For those looking to start a home gym, dumbbells are often one of the first things you’ll shop for. Along with barbells, squat racks, and weight benches, they are foundational equipment for anyone interested in strength training. Compared to machines and barbells, dumbbells can offer up plenty of versatility, allowing you to train all your muscle groups from a variety of different angles.
However, the best dumbbells can quickly add up in cost, especially if you prefer fixed dumbbells over adjustable dumbbells. It’s useful to have multiple pairs of dumbbells for weight jumps and heavier exercises, and affordable options like the CAP hex dumbbells can help you expand your dumbbell set without breaking the bank.
Based on our testing, we’ve found that most budget-minded dumbbells aren’t worth the trade-offs in terms of durability and build quality. Can these cast-iron free weights shift the narrative? In this CAP Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells review, I’ll let you know exactly what our team thought of these dumbbells, and help you decide whether they’re worth ordering for your home or garage gym.
Tested by a Certified Personal Trainer
Each review we write at Garage Gym Reviews is based on extensive, hands-on testing from our team of experts. Our testers include certified personal trainers, strength coaches, CrossFit enthusiasts, gym owners, and even an Olympian.
We’re no strangers to dumbbells, either, and our team has tested over 50 dumbbells from a range of respected brands. After taking them through a variety of exercises, we rate each dumbbell in key categories on a scale of 1 to 5, in accordance with our dumbbell testing methodology. Such rated factors include:
- Construction: This is where we examine the materials and longevity of a given dumbbell. To earn 3 out of 5 stars, a dumbbell should feel well-made and relatively sturdy, but certain components, such as rubber handles or knurling patterns, may wear down over time.
- Knurling: This is the textured, metal hatch pattern found on many dumbbells and Olympic barbells intended to help bolster grip and control. For a 3-out-of-5-star rating, the knurling is moderate at best, but it’s nothing to write home about.
- Ergonomics: Grip aside, we use our ergonomics rating to score how the dumbbells actually feel in your hand. To earn 3 out of 5 stars, the dumbbells are comfortable but may include features such as a tapered handle or smooth finish that not all users will enjoy.
- Purchasing and Delivery: In addition to understanding how a dumbbell feels, we also want to test and assess the ordering experience customers go through. For a 3 out of 5, the dumbbells are priced reasonably, and financing may be available, but we wouldn’t expect free shipping.
If you just need to move some weight and don’t want to pay much, these are a solid option.
What our tester says:
“The baked enamel finish looks nice when new, but don’t count on it lasting, especially if you leave these dumbbells out in the elements.”
A Quick Look at the CAP Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells
CAP Barbell is a fitness company specializing in affordable home gym gear, offering a wide range of workout equipment commonplace in strength training setups. You’re unlikely to find CAP equipment at your local gym, as it’s more budget-friendly and not designed for commercial use. That said, CAP products can be excellent options for home gym owners.
Whether you’re looking for dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, weight plates, weight benches, or even home gym flooring, CAP has you covered. The company offers both rubber and cast-iron hexagon dumbbells, but for this review, we’ll focus on the latter.
Dumbbells are a great way to improve your home free weight workouts, which have been shown1 to increase strength and muscle hypertrophy as much as machines. Even if you already have a barbell and squat rack, dumbbells can unlock a near-endless amount of exercises for unmatched versatility in training.
RELATED: 19 Best Dumbbell Exercises
Even though they’re affordably priced compared to other dumbbells, the cast iron construction makes these CAP profiles feel surprisingly durable, especially if you’re not regularly dropping or slamming your weights.
There’s nothing fancy about them, but if you just need a reliable set of dumbbells that should last for years (with proper care), they can certainly be an option worth considering.
Before You Buy
- The dumbbells range from 3-105 lbs, and the 10-105-lb dumbbells increase in 5-pound increments, offering plenty of versatility as you get stronger.
- Even though the dumbbells are made of cast iron, the dumbbell heads are welded onto the handle, and some reviews note that the head may snap off if you drop the weights.
- The hex shape means the dumbbells are very stable when placed on the ground, and won’t roll or move.
Are the CAP Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells Worth It?
Even though they’re among the most affordable dumbbells we’ve tested, they’re not an automatic buy for every user. Here’s who we think should consider the CAP dumbbells, and who may be better served with free weights of a different caliber.
