Equipment

SomethingElse

Hey, I'm looking to buy a pair of dumbbells (about 20kg each) and maybe a bench. They don't have to be new, I have a very limited budget so second hand is perfectly acceptable. Does anyone know any good sites where I might find the above advertised? Thanks and any help is greatly appreciated!

Also, is cast iron much better to go for than vinyl? Vinyl seems to be cheaper

(Apologies if this is posted in the wrong place!)

googled eyes

Check out adverts.ie plenty of people selling benchs and/or weights. Some real bargains. I picked up most of my stuff second hand.
Also gumtree.ie

Vinyl is cheaper but the plates are larger (5kg vinyl being as big and bulkier than 10kg of iron)

rubadub

Don't go near the vinyl, too bulky and degrades.

I have bog standard argos york cast iron ones.
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/3008243/Trail/searchtext%3E20KG.htm

I then got extra weights, these

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/3025862/Trail/searchtext%3E5KG.htm

There is a limit to how many fit on the handle as it is only so long. I currently have 2x5kg and I think 1x2.5kg on each side so 12.5kg each side. Then the handle is about 2kg giving a total of about 27kg.

The trick to fitting more on is not to have 2 similar plates beside each other, I sandwich the 2.5kg in between the 2x5kg plates, this takes up a little less room. I think I can fit another 1.25kg plate at the end on either side just about, but the spinlock only goes on maybe 3/4 the way, if my 2x5kg are beside each other I don't think it fits.

I can of course put 10kg plates on too, but the diameter is so big it really limits what you can do.

Surprisingly amazon.co.uk are often the cheapest for new weights, free delivery to here if over £25
http://www.amazon.co.uk/York-20kg-Cast-Iron-Dumbbell/dp/B004ELB550/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352889951&sr=8-1

SomethingElse

rubadub wrote: »

Don't go near the vinyl, too bulky and degrades.

I have bog standard argos york cast iron ones.
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/3008243/Trail/searchtext%3E20KG.htm

I then got extra weights, these

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/3025862/Trail/searchtext%3E5KG.htm

There is a limit to how many fit on the handle as it is only so long. I currently have 2x5kg and I think 1x2.5kg on each side so 12.5kg each side. Then the handle is about 2kg giving a total of about 27kg.

The trick to fitting more on is not to have 2 similar plates beside each other, I sandwich the 2.5kg in between the 2x5kg plates, this takes up a little less room. I think I can fit another 1.25kg plate at the end on either side just about, but the spinlock only goes on maybe 3/4 the way, if my 2x5kg are beside each other I don't think it fits.

I can of course put 10kg plates on too, but the diameter is so big it really limits what you can do.

Surprisingly amazon.co.uk are often the cheapest for new weights, free delivery to here if over £25
http://www.amazon.co.uk/York-20kg-Cast-Iron-Dumbbell/dp/B004ELB550/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352889951&sr=8-1

Thanks for the help I had a look through the range from Argos. They seem good value, any idea if Pro Power are as good as York? They seem to be a bit cheaper than York.

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/9003170/c_1/1|category_root|Sports+and+leisure|14419152/c_2/3|15701400|Weights+and+strength+training|29022084/c_3/4|cat_29022084|Weights+and+dumbbells|14419310.htm

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/9003170/c_1/1|category_root|Sports+and+leisure|14419152/c_2/3|15701400|Weights+and+strength+training|29022084/c_3/4|cat_29022084|Weights+and+dumbbells|14419310.htm

Although if I combined the above two I'd still only have a max of 19kg on each dumbbell (and all the plates probably wouldn't fit on together, giving even less weight )

Would this be any good? It seems great value, and I get a barbell as well
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/9003204/c_1/1|category_root|Sports+and+leisure|14419152/c_2/3|15701400|Weights+and+strength+training|29022084/c_3/4|cat_29022084|Weights+and+dumbbells|14419310.htm

squod

SomethingElse wrote: »

Would this be any good? It seems great value, and I get a barbell as well
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/9003204/c_1/1|category_root|Sports+and+leisure|14419152/c_2/3|15701400|Weights+and+strength+training|29022084/c_3/4|cat_29022084|Weights+and+dumbbells|14419310.htm

I have a set of them somewhere. Solid yokes.

rubadub

SomethingElse wrote: »

Would this be any good? It seems great value, and I get a barbell as well
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/9003204/c_1/1|category_root|Sports+and+leisure|14419152/c_2/3|15701400|Weights+and+strength+training|29022084/c_3/4|cat_29022084|Weights+and+dumbbells|14419310.htm

Yeah. I forgot to say that the barbell kits are usually better value than the dumbells.

I don't bench at all so its easier for me to get away with only using 1 dumbbell at a time. One is loaded up high and the other is my warmup dumbbell.

I do not know the dimensions of the propower dumbbells & plates so cannot say how much will fit on one.

You have 4x5kg and 4x2.5kg with that kit. If the handles are near 2kg that is 17kg each. You should easily fit on another 1.25kg plate on each side, bringing them to 19.5kg. And probably can fit some tiny ones on the end unless they are unusually short.