The Nüobell Adjustable Dumbbells Are My New Favorite Home Gym Staple
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The Good
- Intuitive set-up and assembly
- Satisfying click-lock mechanism
- Sleek, compact design
- Solid build quality and durability
- Smooth operation during workouts
The Bad- Pricey
- Occasional adjustment difficulties at higher weights
- Limited maximum weight compared to some competitors
Table of Contents
The Nüobell Adjustable Dumbbells have my heart. I didn’t know it was possible for at-home adjustable weights to feel so secure. No clanking, no rattling sound? Sign me up. When it comes to building out a small home gym, it can feel like you need to sacrifice efficiency and quality to be safe-conscious—but these dumbbells prove that is not the case. While they demand a serious investment price at $765, any flaws I found were minor inconveniences, not scary structural issues.
On par with other adjustable dumbbells, the Nüobells go up to 80 pounds at five-pound increments, effectively combining 32 weights into one compact set—saving money and space in your home gym equipment setup. What really made these stand out for me was the ingeniously simple and all-too-satisfying weight-changing mechanism. I give the Nüobells a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars, making them a serious standout option in the adjustable dumbbell market.
Secure, simple, high-quality design
The Nüobell Adjustable Dumbbells immediately stand out with their sleek, simple look. Unlike many adjustable dumbbells that look bulky or overtly mechanical, the Nüobells have a noticeably clean design. I’d call it a minimal aesthetic that would fit in any home gym set-up.
But of course, looks aren’t everything. The build quality is exceptional throughout. In fact, I’d go as far to say that they feel higher-quality than they look. While the plastic connecting pieces scream “home gym,” the Nüobells do have that barbell-type handle with a quality knurled finish. That means a secure, comfortable grip, even with sweaty hands.
I do think those plastic connecting pieces raise serious questions about long-term use. If you tend to drop your dumbbells a lot, I don't know if adjustables are for you. There’s a reason you don’t see that in a professional gym. But then, the beauty of your adjustable dumbbells is they don’t need to handle a high-traffic gym—just your personal workout regime. And I’d hope you’re dedicated to strength training before purchasing these, since they cost a cheeky $765.
The weight plates fit together well, eliminating the annoying rattling or looseness that plagues many adjustable systems. Compared to the Rep Fitness Quickdraws (which I rated 4.5/5 stars), the Nüobells are slightly more compact and take up less shelf space—a crucial consideration for those of us with limited workout areas. The sleeker profile makes them easier to handle during exercises like goblet squats, where bulkier designs can feel awkward. Although, like with any adjustable dumbbells, you need to be quite precise racking them, or else the weights catch at a weird angle and get stuck.
Like I mentioned at the top, the maximum weight here is on par with other adjustable dumbbells, going up to 80 pounds at five-pound increments. If you plan on lifting more than 80 pounds, I’d point you to the REP x Pepin 125-pound set for $1,699.99.
Change weights with a flick of your wrist
The crown jewel of the Nüobell design is the nifty weight adjustment system. While many adjustable dumbbells require pins, levers, or dials that can be fiddly to use, the Nüobell employs a brilliantly simple rotating handle mechanism. Simply place the dumbbell in its cradle, twist the handle to select your desired weight, and lift. The unwanted weight plates remain in the tray while your selected load comes with you.
That satisfying click when rotating the handle isn't just pleasing—it represents a secure lock that inspires confidence during heavier lifts. After using other dumbbells that require manual loading with spin-lock collars, I cannot gush enough about the Nüobell’s click-turn handle mechanism. Adjusting the weight with just a flick of the wrist? What a rush.
One minor issue did emerge during testing: I experienced difficulty adjusting to higher weights. As shown in the picture below, the dumbbell sometimes gets stuck between weight increments (between 50 and 55 pounds, in my case). While this wasn't a frequent problem and didn't affect my personal workout regimen, it's worth noting for those planning to regularly use the higher weight ranges.
Solid performance during workouts
As a reminder, adjustable dumbbells should work for any movement you'd do with a more traditional set. To test the Nüobells, I turned to my colleague Beth's at-home workout video here and did the following exercises:
Bulgarian split squats (quads and glutes)
Curl and press - 1 curl + 2 presses (arms and shoulders)
Single leg deadlift (hamstrings and back)
Floor press (chest and arms)
Plank rows (upper back, arms, and core)
What really stood out to me was just how sturdy these felt, much like traditional fixed dumbbells—a significant advantage over some adjustable systems that can feel awkwardly balanced, or too bulky for certain movements, or with too awkward a cage for your hands.
The compact design makes them particularly effective for exercises that bring the weights close to your body, like chest presses or bicep curls. Like I mentioned above, the handle provides solid grip even when hands get sweaty.
The quick adjustment between sets is where these dumbbells truly shine. When performing drop sets or supersets where weight changes need to happen quickly, the Nüobell system saves valuable time and maintains workout intensity. This feature alone makes them superior to the REP x Pepin system, where changing weights requires unscrewing collars and manually adding or removing plates.
Intuitive assembly and storage
After assembling a few different adjustable dumbbells, I found the Nüobell setup couldn't be simpler. These guys arrive essentially ready to use right out of the box. This not only saves time, but removes all the self-doubt of “Did I build this right?” that haunts me during my workouts.
A small concern: It’s difficult to move as one unit in the storage base, and not just because of the maximum weight. When you lift the whole thing around, it feels like the entire dumbbell might fall over and out of the cradle. It’s nothing too troubling, but considering how much this costs, any inconvenience is worth considering.
Value proposition
When you consider that purchasing individual pairs of dumbbells from five to 80 pounds in five-pound increments would cost well over $1,500 (and take up considerable space), investing in adjustable dumbbells is the obvious choice.
That being said, the Nüobells are not cheap. At $765.00 on Amazon, they are significantly pricier than other plastic dumbbells. For instance, I really do love the Rep Fitness Quickdraw Adjustable Dumbbells, and although they’re slightly clunkier, they’re a much more reasonable $429.99. The question becomes whether the Nüobell’s sleeker design, smaller footprint, and slightly more refined adjustment mechanism justify the additional $335. On the other hand, splurging for the all-steel REP x Pepin Adjustables will cost you $1,099.99 for the 85-pound set. Shopping around online, you’ll find that $765 sits right in the mid-range for high-quality, trusted adjustable dumbbells.
For casual users, the price difference may be difficult to justify. However, if you want a truly seamless user experience with basically no hiccups throughout setup, working out, and storage, then the Nüobells are worth it.
As someone who can hardly fit a home gym into my life (physically or financially), I believe the Nüobells are worth the investment. The weight-changing mechanism, compact design, and build quality create the easiest user experience I’ve personally known in the world of adjustable dumbbells.
While the $765 price tag places them firmly in the upper tier of the market, their performance advantages over less-expensive options are tangible, not just cosmetic. The occasional adjustment issue at higher weights is the only drawback in an otherwise pretty outstanding product.
If you're working with a tighter budget, the Rep Fitness Quickdraws remain an excellent alternative at a more accessible price point. However, if you can afford it, the Nüobells make daily workouts just that much more efficient and enjoyable.
