vinyl v. neoprene weights?

Quoted message said:

Are there any reasonable pros and cons regarding vinyl v.
neoprene weights? That is, is one better than the other;
if so, why?

Is there a reason you're not considering plain old iron?

Also, are you referring to dumbbells or plates? If plates, are you
talking about an olympic set?

Where are you going to use them? What's your goal?

Dally

Dally said:

Is there a reason you're not considering plain old iron?

Feel free to comment on the pros and cons compared to
vinyl and neoprene.

Quoted message said:

Also, are you referring to dumbbells or plates?

Dumbbells.

Quoted message said:

Where are you going to use them? What's your goal?

Feel free to comment on how my goals might affect the
decision.

Dally said:

Where are you going to use them?

Forgot to answer this one ....

At home.

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dally said:

Where are you going to use them?

Forgot to answer this one ....

At home.

You need to tell us about yourself more before we can intelligently (or
otherwise) comment on what you're asking - are you trying to lose
weight, add muscle, gain strength, what age are you, what's your current
bodyfat level, what's your current strength/conditioning level, etc.?

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

Quoted message said:

Dally said:

Is there a reason you're not considering plain old iron?

Feel free to comment on the pros and cons compared to
vinyl and neoprene.

I prefer hex dumbbells like this over either:

http://store.yahoo.net/net2fitness/5lbhexdumbbell.html

My experience is that vinyl chip (or get chewed on by the dog) and look
awful, they are a bit slippery to grip, and they don't stack well (but
mine are round not hex so that part would be solveable.)

Neoprene are a bit less slippery when I've used them but they also look
like they'd hold dirt and look grungy fast. That's only a problem if
you happen to be buying them because they're pretty.

The hex dumbbells are stackable, cheap, look like iron (which is fine
with me) and have a good grip on them. They won't go out of fashion or
look grungy or damaged.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Also, are you referring to dumbbells or plates?

Dumbbells.

Quoted message said:

Where are you going to use them? What's your goal?

Feel free to comment on how my goals might affect the
decision.

If you're trying to entice silly people to use weights because they're
pretty then you might prefer lovely colors. I can imagine trying to do
rehab with an elderly mother and offering up the palatable pink
dumbbells. But if you're attempting to do one-armed rows and ball
squats and push some real weight, i.e., over 8 pounds, then getting the
cheaper, stackable (or rackable) hex dumbbells makes more sense.

If you've got a lot of money and want heavy dumbbells then I'd go for
one of the powerblock sort of things.

http://www.powerblock.com/

I heard someone praising the Bowflex dumbbells and I went and looked:
for $712 you can get the dumbbells and stand that go up to 52.5 pounds each:

http://www.bowflexselecttech.com

"One pair of Bowflex® SelectTech™ 552 Dumbbells replaces 30 individual
free weights. Unbelievable, easy-to-use technology
that saves you tons of space - and money!"

I'm dying to know how a set of hex dumbbells and stand could cost more
than $712. Perhaps if you have to rent a bigger place for the extra
four feet of dumbbell racks (assuming you're too lazy to just stack
them, which is what I do.)

To sum up, I've bought vinyl before. They didn't wear well. The iron
are holding up just fine.

Dally

Quoted message said:

Dally said:

Is there a reason you're not considering plain old iron?

Feel free to comment on the pros and cons compared to
vinyl and neoprene.

Sassy!

Quoted message said:

Dally said:

Is there a reason you're not considering plain old iron?

Feel free to comment on the pros and cons compared to
vinyl and neoprene.

The vinyl and neoprene will come off with substantial use. You can
avoid that by not using them, which is what most folks with vinyl and
neoprene weights do, anyway.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Also, are you referring to dumbbells or plates?

Dumbbells.

Quoted message said:

Where are you going to use them? What's your goal?

Feel free to comment on how my goals might affect the
decision.

What sizes of vinyl and neoprene dumbbells do you intend to buy? That
may not tell us the goals you hope for, but it will give us an idea of
the goals you are capable of reaching with that equipment.

Quoted message said:

Are there any reasonable pros and cons regarding vinyl v.
neoprene weights?

If they get stained, vinyl would be easier to clean than
neoprene. If that's not an issue just try both and see which one
feels the best.

locker

That is, is one better than the other;

Quoted message said:

if so, why?

Quoted message said:

Are there any reasonable pros and cons regarding vinyl v.
neoprene weights?

If they get stained, vinyl would be easier to clean than
neoprene. If that's not an issue just try both and see which one
feels the best.

locker

That is, is one better than the other;

Quoted message said:

if so, why?

The Queen of Cans and Jars said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Is there a reason you're not considering plain old iron?

Feel free to comment on the pros and cons compared to
vinyl and neoprene.

Sassy!

Not intentionally. It was a sincere invitation to open the
discussion.

The Queen of Cans and Jars said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Is there a reason you're not considering plain old iron?

Feel free to comment on the pros and cons compared to
vinyl and neoprene.

Sassy!

Not intentionally. It was a sincere invitation to open the
discussion.

Dally said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Is there a reason you're not considering plain old iron?

Feel free to comment on the pros and cons compared to
vinyl and neoprene.

I prefer hex dumbbells like this over either:
http://store.yahoo.net/net2fitness/5lbhexdumbbell.html

I concur. I don't think they are mutually exclusive. I have
seen hex vinyl and neoprene. Hex (or "star"😉 is the only
thing I would consider.

Quoted message said:

To sum up, I've bought vinyl before. They didn't wear well.

That is good input. Thanks.

Quoted message said:

The iron are holding up just fine.

Friends' uncoated iron dumbbells that are many years old
seem to rust. Perhaps the newer shinier ones (I assume
they are iron) avoid that problem.

