you put into this.
Hey you are welcome. You will love the dumbbells. I hope you were able to grab the Super Bench too! The bench is just superb.
Thank you for your wonderful review of the Ironmasters. They seem like they’ll be the best choice for me when it comes to weightlifting at home. I wonder if you could address 3 concerns of mine: 1) How good is the knurling on the handle? 2) I’m very curious to know how your experience is over time with the heavier poundages and as the plate sizes seem small the dumbbells appear to lengthen significantly. Does this make them awkward or handle differently? 3) I heard that the 5 lb plates are actually only 4.5 lbs each and that the 120 lb set only weighs 115 lbs total.
Kevin I am glad you asked these questions. I will answer two of them right away.
The knurling on the handles is unlike any “knurling” I have felt before. The knurling is STOUT! By that I mean it is deep, deep, deep. These handles are not the polished chrome handles you find at gyms, and I was so excited about this. I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to feel a dumbbell handle slip around inside your hand. There is no slippage with these. Once you grab the handles, you are locked into place.
Regarding the length of the dumbbells, this has not been a problem. At least no more than it is with the commercial 120’s I play with at the gym when I do, say, shrugs. In fact, I just finished doing the 115 pound shrugs last week and they were no more or less unwieldy than you would expect from a standard 120 lb dumbbell. Which is to say that they were AS unwieldy. LOL. 120 lb dumbbells are just damn awkward.
Now, the other day I was doing DB Bench Presses with 70 lbs and I remarked to myself that the dumbbells actually looked to be the same length or shorter as the 70’s I used at the gyms I trained at. Not by much, mind you, but shorter. Now, that was simply by my eyeing it, and I was using the 22.5 pound plates, one 5 lbs and the 2.5 pound plates on either end of the dumbbells. I could not swear my comparisons were accurate, but I am pretty sure I am right.
Granted, these were bench presses, but the weights were still easily manageable in terms of their size and length. They sure as hell felt like 70 lbs, believe that. They just don’t look like it.
That said, I was doing curls with 45 lbs I found the QL dumbbells to be perfect. They did not bang my thighs or force me to bend in awkward positions to curl the weights. I suppose if I was strong enough to do curls with 70-75lbs I would find it a bit challenging but I will let you know if I get to that level.
Finally, I will see about getting Matt of Ironmasters to chime in at talk about the actual weights of the plates. I realize 4.5 pounds does not seem like much of a discrepancy, but I would not be very happy if this were the case. It is not a deal breaker, but you have to realize what we are talking about here. 4.5 lbs on a dumbbells that has 6-five pound plates on either end adds up to 1/2 lbs x 12 plates, or 6 pounds. So that would mean the 70 lb handles I was doing bench presses with were in actuality 64 pounds. That is quite a difference.
As I stated, those 70 lbs DB’s I was doing bench work with felt every bit of 70 lbs.
I hope this helps.
Hey Guys,
I am the President of Ironmaster and wanted to help answer some questions raised here. The Ironmaster dumbbell weight plates are made at a nominal weight because the primary tolerance held is the thickness of the plates during the machining process. This is the critical part since the locking screw system requires each plate stack up at the correct thickness. Due to density variances in the iron casting process at the foundry, the weight of each plate can vary. Our current production plates are within 3% of the stated weights on average. (A couple years ago we did have some greater variances with a different foundry and some plates were only within 8-9%. Some customers from a long time ago have written about these larger variances but the accuracy is much better now.) You may have a full 75lb dumbbell be off by 2-3 lbs in the worst case. Even with these past variances, the Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells work so well and are so much better than anything else on the market, I cannot remember any returns because of this issue.
Tim: Many thanks to you for hosting this weblog and for all of your great information on our equipment!
Stay Strong, Matt Dawson – President – Ironmaster LLC
Matt, thanks for the great post and compliments!
This is a great page within the site and is becoming increasingly informative as people add their comments.
Tim
Wow, you people act fast! Thanks again and again for the willingness to provide in-depth commentary about the Ironmaster QLs. And thank you, Tim, for setting the record straight. It is extremely helpful and has set my mind at ease about your product.
Doh! Correction: Thank you Matt Dawson for setting the record straight.
LOL, well, I will admit that sometimes I am jealous of Matt. His ideas and products are incredible and I only wish I had that kind of vision!
Kevin, keep coming back. New posts columns and more are on the way.
T
Hi , my name is Chris and I was going to buy the iron master dumbells, add on kit, and super bench with add ons like the pull up bar and dip bars. my questions are ” is it common for fixed dumbells to weigh a little more or less than the stated weight on them?” someone previously said that the Ironmaster Dumbells were not quite the weight they said they were. I just wanted to know if that was common with fixed dumbells as well. I aslo wondered if the leg extension and curl attachment for the superbench which hold 100 lbs. of Iron master weights and 200lbs of olympic weights was of decent quality for a home bench? It looks like the bench and weights are superior to anything else out there. I just wanted to ask those couple questions before I buy them or maybe buy some fixed dumbells and the superbench by itself. Thanks very much. Chris
Chris, I have a couple of comments.
First, these are good questions.
Yes, fixed, cast iron dumbbells tend to vary a bit in weight, but in my experience it’s not all that much. The real problem with fixed, cast iron dumbbells is that they can loosen over time, and the ends work their way off the handles. They can be extremely dangerous for that reason. Mind you, this does not happen often, but I can tell you that cast iron dumbbells break far more often than most people realize.
Second, I own the Super Bench. It is an awesome piece of work. The padding is very, very firm without being uncomfortable. In fact, the Super Bench is hands down the MOST comfortable bench I have ever used. I think this is due to the thickness and density of the padding, which I would estimate to be about 2 inches thick.
The Super Bench adjusts in small increments too, which makes it very useful for targeting certain muscle groups more precisely.
I think the Super Bench is the best bench you can buy. I tell everyone that. They only application in which I would not recommend it would be competition power lifting. The bench is flat rated at (I think) 1000 pounds (I might be wrong about this, but I am pretty sure that is right). The problem is that it does not have uprights. So, it is not ideally suited for traditional barbell bench presses, though I have used it for that purpose more times than I can count.
I am just saying that if you are a heavy bench presser, you may also wish to invest in a professional, heavy duty competition bench. That said, for dumbbell work there is not a better adjustable bench in the world that I am aware of. You will love it!
As for the Leg Extension, I wish I had one! I have always wanted to try it! Unfortunately, you will have to be the one to come back and tell us all about your experience.
PS: When you order, please mention this web site.
o.k. thanks for your helpful information. I was going to drive over to the warehouse in Washington ( I live in Oregon about 7 hour away) to save waiting 2 weeks but the Ironmaster Dumbells are on backorder untill May 10th right now. I will mention the website when I do go up and get them. I have done enough research to know these (Ironmaster dumbells and the super bench) are the home work out tools that make the most sense for me.
I’ll let you know about the leg extension add on if I get one. Thanks again.
Chris
Hi,
I was wondering if I can use the weights with my standard (non-olympic) bar for benching.
Thanks.
This is an excellent question. I will contact Ironmaster and get back to you.
webmaster
Great info! I have 2 questions about the super bench. How comfortable is it when doing decline dumbell presses? What keeps you anchored in the decline position?
Well, last question first.
In the decline position, you need an attachment called a Crunch/Situp attachment. That can be found here – http://www.ironmaster.com/store/Crunch-Situp-Attachment-pr-65.html
As for comfort, I cannot speak to that. I have not purchased the attachment, but I expect to get one soon. When I do, I will get back with you via this post.
Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for the great write up. I’ve been looking into ordering these dumbells for awhile now, but I’m really interested in ordering them in conjunction with Ironmaster’s IM2000 self spotting system. Do you know of anyone that has done an independent review of the IM2000 similar to your review of their dumbells?
Thanks!
James, I will look into this and get back to you today.
Thanks for the question and thanks for stopping by.
Editors Note:
Jame’s, I spoke to Ironmaster and oddly enough there is no such page as the one I created for these dumbbells. I did find two reviews at Amazon.com Click Here!
I am most puzzled by the lack of reviews, due to the fact that Ironmaster cannot keep the IM2000’s in stock! They are that popular. My only guess is that not every strength training enthusiast has the time or expertise to build web sites.
Here is what I can tell you. I have the QL Dumbbells and the IM Super Bench.
The build quality of the tools I have is superb. I trust my life to this equipment any day of the week and to be honest I prefer it to that of most of the commercial equipment I find in gyms. This is owing to the fact that most gym owners are idiots and have no idea how to buy good equipment, and most of what is being produced and marketed these days is not for the professional strength training individual.
I can tell you that the Superbench and the Dumbbells must have been engineered with some of the strongest men in the world in mind. So, I can only surmise that the IM2000 is built with the same exacting standards. Therefore, the two mini-reviews in the links above are not surprising in the least. If I were you and I had the money, I would recommend getting a few of the attachments along with the Superbench. In particular, I would suggest the LegExt/Leg Curl and Situp attachments.
I hope this helps!
I just skimmed the page real quick, in a hurry , so sorry if this has already been addressed. Has anyone testes the super bench with the pullup bar? Does it appear to be stable/well built for this purpose. I have been looking for a bench and chin bar but have a small room. This bench, if strongly built, would be a great purchase.
Tim (not that same tim that posted before)
This has not been addressed, and I have the Super Bench. Unfortunately I do not have the chin bar. I too wish to know about it’s strength. I believe it’s tested to hold up steady under a 300 lb load, and if that is the case it might be adequate, though I prefer something a bit more stout myself. Perhaps Ironmaster could stiffen the metal a bit, or use a thicker gauge. Just my two cents.
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After researching on this website, I purchased a set of Ironmaster dumbells. I REALLY REALLY hate spending my money poorly, and especially on a fitnes gimmick. However, these dumbbells were amazing. They are very sturdy, much more affordable than any of their competitors, and expandable. They are a very good buy and my best fitness tool. They are quick and easy to use ( not the fastest in the world, and slower than the bowflex, but I used that damn click lock, and one of the weights fell out and landed on my foot. I was understandably pissed.)
I bought them from the awesome Tony at fitness factory outlet (the best choice if you’re on the east coast, to get these. They arrived quickly, well packaged, and I was able to assemble the table and use them immediately. No one likes to drop 500 bucks. It generally sucks. But they work, I have never looked at them as a waste of money, and am happier each time I use them.
http://www.fitnessfactoryoutlet.com/
Craig, thanks for the comments. That is exactly how I feel. I am considering buying a second set in the next 6 months or so, depending on what direction my life takes.
These are without a doubt the best dumbbells I have ever used. Period.
I just bought mine today!! it looks awesome. I purchased the package 3 deal wit the chin up bar, dip bar, and the crunch sit up attachment. one question, i read here that it takes 2 weeks for this to be delivered, is that true? i hope not cuz i wanna workout next week.
by the way, great review and thanx for your time. peace
Jose, congratulations!
Why don’t you contact Ironmaster and ask them if the can expedite shipping for you. I know what it is like wanting your items to arrive quickly.
You will love these dumbbells! If you do end up waiting 2 weeks, it will be worth the wait. I promise!
wow! that quick man. lol thanx for the reply. I have the feeling that this is one of those things dont go with the sayin “its too good to be true”. I think Im gonna enjoy it. I keep you updated
Jose, please do keep us posted!
The Ironmasters have serious flaws. For one, the plates do not weigh five pounds as advertised. They weigh approx. 4.5 pounds, and therfore the 75 pound set is off by 6 to 7 lbs. The 120 pound set by more than 10 lbs. Don’t belive me? Weigh them yourself. Some accuracy tolerance is to be expected with an adjustable dummbell,
but an inaccuracy of this amt is totally unacceptable.
It is off by almost 10 %…wheras the Powerblock Elite is within a 1% tolerance. Ironmaster readily admits this when they are pressed on the issue, and will send you additional plates to make up the difference…..but you will still need a calculator by your side while working out to figure out how much you are lifting.
I actually agree with you. However, I did not have to “press” Ironmaster for the truth. Before I got my set I simply asked them and they told me that the plates were off by a bit. In the end, I did not obtain my set with the desire of having something that was within 1% tolerance. I wanted something that could take as much pounding as I could throw at them and Powerblocks just did not fit the bill.
Moreover, the Quicklocks come closer to feeling like standard dumbbells. They are not bulky in the least and the knurling in the handle is unsurpassed. Quicklocks will appeal to strong people who want to lift heavy and sweat buckets and have no concern about appearances in the wight room, whereas Powerblocks are more suited for people who like to wear spandex and would rather perspire than sweat. Don’t get me started. There simply is no comparison between Powerblocks and Quicklocks in terms of durability and function. Quicklocks win every single time. The fact that they are not within certain tolerances will not hurt your enjoyment of the system one bit.
I want to say one more thing about the subject of PowerBlocks.
