Stealth Adjustable Dumbbells Review: The UK's Best-Kept Secret?
An honest, independent look at all three Stealth variants (23.5kg, 32.5kg, 41.5kg) and both editions (Chrome & Black). We cover what's genuinely good, what's not, and who these are actually for.
Quick Verdict
The 1.5kg increments are a genuine game-changer for progressive overload, and the 41.5kg max is among the highest in the twist-select category. Metal construction feels solid, but like all selectorised dumbbells, they must not be dropped. A strong choice if you value fine increments over brand recognition.
Who makes the Stealth dumbbells?
Stealth dumbbells are made by Assassin Goods Limited, a small UK company based in Penrith, Cumbria. The company was incorporated in November 2017 and is run by sole director Michael Walters. They also operate under the brand name Stealth Equipment (stealth-equipment.com).
This is genuinely a small operation -one person running the show. That comes with pros and cons. On the plus side, the customer service is personal and consistently praised on Trustpilot (4.6/5 stars from 246 reviews). On the downside, there's less infrastructure behind the brand than you'd get with PowerBlock or NUO Athletics.
All three variants compared
Stealth offers three weight models, all with the same 1.5kg increment system and 4kg starting weight. The only differences are max weight, number of settings, and physical length.
| Spec | 23.5kg | 32.5kg | 41.5kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight range | 4 - 23.5kg | 4 - 32.5kg | 4 - 41.5kg |
| Weight settings | 13 | 20 | 26 |
| Increments | 1.5kg | 1.5kg | 1.5kg |
| Dumbbell length | 35.5cm | 40cm | 44cm |
| Length in cradle | 41.5cm | 46cm | 50cm |
| Chrome Edition (pair) | £449 | £499 | £549 |
| Black Edition (pair) | £499 | £549 | £599 |
Which variant should you get?The 32.5kg hits the sweet spot for most people. The 23.5kg will be outgrown quickly if you train legs (goblet squats, lunges). The 41.5kg is for serious lifters who already know they need heavy weight for pressing movements. If in doubt, size up -you can always use less weight, but you can't add more than the max.
Black Edition vs Chrome Edition
Both editions have identical internals and the same adjustment mechanism. The only difference is the finish -and we think it matters more than you'd expect.
| Spec | Chrome Edition | Black Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Finish | Electroplated chrome | Black matte coating |
| Price premium | Base price | +£50 over Chrome at each weight |
| Durability | Chrome plating - proven long-term durability | One Trustpilot report of coating peeling after ~5 workouts |
| Warranty | 24 months standard; optional paid lifetime upgrade | 24 months standard; optional paid lifetime upgrade |
| Our take | Better value - same internals, no coating concerns | Looks great but the coating concern gives us pause |
Our recommendation: Go Chrome.The Black Edition costs £50 more per pair and at least one Trustpilot reviewer reported the black coating peeling after approximately five workouts. The Chrome Edition uses electroplating, which is a more proven, durable finish for metal gym equipment. You're paying extra for a finish that may not last -the Chrome is the smarter buy.
The 1.5kg increment advantage
This is the headline feature, and it genuinely matters. Most adjustable dumbbells use 2kg, 2.5kg, or even 3kg+ increments. Stealth uses 1.5kg across the entire range.
Why does this matter in practice?
Take lateral raises. Most people can lateral raise between 8-14kg. A 2.5kg jump from 10kg to 12.5kg is a 25% increase -that's enormous for a small isolation movement. With the Stealth, you go 10kg → 11.5kg → 13kg. That 15% jump is far more manageable and means you can actually progress without your form breaking down.
The same logic applies to bicep curls, tricep extensions, front raises, and any exercise where you're working with lighter weights. For compound movements like bench press or rows, the difference is less critical -but it's still nice to have.
The 41.5kg model gives you 26 distinct weight settings: 4, 5.5, 7, 8.5, 10, 11.5, 13, 14.5, 16, 17.5, 19, 20.5, 22, 23.5, 25, 26.5, 28, 29.5, 31, 32.5, 34, 35.5, 37, 38.5, 40, 41.5kg.
