Buying a full set of particular person dumbbell pairs between 5 and 60 kilos can price properly over $1,500, to not point out how a lot house you’d should dedicate to storing them. That is why I am an enormous fan of adjustable dumbbells just like the REP QuickDraws or Nüobells, which I reviewed right here and right here, respectively.

If you recognize you need to have the ability to as much as 60 kilos at five-pound increments, successfully combining 30 weights into one compact set, then adjustables just like the REP QuickDraws are how one can save important cash and house in your house fitness center gear setup.

However as an example your power progresses past your adjustable dumbbells’ capability. Initially: Good work. Secondly: What do you do now?

I’ve seen customers on Reddit immediately asking “what’s stopping me from including extra plates to maintain going heavier?” Including additional weight plates looks as if a logical resolution, versus spending all that cash on a completely new set for just some kilos past the really useful capability.

So, let’s check out what is stopping you—and what’s not. This is what it is best to learn about utilizing add-on weights to your adjustable dumbbells, from what’s formally thought of unsafe to why it will get impractical even apart from that.

Tips on how to add weight to your adjustable dumbbells

First off, not all adjustable dumbbells permit for this sort of modification. Selector pin methods (like PowerBlocks) typically do not permit for unofficial weight additions as a result of their enclosed design. Dial methods (like my favourite, the Nüobells) have safety features particularly stopping modifications exterior the cradle. Then you could have spin-lock dumbbells, just like the QuickDraws, which permit for personalization and extra weight exterior the cradle. For that reason, I will be talking to the REP QuickDraws particularly, versus Nüobells or Powerblocks.

Nonetheless, including weight past the producer’s specs will nearly definitely void your guarantee. REP Health designed these dumbbells for particular weight ranges and can’t assure security past these limits. I spoke with a REP consultant (REP-resentative?) who knowledgeable me, “inside testing was not carried out past the 60 pound most, so REP can not assure the protection of further weight past that.”

Exterior of your guarantee, there are security issues. The handles, locking mechanisms, and supplies are engineered for particular most masses. Exceeding these limits dangers gear failure and potential harm. Even when the dumbbells can technically deal with the extra plates, the consequence is perhaps cumbersome and awkward, affecting your type and rising harm threat.

All that being mentioned, it nonetheless is fully possible to bend the foundations and take your 60-pound dumbbells as much as 70 kilos. Assuming you play it protected and solely add a couple of plates to every aspect, this is what it is best to know:

1. Solely add appropriate plates: The QuickDraw system makes use of commonplace plate dimensions that may be supplemented with further appropriate plates.

2. Handbook addition required: You may want so as to add these plates manually exterior the cradle system, as the choice mechanism solely works inside the marketed weight vary. This gorgeous a lot negates the entire “fast draw” enchantment.

3. Safe them correctly: Guarantee the extra plates are secured with the locking mechanism to stop harmful slippage throughout workout routines.

4. Handbook monitoring required: The dial indicator turns into inaccurate when you exceed the designed vary. You may have to manually calculate and monitor the added weight.

Can you (and must you) add extra weight to REP QuickDraw Dumbbells?

The quick reply: Sure, technically you possibly can add further weight plates to REP QuickDraw dumbbells past their marketed most.

The lengthy reply: Simply because one thing is feasible does not imply it is best to make a behavior of it. Certain, it is totally above-board to order add-on weights in five-pound increments (which, side-note, I like a lot greater than a 10-pound leap). Nevertheless, going past 60 kilos is not sanctioned by REP.

For that reason, I naturally had my boyfriend take a look at my DIY super-QuickDraws creation. Within the picture under, you possibly can see how I manually added weights exterior of the cradle. With the spin-locks, you possibly can preserve including weights exterior the cradle with none resistance. Simply slide the weights on and flip the lock swap.

I snapped an image of it in its lopsided type, so you possibly can see simply how far exterior the cradle the five-pound add-ons will go—and the way precarious it begins to look proper off the bat.

Behold, my DIY super-QuickDraws creation.
Credit score: Meredith Dietz

As we steadily elevated the load from 65, to 70, to 85 kilos, he famous rising issues with how a lot the dumbbells may deal with whereas nonetheless feeling protected. The all-steel design provides these guys a premium really feel throughout commonplace use. However while you transcend the sanctioned weight capability, there is a sense that the dumbbells would not bend or snag, however merely snap.

And once more, you may have to manually preserve monitor of how a lot weight you are including, for the reason that particular person plates will not be labeled, and also you’re exceeding the labels of the cradle. That psychological math won’t be a deterrent for you, nevertheless it’s one thing to notice.

The underside line

Generally, the effort and security issues outweigh the advantages. The first benefit of the QuickDraws—fast, handy weight modifications—is completely undermined when manually including plates.

Investing in a higher-capacity adjustable dumbbell set (like 80- to 90-pound fashions) or supplementing with particular heavier mounted dumbbells for sure workout routines is perhaps safer and extra sensible. For severe lifters approaching the higher limits of their adjustable dumbbells, I would suggest supplementing with particular person heavier dumbbells.