I ask anyone to look closely at this page. Pay special attention to the thumbnail photographs, especially the last one. Then, run over to http://www.powerblock.com/blocks.html and look at the PowerBlocks. Any reasonably intelligent person will have to conclude that that Quicklock Dumbbells look sturdier, are obviously far less problematic, will be prone to fewer design flaws and are much easier to use do the the standard dumbbell handle.
In fact, I challenge Lou Ferrigno to try a set of the Quicklock Dumbbells by Ironmaster. I would bet good money that Lou will prefer the more rugged, durable feel of the Quicklocks to the PowerBlocks any day. He will also prefer their ease of use, which is by far superior to the PowerBlocks. If you watch the video of the PowerBlocks in use, you will notice right away that to set the PowerBlocks back onto the rack you will have to literally “aim” the PowerBlock, so that it fits into the parent stack. Try doing that with 100lbs when you are dog-ass tired from a set of stiff legged dumbbell dead lifts to near failure!
With the Quicklocks, all you need to worry about is how hard you wish to drop the dumbbells onto the dumbbell stand. They loading surface is ample, the stand is built like a tank and there is no need to “aim” the dumbbells once you are done using them. I can’t tell you the number of times I was thanking my lucky stars that all I needed to do was toss my Quicklocks onto the stand.
Finally, in regards to the weight tolerances, I want you to look at the price of the PowerBlocks Elite Set. They are nearly $1000.00 after shipping and handling (almost 900.00 without s/h)! Most of that cost is in design and tolerances. Whereas the Quicklocks with the 120lb add-on kit are a mere $700.00 including S/H ($600.00 without), and that includes the stand! Do the math. It just seems unreasonable to pay so much for something when all you are getting in return for your money is close weight tolerances.
The only area in which the Quicklocks take a back seat to the PowerBlocks is in speed of weight change. The PowerBlocks will adjust between weights a bit faster than the Quicklocks, but for me and my money this is just not a big enough advantage to make me want to switch.
I will recommend the Quicklocks every single time.
^^^agree with you. by the way, I just received my shipment one day ahead of schedule in a exactly a week. woohoo!
Rock n Roll brother. Those dumbbells will be a blessing to you!
Did you get the 120 add-on kit?? I hope so.
Just spread the word about this web site to as many folks as you can, Jose.
By the way, keep coming back to this site as changes are coming fast and hard. I am beginning to push a wonderful line of nutritional supplements all of which can be read about in our Shameless Commerce Division page. If I can get people trying these products I can continue to keep this site moving forward.
I just finished my first week of training and all i gotta say is that this is the best sh@# that has happened to me in a while. i love workinout, and now from home, plus i think this is the best homegym anybody can have if you have space problems, couldnt be happier. I’ll keep you guys posted.
and yes i did get the 120lbs kit. peace
Rock on brother!!! Don’t get too big on us!
Heheheh
dude, Ive been sticking with my workouts cuz i love my equipment. I just suffered a small sprain on my wrist so Ima have to take 2 weeks off. I’ll keep you guys posted and when i get ripped I’ll post em pics lol
I’ve read a few reviews that say the dip bar and chinup bar “rock” on the bench. Is this true and if so, does it affect the workout or is it something you simply adjust to?
Thanks.
Shannon, in this instance I would have to say that I would be inclined to trust the reviews. The base of the super bench is plenty wide, especially for things like traditional bench work. However, when you insert an attachment that raises the center of gravity, you just have to assume that the whole assembly is a tad less stable. My guess is that careful use of the chin and sip stations eliminates wobble, but if you start doing faster reps with less and less attention paid to form you increase the chance of wobble. That said, I think this is true for many chin/dip stations out there. I know, for example, that I used the Ironmind Vulcan Racks with Dip bars, and those had a tendency to wobble as well. I remedied the problem by “anchoring” the base with my 120 lb Quicklock Dumbbells!!!! I am not suggesting you try this with your bench. My only point in bringing this example up is that even some of the best home-dip and chin stations can wobble.
Finally, I would suggest calling Ironmaster and expressing your concerns. See what Matt has to say about it. He is very easy to talk to and more than willing to discuss the limitation, if any, of his equipment.
Merry Christmas
Jose, take care that you allow that wrist to recover!!!
Whats up fellas, i just received my order yesterday and i must say i am pretty happy with it, i just have one question. I noticed that on one end of the bars the lock screws in a bit different than on the other sides. What i mean is i am able to turn the screw a bit more than the half turn required to lock the rest of the sides. i also noticed that i am able to shift all the plates giving me the notion that they are not locked as well as the other three sides , any of you guys experienced this?
Hi Espy.
What I have found is that when you get numerous plates (such as all 6 plates) in place for securement, that sometimes the plates are not properly nested one onto another. In that case, you can get what I term a “false positive” for tightening, which is to say that the screw turns and feels snug, but in fact isn’t because the plates were not completely nested. So, to be on the safe side, when I am using more than say three plates on either end, I will tighten the screws, while simultaneously lifting up in the screw ends and sort of rattling the Quicklock dumbbell to make certain that the plates are stacked tightly, one against another. Once the plates are all stacked neatly together, then in fact it should only take a small turn of the screw to cinch everything down tightly.
In your case, if the stack of plates is rotating on he faceplate or if you are having to turn the screws more than a half-turn, then that’s usually a fairly good indication that the dumbbell needs to be shaken (rattled) to assure that there is proper seating of the plates taking place. Does any of this make sense? In the end, if plates are properly seated and screws are tight then the plates SOULD NOT be moving around at all. Come back and leave another post to keep us updated and we can proceed accordingly from there if need be.
Bottom line is, if the set does not perform to your specs, Ironmaster will give you a refund or replace the set. But before we go down that road, let’s eliminate some of these other possibilities.
Tim
I ordered package 4 and should arrive just in time for chest day. I hope they are as good as everyone says. I’ll save some time getting in some workouts at home instead of going to the gym everyday. With an eight month old at home, I can’t do that anymore. Great review, by the way.
Have no fear, you will love your QL Dumbbell Set. The guys at Ironmaster did a tremendous job with them. I have been considering opening a personal fitness studio and buying another set! Why on earth people would spend nearly twice as much to get Power Blocks is beyond me, especially when you look at the durability and usability of the QL’s. There is just no comparison.
Let us know what you think!
Hi Webmaster,
I appreciate your detailed reply, thanks! I am not going to return these weights, i’ve had them a little over a week and already i’m feeling more energized and i have an urge to go home everyday and just hit the weights; my wife has even joined in a couple of times which makes me very happy as well. Ironmaster has been very cooperative, they have actually sent me a new dumbell, i am going to return the one i was having problems with on Monday. The wierd thing is that i am having the same problem, for some reason it’s always one side, never on the other dumbell though, what freightens me is that it won’t secure until it takes almost a full turn, bringing it very close to the very top(we all know when the lock is positioned straight up the lock is able to just slide out). I will try what you said as far as rattling the dumbbell , it would be great to have all four locks lock in after about half a turn, it has not interrupted my workout yet, but mentally it would be greatl. I’ll take what you said into consideration and apply it tonite when i get home, i’ll keep you posted. Thanks for the quick reply and any other info. you can share on this product would be greatly appreciated!
Espy, I really encourage you to play with those dumbbell handles. They should NOT require a near full turn, and you are right…if you have to turn the screws so far that the threads are nearly at the top, you run the risk of injury.
I am going to call Ironmaster myself and have them take a look into this. The issue may not be the handle, but the plates. I will talk to Matt today and confer with him about this very issue. I will come back here and post a reply.
Thank’s a lot Tim,
I’ll play with those dumbbells some more when i get home, i’ll change the plates around as well to see if it affects the locking on the other dumbbells. I’ll keep you posted.
Wanted to chime in about my experiences with the Quick-locks over the last few months.
I have the bench, QL w/ 120 add on kit, crunch attachment, leg attachment, pull up and dip attachment, and the ez-bar.
pros:
This is the greatest adjustable DB available. The design and durability are outstanding. The nested design keeps the weights from rolling and rattling during use. When the screws are turned in and you feel that they are tight then you can be assured they are. (I do have one dumbbell that does that weird turn me more than the others thingy) These DB can be dropped… sadly I had to test this.
Someone asked about the knurling and yes it is deep. Almost too deep when using heavy weights. I have a serious callous collection now.
Weight changes are fairly quick. Although near the end of a workout I have a few stacks laying on the floor.
The atttachments work as expected. Very little wobble. I am not heavy though. When I first got the set I was about 160#, now I am about 180#. If you get crazy with inverted Sit-ups it WILL rock, I put the DB on the legs to make me feel better.
cons:
Slight weight disparity.. ok so I deal with it. I have taken measurements and have a chart with desired and real weight on it.
One of my db has that “screw with me” screw.. have to turn it more than the others. It will get tight but because it feels different than the others it makes it a little funky.
The next few cons arent really because of the system…
Ok the ezbar isnt really something that special. It uses the screw on collar that you can get on other ezbars. It has the nesting plates on it to keep the weights from rolling, but it would be cheaper to purchase a normal one local instead of paying for shipping from washington.
Certain positions can be hairy without a spotter. i.e. a decline bench. This position is where I had to try the drop test. If you have only done barbell work then you will have to learn to kick up weights with your hip flexors and lie down with the weights under control. Sitting back up is good ab work hehe.
Because of this last pseudo-con I am considering the self spotter thing (on my wish list).
OK and I am also looking at the organizer cause I have the attachments all over the floor.
So basically I cant say anything really bad about this system. I have had to buy these things in steps, I dont like to spend alot of money. The first time I saw the shipping costs I almost changed my mind. But even with the shipping costs this set is cheaper than some crap you can get at sporting goods places.
I am very pleased with this set.. period.
GREAT WRITE UP!!
Thanks for taking the time to write up such a great review. This is the sort of input that really comes in handy for folks who are in the decision making process.
Out of curiosity, how do you like the leg attachment? How do the leg curls and leg extension feel as compared to a selectorized stack machine???
I like the leg attachment. It comes with the slip on sleeve with a set screw so you can use oly weights. You can use the QL weights but only up to about 100#. The range and movement of the attachment feels good and solid to me. The attachment has a leg that sits on the floor and takes some of the weight off the bench itself. As compared to a stack machine, well I have not used one much.
I finally caved and ordered the organizer, this might seem like overkill, but I need to clean up the attachments.
I ordered the dumbbell spotting thing, I’ll be letting you know my opinion about that as well.
If you have any questions about any other items I have let me know, I will answer as best as I can.
Definitely keep us posted!!!!
I have had some time with the organizer and the spotting stand.
The organizer does a great job of getting all the accessories well organized… but not sure if it looks like modern art or something out of a Stephen King novel. haha
The spotting stand has its uses. The decline bench now is alot safer. Even my flat db bench I added poundage. It takes a few mock “lower weight” lifts to get the correct height for each different lift. The QL dumbbells sit very stable on end in the stand.
Neither item totally necessary but still great products.
Terrific!!!! That is the sort of thing I like to hear. I am sure Matt and the guys at Ironmaster are excited to be reading this.
Espy,
Have you looked at whether you’re putting the screws in evenly? Because if you’re only using a couple of 5 lb weights per side, the length of the screw on one side can be enough that it hits the other screw and keeps it from fitting tightly. Try making sure that you screw them in at the same time and see if that works. I thought I remembered something like the same problem, and this worked for me and I never noticed any problems again.
~Craig
Hi Craig,
Actually, the problem seems to be the combination of certain plates for whatever reason. Once i remove the last plate and replace it with another one the lock screws in the way it’s suppose to. It’s a minor inconvenience; i will be ordering the add on kit and the leg attachment in the summer, i’m hitting this thing like 5 times a week and im glad with the results and the convenience of having it in my own crib; it looks real nice next to my mini-bar, do a set, take a shot, lol. (j/k i don’t lift and drink at the same time)
Hi guys,
I am in the market of purchasing a set of adjustable dumbbells, primarly the powerblocks and the ironmasters. I didn’t like the bowflex, because everytime I tried them out at the store, they were hard to adjust. I tried a cheaper set of Weider adjustables, and they fell apart and a plate hit my foot, not too happy with those! I was leaning toward the powerblocks, due to I can get them for $524 with shipping and being 90lbs, versus the QL’s through ironmaster for $518 w/ shipping and weighing in at 75lbs. I was planning on trying them out at a store I found online this weekend to make sure that they felt comfortable since they are the box shaped, and you put your hand inside the dumbbell. I heard a few disadvantages to this, but a lot of people seemed to like them still. But after reading this forum, the ironmasters seem to be superior. I don’t have a lot of room, so the thought of potential plates laying around versus the quick release blocks was kind of a turn off, but after reading these posts, it seems that you all are very happy with your QL set, has really turned me more to this set. I never really cared about the ability to drop these dumbbells versus powerblocks, because I don’t want to drop them anyways. But I guess that is another advantage the QL’s have, they are pretty much telling me how strong they are.
Thanks for everyone’s reviews on these products.
Brian, you won’t be sorry. Everything about the QL is superior to the PB”s in my view. Even the knurling on the dumbbells, as well as the natural feel of the QL’s is going to blow you away.