Is the 1.5kg increment unique? In the UK market, practically yes. The BrainGain Gen 4 also offers 1.5kg increments, but that model is primarily available on the EU store with limited UK availability. The Lifemaxx LMX1154 has identical specs too - more on that in the white-label section below.
How the adjustment mechanism works
The Stealth uses a twist-to-select system. Each dumbbell sits in a storage cradle. You twist the handle left or right to select your weight -a visual indicator shows the current setting -then lift straight up. The selected plates lock onto the handle; the rest stay in the cradle.
In practice, weight changes take under 3 seconds. You don't need to put the dumbbell back in the cradle between exercises if you're keeping the same weight. When you do need to change, the twist is smooth and each setting clicks into place with a satisfying, definite click.
The mechanism feels solid. The manufacturer describes the construction as "highly durable, metal construction" with "rigid metal plates." The Black Edition uses nylon precision fit interfaces between components. Like all selectorised adjustable dumbbells, these must not be dropped-impact can damage the adjustment mechanism, and that's not covered under warranty.
Build quality and durability
The weight plates are electroplated steel, and they feel substantial. The handle is solid with a 36mm grip diameter and a 13cm grip length. The flat ends of the dumbbells are well-finished, which matters for exercises where you rest them on your thighs.
Weight accuracy is good -Assassin Goods claim +/-50g on the handle and +/-5g per plate, and users confirm weights feel accurate.
The durability question comes down to two things:
- The adjustment mechanism.If you don't drop them, they should last. The Black Edition uses nylon precision fit interfaces; the Chrome Edition is described as fully metal construction. Trustpilot reviews from users with 1-2 years of ownership are consistently positive. One reviewer reported parts breaking during assembly, but spares were provided.
- The Black Edition coating.At least one user reported the coating coming away after ~5 workouts. The company acknowledged this but the reviewer felt the response was inadequate. The Chrome Edition doesn't have this issue.
What real users say
Assassin Goods has a 4.6/5 on Trustpilot from 246 reviews, with 93% being 5-star. The company responds to 100% of negative reviews, typically within 24 hours.
The good
- "Far superior to other leading brands" -multiple users compare favourably to Bowflex and JaxJox
- "Perfect click when selecting a weight... sturdy construction" -the mechanism is consistently praised
- "Delivery in 22 hours" -fast shipping from UK warehouse
- Customer service from Michael (the sole director) is repeatedly described as "above and beyond"
The bad
- One user reported the Black Edition coating peeling after ~5 workouts
- One user received an 80% refund for items deemed "not fit for purpose" (disputed)
- One user had a pre-order cancellation rejected after the order was dispatched
A note on independence.Almost all user feedback for Stealth dumbbells exists on Trustpilot and the company's own site. We found zero Reddit discussion and no independent YouTube reviews. For a product at this price point, that's unusual. It doesn't mean the product is bad -the Trustpilot reviews are overwhelmingly positive -but it does mean independent verification of long-term durability is limited.
Returns policy -read this before buying
Assassin Goods offers a 45-day home trial and a 28-day return window. That sounds generous, but the fine print matters:
- 10% restocking fee on all returns
- You pay return shipping (unless the item is faulty)
- Original shipping costs are not refunded
For a pair of 41.5kg dumbbells that weigh over 80kg total, return shipping alone could cost £40-80+. Combined with the 10% restocking fee (£55-60 on a £549-599 pair), returning a set could cost you £100+ even if nothing is wrong with them.
This was specifically called out in a 1-star Trustpilot review from a customer who kept the items because returning them was uneconomical.
Bottom line:Be reasonably sure before you order. The 45-day trial is real, but the cost of exercising it is significant on heavy items. This is unfortunately common in the home gym equipment industry -it's not unique to Assassin Goods.
The white-label question
We have to address this honestly. The Stealth dumbbells share near-identical specifications with the BrainGain Gen 4 (1.5kg variant) and the Lifemaxx LMX1154: same weight ranges, same starting weight (4kg), same 1.5kg increments, same handle dimensions, same number of weight settings.
