Thinking about buying the Eisenlink or Vulcan adjustable dumbbells? On the surface, they look like a solid option. I took a look to see how they compare to other dumbbells.
The design and branding
The Eisenlink adjustable dumbbells are the same as the Vulcan dumbbells, as well as numerous other brands that use the same design and are potentially made in the same factory.
While researching, I found dozens of these rebranded dumbbells on marketplace sites like Alibaba.
The design features a steel bar with U-shaped plates that are held in place by a locking mechanism.
How you change weight
You loosen the locking screw, slide the U-shaped weight plates onto or off the handle and tighten everything back up. For small weight changes, this can be surprisingly quick. You don't necessarily have to remove the screw completely. You just need enough room to slide another plate into place.
For larger weight changes, you do have to do quite a bit of screwing and unscrewing.
The design is actually quite old
The Vulcan/Eisenlink design is based on an old Ironmaster adjustable dumbbell. I’ve long recommended the Ironmaster dumbbells as an adjustable option that is rock-solid.
Ironmaster originally developed a system called Quick-Change, which used square weight plates with U-shaped cutouts. You could slide the plates onto the handle and secure them with a large threaded locking screw.
Ironmaster eventually licensed the design to Hoist Fitness, which later purchased the patent and exclusive rights.
Ironmaster then developed its current Quick-Lock dumbbells, introducing a faster locking mechanism, smaller weight plates and improved balance.
According to an interview with Ironmaster CEO Matt Dawson, the new design overtook Hoist's older version within about a year of launching in 2005. Hoist eventually discontinued its dumbbells.
The design has been brought back to life by Vulcan and other fitness brands.
Pros
These are the pros of the Vulcan dumbbells:
- Solid design: If you have concerns about how solid some adjustable dumbbells are, the Vulcan/Eisenlink design is made of metal and is very simple. There’s very little that can go wrong.
- 2kg and 1kg plates: My pair of Nuobells can only be changed in 2kg increments. The 34kg Vulcan set comes with four 1kg plates that can be used to make smaller adjustments.
- Kettlebell option: You can use the weight plates with a kettlebell or straight bar, giving you more workout options without needing to buy extra weight plates.
Cons
- Not that quick: These aren’t the quickest adjustable dumbbells. I would struggle going back to this type of design after using a Nuobell. It’s pretty quick to change a couple of kilos, but for larger changes, you are taking off or putting on a lot of individual plates.
- Balance: One of the reasons Ironmaster moved away from this design was balance. Because of the U-shaped plates, the dumbbells could feel unbalanced during certain movements.
- Sticking plates: I’ve read some reports of the plates sticking together. But this is a minor issue that can easily be remedied.
- Square design: I prefer a round dumbbell as the square ones I’ve used can be a little awkward in some moves. This is a preference thing and a lot of movements it really won’t matter.
- Noise: Loading and unloading these dumbbells requires dropping plates onto a steel bar. So if you have noise concerns, I would avoid these dumbbells. If you’re working out in a garage by yourself, you’ll be fine.
Pricing
For a design that isn't unique, I was hoping these would be a little cheaper. Here's how the prices compare:
| Dumbbells | Maximum weight | Price (pair) |
|---|---|---|
| Eisenlink Adjustable | 36kg | ~$679.80 |
| Vulcan Adjustable | 36kg | $849 |
| Ironmaster Quick-Lock | 34kg | $955 |
| Nuobell | 32kg | $1,095 |
| Nuobell 80lb | 36kg | $1,195 |
The problem with white-labelled fitness equipment
This is probably my biggest hesitation with these dumbbells, and it makes my job reviewing them surprisingly difficult. A big part of reviewing equipment is user feedback. I look for genuine reports of issues. But with these dumbbells being sold under so many different names, I don’t know whether they're made by the same factory or how consistent the quality is.
I can pick up a set, look at the construction and get a pretty good idea of how they feel. What I can't establish from a short inspection is how well they're going to hold up after several years of regular training.
Should you buy them?
I think they are a solid design. They aren’t the quickest adjustable dumbbells. If you want to quickly change between 4kg and 24kg, buy another dumbbell.
If you’re buying these to throw around, I don’t think any adjustable dumbbell can reliably handle that. These are definitely more solid than some other designs, but if you are dropping dumbbells, go for a fixed set.
If you like the design, I would consider going with the Ironmaster dumbbells because they're only a little more expensive and have a good reputation. If you’re looking for cheaper dumbbells, go with the Eisenlink. I can’t see any major difference between it and the Vulcan, and it’s a little bit cheaper.
Where to buy
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