By Drew | Iron and Lime Fitness
Last Updated: January 2026

Commercial Feel, Reality-Check Price

Let’s rip the band-aid off immediately: If you watched the video, you already know where I land on these.

The American Barbell 10-sided urethane dumbbells are excellent. Actually, "excellent" is an understatement. The build quality is legitimate, the feel is undeniably premium, and they occupy that rare sweet spot where "commercial gym capability" meets "home gym accessibility."

But I’m not going to sit here and pretend they’re a smart buy at full retail for most people. In fact, for many of you, buying these brand new might be grounds for divorce.

This article is the written companion to the video, same honest take, but with more detail, better math, and enough structure to help you make a clean decision (and maybe save your wallet from imminent destruction).

Check out the Youtube video below

Where Do These Actually Fit in the Gym Ecosystem?

Before we talk numbers, let’s get the hierarchy straight. The home gym world is confusing, and these sit in a very specific lane.

These are not budget dumbbells (If you want to know a good path for that, check out my review here on the PowerBlock USA Elites). You won't find them in the clearance aisle at a big-box store. However, they are also not the absolute flagship, USA-made tier either. The true heavy hitters (like the American Barbell Series 1, Iron Grip, or Hammer Strength) are the "college weight room / pro facility" options. Full sets of those can easily live in the $15,000 to $20,000 range. Which is more than most home gyms cost in entirety.

The American Barbell 10-sided urethane bells are the nice in-between option. They are premium, commercial-grade dumbbells that can realistically live in a garage or basement, provided you have the space and can justify the cost.

That’s the lane. That’s the pitch. Now here’s the painful reality.

Full Transparency: The "Unicorn" Deal (How I Got Mine)

I need to be crystal clear about this so you don't think I'm out of touch with reality: I bought my set used on Facebook Marketplace for $4,500 total, you can watch the video of the find below:

That deal included:

The Weights: American Barbell 10-sided urethane dumbbells (5 lbs through 80 lbs), I really would like to get the 90-120 at some point.
The Storage: A Rogue Monster 3-tier dumbbell rack

That deal is the only reason I own them. I got lucky. It was a couple of hours away, and I jumped in the truck immediately because I knew exactly what they were and what they cost brand new.

Do not treat that deal like the baseline. That was a unicorn find. It is not normal. If you see a deal like that, stop reading this article and go buy them. For everyone else, keep reading.

The "New Retail" Reality Check: Prepare Your Wallet

If you fall in love with these based on photos and decide to buy them new, the math gets ugly, fast.

To buy a run from 5 lbs to 75 lbs new, you typically end up needing to purchase two separate sets: the 5–50 lb set and the 55–75 lb set.

Retail Price: You are looking at roughly $7,200 just for the iron.
Shipping Costs: When I tried to run a quote, I couldn't get shipping to calculate on the website (See below,). Maybe it was a site glitch. Maybe my wife is quietly hacking our internet to protect our bank account. Either way, this is freight-level weight. It is completely reasonable to estimate $500 to $1,000 for shipping depending on where you live.

That puts you in the neighborhood of $8,000 just to get 5–75 lbs delivered to your curb.

And remember, that doesn't include a rack. So you're going to have $8,000 worth of steel sitting on your floor until you buy storage.

That number is astronomical for a home gym. I’m not saying no one should do it. I’m saying most people shouldn’t.

Do You Need to Spend This Much to Get Jacked? (Spoiler: No)

This needs to be said plainly because social media loves to pretend every upgrade is "necessary" for gains.

Rubber hex dumbbells will make you just as strong.

Sure, cheap dumbbells have their issues:

They might smell like a tire fire for the first month.
They might be clunky on movements like curls.
They might crack down the road if you drop them repeatedly.

But weight is weight. Gravity doesn't care how much you spent. If you are shopping on a budget, rubber hex is still the best value lane for 90% of home gym owners.

Why Do They Feel Like a Million Bucks? Build Quality Breakdown

Okay, let's say you do have the budget. Why would you buy these over the cheap stuff? This is where the American Barbell set separates itself immediately.

1. Premium German Urethane

Urethane is the gold standard, far superior to rubber. It solves the classic dumbbell problems:

No Stink: There is zero odor when you open the box. Your gym won't smell like an auto shop.
No Rot: Rubber dries out and cracks over time; urethane is basically immortal.
Durability: They handle humidity and temperature swings much better. If your gym is in a humid garage (hello, Georgia summers) or a damp basement, this matters.

2. The Solid Steel Core

Most dumbbells use cast iron heads. These use a solid steel core. This contributes to a much more compact dumbbell. They are dense. When you pick them up, the balance is perfect. There is no "slop" or rattling. It’s a specialized feel that’s hard to describe until you hold one, but it feels expensive.

3. Handle Diameter Scaling

This is a premium detail you usually don’t see on budget sets. The handle thickness changes as the weight goes up to account for the mechanics of your grip:

5–35 lbs: 32mm handle
40–100 lbs: 35mm handle
105+ lbs: 38mm handle

This scaling makes the heavier dumbbells feel significantly more secure in your hand. You aren't trying to strangle a skinny handle with a 100lb weight attached to it.

4. Hard Chrome & Knurling

The handles are hard chrome plated with a medium, passive knurl. If you’ve used a Cerakote Ohio Bar, it’s a similar level of "bite." It’s intentional. It offers enough grip to train hard, but it's not so sharp that it tears up your hands on high-volume accessory work.

The 10-Sided Design: Brilliant Engineering or Just a Shape?