Have fun!
Hello Fellow Ironmaster brothers,
I have a quick question for all who can answer. 1.According to the above posts the dumbell sets can be off by as much as 10%. If this the case what good will getting a couple 5lbs plates to make up the difference? I thought the screws were only able to hold a certain amount of weight depending on which set you have. My suggestion for this is to get a couple of magnetic weights if the precision of the weights is that big of a deal. I have recently purchased a set of the quick lock dumbells and I am getting excited about having such a quality product that according to quite a few people are the best available for the price. Thanks for the great info.
The magnetic weights is a good idea actually. However, I never really cared about the tolerances. 42 pound dumbbells can tire me out just as well as 45 pounders.
Can anybody tell how long did it take for weights to be delivered? I ordered mine last week and still waiting. Thanks.
As I recall, I waited between 7-10 business days (man was that a long time – I never wanted a delivery so bad in my life!). And to make matters worse, UPS goofed up and sent one of the parcels separate from the rest of the order (the add on kit) and I had to wait an additional few days for that. In the end, it was still worth the wait, by a long shot. I was so happy. You will be too!
Just got my set today, so happy! I waited 9 days total. Going to use your assembly instructions to get build a stand. Thank you very much for your help!
Superb!!!
Enjoy your set. Also, my instructions for the stand are merely a guide. I am sure others have found better ways to put it together.
Keep us posted Daniel.
Tim
Thanks Tim!
) wasn’t going in all the way. But after couple tries I learned how to properly line up the weights, so it wasn’t a problem anymore. Working out at home really feels awesome, I am more motivated, to my surprise. I used to thing that working out at home would be more challenging, because there are lots of distractions (TV, computer, family members), as opposed to the gym, which is a motivating environment (other people working out, big boys that you look up too). But I was wrong. Sure, gym is a great place to work out, but so is your home! You feel more comfortable at your house, there is no busy equipment, you are the boss. Overall, I would give quick-locks 9.9 out of 10 – I rarely give out 10’s because there’s always room for improvement.
So I just finished my first workout. I am very pleased with the results. Quick-lock dumbbells are a solid piece of equipment, they really do feel like conventional gym dumbbells! At first, it took me a while to change the weights, because the pole (not sure how to call this thing
Yes, home training is vastly superior to the gym in my view. When you have your first workout in the nude you will understand what I mean. LOL Trust me, I am not kidding. I remember waking up one night and feeling particularly Neanderthal, so I yanked off my underwear and went to town. Squats, dips, benches. You name it. all in the buff. Really quite freeing.
Love your review of the Quick-Lock Dumbells, but did you ever write part 2? Can’t fing it.
The funny thing is I never did. Oddly enough, the home I was living in was burned down by a neighbor. I was forced into homelessness for a while, then suffered three hospitalizations subsequent to that. It has been a tough year. Stay tuned for a post to fill you in on everything.
I used this site in investigating whether or not to purchase the Quick Lock system, and boy am I glad I did. I got my weights about 2 months ago and I absolutely love it. I got the package with the bench included and it’s totally worth the money. Sturdy and solid would be the best way to describe the system.
Changing out weights does take some time (I’ve got it down to about 30 seconds per weight), so if you’re a real freak about supersetting you might have a problem. Other than that I have nothing but praise for Ironmaster. I actually like these weights better than from the gym; the handles have a really nice grip and don’t dig into my palms as much as others. I’m planning on getting the expansion weights soon and I’ve got the chinup bar coming in the mail. Thanks for your advice!
Josh, you could not be more welcome! That is what this site is all about. Honest information and promotion of things I KNOW are good. I will let Matt see your comments (Matt owns Ironmaster).
Tim
I’m not sure how I found this link. I’m in the market for a set of weights. I’m new to the workout with weights routine and I’m female. I am just starting my workouts with dumbells of various sizes and want to expand to a nice set, but don’t want to go overboard. I’ve been looking at Bayou Fitness dumbbells as well. I’d like a set that both my husband and I can use, but don’t want to feel as though I’m investing a huge amount of money for a ‘weight lifter’ set of weights and never use the higher pound weights.
Chris
Chris, I am glad you DID find this link. Welcome.
One of the reasons I love the Quicklock DB System is because of the small incremental weight increases it allows. You can go from 5 lbs all the way to 75 lbs in 5 pound increments (2.5 lbs increments if you use just one of the 2.5 pound plates on one end!).
The dumbbells are more solid than anything on the market and feel so natural to use. As you can see by the comments on this page, people love them! You can spend less money and end up with something inferior or something that you will out grow in time, or you can spend the extra money and get a set that will last you and your kids and grandkids a lifetime.
I cannot recommend the Quicklocks enough.
Webmaster
PS: If you go to http://www.ironmaster.com you will see that there are some very affordable accessories that can be purchased along with the dumbbells that will round out a complete home gym. And the SuperBench is awesome!
I was almost going to buy the Powerblocks and stumbled on the Ironmasters by chance while browsing amazon.com. After reading all the reviews, I am going to order the QLs instead. The 75# are good enuf for right now but I will get the 120# addition if I can find out whether these weights can be used with a Standard bar. I am planning on buying a Body Solid bench with a plate loaded Lat attachment. It takes standard plates. Would you know if I can load these weights in a standard bar when doing the Lats attachment or any other standard bar for that matter. TY
Congratulations on a wise purchase.
One thing I would suggest is that you consider the Ironmaster Quicklock Superbench, My reason for suggesting that is that I believe (unless I am mistaken) that the leg attachment that docks into the Superbench will take not only standard plates and Olympic Plates, but it will take the plates that the Quicklock Dumbbells use as well.
In addition, take a look at he new attachment that docks into the Superbench: http://www.ironmaster.com/store/Cable-Tower-Attachment-pr-118.html
The attachment is rated at 250 lbs, which is pretty solid.
The Leg Attachment is here:
http://www.ironmaster.com/store/Leg-Attachment-for-Super-Bench-pr-85.html
A quote from the blub on the Leg Attachment states that “This new attachment allows you to do leg extensions and leg curls with the Super Bench. Very heavy duty design and construction with bearing action and works with either Standard weight plates or Olympic plates with the included Olympic sleeve adapter. 200 lbs design capacity. (You can fit 100 lbs of Quick-Lock plates on the weight holder bar)”
Unless you have a reason for desiring the Body Solid bench, I would look at the SUperbench. In case you are wondering, the Superbench was my primary bench until the fire forced me out of my home and I had to part with all my strength tools.
PS: One of my best friends is named Ahmed
Thank you for the quick reply. Initially I thought of buying the Superbench. But then I read that switching it from the incline to the decline position required one to take off the seat and reverse the curved rod holding it and make some adjustments. The reviewer said it was’nt as quick as it looked in the pics so I thought well as far as dumbbells, QLs for sure; but as for the bench I’d look at other options. I used to own some Body Solid equip so that was going to be my 2nd choice. Then again I don’t want to buy a more expensive Body Solid bench and accessories, and then have to buy free weights if the dumbbells don’t fit in a standard holder…
Ahmed, I am not sure who you spoke to, but adjusting the Superbench up or down requires none of the things your friend spoke of. I am a tad confused by what he is saying.
My suggestion would be to call Ironmaster before you make any other decisions and express your concerns. It could be that your friend was mistaken. One toll free phone call to get some clarity on this issue is time well spent, wouldn’t you agree?
Their number is 800-533-3339
I would call them to be sure.
Good idea. I’ll call them tomorrow. TY!!
You are welcome. I just want you to be totally happy with everything your purchase. The idea is to put together a gym you can live with from here until the stars burn out.
Trust me, you don’t want to end up with something you are not thoroughly pleased with, or else you will end up not using it. Make wise choices with your money!
For the record, I have been fortunate in that everything I have ever bought from Ironmaster ( their Superbench and QL Dumbbells ) I have loved and enjoyed. I never once regretted having acquired their tools.
PS: Ahmed, if you can please keep me posted as to what Ironmaster tells you. I am curious if what they say has any bearing on your choice in terms of additional purchases above and beyond the Quicklocks.
My guess is that after you talk to them you will be much more comfortable.
Oh I almost forgot.
Ahmed. Ironmaster also sells a standard EZ- Curl Bar that can be used with the Quicklock plates.
Ask them about the screw on collars. They claim these are “fast action” collars, and they would have to be in order for me to by the bar. I have always hated screw-on/threaded collars. However, it could be that these collars are designed differently (the photo seems to suggest they are) and that in fact they do change out quickly. If they do change quickly then this would be a great accessory to have!
http://www.ironmaster.com/store/EZ-Curl-Bar-pr-84.html
Ahmed, did you get a chance to talk to Ironmaster today? What was the final verdict?
Hi there
Yes I called them. They said the holes in the plates were 1 inch so they could not guarantee that every standard bar would accomodate them. I’d have to try case-by-case. This makes sense really because the bar since the standard bars also have a 1 inch holder. I see that they have a lot of neat accessories such as the EZ bar.
I am so glad I ran across this sight. I have been so confused as to what system I needed to buy. I am 43 and have not lifted seriously in 20 years. I ran across the Dosho 5000 which is made by the man who designed the Bowflex, but it only tops out at 90 lbs total (2X45). I guess what I need to know is what do you guys think I need, I am considering package number 1. After reading all the posts my only concern is the trouble a few are having with the screw locking properly into place. It sounds as if Ironmaster stands behind there product, has there been any issues with customer service? And also, is the bench width wide enough for a big boy like me, I weight 265.
Thanks for any info or suggestions.
Hi Jay.
Since I was only 163 lbs at the time, I cannot attest to the sufficient width of the super bench. While I did not need a super wide bench, I always found it stable and plenty wide enough. As I have always suggested, a quick call to Ironmaster should put your concerns to rest or at the very least tell you whether or not you need to look elsewhere for your bench needs.If you decide on a different bench, come back here and we can talk about it. That said, a person your size (what is your height) should do fine on the Superbench, but talk to Ironmaster. Their number is 800-533-3339
As for the screws not locking into place, until the fire took out my home I enjoyed my set for one whole year. and during that time I used nothing but the Quicklocks for my resistance needs. I had the 120 lb add on kit as well. I became totally familiar with how the set worked within a few days of getting them. I found that it was always best to grab a QL dumbbell and slightly jiggle the unit as a whole while making sure the screws were properly seated before I began using it. All this took was one or two seconds and I was off and running. I found them to be such a joy to use that this was a minor inconvenience that faded into a dim memory very quickly. I have yet to see anyone buy a set and not fall in love with them after the very first workout session.
Hello Fellas,
Just bought my Iron Master Dumbbell set on Saturday. I cannot wait to give them a try. I was torn between IM and PB for quite sometime but after thorough research I bit on the IMs.
Keep us posted! And congratulations!
Where is part 2?
Nevermind….Sorry to hear about that.
“”"The funny thing is I never did. Oddly enough, the home I was living in was burned down by a neighbor. I was forced into homelessness for a while, then suffered three hospitalizations subsequent to that. It has been a tough year. Stay tuned for a post to fill you in on everything.”"”
has any one tried the lat pull down attachment for the super bench. is it any good?
Can’t wait to get my weights.
Thanks for hosting this site Tim. I first came across the Ironmaster products while browsing on Amazon.com. I was considering buying the Bowflex Selectech dumbbells at the time, but after some searching I found this site. The reviews here (and on Amazon) convinced me to go with Ironmaster instead and I am SO happy I did.
I bought the Quick Lock Dumbbells and Superbench about a month ago and they arrived in 1 week. The bench feels solid and it is very fast to adjust to any position. The seat just slides on and off in seconds. I had not done decline work with dumbbells in the past, so this has been a bit awkward getting comfortable. But that is not an issue with the bench.
The dumbbells are amazing. They feel so solid and I love the deep knurling. No slipping when I’m doing heavier weights. Changing weights does take a bit longer than the “dial” dumbbells, but like others have said this is a minor sacrifice. My only issue was that one of the 5lb plates is a bit off and doesn’t stack properly with the other plates. I contacted Matt at Ironmaster about this issue and they are going to replace the one plate.
Overall I am 100% satisfied with the dumbbells and Superbench. I would definitely recommend to anyone shopping for adjustable dumbbells.
Glen I am so happy for you.
I am so pleased you stopped by and commented as well. The site is a blessing to many people and I will host it as long as I am alive.
Blessings abound!
[...] what I needed. Two companies immediately came to mind. One is Ironmaster, from whom I obtained my Quick Lock Dumbbells and Ironmind Enterprises, from whom I obtained all my racks and dumbbell handles over the [...]
im contemplating purchasing the 75lb dumbbells , unfortunately the only problem with me getting these is i live in ontario ,canada.not sure about how others feel about ups broker fees / duty fees but i sure do not enjoy them . i had a friend buy me a pair of headphones valued at 45 bucks , and once ups was at my doorstep required me to pay 60 bucks just to receive them . i was definitely not happy with that .i can only imagine how much it would cost just to receive my ironmaster set valued at 600bucks.i would hate to pay basically double the price just to have em shipped and then the have to pay another 600 to receive em.if they have places in canada that i can order from to avoid these annoying duty / broker fees it would be greatly appreciated.