Note: When you said "iron", I thought of the "silver" 'bells
that I see in stores. Come to think of it, I have also seen
"black" 'bells that I am sure are real iron. Which are you
talking about, or doesn't it matter?

Dally said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Is there a reason you're not considering plain old iron?

Feel free to comment on the pros and cons compared to
vinyl and neoprene.

I prefer hex dumbbells like this over either:
http://store.yahoo.net/net2fitness/5lbhexdumbbell.html

I concur. I don't think they are mutually exclusive. I have
seen hex vinyl and neoprene. Hex (or "star"😉 is the only
thing I would consider.

Quoted message said:

To sum up, I've bought vinyl before. They didn't wear well.

That is good input. Thanks.

Quoted message said:

The iron are holding up just fine.

Friends' uncoated iron dumbbells that are many years old
seem to rust. Perhaps the newer shinier ones (I assume
they are iron) avoid that problem.

Note: When you said "iron", I thought of the "silver" 'bells
that I see in stores. Come to think of it, I have also seen
"black" 'bells that I am sure are real iron. Which are you
talking about, or doesn't it matter?

Quoted message said:

The Queen of Cans and Jars said:

Quoted message said:

> Is there a reason you're not considering plain old iron?

Feel free to comment on the pros and cons compared to
vinyl and neoprene.

Sassy!

Not intentionally. It was a sincere invitation to open the
discussion.

Oh, come on. Be sassy. It's much more fun.

Some after-thoughts ....

Dally said:

Neoprene are a bit less slippery when I've used them but
they also look like they'd hold dirt and look grungy fast.

Yes, I notice that even in the store.

Quoted message said:

The hex dumbbells are stackable, cheap, look like iron
(which is fine with me) and have a good grip on them.

What are you referring to there? At first reading, I thought
you were talking about iron 'bells. Then I realized you said
"look like iron".

Anyway ....

Quoted message said:

The iron are holding up just fine.

When I worked with coins a lot in the past, I noticed they
left a metallic smell on my hands. (I was not wearing
gloves. Klunk!)

I would think the same might be true of uncoated iron 'bells.
Right? What about the "silver" 'bells?

I wear gloves, but they are "half-gloves" -- the kind that
exposes the first two phalanges of the fingers. That is my
personal preference. My hands sweat enough to moisten
the gloves. So moisture will reach the 'bells.

I have used the "dark" iron and "silver" 'bells somewhat
at the gym. Admittedly I have never noticed an odor.
But I use mostly machines there. And due to the nature
of my routine, I tend to use the 'bells first, when my hands
are less sweaty.

I have never used vinyl or neoprene 'bells. I was hoping
the neoprene might be less "sloppy" to use due to my
heavy sweating. But when I look at the coating, I suspect
it makes little difference. Right?

JMW said:

What sizes of vinyl and neoprene dumbbells do you intend to buy?
That may not tell us the goals you hope for, but it will give us an
idea of the goals you are capable of reaching with that equipment.

Oh, that is a valid point. I have only seen vinyl and neoprene
in light weights, so I took that for granted.

(Hmm, I thought I saw at least 12-lb vinyl 'bells at the store,
even 15 or 20. But online, I can find only up to 10 lbs.)

I will be sharing the weights with my wife. I hope to outgrow
them, while she will grow into them. But one of the reasons
why I would consider only hex vinyl or neoprene (referring to
Dally's comments) is that I can "stack" them in my hand to
double the weight.

As you can see, my goals are not demanding. My question
was more about the relative merits of the material, not the
availability of weights. I understand that there are better
options if/when our requirements increase. I am not looking
for expandability.

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

JMW said:

What sizes of vinyl and neoprene dumbbells do you intend to buy?
That may not tell us the goals you hope for, but it will give us an
idea of the goals you are capable of reaching with that equipment.

Oh, that is a valid point. I have only seen vinyl and neoprene
in light weights, so I took that for granted.

(Hmm, I thought I saw at least 12-lb vinyl 'bells at the store,
even 15 or 20. But online, I can find only up to 10 lbs.)

I will be sharing the weights with my wife.

You're a guy? WTF! Choose whichever material is available in pink.

Quoted message said:

JMW said:

What sizes of vinyl and neoprene dumbbells do you intend to buy?
That may not tell us the goals you hope for, but it will give us an
idea of the goals you are capable of reaching with that equipment.

Oh, that is a valid point. I have only seen vinyl and neoprene
in light weights, so I took that for granted.

(Hmm, I thought I saw at least 12-lb vinyl 'bells at the store,
even 15 or 20. But online, I can find only up to 10 lbs.)

You won't accomplish anything with the 12-pound-and-below dumbbells
except some teevee silliness that adds nothing to muscle development.
Really. I don't care what you've seen on the informercials, it's not
true. No kidding. I know, you don't want to look like Arnold. You
want to look like the slender muscular guys. Well, you won't look
anything like them, either. Not using those dumbbells. Really.

Quoted message said:

I will be sharing the weights with my wife. I hope to outgrow
them, while she will grow into them. But one of the reasons
why I would consider only hex vinyl or neoprene (referring to
Dally's comments) is that I can "stack" them in my hand to
double the weight.

What you are imagining in your head will not work nearly so well in
your hands, except perhaps, with the very smallest dumbbells, which,
once again, won't accomplish much of anything.

Quoted message said:

As you can see, my goals are not demanding. My question
was more about the relative merits of the material, not the
availability of weights. I understand that there are better
options if/when our requirements increase. I am not looking
for expandability.

I recommend that you research a decent dumbbell lifting program,
*then* decide what equipment you really need.

ATP* said:

You're a guy? WTF! Choose whichever material is available in pink.

Let me know when you grow up. On second thought,
I will not live long to see that anyway.