Great for:
- Beginners looking to build their first home gym
- Anyone shopping on a budget
- Those who don’t plan on using dumbbells heavier than 120 pounds
Not recommended for:
- People who want the highest-quality dumbbells on the market
- Weightlifters who prefer a more aggressive knurling pattern
- Those who prefer adjustable dumbbells
CAP Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells Specs
| Price Per Pound | As low as $1.10 |
| Sold As | Individual and paired dumbbells |
| Weight Range | 3-120 lbs |
| Dumbbell Shape | Hex |
| Materials | Cast iron |
| Handle Diameter | 29.5 mm |
| Warranty | 30 days |
Experience Using the CAP Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells
For this review, our tester was GGR’s Director of Content, Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC, a fitness expert with years of experience testing equipment. Nicole used these dumbbells for a variety of exercises, paying close attention to construction, balance, knurling, and other details.
Overall, she was impressed with these solid cast-iron dumbbells, especially for the price. However, we noticed a few quality issues that wouldn’t necessarily interfere with a good workout, but could lead to wear and tear if you’re not careful.
Based on Nicole’s experience, we think these dumbbells are an excellent choice for anyone on a budget, beginners in need of simple strength training equipment, or those who don’t primarily focus on weight training yet need dumbbells for some workout variations. Stronger lifters or those who sometimes need to drop the dumbbells will probably want to choose something else, though.
Below are some additional thoughts and anecdotes from our testing experience with these CAP Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells:
Construction
For the construction, one of the most important considerations when shopping for dumbbells, these CAP dumbbells earn 3.5 out of 5 stars. They feel sturdy in-hand and they’re more durable than most of the best adjustable dumbbells. That said, they’re not the most high-quality dumbbells we’ve ever seen.
“There are welds that connect the heads to the handle, and they seem secure now, but I wouldn’t drop them,” explains Nicole. “Also, there’s a scathing review online in which the user says the welds broke, causing the heads to come off the handle. For the price of these, I’m not surprised that the welding isn’t top-tier.”
Even if you don’t plan on dropping your dumbbells, you may still notice a bit of surface damage with regular use. Nicole noted that the coating didn’t feel very durable, saying, “When I picked them up for the first time, a bunch of the coating flaked off…I can see this chipping easily as a result of regular wear and tear.”
Optionality
For optionality, we awarded these cast iron dumbbells 3 out of 5 stars. The CAP website states that these hex-shaped dumbbells are available in weights up to 120 pounds, and weight jumps from 10 pounds to 120 pounds are in 5-pound increments.
Traditionally, this would be enough to warrant a higher score. However, the inventory often runs low, and Nicole noted that these specific dumbbells are only at retailers like Amazon and Walmart. These discrepancies were the penultimate cause for our more conservative rating.
At the time of writing, higher weights are available in pairs, but the color options may be different. You can probably piece together the full set, but you may end up with colors that don’t match. If you’re a stickler for aesthetics, there are more complete sets out there.
Knurling
Just like barbell knurling, dumbbell knurling is often used on the handles to enhance the grip and safety. The CAP dumbbells have some knurling, but it’s not great, and Nicole gave it 2 out of 5 stars.
“The knurling on these is very inconsistent,” she explains. “In some spots it’s nonexistent, whereas in other spots it’s there but passive. There are some weird patches where it feels more aggressive, as well. The lighter weights have no knurling at all.”
There’s some grip there, but know that these dumbbells can be a little slippery, so you may need to use some lifting chalk or straps to achieve your desired control.
Ergonomics
We give these dumbbells 3.5 out of 5 stars for ergonomics, with two things to point out:
First, the dumbbells are hex-shaped, which means they don’t roll on the ground. This can be a benefit for storage—no roaming dumbbells that creep away to corners of your home gym—as well as ground-oriented exercises like dumbbell push-ups or planks.
Additionally, these dumbbells feature a straight handle, which can be subjective depending on your in-hand preferences. Nicole adds, “The handle is straight, but the inconsistent knurling is distracting, in my opinion.”
CAP Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells vs GIANT Lifting Rubber Hex Dumbbells
Giant Lifting Rubber Hex Dumbbells range from 2.5 to 100 pounds and are sold in pairs. Available in both an ergonomic handle and a straight knurled handle, these dumbbells will appeal to a variety of lifters.
What our tester says:
“These dumbbells feel great, and the straight handles feel very similar to barbell knurling. It’s a nice grip and feel.”
If you like dumbbells with a hex design but want better quality, we recommend GIANT Lifting Rubber Hex Dumbbells.