This is a legitimate concern, but one you will face no matter what you buy as long as it originates in the USA or any other nation outside Canada. I think this is so ridiculous. This duties policy discourages commerce and more importantly free enterprise. Our brothers and sisters in Canada should be allowed access to the many products made here in the USA.
Have you tried calling Ironmind to see if there is a workaround?
W
havent spoken to them directly over the phone , ive been surfing the net trying to find places in canada , but have come up short handed.i have no problems paying a duty / broker fee of 10 to even20% of the purchase , but often times ups is charging me basically 80-100% of its retail price in fees and that is something that is unacceptable to me.quite sad that not many retailers have ironmaster sets in ontario , otherwise i wouldnt be in this dilemma.i really dont want to go with powerblocks due to them looking so odd and i definitely mind spending a little more time for quality.the bowflex selectechs are way too pricey and are made of plastic i believe and are too big in comparison to the others.i hope i can find ironmasters on craigslist or something
.
I still would recommend calling Ironmaster. It could be that IM is trying to develop a Canadian outlet. You never know.
Just and FYI for everyone: the interlocking dumbbell weights are not guaranteed to fit the leg attachment. Mine don’t and unfortunately I was not aware of this when I bought it.
Ironmasters does state it on their website (which I didn’t notice of course :-/). I had figured since they are selling it as an attachment to the super bench, their weights would work with it. It’s quite disappointing that they don’t…
Teddy, this is a good comment, albeit unfortunate. Can you please elaborate?
Do you mean the holes on the square plates that form the weights for the dumbbell handles do not fit over the post for the leg extension/curl attachment? Is that what you mean?
Peter: I’m also in Ontario and I share in your pain regarding brokerage fees. For QL dumbells, try exercisedirect.com. They are located in Winnipeg and they do ship to Ontario.
I’m also thinking about pullin’ the trigger on a set myself.
Interesting facts.I have bookmarked this site. stephanazs
i have limited space. how easy is it to store the power bench?
My inventory of equipment exceeds just the bench, but I imagine if all you had was the bench you would need 5 square feet within which to work.
Great post guys, thanks for all the info. I do have one question. Has anyone tried the QL dumbells with the superbench and cable tower attachment? Is the tower stable? Does the weight carriage that can hold the dumbells work well?
Serge
Serge, good question! I have often wondered that myself. I personally have not tried the cable attachments, so I cannot answer you with any degree of confidence. Have you considered talking to Mike at Ironmaster? I understand the appeal of objective opinions, but if one is not available I would suggest calling Ironmaster.
Peter & Les,
I called IronMaster a few weeks ago to find Canadian retailers. Unfortunately they are few and far between. I was told that there was an Ontario retailer, http://fitnessequipmentottawa.com/. Their website has very little info though (it sucks?). I was going to call them and find out available items and prices. I’ve got a brother up there who will be able to drive a set down for me this Christmas (and save on shipping charges!) I’ll post as soon as I find out more details.
mongcong
I finally heard back from the folks at fitness equipment of ottawa.
5-75lb $529 – shipping to London, ON $49
120lb add-on $249 – shipping to London, ON $78
(all prices are in CDN dollars and subject to PST and GST)
seems pretty reasonable to me.
mongcong
Thanks for the info mongcong. I’ve never heard of those guys before so it’s nice to know that there is a second source for Quick-Locks in Canada. BTW, I’m also located in London, On.
Les.
Hey Les, I don’t know if I’ll be able to afford a set (the add on kit too) very soon, but I thought maybe we could try and get a better deal if we order 2 sets together (to London). They told me they’d knock $50 off if I ordered the 5-75 and -120 sets together. Maybe we could get a bigger discount if we teamed up! Email me – wanted_nesgames@yahoo.ca
mongcong
I love everything about the Powerblocks and the bench except for one thing. I have yet to figure out a way to do the decline bench. Obviously you use the foot lock, but how do you lift the weights into place, and then lay back to start the presses. Right now, I have stands on both sides, but it is a bitch to lift the dumbells with your legs hunched over the foot lock, and then lay back on the bench.In the gym, you don’t have the hurdle of the upper leg pads.
The simple answer is to get a spotter, which you should have anyway.
Place an ad in Craig’s List. Get yourself a training partner, and don’t take risks you would not let your own children take.
The whole point of getting this system is to work out at my home,when I want, alone……………….
Joe, I hear ya. But I would never try to squat or bench alone without some safety racks in place, even with a spotter. Doing decline dumbbell work really requires at least one pair of extra hands. I encourage you to think about it. Training at home is great, but injuries are quite common when you train alone. Just be careful.
PS: my comment is poorly worded. WHat I mean is that training with a barbell has inherent risks. Training with dumbbells carries just as much risk, if not more so, for certain movements. Decline dumbbell work is one of those movements.
What a superb blog. I really appreciate your efforts here to inform others on a variety of health related topics. I have been trying to decide between Powerblock and Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells. I have had a horrible time making up my mind. I just don’t know which way to go. I really like the ease in which you can change Powerblock weights, but the Ironmasters just seem so much more solid. I tried the Powerblocks, and I liked them. But I did notice a rattle among the weight plates that I think would really get on my nerves in the long run. The manner in which the weights feel seems a bit off to me, a little odd. Perhaps I’m just used to conventional dumbbells. I haven’t tried the Ironmasters, but the fact that you can try them for 30 days and return them (without having to pay shipping) is pretty attractive. This site has helped me to solidify my choice to go with Ironmaster dumbbells, although I haven’t made up my mind 100%, as of yet.
I think it really comes down to what is most important to me. Rapidity of weight change or overall construction and durability. I’ll have to think long and hard about this before I commit to either one, because in the end it is a lot of money either way.
I also want to tell the webmaster that I read his story and my heart goes out to him. I wish you the very best and my thoughts are with you….
This was a very nice reply. Your well wishes are so very much appreciated. Quite touching actually.
As for your dilemma, let me offer a few things. One, I do not get paid to recommend these dumbbells. I just happen to love them. Two, I opted for durability and natural feel over speed of change. There are a few good dumbbell systems out there, but I have noticed that the sets with the quickest change times are also the most bulky, and therefore they just tended to be a bit unwieldy. I wanted something that felt as close to the “real thing” as I could fine. The Quick-Locks won in this department hands down.
Also, I like knurling. The deeper the better. I have had it up to here with comfort grips designed to appeal to the more feminine of the species.I have no desire for something that might slip out of my hand. I wanted something that communicated to me when I grabbed it and said, “Here I am and I ain’t goin’ nowhere! ’til you let go”. Again, the Ironmaster product won hands down.
Give them a shot and get back to us. I am sure you will not be disappointed.
Oh, and Dalton, thank you for your donation!!!!! That just made my morning!
Hi guys….
I tried other dumbbells as well, including the Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells. Pure junk. It’s really hard for me to believe that anyone who does any type of research whatsoever on adjustable dumbbells would even consider going with the Bowflex dumbbells. I think sometimes people are initially exposed to a particular brand of adjustable dumbbell, and they somehow solidify that brand as the only brand they want. That initially happened to me. I was 100% absolutely certain without a doubt whatsoever come hell or high water that I was going to buy Powerblocks, without ever even trying them. Then, of course, I tried them. Then the doubt started to creep in. Between this site, some forum searches, and Amazon reviews I started to seriously reevaluate my options, particularly with the Ironmaster dumbbells. Although I think, on the whole, the forums I’ve seen tend to slightly favor Powerblocks (mainly because of the quickness with which one can change weights), I’m leaning towards quality and durability. I think some of the Powerblock opinions I’ve read are also due to lack of exposure with other dumbbells, or people have invested so much money in PBs they feel they have to favor them, simply in order to pacify their own conscience.
At any rate, I’ll let you guys know my decision soon, although at this point I’m about 80-85% certain I’ll be going with the Ironmasters (I’m definitely buying their bench)….
Dalton
Thanks very much for the info, I’m also in London Ontario, and your posts have been quite helpful!
Much Appreciated
Brandon
Brandon you are very welcome. I will begin adding new posts very soon. I am still recovering from illness, but am getting back into the swing of things.
Tim,
Contact me via email, please. I have a question for you.
Thanks.
Dalton
Brandon – If you’re seriously considering purchasing the Quicklocks, email me (posting #115). You’d be the third person in London looking to get these. I’m going to see if we can get a good discount for multiple purchases. I’ll be looking to buy within the week (I’m just waiting for my Ebay auctions to end – under the same name if you’re curious).
I have had the 75 lbs dumbbells for a while and absolutely love them. I remember thinking I’d never need any more than 75 lbs, but now I am Incline Benching with the full 75 lbs, so looks like I have to spring for the 120 lbs upgrades! It’s a good problem to have though
Hi everyone,
I finally made a decision, decided to take the plunge and purchased Ironmaster dumbbells, bench, and crunch attachment recently. I have received all items, assembled all required elements, and I must say that I am more than happy with my purchase. I researched adjustable dumbbell options for about a month, looked at around 5-6 different adjustable dumbbell models, and it ultimately was a contest between Ironmaster and Powerblock. But, in the end, after now having the opportunity to try both of them, I can truly say that there really is no comparison between the two. Just as I suspected. The one supposed trump card Powerblock users always tout in comparison to Ironmaster is the rapidity of weight change. Red herring. In my opinion, it’s almost just as easy to change weights on the Ironmasters. I take both quick-lock locking screws off at the same time, quickly adjust weights, and put quick-locks back on the handles simutaneously. Simple as that. So easy. Plus, unlike Powerblocks, you don’t have to worry about incorrectly installing a selector pin and weights falling on your head or feet. I almost bought Powerblocks because I was caught up on the idea of quick weight change, but now I am so glad I went with Ironmaster because the weight change variant between PB and IM is so negligible as to really be a total non-issue. Everything else considered, IM is simply a better dumbbell.
I am very grateful to all parties who helped form my decision to go with Ironmaster. I referenced Amazon reviews, bodybuilding forums, and several Ironmaster owners in the formation of my opinion concerning this product. I’d like to particularly thank the webmaster of this blog, Timothy, for patiently answering all of my questions and guiding me through all relevant information on my journey. He’s been a great help and a superb guide. And thanks to all who have written personal stories on this blog. I’ve read every single one of them, and each one helped to solidify my choice.
If, like myself, the reader of this post happened upon this blog in an attempt to decide what adjustable dumbbell to buy, my advice is this: do your research. All adjustable dumbbells are expensive, and if you are going to put down a lot of money for dumbbells, you might as well get the most for your money.
Many thanks,
Dalton
Dalton, if they handed out Pulitzer’s for comments, your comment would be taking top prize. This is very well written, informative and enjoyable to read.
I suspect that after the Holidays lots of people will be making new commitments with respect to their health and fitness needs. This happens every year and has since probably the beginning of time. Every year the sporting goods stores are packed tight with folks buying the newest fitness gadgets and gimmicks. And every year, around the same time, the same group of people are right back at the same stores buying a new gadget or gimmick that is sure to change their level of fitness conditioning once and for all. And so the cycle goes. What makes this so axiomatic?
I am convinced that that one of the biggest reasons people like those mentioned above find themselves stuck in this endless loop of fitness madness is because the things they buy are just so much junk. Garages, attics and junk yards the world over are spilling over with discarded or broken fitness gizmo’s of all sizes and shapes. Invariably these onetime shiny, plush toys, failed to live up to the promise of durability or they were so poorly designed in the first place that they simply failed to function as a true fitness tool. In short, they were never designed for function, they were only designed for form – to look nice, but not to build strength. Of course, nothing can compensate for lack of motivation. I don’t care how well a piece of equipment is designed, if someone is too lazy to get off their wrinkly old flabby ass and actually use the equipment then one can hardly blame the tool, now can one? Still, a well made and functional strength tool that efficiently builds slabs of strong, sinewy muscle is it’s own motivator. Plus, you HAVE to be able to trust the equipment you buy. If the tools you buy are tough as nails, then you won’t be afraid to trust your life to it.
As everyone who follows the advice of this thread has found out, Ironmaster makes tough, effective and functional strength training tools that just so happen to be nice to look at as well. If you are planning to invest a large chunk of change in a home gym, don’t spend your time and hard earned money at the local sporting goods store. All you will end up doing is wasting plenty of both.
This sort of investment is something you only want to do once in a lifetime, and so it stands to reason that you should buy from a professional strength company that makes tools designed to last a lifetime and give you a lifetime of results you can be excited about. A relative handful of companies fall into that category. Ironmaster if one of them.
