Dumbbells are a mainstay of any home gym, but fitting an entire rack of weights into a limited amount of space isn’t realistic for most people. Adjustable dumbbells can be useful for fitting a wide range of weight options into a smaller space, but they can be hit or miss. The shape can be off, they can be fragile or prone to breakage, and some can even fail catastrophically.
Which is why I was skeptical about the NÜOBELL S 5100 Adjustable Dumbbells ($1,140 per pair) when they showed up at my door. Fortunately, the nearly all-metal design, quick-change feature, and sturdy construction make these dumbbells rise above any other adjustable dumbbells that I’ve tested.
If you’re looking for some other options (including nonadjustable dumbbells), check out our Best Dumbbells buyer’s guide.
In short: Normally, adjustable dumbbells sacrifice some form of quality when designing adjustable dumbbells, but NÜOBELL comes damn close with the S 5100 set. They’re pricey, but the nearly all-metal design, classic shape, excellent knurled grips, and lightning-fast weight switching make it worth the price of admission.
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Goes up to 100 pounds -
Fast, easy weight switching -
Solid build quality
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Expensive -
They aren’t designed to be dropped
NÜOBELL S 5100 Adjustable Dumbbells Review
Brand Background
NÜOBELL is a Swedish company that exclusively makes high-end adjustable dumbbells. While there’s no lack of adjustable dumbbells on the market, NÜOBELL stands out for how easy its dumbbells are to use and how closely they resemble traditional dumbbells. The S 5100 dumbbells are the latest version and offer the heaviest weight in the NÜOBELL lineup.
How I Tested the NÜOBELL S 5100 Adjustable Dumbbells
I used the NÜOBELL S 5100 Adjustable Dumbbells for 4 months of training and accessory work two to three times a week. These workouts included dumbbell bench presses, goblet squats, rows, and accessory work like curls and triceps extensions. I also added some CrossFit work, like dumbbell snatches and cleans, to see how they’d hold up to more dynamic movements.
What’s New
The NÜOBELL S 5100 Adjustable Dumbbells are part of NÜOBELL’s new S lineup. The S line offers a heavier top-end weight of 100 pounds, a smoother transition between weight settings, and a sleeker design than previous iterations.
The S line comes in two versions: The NÜOBELL S 560 goes from 5 pounds to 60 pounds in 5-pound increments, while the NÜOBELL S 5100 goes from 5 pounds to 100 pounds in 5-pound increments.
Its sleeker design is mainly due to the adjustment hubs at the end of the handles. They’re smaller and less obtrusive, resembling a traditional, nonadjustable dumbbell.
Good Lift
The problem with a lot of adjustable dumbbells is that they don’t look or feel like the nonadjustable dumbbells that we all know and love. They’re either these weird square shapes or they feel like they’re going to fall apart at any moment. I’m happy to report that that’s not the case with the NÜOBELL S 5100 Adjustable Dumbbells. These feel spot-on.
First of all, they’re actually round. It may not seem like a big deal, but to purists, it’s a damn good start. Second, the handle has an excellent diamond knurling that not only delivers a solid grip, but it also feels just like that old iron set you used in the World’s Gym basement when you were starting out.
It’s not just about looks, though. The adjustment mechanism couldn’t be much easier. I’d put my dumbbells in their cradles, twist the handle until I got to the weight I desired, and lift them out. Easy-peasy. Also, there’s a really satisfying click when you switch between the 5-pound increments that makes the weight feel securely locked in.
The steel plates do feel solid and locked in when you’re using them. I’ve experienced some minor shifting of the weight plates on other dumbbells, and let me tell you, that does not feel safe when you’ve got that weight overhead. There was zero suggestion of movement or instability in these, whether I was doing a dumbbell press or swinging them overhead in a series of dumbbell snatches.
At $1,140 per pair, the NÜOBELL S 5100 Adjustable Dumbbells are no small investment, so you’re going to want them to last for a while. I’m happy to report that after a few months of daily use, these haven’t disappointed. They still look brand new, and the adjustment mechanism is still as smooth as the first day I used them. But if something does go wrong, they come with a 4-year warranty as well.
No Reps
While there’s a lot to like about the NÜOBELL S 5100 Adjustable Dumbbells, they may not be for everybody. First, they’re pretty expensive. While $1,140 isn’t bad when you consider that they replace 20 nonadjustable dumbbells, they just might not be in everyone’s budget.
Second, you’re not going to want to drop these. While they do feel extremely sturdy, it’s possible to damage the weight adjustment system when you drop these from, say, overhead.
In fact, when my friend bit off more than he could chew and tried to do dumbbell bench presses with the S 5100s set at 100 pounds, he dropped them on the floor after the third rep. The weights stayed together, but the weight-adjusting mechanism hasn’t been as smooth since. (Thanks a lot, Rich.) Again, do not drop these.
The same goes for those who primarily do CrossFit-style workouts. In CrossFit, dumbbell movements can often start from the floor and end up overhead. With a heavier dumbbell (or when fatigue sets in), those movements can result in repeatedly slamming the dumbbell on the floor throughout the workout, which is why you tend to find rubber-coated dumbbells in CrossFit boxes. That, again, may end up breaking the adjustment mechanism.
They’re fine if you’re content to do hang dumbbell cleans and snatches or if you’re committed to controlling the weight on the way to the floor, but otherwise, grab some rubber-coated 50s and go to work.
NÜOBELL S 5100 Adjustable Dumbbells: Final Thoughts
If you’re building out your home gym and you don’t have the space for a full rack of dumbbells, the NÜOBELL S 5100 Adjustable Dumbbells are an excellent choice. They have the look and feel of traditional dumbbells, and the adjustment mechanism is simple, fast, and reliable. They top out at 100 pounds, but if that’s overkill for you, there’s a 60-pound version as well.
Since dropping the dumbbells to the floor might damage the weight adjustment mechanism, these might not be the right choice for people who regularly do dumbbell cleans and snatches from the floor or who just drop their dumbbells from exhaustion regularly. But if you’re looking for a way to save space and are a proponent of controlled movement, I would strongly consider grabbing a pair of the NÜOBELL S 5100 Adjustable Dumbbells.
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