The first thing to note is the rubber heads, which can provide a slightly different feeling during workouts. The weight will feel the same, but if you place the dumbbells on your knees to load a bench press, the rubber can be a bit more comfortable against your skin. The rubber heads can also provide additional protection for your gym flooring, if you were to ever drop your dumbbells post-set.
These GIANT Lifting dumbbells also use solid steel handles, which we prefer to the CAP handles. Unlike the straight handles on CAP dumbbells, the GIANT Lifting handles have an ergonomic grip that’s slightly thicker in the center of the dumbbell. Our examinations also determined the GIANT knurling to be more worthwhile than what’s offered with CAP.
The only real drawback to GIANT Lifting dumbbells is the cost. They’re reasonably priced, but more expensive than the CAP dumbbells with costs per pound starting at roughly $2.20.
Overall, we think most people will probably prefer the GIANT Lifting dumbbells, but if you’re on a budget, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the CAP dumbbells, either.
| CAP Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells | GIANT Lifting Rubber Hex Dumbbells | |
| Price Per Pound | As low as $1.10 | As low as $2.20 |
| Sold As | Individual and paired dumbbells | Pairs and sets |
| Weight Range | 3-120 lbs | 2.5-100 lbs |
| Dumbbell Shape | Hex | Hex |
| Materials | Cast iron | Chrome-finished handle, rubber-coated dumbbell head |
| Handle Diameter | 29.5 mm | 28 mm (2.5-10 lbs), 34 mm (15-100 lbs) |
| Warranty | 30 days | Lifetime (home use), 1 year (commercial use) |
Customer Experience
The customer experience earns 4 out of 5 stars. At the time of writing, the CAP Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells are only available on third-party retailers such as Amazon or Walmart. Since you’ll be ordering from those retailers, you’ll be dealing with their respective customer service teams, too, which are generally helpful and easy to reach.
Ordering CAP Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells
Ordering the dumbbells is easy and painless, earning 5 out of 5 stars. They’re available at Walmart, Amazon, and a few niche retailers. You have options, but we recommend ordering from Amazon, since shipping is free at checkout for Prime members.
Amazon also sells CAP dumbbells in sets with a storage rack, which can be a great choice for home gym owners who want to keep things organized.
RELATED: Best Home Gym Storage
Customer Reviews
At the time of writing, the dumbbells have an average score of 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon based on over 3,200 reviews. Most users are happy with the quality, especially for the great price, though a few mention quality concerns.
Final Verdict of Our CAP Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells Review
Overall, we think these are a great budget pick up for someone who doesn’t need anything fancy, and at this affordable price, they easily earn 5 out of 5 stars for value.
Nicole notes, “These CAP Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells are a value buy that’s probably best for beginners and those who won’t be slinging any serious weight. If you’re just starting out and need a more reliable set than rubber-coated dumbbells, these would do the trick.”
Here are a final closing notes to keep in mind as you consider adding come CAP Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells to your home gym setup:
- The hex-shaped dumbbell heads are welded to the handles, which should be fine for most users, but dropping them may cause the heads to eventually snap off.
- At this price, the dumbbells are hard to beat, but they’re not the most durable ones we’ve ever tested.
- If you struggle with grip, we found that these dumbbells didn’t have the best knurling. As such, they may feel a little slippery.
CAP Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells
If you just need to move some weight and don’t want to pay much, these are a solid option.
Product Brand: CAP Barbell
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 31.55
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.8
CAP Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells Review: FAQs
Are CAP dumbbells worth it?
Yes, CAP dumbbells are very affordable and can be a great choice for the price point. They’re not durable enough for commercial gym use, but they should last for years with proper care in a home gym.
Are hex dumbbells better than round dumbbells?
Hex dumbbells feel very similar for nearly every exercise, and the main difference is that they don’t roll. This can add stability when they’re placed on the ground, but the shape of the dumbbell head won’t impact most exercises.
What are the best dumbbells for a home gym?
The best dumbbells for a home gym depend on your budget, goals, and whether you prefer adjustable or fixed dumbbells. Some of the best dumbbell brands to consider are GIANT Lifting, Rogue, REP, and Snode, among others.
References
- Haugen, M. E., Vårvik, F. T., Larsen, S., Haugen, A. S., van den Tillaar, R., & Bjørnsen, T. (2023). Effect of free-weight vs. machine-based strength training on maximal strength, hypertrophy and jump performance – a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation, 15(1), 103. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-023-00713-4