I recently recieved my ironmaster dumbells and could not be happier. I like the feel and the quality seems excellent. Initially I was going to purchase power blocks, although now I’m glad I didn’t. If these dumbells are as well made as they seem, then I look forward to many years of enjoyment! Both Bowflex and the Weider version were bulky (too long) and felt cheaply made. The powerblocks had very little space for my hands and had an awkward feel.
Lee, I know you will be happy. Everyone who gets these dumbbells raves. Don’t train too much too fast, and please keep us posted. Let know your progress. Congrats!
Got my Quicklocks a few weeks ago from a retailer in Ontario. I am very pleased. No need to rephrase all the praise in the above 133 postings. Solid and dependable. I’m getting faster with the changes and don’t see any issues with the length of time to change weights. I spent a small fortune on the Quicklocks and I feel it was well worth it. Can’t wait until the 120 lb add on is “required”! Good luck in your purchase to all who stumble upon this thread.
Mongcong.
First, the praise: I, too, am in the market for a adjustable dumbbell system to start a home workout program. (My company is now offering a new fitness program with $800 towards home exercise equipment–if they’re giving me money, I’m more than happy to spend it.) After a little research, I narrowed it down to the Powerblocks and the Ironmaster. Then I found this page. After reading this great review and all of the great comments (almost 2 years’ worth), the decision is easy. The hard part is waiting for the green light on the fitness benefit, then I’ll place my order (package 1). If I keep it up all year, then I’ll use next year’s $800 to get the accessories (starting with the cable tower attachment and the crunch attachment).
Now, my questions. Most of my questions have been asked and answered in the comments, but I do have this one: I’m 6′ 5″ tall (I wish I had the physique to go with it) and I’m wondering how well the bench works for tall people in the different configurations. The Ironmaster site does point out that the leg attachment might have problems for taller people, but that’s about it. Can anyone else give any additional insight?
I’m also interested if anyone has the cable tower attachment. Once it’s attached to the super bench can I still do all the exercises I was doing with the bench alone, or would I have to detach it from the tower first? If so, how easy is it to detach/re-attach the tower?
Thanks again for a great review and now a whole Ironmaster community,
David
David, welcome aboard!
I understand your dilemma. Well sort of. I am 5′6″ tall, and the Super Bench is awesome for someone my height. And as much as I would like to recommend the Super Bench, I cannot in good conscience do it only because the Super Bench is 44 inches long and 10 inches wide. Of course, this is amply designed for most folks, but you are a big unit to say the least.
I must, therefore, suggest you look at the Ironmind 5-Star Flat Bench. This is a bench I have in my own personal collection. It is not adjustable, and not expandable, but it is 48 inches long a full 12 inches wide! Those are some dimensions I think you can live with.
Have a look at my review: http://totalphysiqueonline.com/2008/07/10/ironmind-five-star-flat-bench-review/
I think that between the Quick Lock Dumbbells and the 5-Star Bench, you would be well on your way to a super home gym. Of course, if you are a purest and wish to order from one company, I would suggest you Ironmaster and speak to Matt and get his two cents.
I took the liberty of calling Matt myself, and he also agreed that at your size, the 5-Star might be a better choice of the two benches. But, in the interest of research, call him if you like and talk to him some. He is a very approachable guy.
Thanks for the info. Now it seems my perfect starter home gym (the QL dumbbells and the Super Bench) may not be as perfect as I thought. I was leaning toward an adjustable bench, because I wanted to do incline presses with it. I see in the comments for your review of the 5-Star Bench that there are ways to do incline presses using a flat bench (and Kevin actually prefers doing it that way). Do you know where I can get more information on that along with photos if possible?
I do agree that a bench that fits is better than a more versatile bench that doesn’t. I was looking forward to expanding the Super Bench with the cable tower attachment, though. I also don’t like the fact that purchasing the QL’s and the 5-Star (with shipping) will put me $143 over my $800 budget. Maybe it’s time for Ironmaster to design the Super Duper Bench. I will give Ironmaster a call when I get some time and get some more information from the source. It might be worthwhile to get the Super Bench anyway and take advantage of the 30-day guarantee if it really doesn’t work for me.
Thanks again for the great information.
David, you are welcome, and thanks again for adding yet another great reply to what is a very helpful thread for lots of folks.
I understand your desire to maximize your bang for the buck with the attachments to the Super Bench. Sure, why not try it out for 30 days. I know Matt’s training partner is 6′3″ tall, and he seems to like it, but tack on another two inches and maybe you are in different territory. Only you can know what it is like to be 6′5″ tall in a world built for shorter folks. In answer to your other question, I use to train at the UVa weight room many years before they built the McCue Center (UVA’s famed football sports facility). I seem to recall a wooden stair-stepped contraption that they had built and it was quite sturdy and stable. It was built so that you could place one end of a flat utility bench on the first two or three stair steps. Imagine a more streamlined version of something like this (minus the handrails of course, most of which I was able to erase):
As I recall, it offered some basic angles, nothing precise, but enough to get the desired affect.
Actually, I have always felt that most incline benches in gyms were too steep and placed too much stress on the shoulders. I found the stairs approach to offer the ideal angle.
Obviously, this is one of those areas where I need to urge care and caution. Discovering homemade contraptions in gyms is nothing new. Often times weightlifters improvise to come up with ways in which to challenge themselves and stimulate new gains in size and strength. Often times, this leads to tremendous success. On the other hand, it can sometimes lead to disaster if the homemade gadgets are not built well, or if the overall concept is a disaster in the making from its very conception. The steps in our gym were ideal for our needs and enabled us to get more out of our flat utility benches, which came in handy on crowded days when the traditional inclines were being used or when we just needed that certain “feel” we could not get from the incline presses (which was often). All I am saying is proceed with caution, consider your options and make the choice that seems best for your needs.
I just talked on the phone with Tim at Ironmaster. He said that there is someone that works out with him (Mike, I believe was the name) who is 6′ 4″ tall and only has issues with the leg attachment (which the web site already points out). Beyond that, he hasn’t seen any problems. So I think I will go ahead and start with the Super Bench, knowing that I can take advantage of the 30-day guarantee if I have any problems.
Thanks again for all the great information here. I hope to place my order in the next couple of weeks. Once I’ve been able to work with the bench (and dumbbells) for a bit I’ll be sure to add another comment with a tall guy’s perspective (although the guy who lives across the street from me is 6′ 7″ and keeps reminding me I’m not *that* tall).
Well, definitely keep us posted. Good luck with your purchase.
Hey All,
This is a great sight for the QL dumbbells. I’m looking to potentially purchase a pair of the QL dumbbells within the next 2 weeks, with a few quality control issues (two of them being deal breakers) that concern me:
1) the screw lock issue that Espy and others had issues with, along with a false positive on tightening (deal breakers) and
2) to a lesser extent, the possible ~10% variance in weight plates…
Has Ironmaster done anything to address these issues?
I’m from Toronto, Ontario. Canada. and shopping for the best deal out there (combined QL price and shipping). I have only been able to find 3 dealers in Canada that are relatively close to me:
1) Exercise Direct (Winnipeg/Thunder Bay), 2) Fitness Equipment Ottawa and 3) Club Pascine (Quebec).
Club Pascine has the lowest price, but I have to arrange for shipping. Fitness Ottawa is the most expensive, but they have shipping in place. I will contact Exercise Direct tomorrow, but I suspect shipping will be too much..
Anyone else know of other locations in Ontario that are closer to Toronto than Ottawa? and might offer a better deal? tks, sg
Stew, thanks for the post.
I have two responses.
With respect to the weight variance, I doubt Ironmind has done anything about it. My guess is that to machine the plates to exacting standards costs a bit more, an in order to keep the set affordable, a less expensive tolerance is allowed.
Let me ask you a question. The Powerblocks have a closer tolerance in terms of weight. Have you looked at these? I am not trying to push you away, but if precise poundage is what you are looking for, Powerblocks offer it. Mind you, the PB 130’s cost $898.00, and that does not include the stand.
My guess is that you desire the Ironmasters for a reason, or you would not be wishing to make a purchase. Maybe you like the rugged feel of the knurling, and the fact that Ironmasters can be dropped without voiding a warranty. Maybe you like the fact that the feel more like traditional dumbbells. All very good reasons. But, if Ironmaster told you that they could get the tolerances to the standards you want, and custom build you a set in order to do it, but that it would cost you over $1000.00, then would you give Ironmaster the green light?
Personally, I suspected that the weight might be off by around 5% or so, but it didn’t matter to me because the 120 lbs felt heavy as crap to me, never mind the fact that they might have been 5 pounds off. Still, if it really matters that much to you, and for some people it will, just opt for the Powerblocks.
Regarding the screws, I have no idea. I never had an issue, but clearly one or two folks here have. Call Ironmaster and talk to them about your concerns. Ask for Matt. If he is available, he will take your call.
Thanks for the quick response!
Precision is part of quality assurance and is a reflection of the company, and of course for a higher price. But as mentioned, this is not a “deal breaker” for me just a concern.
But the thought of the locks not screwing in properly along with false positives in lock would definitely be a deal breaker, I would definitely pay more for the security of the plate not falling on my head/chest or feet.
I’m in Canada, and shipping product back to IronMaster (under warranty) is a cost they do not take, Canadian dealers are taken out of the equation and it is a cost to me and can be quite prohibitive. They only cover the cost to send the repaired product to me.
Stew you are welcome.
I really think that this is a good time to call Ironmaster. If Matt is not able to address your concerns adequately then I really think the Powerblocks should be your choice. However, talk to Matt. Perhaps Ironmaster has addressed the issues of the screws.
Also, if you think that the lack of close tolerances reflects poorly in a company, then this is personal red flag you should respect. Don’t ignore your own instincts. Go with what brings you the most peace. Don’t buy something of this nature if you are not 100% sure of it. You live in Canada, and you can ill afford to get something you end up not liking.
That said, I think these comments and the overwhelming satisfaction folks are having is worth taking into consideration as well.
W
Good Points that you brought up, I narrowed down my choices to the QL and PB.
Leaning more heavily towards the QL. All in the QL (75lbs) will cost me CAD$820! same as the PB 9.0 + the extension to 90lbs (without the stand). I just want to hammer through all the points before I decide.. I tried to take advantage of the 30day trial, to ease my mind, but IronMaster doesn’t offer this to Canada.
QL stand question. I see there are 2 stand colors… grey and white. does one represent a later production run of the QLs dumbbells. Matt from IM told my buddy that they recently (not sure what period this meant) raised the standards on their DBs.
I am a tad confused. What white stand do you see in the photos above? I am wondering if you might have mistaken something. I have only seen grey stands. I am not sure of what you are referencing.
http://www.ironmaster.com/store/home.php#
right hand side, top video
stewie griffin,
Tough choice. I, too, had a difficult time deciding between Powerblocks and Ironmasters. In the end, as my earlier post indicates, I chose Ironmaster QL dumbbells. I’ve been working out with them for a month or so now and I have not had any issue whatsoever with the QL screws. They are perfect and completely safe. I feel 100% safe using these dumbbells, whereas with the Powerblocks if you insert the pin wrong you might have problems with the weight stack detaching.
I’ve worked out with Powerblocks, Soloflex adjustable dumbbells, Freemotion adjustable dumbbells, and Blowflex adjustable dumbbells, and I can honestly say Ironmaster is the superior dumbbell. Rapidity of weight change with the Powerblocks is extremely attractive, but the deal breaker came when I actually tried them. The weight plate rattle was the straw that broke the camel’s back. There’s also a qualitative difference in the feel of Ironmasters and PBs. In this regard, IM is the clear winner. In the end (if you go with IM), you will sacrifrice extreme rapidity of weight change for durability and superior aesthetics and feel, and it’s worth it. At least in my opinion….
I love these dumbbells. And the Superbench is great (the crunch attachment is a must).
Hope this helps.
Dalton
Steve, you realize that this web site is not the Ironmaster QL official web page. right? When you spoke of seeing a white stand I had no idea what you were talking about. I had to guess that you were referring to the IM official page. LOL Anyway, that video has been around for some time. I got my set towards the end of 2006 I believe. My stand was grey. I have assumed they were all grey.
I know that the IM Super Bench is now a grey color based on the web site, leading me to believe that they changed the color of the bench to match the stand. Why not just call IM yourself and ask
————————–
Dalton, GREAT post. Very informative.
Dalton,
I really appreciate your response. Reading all your previous posts, which communicated some of the issues I had, really helped to allay my concerns.
No doubt now, I’ve decided that I will be be picking up a pair of the QLs next week.
sg
Dalton I want to say thank you as well. Everyone has made the particular page so very helpful to others who are on the fence, so to speak.
Stew, PLEASE let us know what you think once you get your IM QL’s. If you have ANY issues at all, let us know.
Stew, may I ask a favor? If you decide to go ahead with your purchase next week, please do so by letting IM know how you came to your decision. Moreover, if you order from the IM store, go there by using the following link as it helps IM determine the effectiveness of this site in driving traffic their way:
http://www.ironmaster.com/store/home.php?partner=totalphysique
Thanks in advance.
sure thing, I will be placing my order through a Canadian distributor.
