Adidas Neoprene Dumbbells Review

Adidas's neoprene dumbbells are exactly what they look like: a tidy, brand-name light pair. A cast iron hex coated in comfortable neoprene, anti-roll ends, sold singly from 1 to 4kg, and stocked at Argos so you can collect today. For toning, Pilates, barre and light conditioning they do the job well and look good doing it.

The honest point is value. Underneath the three stripes this is much the same product as Opti own-brand neoprene, which costs a fair bit less, and it does not quite match the studio-grade coating of the Jordan Ignite. You are paying a little for the badge and the looks, which is fine if that is what you want.

A neoprene-coated cast iron core is the right construction for a light dumbbell: it feels solid and sized sensibly, rather than the bulky, inconsistent feel of the cheapest cement-filled vinyl weights. The coating is comfortable, quiet and protects floors, and the hex ends stop the dumbbells rolling away or off a shelf.

Adidas sells them as single pairs from 1 to 4kg, so you buy the weights you need. The design is clean and the branding understated enough to look good in a lounge or home studio, which, for a product people often leave out on display, is part of the appeal.

This is where you have to be honest with yourself. A pair of Adidas 2kg neoprene is around £23 at Argos; an own-brand Opti 2kg pair is a fraction of that, using the same neoprene-over-iron construction. In the hand, for light toning work, the difference is small.

So the Adidas earns its place if you value the brand and the slightly cleaner finish, or you want weights you are happy to leave on show. If you just want the lightest-cost way to do some toning or rehab, own-brand is the rational buy, and if you want the best coating for regular studio use, the Jordan Ignite is the one to stretch to.

Great for

• Light toning, Pilates, barre and rehab at home
• Anyone who wants a recognisable brand and a clean look
• People happy to leave their weights on display
• Buyers who want to collect from Argos today

Not for

• Strength training or anything above about 4kg per hand
• The tightest budgets (own-brand does the same for less)
• Heavy studio use where the Jordan Ignite's coating lasts longer
• Anyone who wants to drop the weights

The Adidas neoprene dumbbells are a solid, good-looking light pair that do exactly what light neoprene weights should: comfortable grip, anti-roll hex, floor-friendly, fine for toning and Pilates. They are genuinely nice kit. The only mark against them is value, because own-brand Opti neoprene performs much the same for less, and the Jordan Ignite has the better coating for regular use. Buy the Adidas for the brand and the look; buy around it to save money or to get the best finish.