This strongly suggests all three brands source from the same OEM manufacturer(likely Chinese) and apply their own branding, finish, and pricing. This is extremely common in the fitness equipment industry -it's how Bowflex, BrainGain, and many others operate too.
Does this matter?Somewhat. It means the Stealth isn't a proprietary, designed-from-scratch product. But it also means the underlying design has been proven across multiple brands and markets. What Assassin Goods adds is UK-based customer service, a competitive UK price point, and their specific warranty and trial terms.
Who are these for (and who should avoid them)?
Great for
- Home gym users who want fine progressive overload
- People training isolation exercises (curls, raises, extensions)
- Anyone who values 1.5kg increments over brand name
- UK buyers who want UK-based customer service
- Space-conscious setups -one pair replaces up to 26 pairs
Not for
- Anyone who drops dumbbells (even occasionally)
- Lifters who want the prestige of a known brand like PowerBlock or Nuobell
- People who want to try before buying -not stocked in any physical shop
- Those uncomfortable with a small company's return policy
- CrossFit or Olympic lifting (too fragile for dynamic movements)
How they compare to the competition
| Feature | Stealth | Nuobell | PowerBlock | MuscleSquad |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max weight | 41.5kg | 40kg (S 240) | 40.8kg (all 3 stages) | 40kg |
| Increments | 1.5kg | 2kg | ~1.1kg (with adder weights) | 2.5-3.5kg (varies by model) |
| Max weight settings | 26 | 20 (S 240) | ~28 (all stages) | 12 |
| Price range (pair) | £449-£599 | £549-£1,099 | £450-£750 | £65-£450 |
| Variants | 6 (3 weights x 2 editions) | 4 models | 3 stages (expandable) | 4 models |
| Mechanism feel | Smooth twist | Best in class | Pin selector | Dial + button |
| Drop-safe? | No | No | Most durable | No |
| Expandable? | No | S-line upgrade | Yes (3 stages) | No |
All figures show the full range available for each product line. Prices checked April 2026.
The Stealth's combination of 1.5kg increments + 41.5kg max weight + starting from £449 is hard to beat. The Nuobell feels better in hand but costs significantly more. The PowerBlock is more durable and expandable but the boxy shape is divisive. MuscleSquad offers the best range of entry points but only 2.5kg increments on the models worth buying.
See our full reviews: Nuobell | PowerBlock | MuscleSquad
Our Ratings
Pros and Cons
What we like
- +1.5kg increments across the full range - the finest granularity we've seen in the UK market
- +Up to 26 weight settings (41.5kg model) replaces an entire dumbbell rack
- +Twist mechanism changes weight in under 3 seconds
- +45-day home trial period
- +Flat ends let you rest them on your thighs before pressing
- +Responsive UK-based customer service (Cumbria)
- +Three weight tiers (23.5kg, 32.5kg, 41.5kg) plus Chrome/Black editions to suit different budgets
What could be better
- -Not designed to be dropped - the adjustment mechanism can be damaged on impact
- -Black Edition coating reported peeling after ~5 workouts by one reviewer
- -10% restocking fee plus customer-pays return shipping makes returns costly on heavy items
- -Very limited independent reviews - almost all feedback is on Trustpilot only
- -Likely white-label OEM product (near-identical to BrainGain Gen 4 and Lifemaxx LMX1154)
- -41.5kg model physically large at 44cm - check your bench clearance
Final Verdict
The Stealth Adjustable Dumbbells are a genuinely strong product with one standout feature -those 1.5kg increments -that no major competitor in the UK can match. They're well-built (if you don't drop them), competitively priced against the Nuobell and PowerBlock, and backed by responsive UK customer service.
The caveats are real: they're almost certainly a white-label product, the returns policy can be punishing on heavy items, and the lack of independent reviews outside Trustpilot means you're taking more on trust than with established brands. The Black Edition coating concern is also worth noting.
Our recommendation: Go with the Chrome Edition in the 32.5kg or 41.5kg variant. The Chrome finish is more durable, and you'll get the full benefit of the 1.5kg increment system with plenty of room to grow.
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