But I can place a quick call to IM to let them know.
Oh yeah, lol, thats right I forgot. You are a Canadian! My best friend is in Abbottsford BC. The Canadian people are SO wonderful. I love you guys. The kindest folks on the planet live in the Great White North.
Dalton, thanks also for your comments. There are plenty of reviews out there on individual products, but the comments on this page was the only place I was able to find anyone with experience (as opposed to just having a biased opinion) that compared products from different companies. Obviously, the comments on this page swing heavily in favor of the Ironmaster QL’s, but the most valuable comments are those that can provide details as to why that preference is justified.
And I appreciate your mention of the crunch attachment to the super bench. I’m seriously considering adding it to my purchase, even though it puts the cost slightly over my $800 budget.
Stew and David,
My pleasure. Glad I could help. I think you two will really like IM dumbbells. I know I do. Even though they aren’t as drop dead quick to change as PB, they more than make up for it with their inherent stability, durability, aesthetics (they really are very attractive dumbbells—very sophisticated), and feel. Looks like Matt made a nice new video on YouTube about the QuickLocks. You can reference the video on the IronMaster site, as well. Pretty neat.
Get the crunch attachment, David. You’ll be sorry if you don’t. Incline situps are amazing using this device. I use it almost every day. Since you are buying all this stuff, ask Matt for a package deal. Cheese and crackers, wish my employer would have given me $800 to buy my Ironmasters. That’s just not fair! Ha.
Let us all know how you like your dumbbells once you spend some time with them. Don’t forget that you’ll need a couple wrenches for assembly (for the bench legs and to get the plastic off the padded part of the bench) once everything arrives. Like the dumbbells, the bench is rock solid.
Take care.
Dalton
For your viewing pleasure.
Visit Ironmaster to place your order today!
When I order, I’ll call and see if I can get the crunch attachment at a discount with Package 1. Package 2 includes the crunch attachment as well as the dip bar attachment (for $67 more than package 1–for comparison, the crunch attachment by itself goes for $55 and the dip bar attachment goes for $49).
I definitely would like to get the crunch attachment. Here’s the real question: is the attachment so good that it’ll make me want to do them?
Hi David,
When I ordered my stuff, Matt was very accommodating. I ordered the dumbbells, bench, crunch attachment, and 4X6 rubberized floor mat. Even though the floor mat wasn’t included in any package deals, he worked it in for me. I got a 5% Holiday discount, too (that discount is no longer running). Came to $855, I believe. Make sure you directly talk to Matt. If Tim or Scott answers the phone, ask for Matt. If he’s not available, I’d just keep calling back until you talked directly to him. He’ll take your order, as he did mine.
As for the crunch attachment, it IS so good that it will make you want to do the decline crunch situps. The attachment enables you to really target your midsection, more so than traditional situps. You want this attachment, David. Trust me. For what you get, it’s well worth it and not that much more in terms of cost. You can also do the decline bench press, as well.
Hope this helps.
Dalton
Hey Mongcong,
I’m from Guelph and Fitness Equipment of Ottawa quoted me $620 with $75 in shipping. How did you get such a good deal!?
I bought a set of the IM dumbbells a few weeks ago. I actually had a full set of pro-style dumbbells that I sold before I picked up the IMs set. It was tough letting go of an entire set of dumbbells (5-110lbs) but I needed to free up some space in my home gym. So far I do not regret the decision. The only down side for me using the adjustable’s would be I sacrifice some convince of being able to just grab the next pair of dumbbells on the rack. That said- the quicklocks have proven to be a really nice addition to my gym. They are rock solid- I love the grip and they take up virtually no room. I also bought the 120 lb add on kit as well. I am still getting use to changing out the plates- I would honestly say it does take a little time, especially when you get up to 90lbs and over- but so far its no big deal. The rack is a perfect height and hold everything nicely. I am probably going to extend part of my home gym in the near future- and moving the IM set will be alot easier than two full racks of dumbbells!. I work out hard- I don’t baby my equipment and the IM set fits right in- very durable and I am not afraid that they will break. I would recommend these for anyone looking for an adjustable set of dumbbells. Another big selling point is they feel like traditional dumbbells which I have come used to over the years. i don’t like the foam grip of some of the competitors- I like a solid knurled handle on my dumbbells. Thats my 2-cents.
Tim
Tim (that’s also my name) thanks for taking the time to leave such an in-depth comment. Thank you for stopping by the site as well. How did you hear about TPO?
Keep training hard, and keep us posted with your experience.
great site. came across u as i googled 4 adjustable dumbells. i live in Asia- specifically bombay, india- or mumbai as its now known. this comes from the heart- 4 a long time i have been unhappy with my gym here- its too small, too crowded and of late its begun to depress me -to the point i m desperate to invest in my own home gym! i m gonna buy a Body solid series 7 gym, which i can get in mumbai for US $3200. i know thats expensive! i also wanna buy the IM QL dumbells- my question is- if i had to choose bw these two what do i opt for? my problem is that i cant locate any dealer for IM here! import duty in india is about 25% of TOTAL GROSS VALUE of the shipment., and that includes cost of shipping and insurance. i wud b grateful to get the contact details of IM s owner- mark?- i gotta talk to him and work out a decent rate for shipping ! cud someone help? thanks., harry
Harry thanks for the compliments.
Matt can be emailed at Matt Dawson
Alternately, you can dial toll free 800-533-3339
Hope this helps and good luck.
Dear Tim
(
I emailed Matt on Saturday. Seeing as how its already Monday night here in India and I still haven’t gotten a reply from Matt yet, what should I do?
I also tried calling the UK distributor but nobody answers the call! If its so hard to even place my order, then what’s after sales service gonna be like? I realize that being in India isn’t helping, but come on, if I’m able to buy a BodySolid Series 7 then it can’t be that hard to buy an IM QL !!
Can u help me out here? I really like the product. Maybe u can start by giving me Matt’s cellphone number? The 1-800 number u gave me works ONLY in the US and maybe Canada
-harry
I love the IM dumbbells. I agree with everything everyone has said about them. I have the 120 lb set, and I have the Powerblock 90 lb set. They both have their attributes, and I would hate to part with either. If I had to choose between the two I would go with the IM. The ONLY area Powerblocks wins in is speed of weight change. As far as form,function,durability, and visual appeal the IM comes out on top.
Brian
Brian, thanks for the input…I think this page says it all for the QL’s.
webmeister
Tim, I heard about your site- probably like so many others by researching the IM dumbbells. I have to say your site was very informative and your review was excellent- pictures especially. Its not like the Ironmaster website was not informative ( great site and they will send you a free dvd of all their products if you ask on their website).but its always nice to see real-world reviews by regular people. keep up the good work.
Tim
Boy oh boy, this just made my day. The last two weeks have been a huge challenge getting the site up and running. I will be taking a short break, but I will be back to my duties in about a week. I sent you an email blast, did you get it by any chance?
Tim
**************Posting again in case u missed the first one!*******************************
(
Dear Tim
I emailed Matt on Saturday. Seeing as how its already Monday night here in India and I still haven’t gotten a reply from Matt yet, what should I do?
I also tried calling the UK distributor but nobody answers the call! If its so hard to even place my order, then what’s after sales service gonna be like? I realize that being in India isn’t helping, but come on, if I’m able to buy a BodySolid Series 7 then it can’t be that hard to buy an IM QL !!
Can u help me out here? I really like the product. Maybe u can start by giving me Matt’s cellphone number? The 1-800 number u gave me works ONLY in the US and maybe Canada
-harry
Harry, thanks for getting back to me. On Saturday, Ironmaster is closed. I think many businesses of this nature are typically closed on Saturday and Sunday. Retail stores are usually open, because here in America weekends are when they make most of their money. However, Ironmaster is not a retail store in the same way. I will also email Matt or maybe even call him to alert him to your email. As for the UK distributor, I am unable to speak to that, but once you and Matt are communicating I am sure the ball will get rolling.
Also, here is another number: International: 425-408-9040
They open at 9 AM West Coast Time.
Do not worry. I have found IM to be top drawer with respect to customer service.
Tim
Dear Tim
Wow u replied to my post within 8 minutes! I am amazed at you, bro- what on earth r u doing awake at 7 am lol ! Okay so I was staying back at my office so that I could call up IM, but seeing as how they r gonna open only by 9AM PST, that means 10.30PM in India! Guess I better get home and call, and see what they say. In the meantime I managed to dash off two emails- one each to the UK and Aussie distributors. I guess I’m really keen to get a hold of the QL dumbells! Will let u know in case anyone replies. Its at times like these that I wish I was somewhere in the lower 48! Anywho, I managed to find the Series 7 here, so I guess no harm done, except I part with an arm and a leg for the series7, and lose the other arm and leg trying to import the QL!! Thats life I suppose- cheers, Harry
by the way do u have any experience with the BodySolid Series 7 smith gym? Or can u direct me to someone who does? I dont wanna shell out $3200 and then feel ripped off. thanks!
-harry
Hi Harry.
I reply to comments as fast as I can. I am deeply indebted to you, my readers, so where possible I like to respond immediately.
I have no experience with the Series 7, but before you buy it (assuming you have not already done so) have a look at this page and photo gallery:
http://totalphysiqueonline.com/2009/01/26/ironmaster-im2000-self-spotting-system-review/
Tim
No, I have not yet bought the series7. just thinking of doing so. the ONLY thing i am SURE of buying is the IM QL and that I simply cannot get a hold of lol !
So here’s the thing- I am aware of the IM 2000. But when I phoned IM some 4-5 months ago, they told me it wud be uneconomical to ship to India. I guess he was right, but oddly enough I think the total cost of importing the IM 2000 wud still be LESS than the $3200 price of buying the Bodysolid series 7 !!
Now another concern about the IM 2000 is- IM specify that they have used BUSHINGS on the IM2000. I know for a fact that bushings are inferior to LINEAR BEARINGS, which can be found on the series7 among others. Thats one reason I think the series7 would win over the IM2000.That and the fabulous lifetime warranty that Bodysolid offer on EVERYTHING! On all other fronts, IM2000 comes up tops- its half the price, occupies less space, etc.I am not certain of the warranty of IM, but still I’m certain of buying the IM QL dumbells, and thats a start!
-harry
Hi Harry. Interesting comments. When Ironmaster says they use “bushings”, I am not sure what they are referring to, unless it’s the silicone bushing that is a LINER inside the moving bar that slides up and down the post-beams. The two vertical posts that the barbell slides up and down on also have a silicone bushing or sheath as well that encases the steel tubing I think, creating a friction-less surface to surface contact. In that case, I would have to say that the large silicone sheath or “bushing” would be superior to linear bearings in terms of durability. Linear bearings wear down over time, the silicone sheath bushing wouldn’t. Anyway, talk to Matt about this. I am sure they looked into linear bearings and decided against them for the reasons I just mentioned. OK I haver to run some errands for the day. I will get back to you when I can. Keep me posted.
As and aside, I wish I had personal experience with the IM2000. I have always wanted one, but money is not something I have an abundance of currently.
Did you happen to see the video and link on the page I linked to above? Is it easier to import from Australia than it is from the USA?
Hey Tim,
NO reply from the UK or the Aussie distributors! Its amazing, its like they don’t even exist…
I mean, I tried calling the UK guys- Valley Fitness- some 20 times yesterday and all I get is the answering machine! The Aussie guys- Sam’s Fitness- only have a 1-300 number that u can use only inside Australia, so they can only be emailed, which I did, and zero response.
The only bright spot is- Matt Dawson of IM replied to me, so now I hope I can get my IM QLs shipped out from good ol’ USofA! At first I was pretty sure of ordering the 75lbs version, buty what with the shipping costs and all, I am prolly gonna go with the 120lbs version, to save on shipping twice ! Mind u, this is my single biggest investment to date, so I’m keen for it to go off without a hitch.Its not the product itself that I worry so much as how safely will it ship, what happens when it lands here, that concerns me.
I think I have reason to be concerned- my sis in Richmond shipped some cologne back to Mumbai a few months ago. She used snail mail to save on cost and the cologne was stolen clean out of the box when it reached India! Of course her second shipment of Davidoff Cool Water reached me safely, cuz she used UPS, lol!
I also asked Matt to check out if air freight works out cheaper than ocean-freight; sometimes that turns out to be the case! Will keep u posted.
Yeah I did see the video- but right now I have decided to just buy the IM QLs and suspend any other purchases, until I manage to free up some space at home. My existing home gym equipment got SOLD for scrap by my folks while I was in Europe, and I am still to recover from that shock! It prolly don’t compare with your experience of a neighbor burning down your home, but comes pretty close- and I’m not willing to risk having that happen to me again! Any stuff that i buy must be amenable to being locked up in my closet! IMQLs qualify on that account, or else we wouldn’t be having this conversation!
-harry
PS- I hope u had your neighbor locked up for life for what he did to you. I know I would. IMHO better concrete than wood, when it comes to your home. Its harder to torch!