The 10-sided (decagon) shape is not just for looks; it’s a functional choice.

Anti-Roll (Sort of): They settle better than round dumbbells on uneven floors. However, compared to true 6-sided hex bells, they can still roll a bit. If you do renegade rows or push-ups on your dumbbells, be careful. It’s not out of control, but they aren't glued to the floor like a hex bell.
The "Thigh Rest" Test: The edges are radiused (rounded off). Resting heavy dumbbells on your thighs before kicking back for a bench press is noticeably more comfortable than the sharp edges of a hex dumbbell. No more bruises on your quads.
Compactness: Because of the steel core, these are generally thinner than rubber hex bells at the same weight. This is a huge plus for goblet squats or rows where bulky weights usually get in the way of your range of motion.

The Hidden Logistics: Space, Racks, and Lower Back Health

Fixed dumbbells are not just a financial purchase; they are a layout decision.

My Rogue Monster 3-tier rack is roughly 90–95 inches wide. In my space, it takes up a comfortable half of an 18-foot wall. If you’re planning a full set (like 5–100 lbs), you need to plan for:

Rack footprint: It's massive.
Walkways: You need room to stand in front of it.
Ergonomics: How you actually grab and re-rack heavy pairs.

A Note on the Rogue Monster Rack: I’m using it. It works. But I don't necessarily recommend it. The biggest issue is that the bottom row is not waterfall-style. You end up reaching deep into the rack to grab heavy dumbbells. If you’re pulling out 80s repeatedly, that awkward reach is a lower-back injury waiting to happen.

Storage affects daily usability more than most people expect. I’m currently looking at alternatives like the Irwin Fitness Citadel 4-stack because it waterfalls and keeps the 3x3 ecosystem for add-ons. (The Citadel purchase is nowhere near getting approved by the household budget committee at this time, sadly)

Clearing the Confusion: Series 1 vs. 10-Sided Urethane

People mix these up constantly. Here is the cheat sheet:

American Barbell Series 1: USA-made. Features a patented spline system where the handle mechanically locks into the head (Shown Below). This is the top-tier equipment you see in NFL weight rooms.
10-Sided Urethane (This Review): Manufactured overseas to American Barbell standards. High-quality bonding, still commercial-grade, just not the same mechanical system.

For 99% of home gym owners, the 10-sided durability is more than enough. You are not running a D1 football team out of your garage (probably).

The "Fixed vs. Adjustable" Showdown

I came from PowerBlock Elite USA 70s, and they were great at what they are. I have no problem recommending PowerBlocks if space is tight and you buy quality.

But fixed dumbbells change the training flow entirely:

Supersets: Seamless. No clicking pins.
Drop Sets: Instant. Just grab the next weight down.
Multiple Users: My wife and I can train at the same time without fighting over the "handle."

It’s a trade-off: Adjustables save space; fixed dumbbells improve training quality.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy Them?

Let’s wrap this up.

Pros:

No rubber smell (huge plus for home gyms).
Premium look and feel (they just make you want to lift).
Comfortable on thighs.
Compact profile for the weight.
Excellent training versatility.

Cons:

Brutal retail pricing.
They take up serious space.
Chrome handles need basic care (oil them like a barbell).
Storage is a hidden, expensive cost.

The Bottom Line: These are not budget dumbbells. If you want budget, buy rubber hex and train hard.

But if you want a special set of commercial-grade dumbbells with home gym accessibility, and you’re not ready or willing to spend Series 1 / Iron Grip money, the American Barbell 10-sided urethane dumbbells are one of the best choices you can make.

At full retail, they are a tough sell. I own them because I found a rare deal. $4,500 for dumbbells and a rack made sense. Nearly $8,000 new for just the dumbbells does not make sense for most people.

If your budget or space is tight, rubber hex or PowerBlocks are still excellent options. But if you find a deal on these? Buy them immediately.

Iron & Lime overall Rating: 8/10
(Points deducted only for price. Full marks for execution and quality.)

Let's Talk

If you've got questions about fitness, being a dad, the Army, or if the AB 10-sided dumbbells make sense for your situation, drop a comment below or message me on Instagram (@ironandlimefitness) or Facebook. I reply to everyone because this stuff matters-your money, your training, your goals.

Support the Garage Grind:

This is a family-run operation. I do the videos, the editing, the writing, the filming, the socials, the marketing, the blogging, the website, and obviously the training-all while balancing a full-time job and three kids who just want to hang out.

If this review helped you make a decision or gave you information you couldn't find anywhere else, hitting Like and Subscribe is the best way to keep this thing going. No ads, no sponsors, no BS-just real reviews from a real gym.

Let's train hard and stay consistent.

Strength for Life. Fitness for All.

- Drew
Iron & Lime Fitness

P.S. - If you end up buying these dumbbells and want to compare notes after a few months, hit me up. I love to hear how others are loving or not loving the spotter arms.

Strength for Life. Fitness for All.

Shop the Dumbbells:

AB 10-Sided Urethane Dumbbells
Shop Here

Watch the full video review on our YouTube channel
American Barbell 10-Sided Urethane Dumbbells: Better Than Hex?

American Barbell 10-Sided Urethane Dumbbells Review: Commercial Luxury or Financial Mistake?

Commercial Feel, Reality-Check Price

Where Do These Actually Fit in the Gym Ecosystem?

Full Transparency: The "Unicorn" Deal (How I Got Mine)

The "New Retail" Reality Check: Prepare Your Wallet

Do You Need to Spend This Much to Get Jacked? (Spoiler: No)