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Urethane coated dumbbells and weight plates can prevent scapes, scuffs, and overall damage to your flooring. And if you’ve got one of the best home gym flooring options in your garage gym, chances are you want to keep it in tip-top shape.
We put Hampton Fitness’ translucent urethane coated dumbbells to the test for our Hampton Jelly Bell weights review. You’ll be able to drop these without damaging the dumbbell itself or your floors, something we can’t say about the best adjustable dumbbells, which we do not recommend dropping. Without further ado, let’s get lifting on this review.
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RELATED: Barbells vs Dumbbells
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For this Hampton Jelly-Bell weights review, Garage Gym Reviews Everything Lead Reviewer Lindsay Scheele put all eight dumbbell pairs to the test. Be sure to check out her full video review, too.
Hampton Jelly-Bell Urethane Dumbbells
Product Highlights
- Colorful polyurethane-coated dumbbells
- Sold in pairs
- 2.5- to 25-pound dumbbells
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Non-porous surface for easy cleaning
- 5-year warranty
- Very positive customer reviews
- 2.5-lb increments from 2.5-15 lbs
- Also available in 6-pair and 8-pair sets with dumbbell stand
Cons
- Expensive—the cheapest and lightest pair is $59
- Heaviest pair available is 25 pounds
- Only sold in pairs
- Limited customer reviews
Bottom Line
JELLY-BELL dumbbells feature a steel core covered in colorful translucent polyurethane. You may recognize these dumbbells from your local gym. There are limited but very positive customer reviews. Most users mentioned purchasing these dumbbells for their home gyms after enjoying them in their local gyms. They enjoy the fun colors and comfort of the grips.
A Quick Look at the Hampton Jelly-Bell Weights
Hampton Fitness has been in the fitness manufacturing industry since 1996 with free weights exercise equipment like barbells, dumbbells, and kettlebells. The brand is based in Ventura, California, and can outfit both home gyms and health clubs. Compared to many other brands we’ve tested, Hampton Fitness is exceptionally pricey, so be sure to check out our best dumbbells roundup if you’re looking to get the best bang for your buck.
Before You Buy
- The Hampton Fitness dumbbells feature translucent urethane coating (which is very durable) with a steel core.
- You can purchase the entire dumbbell set (8 pairs ranging from 2.5 to 25 lbs) with a dumbbell rack or purchase the dumbbells in individual pairs.
- You’ll get a 5-year commercial warranty with your purchase of Hampton Fitness Jelly-Bell dumbbells.
Hampton Jelly Bell Weights Full Video Review
Are the Hampton Jelly Bell Weights Worth It?
If we’re being honest (which is the reason you’re reading our review) the Hampton Fitness Jelly-Bell dumbbells are not going to be worth it for most home gym owners. While they add an excellent pop of color to any mostly black and gray garage gym, the price tag is honestly shocking.
However, urethane1 is a long-lasting and ultra-durable coating for gym equipment. It’s a top-tier choice for durability, but it comes at a steep price. For reference, REP Fitness has urethane coated weight plates that are nearly double the price of its “old school” iron plates. Using a urethane coating protects the equipment, reduces noise, and protects your floors.
The price for a pair of 5-pound Jelly-Bell dumbbells is $74. When compared to Rogue Fitness—which is arguably one of the most expensive, popular, and reputable brands to buy home gym equipment from—the price of a 5-pound pair of rubber coated hex dumbbells is $25.
The Jelly-Bell weights earn a 3-out-of-5-star rating for overall value. It earns this middle-of-the-road rating because we know it’s not a feasible price for most people, but for anyone concerned with having the best and most durable equipment, the Jelly-Bell weights may be worth considering.