Hey, I am glad you and Matt connected up. I am excited for you. Let’s hope that your goodies will arrive safe and sound and that you can enjoy the dumbbells once and for all.
Take care.
T
Hey Tim, I realize what u went through was terrible. I ought not to have touched upon that. Just pains me that u went thru what u did.
Anyway, I did not mean to touch on a sensitive issue for you. I lost my own precious home gym and my flat too! this was 5 months ago, and it still keeps me up I still havent been able to forgive my folks for what they did, prolly never will.
While I dont presume to claim that I know what you went thru, I still feel its harder when your own people stab u in the back, as opposed to some outsider. And the fact that I never gauged their intentions makes it harder to stomach, even today. I lost not only my gym stuff, but also the flat I was staying in when my flat got put out for rent. Sometimes I wish the flat had just burned down- that wud have been a better way for my stuff to go.
Meh, life goes on mate! I am going to reacquire my tools soon enough. Not sure when or how, but I will continue to enjoy the stuff I currently have, which is still awesome. I am so grateful to have my current setup
http://totalphysiqueonline.com/2009/01/09/lung-disease-home-gyms-workouts-discouragement/
hi tim- just heard from tim @IM. he said that india is among the more costly places 2 ship- and the bill for shipping the 75lbs set of IM QLs was an eye-popping $465 for ocean freight! guess the world aint that small after all! and u know who benefits wen IM dont enter the huge market here? Powerblock- thats who! just today i was at a friends place- he has this nice home gym- and he just added Powerblocks. he was not even aware of IMQL. well it does seem like shipping 2 india wud b hard at this point!
Good luck with your Powerblocks Harry. I am sure you will enjoy them.
Tim, bro the way I see it, I don’t really have a choice. I travel to Europe now and then so the UK is my best bet to buy the IM QLs. But the agent there Valley Fitness seem to be asleep at the switch- they haven’t responded to a single phone call or email, so I wonder if they exist only on paper!? Even the Aussie dealer Sam’s fitness haven’t replied to my email. And I haven’t been able to call them coz they don’t have any phone number listed for international callers, only a domestic toll free number. I want to use this forum to register this problem with IM if anyone’s reading- how come they appoint these dealers who don’t appear to respond?! Are they just not interested in doing business, or is it some deeper issue? I mean, I know the recession is biting folks out there, but when your only dealers seem to be in perpetual slumber then it does cast a negative reflection on the company as a whole- I work in marketing and I know that when our dealers fail to respond to our customers, then the customer is gonna give me an earful.And if I’m still unable to resolve the issue, the business is gonna move elsewhere!Product quality is often secondary to product availability, and the only reason why IM’s competition do any business at all is because IM don’t appear to be too interested in the rest of the world. I mean China and India are the ONLY markets expected to post positive growth figures in these difficult times, so I think its about time IM got its act together and moved in! heck I’m about ready to take on task of being IM’s sole distributor for non-Aussie Asia if needs be. Or let them appoint someone in China , but I want my IM QLs and fast, without getting robbed blind on shipping!
Harry, I appreciate your replies, but since I am not Ironmaster, and since you have made up your mind that Ironmaster is not the company for you, I have to ask that you send your concerns to Ironmaster.
Matt does not read this post every day, so expressing your concerns here is not going to generate any change.
it would seem that you have made a good decision based on some cold hard financial realities. The shipping costs for the QuickLock Dumbbells from the USA to India are themselves prohibitive. So, obtain a nice set of Powerblocks and enjoy your workouts:)
As for the reason the UK distributor and Sam’s Fitness are not responding to you, I have no idea. I have no communication with those people.
Please contact Matt from this point forward regarding those concerns. I think they are legitimate concerns, but I am not able to resolve those concerns. I haven’t the authority. Matt does.
Regards
Timothy
d.harry,
It’s really unfortunate you couldn’t acquire a set of IM Quick-Locks. Powerblocks are nice, but they aren’t as nice as the Ironmaster dumbbells. I’ve tried them both. The weight plate rattle with the Powerblocks will drive you absolutely bonkers. That’s one of the main reasons I went with Ironmaster. Sam’s Fitness has a website, I believe. Maybe give that a try. I also know Sam’s Fitness is on Australia Ebay. Look them up via that venue.
Personally, if you are going to spend so much money on adjustable dumbbells, I’d do everything I could to get Ironmasters. Powerblocks are an acceptable alternative, but they are just that…..an alternative to a better product.
Good luck.
Dalton
Okay, as part of my New Year’s resolution to get in shape, without the prohibitive cost of a gym (I live in the NYC area and all the gyms around here require insane sign-up fees and cost $75/month or more), I decided I was going to buy adjustable dumbbells, as my apartment is quite small. So, after doing online research for over a week, I decided on the Quick-lock dumbbells. I’ve had them for about 3 weeks now, so I feel like I can give a fair review. So, the question is, did I make the right choice? Well, I’m not sure. I’m very happy with the quick-locks, but would I have been happier with powerblocks? I can’t answer that, but I can give what I think are the pros and cons of the quick-locks. First, it doesn’t need much repeating, but these dumbbells look and feel great, and they are very tough! There’s something about having them in my room that makes me constantly want to pick them up and throw ‘em around. I think I’m gonna see some huge gains because of them! Perhaps I can’t overvalue this psychological effect. Second plus is the stand, which is the perfect height for picking the db’s up before a set. The stand just looks so damn cool too -it looks so expensive that my friends think the total package must have been like $1,000!! Finally, the ability to set these vertically on your thighs before picking them up to do exercise like incline or shoulder presses is great! (By the way, has anyone tried the new self-spotting attachment that holds dumbbells at shoulder height so you don’t have to have them handed to you? It looks like a great idea, but I wonder if it’s compatible with a Body-Solid bench?), Now on to the cons. I knew before I ordered and after reading this site that IM had some problems with plate weight accuracy. Well, I stepped on the scale with a fully-plated 75 lbs and it was 71.1 lbs. By my math, 3.75 lbs would be a 5% deviation, so we’re talking a little over 5% here. Not a huge deal, but also something I think IM should do a better job with. It seems other companies have nailed the weights down almost exactly. Another con is that every once in a while (a couple of times per workout) the plates don’t nestle quite perfectly together, causing slight shifting/rattling of the plates. I don’t feel like I’m in any danger or anything, but it’s not the best feeling in the world to be doing dumbbell presses with weight rattling over head. Finally, the weight change takes a little time to get used to, but overall is only a slight inconvenience. Powerblocks would certainly be better in this regard, but I knew that going in. However, the IM website is a little misleading with how quick it makes the weight changes seem. Overall, I’m very happy and if I continue at the pace I’m at, will need to upgrade to 120lbs very soon!!
Nice wrtie-up James.
The rattle issue is fairly simple to address. I always grab the dumbbell by both ends and pick it up off the stand a couple of inches, tapping it on the stand once or twice and tightening as I go, just to make sure I have the screws set into place and the plates seating together properly. If there is any looseness at all, this procedure tends to tease it out before I begin my set. Give it a try, and congratulations.
Webmeister
James R,
Great post. I love reading all the different posts on this blog. For an Ironmaster dumbbell devotee like myself, it’s just very cool. Thanks to Tim for providing us all with a forum to chat with other Ironmaster users. I’ve lifted up to 65 lbs. so far, and have weighed each dumbbell on my scale. For 65 lbs., I get a 62.6 lb. reading, a 2.4 lb. deviation and under 5%. Not a big deal. Matt Dawson had a post addressing this very issue in one of the earlier entries, if I’m not mistaken.
As for the weight plate rattle, Tim is right. All I do is slightly lift one end of the dumbell up at a time (or the entire dumbbell) before starting a set and make sure the locking screw is tight. I get zero weight plate rattle in my dumbbells. I have total confidence in the safety of these dumbbells. Compared with PB or BF, these dumbbells are the safest hands down.
Dalton
Just for the record, when I created this entry just over a year ago, I had no idea that it would become the most popular page on this web site. I am really quite grateful to have been of service. I hope this site continues to inspire and encourage. Thanks to everyone who has chimed in with their thoughts.
Webmeistererererer
i have had my IM dumbbells for over a year now. i love them and have become more and more proficient at switching out the plates. i love the solidness of them (one of the main reason i did not go with the powerblocks). if im going to spend $500+, my dumbbells will not rattle! ive got other equpment (power rack, lat machine, crossover machine), but i find as time goes on i find more and more exercises to do w/ dumbbells and enjoy using the IM’s over everything else.
however, i am disappointed to see the accuracy of the weight plates is still off 5%, or close to it. the IM’s are professional feeling in every way, but they are not cheap, and i think a 75 lb dumbbell should be no worse than 1-2% off. powerblocks achieve this. i believe IM can as well. i suppose it would be argued that to get the density of the metal correct would in some way cause a price hike in the dumbbells. personally, id pay a bit more as long as it wasnt exorbitant. nitpicking? maybe. but, it would make me feel better about the product.
Derek, I love comments like yours. This comment thread is one of the most honest you will find on the internet. There is such high praise of the IM QuickLock Dumbbells, but there is also some honest recommendations regarding ways to improve a truly great product.
The concern over the accuracy of the weight is being echoed often enough that I think IM will pay attention to it in the near future. It might not hurt to call IM and voice your suggestions personally, or send an email to IM. Just be polite (as I am sure you would be) and upfront and honest.
I am glad you enjoy your QL’s in spite of the area in which there needs to be some attention to detail.
Webmeister
I am thinking about adding a poll for this comment thread to see just how much someone would be willing to pay in order to have an Eleiko quality set of IM dumbbells.
[I am having some problems with Polldaddy. Grrrrr. Sorry to everyone who voted, but Polldaddy is broken. WIll try SurveyGizmo instead.]
well, they currently retail for $489. since i see my IM’s as a lifetime investment in my health and as a piece of equioment that should last a VERY long time, i’d probably pay an extra $100 for a set of these that was spot on accurate weight wise. others may feel it is not such an important issue, and it is true that weight is weight, as long as one can measure their progress.
on another note, i long ago needed the add on kit, so will be buying it soon, so ill have to call matt and see how accurate the 22.5 lb plates are.
Derek,
I’m going to buy the add-on kit in a month or so. If you talk to Matt, would you let the forum know what he says about the add-on plate accuracy? I’m sure they are close to stated weight, and it’s not all that big a deal for me, but I’m just curious.
Thanks.
Dalton
Is there any truth to IM developing a kettlebell handle to use with the QL plates?
That would certainly be interesting, but I have not heard this before. I work fairly closely with IM, but not so close that I have an inside track on day to day operations. Why not call them and ask?
Brian, yes it is a reality!
Have a look here:
http://www.samsfitness.com.au/blog/uncategorized/kettlebell-handle-for-ironmaster-quick-lock-dumbbells.html
Again, your reviews are just what we need when it comes to weighing the pros and cons of purchasing something you can’t actually see before you buy it. Your conscientiousness is appreciated.
I have another question to add: I believe that each handle’s grip space is ~8″ between plates. I expect that length is necessary given the use of removeable locking screws with varying plate combinations. That said, does that 8 inches between plates feel like a lot of space? Or is the difference in feel/handling between the 8″ and a typical 5.25″-6.5″ negligible? Thanks, again.
Hi Kevin.
Thanks for the compliments! I am glad you enjoy the site. Stay tuned as I have 2-3 product reviews on the way.
As for the handles, I noticed they seemed high as well. I am not sure what the thinking might be, but I think it must have something to do with the screw. That said, I like it. Here is why.
The handles are of a perfect hight to allow for “dumbbell squats”. With a conventional dumbbell or lighter kettlebell, you have to squat down so far to pick them up that it places stress on the lower back and makes it more of a back movement. With these handles, you do not have to squat so deep that it changes the exercise dynamic. You can keep the stress on the thighs, where it belongs. At least that was my initial reaction at first glance.
Of course, a lift is worth a thousand words, and I won’t know anything until I get a chance to try them, and for that I will need to replace the set of QL’s that I lost in the fire.
All in good time.
Cheers
Stay Tuned Guys!
http://totalphysiqueonline.com/2009/03/01/adjustable-kettlebells-from-ironmaster/
Sorry, I hadn’t read the earlier statements referring to the Kettlebell handles (which are GENIUS, by the way). I wasn’t referring to the height of the kettelbell handles, rather I was referring to the grip length of the traditional dumbbell handles. The Ironmaster dumbbell brochure says that the handles (no weight plates) alone are 6.5″ high x 6.5″ wide x 8″ long. Have you noticed the longer length being an issue at all?
Thanks!
Kevin
Duh, sorry. I really muffed that one, Kevin.
To be honest, the extra-handle length is what I loved about the QL’s. The extra length allowed me to take an off-center grip for times when I wanted to increase weight by only 2.5 pounds. I could add a 2.5 pound plate on one end, leave the other 2.5 pound plate in the stand, so that the dumbbell was off balance by 2.5 pounds. I would then grab the handle off-center and do my sets. This is a feature that must have been built into the design, because I pointed it out to Matt and he suggested that was one of the benefits of the extra length. Of course, the extra length is necessary so that the screws have plenty of handle to screw into, for safety reasons, but having the ability to load a dumbbell with more weight on one end than the other, and still be able to hold it in such a way as to counterbalance it, thus being able to go up in weight in 2.5 pound increments, is awesome.
That is my take on it.
As a follow-up to my question above, I contacted Matt Dawson at IronMaster.com. It turns out that the handle length is 6.5″ after all, which is a good length. the 8″ figure they give in the brochure is the length from locking screw to locking screw with no plates on the dumbbell. The 6.5″ inch handle length is much more my preference.
Kevin
Interesting site. I came across this from a google search. Like most of the people on here, I wanted to do some good research before dropping that kind of money on adjustable weights. I guess there is a lot to be said for marketing, as Bowflex’s SelectTechs were the first thing that came to mind. It didn’t take long however to see that would be the worst choice of the 3 I’m considering. I think every review I’ve looked at came to that conclusion. So now it is between the PowerBlocks and the Ironmasters. I have to say this thread has mostly convinced me to go with the Ironmasters, also the PowerBlocks just look a little too space-agey for me, and I question how effective it is to do joint-grip overhead triceps extensions with them. I guess my only really question at this point is whether to get the SuperBench and 120lb extension right off the bat. I’m definitely not a workout freak, in fact I’m just starting after several years between any real workout experience, and I decided to go with the P90X program, and while I’m understandably flushed with the new high of working out, I wonder how smart it is to add something like the SuperBench to my purchases already. From a cost-benefit analysis it might seem like the smart thing to do, but I don’t want to spend that kind of money and then have the Bench sitting there un-used because I already have another workout program going that doesn’t call for it.
Ike, I am sorry it took so long to reply to your post. I was in bed when you left the comment.
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read this one comment thread. It is a DOOZY! I never imagine it would grow like it has.
As for your dilemma, let me say that I understand the concerns over spending money like this. Especially in today’s economy. However, I think that it’s important to remember that the cost of iron and steel almost never goes down. While Ironmaster has done very well at keeping their costs stable over the years, I do not foresee a situation where their prices will come down unless they have a sale of some sort.
Your workouts will change over the coming weeks and months, if for no other reason than to keep things fresh and interesting. But the real reason you will want to mix things up down the road is because in terms of muscle strength gains, your body needs a variety of movements in order to continue progressing.
Whether you get the Super Bench, or some other Bench, I strongly recommend getting a bench of some sort. The Super Bench represents a great value because it is so damn tough and ruggedly built. The padding is dense and firm and offers terrific support, yet it is also extremely comfortable. Moreover, it is more adjustable than any adjustable bench I have ever used. And at the risk of appearing to “sell you up”, I strongly encourage you to get Matt to throw in the sit-up attachment. It’s only like 35.00, and well worth it.
Get back to me with your thoughts and questions.
(PS: Matt is the owner of Ironmaster. When you call Ironmaster, ask to speak to HIM as he has the authority to work deals for you, if any can be worked out. Mention my site. That might help some.)
Thanks for the reply. That was rather quick if you ask me! So I went through the workout regimen again and looked on the P90X community website and what do you know, the SuperBench was strongly recommended by a few of the people on the program. Turns out you can in fact use the Bench and as you said, it will be nice to be able to change things up some. I’m definitely settled on getting the QuickLook + SuperBench + 1-2 attachments now, but I’ll have to wait till April 2nd or so to order it, to give me more room in spacing out the payment on the credit card. The wait sucks, but what can you do.
Thanks again. I will definitely mention this site when I place the order and I’ll be back to write my impressions of everything when they arrive and I put them into action.
Ike thanks for getting back to us (it’s like we are a family now- heheh)
I spoke to Matt and he was of the opinion that the 75’s would be plenty for you and that the bench would be a great addition.
People who have gotten the bench love it. It’s tough as nails and so versatile. You won’t be disappointed.
Welcome to the family!
Timothy
Great site! Just what I’ve been looking for. I am a personal trainer. I do alot of training in a gym and in people’s homes. One of the gyms I used to work at got bought out and I managed to get enough of the equipment to start up my own home gym. I must say I lucked out and acquired quite a nice set up (most of the stuff I got for free!). I have a power rack, a commercial leg press, a lat pulldown, etc., etc, etc (all in a 23′x14′ room). I am now starting to do some private training in my home as well. My problem is that I have a flat bench and a non adjustable incline bench. I want to consolidate this into one good flat to incline bench (for space saving reasons). I have been looking at the IM Super Bench for a few months. It seems to have everything I like. I especially like the fact that unlike other adjustable benches, this bench doesn’t have that “gap” between the back pad and butt pad. Now here’s my dilema. I do almost all my own training at home now. I am a competitive powerlifter. I bench out of the power rack so not having uprights is no big deal to me. The Super Bench is rated up to 1000 lbs. I weigh around 220 and bench in the mid 400’s (I usually train with weights in the mid 300’s but around contest time go well into the 400’s). According to the websight, this bench can handle this (220+400=620). But, this being said, I read what you wrote about the bench not being suited for a powerlifter. Why is this? Is it not sturdy enough for this kind of weigh? Would it rattle around with this kind of weight? I know this would be a perfect bench for my clients (by the way, I don’t train any powerlifters, mainly just people trying to get fit) but would it work for me or would I be waisting my money?
Thanks for any input.
-George
Hi George. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
I am uncertain to what you are referring. I was scanning these comments and cannot see where I said that the bench would not be good as a powerlifting bench. Can you show me what I said or what someone else said that has you concerned?
My personal feeling is that this bench is a solid bench for anyone benching 400 lbs. I do happen to think that if a person is routinely benching well above 400 lbs, then they out to call Ironmaster and speak with Matt.
The bench does NOT rattle. Not one little bit. It’s as solid as an adjustable bench can be. In fact, it’s easily more stable than any adjustable bench I have ever found in a commercial gym. That is not an exaggeration. It’s as tight as a ticks ear.
Having said that, when you look at the competition powerlifting benches that can handle 1000 pounds with ease, then you are comparing apples and oranges.
Still, call Matt at Ironmaster and speak with him. I think this is a bench you would enjoy having and it would be great in the application you are considering.
Hope this helps.
Tim
Tim,
Thanks for your quick response. On April 7th, 2007 you said:
“I think the Super Bench is the best bench you can buy. I tell everyone that. They only application in which I would not recommend it would be competition power lifting. The bench is flat rated at (I think) 1000 pounds (I might be wrong about this, but I am pretty sure that is right). The problem is that it does not have uprights. So, it is not ideally suited for traditional barbell bench presses, though I have used it for that purpose more times than I can count.
I am just saying that if you are a heavy bench presser, you may also wish to invest in a professional, heavy duty competition bench. That said, for dumbbell work there is not a better adjustable bench in the world that I am aware of. You will love it!”
That was cut and pasted directly from this sight. I do believe this bench is solid (I’ve heard nothing but), but I am a tad bit concerned since this was the only time I had heard anything about this bench when related to powerlifting. I think I will call Matt and see what he thinks.
Thanks again.
George, thanks. The comments are getting so long now it’s hard to keep track of what I have said!
Having read what I wrote, I think I can stand behind the spirit of it. If someone is a truly competitive powerlifter, and is capable of routinely benching more than 400 lbs, I just think you should consider a traditional bench, UNLESS you have a good power rack. Even still, talk to Matt. Get his feelings on the matter. Tell him how strong you are and that you will routinely subject the bench to 850 pounds. My guess is that Matt will tell you that you have nothing to worry about. The truth is I am not nearly as strong as you, and never have been. So, I do not feel qualified to give you a definitive answer regarding traditional barbell bench presses.
I appreciate the honest answer. I sure don’t know about 850 but I hope one day!
Thanks again!
Oh wait, my bad. You said you weighed 220 and benched 400….for a total of 620 right? In that case, I think the bench should hold up fine. But again, I have never benched 400 on it, so talk to Matt! He is very approachable.
Bought a set of QL & 120 add on last week. Thanks for the great site. I e-mailed Matt to let him know it was a big part of my decision process. So far so good. I will give it a bit more time b4 I write a more detailed reviewed. These things are solid.
Tom welcome aboard! I have to tell ya that it is so validating to hear people tell me how great these dumbbells are, because after all I spent a lot of time and effort trying to tell the world how great they are. However, it must be an even better feeling to have me tell you how solid they are, then you actually get them and discover for yourself how truly great they are.
Talk about rambling! Did that make any sense whatsoever? hehehe
Anyway, keep us posted with your impressions, good or bad. Something tells me that most of your impressions will be favorable.
Timothy
This seems to be the best ongoing conversation on the Ironmaster dumbbells. I thought I’d share my personal experience.
I needed some DBs for my very small workout room in my home and as with most people, it came down to Ironmaster vs Powerblock DBs. I’ve read great things about both sets, but I chose the IMs. My main reason: Price to Value. They also came VERY fast. I ordered last Monday, got them on Saturday. Of course this will vary.
From what I’ve read (because I’ve never used them) the Powerblocks have mainly two things going for them. The speed of weight change, and the weight tolerance. You can’t dispute the speed of Powerblocks. I have played with a set and they are much faster than IMs. Having just got my IMs a few days ago, the weight change is slow. But MUCH better than spin-lock collars. And the way I work out, it’s hardly ever a problem. Regarding the weight tolerance, it wasn’t a deal breaker for me, but it seems Ironmaster has addressed the issue in a professional manner.
I’m sure Powerblocks are a great item as well, but the price to value of IMs is just unbeatable. Especially with the rack. Powerblocks just weren’t in my budget.
Speaking about the IMs, the quality is superb, as everyone has said before. The flat ends of the DBs is very convenient. The rack is solid, and I put it together carefully, well under an hour. I really like the handles and how they feel in my hand. Much better than my old adjustable DBs. Changing weights is a simple process, and I’m sure anyone can get faster. But I don’t want to try and speed through changes and have a plate fall on my foot. Having another pair of DBs around helps for super sets, among other things. You might ask, why bother with adjustable DBs then? Well, many people already have old equipment the never got rid of. Also, so little space is used by the IM set that you have extra room to work with.
All in all, the Ironmaster QL Dumbbells are a great product. I am (so far) very happy with my investment. The quality is so good, it really makes me want to get the Super Bench as well!
Paul, thanks for leaving such an informative review. It is comments like this that really make this review so helpful to so many people.
I am also glad that you like your QL’s. Not surprisingly, I have yet to get any negative feedback on the QL’s. People just love’em. Kudos to Matt and the guys at Ironmaster for making such a terrific product.
Keep us posted.
In working out more and testing the DBs, I decided to weight them to see just how “off” the weights might be. I was a little disappointed to find out that with four 5-lb plates weighed in at 18.8 lbs. Weighing the whole 75-lb set came in at 70.8. Doing the math, there is a slight discrepancy. So to be fair I would just round the full DB set to 71 lbs. That’s 5.33% off.
That being said, I’m still very happy with the set. A typical weight change (adding 2-4 plates on one DB) averaged around 20 seconds. Both DBs definitely under a minute. As I said, still faster then the typical adjustable DBs.
To wrap things up, given the price, quality, and size of the set, it’s hard for me to rate it any lower than a 9/10.
Hope this helps anyone that may be in the market for some adjustable DBs.
Paul I think it would be best for you to contact Ironmaster and discuss these concerns with Matt. Perhaps he can provide some insight that might be helpful.
Tim,
I got my IM Super Bench on Saturday. I must say, I was very sceptical at first but this bench is BY FAR the best “home” bench press I have ever seen or owned. I emphasize the word “home” because this bench could easily be used in most gym settings. At one of the gyms I work at they have Lifefitness benches. The Super Bench blows these away as far as quality and versatility. I have owned and sold several brands of benches over the years (I used to sell equipment) but none compare to this. I honestly was expecting something decent but when I say decent I mean good as far as a “home” bench. This is just like a commercial bench. I was concerned about benching heavy weights on this bench (sometimes in the 400 pound range). This is no longer a concern at all. I have even done heavy declines on it without even a shake.
I appreciate the help in picking this bench. This will be the bench I recommend to all my clients from now on.
-George
George, I am happy to have helped you in your quest in any way possible.
Yes, as I have said numerous times over, the adjustable bench Ironmaster produces is without equal at this price range. Experience have proven that many adjustable benches twice this price are vastly inferior to the Superbench.
Ironmaster continues to have the best equipment in the world for the money as far as I am concerned. This has been my position for next to three years, and it will be my position until something better comes along.
I continue to keep my eye peeled and ears open for my readers, because quality and above all, customer service, continue to be hallmarks I look for in a strength company. If I recommend it, that means it is superb. You can count on it.
Let us know how your training goes.
Keep your eyes on this site. Change is afoot. New posts coming soon.
Tim