Great for:
- Protecting floors
- Long-lasting durability
- Creating a colorful aesthetic
- Small hands
Not recommended for:
- Folks on a budget
- People who preferred a knurled handle
- Anyone consistently lifting more than 25 lbs
Hampton Jelly-Bell Urethane Aerobic Dumbbells Specs
| Price | $1,556 for 8-pair pack and weight stand (dumbbells can also be sold in pairs) |
| Weight range | 2.5 to 25 lbs |
| Weight increments | 2.5-lb increments |
| Materials | Solid steel, urethane “Gel-Grips” |
| Warranty | 5 years |
Individual Hampton Jelly-Bell Urethane Aerobic Dumbbells Specs
| Weight | Price | Color |
| 2.5-lb pair | $59/pair | Red |
| 5-lb pair | $74/pair | Purple |
| 7.5-lb pair | $99/pair | Yellow |
| 10-lb pair | $119/pair | Green |
| 12.5-lb pair | $139/pair | Blue |
| 15-lb pair | $167/pair | Orange |
| 20-lb pair | $204/pair | Pink |
| 25-lb pair | $244/pair | Aqua |
Using the Hampton Jelly-Bell Dumbbells
GGR expert tester Lindsay Scheele not only reviews fitness equipment, she’s also an ISSA-certified personal trainer, CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, home gym owner, and rock climbing enthusiast. It’s safe to say she knows a thing or two about strength and conditioning.
She also knows quite a bit about grip strength between barbell training and rock climbing, which is why we trusted her to test these urethane coated dumbbells, sans knurling. She used the Hampton Jelly-Bell dumbbells for a variety of strength movements including seated overhead presses, shoulder lateral raises, biceps curls, and Romanian deadlifts.
RELATED: Best Weight Benches
Construction and Durability
The Jelly-Bell weights earn a 4.5-star rating for construction and durability. Lindsay likes the fact the urethane rubber coating is thick, durable, and prevents major damage to floors (and the dumbbell itself) if dropped.
She can’t imagine the construction of these dumbbells failing, because urethane is the ultimate coating if you’re looking for durability. The dumbbells may scuff, but it’s unlikely you’ll see major signs of wear and wear (not like a neoprene coating commonly seen in health clubs and commercial gyms).
Optionality
When our testers score dumbbells on optionality, we’re looking for weight ranges offered, weight increments, and buying options (pairs versus full sets). The Jelly-Bell weights scored 2.5 out of 5 stars in this category, mostly due to the limited weight range. Lindsay appreciates that the weight range starts at 2.5 pounds (and makes 2.5-pound weight jumps) but thinks it’s a limited selection because the weights only go up to 25 pounds.
Additionally, for buying options, you can either buy the dumbbells in pairs or as a full set of eight pairs with a vertical dumbbell storage rack.
RELATED: Best Home Gym Storage
Ergonomics and Knurling
If you’re looking for a dumbbell set with knurling, this is not the set for you. The transparent urethane coating over the steel weight leaves you without a knurling. A pair of dumbbells without the texture of metal ridges may not create the solid grip you’re looking for when working out at home, which is why the Jelly-Bell dumbbells earned a 1-star rating in the knurling category.
Lindsay notes that because the Jelly-Bell weights only go up to 25 pounds, the lack of knurling may still offer enough grip for home gym owners. She also points out in her video review that there are textured ridges in the urethane coating running parallel to the handle, which may offer more grip than if it were smooth urethane.
When Lindsay tested the grip with the best lifting chalk, she noticed her grip got worse, not better. Chalk is commonly used to improve grip strength in weightlifting, rock climbing, and calisthenics training (like pull-ups).
Additionally, Lindsay says the diameter of the 2.5- and 5-pound dumbbells is very small. She admits to having smaller than average hands, but notes it may not offer an ideal grip for anyone with large hands. The dumbbells are tapered and offer an ergonomic grip versus a straight bar. Overall, the dumbbells earned a 3-star rating for ergonomics.
Hampton Jelly-Bell vs Rogue vs CAP Barbell
Rogue Rubber Hex Dumbbell
Rogue Dumbbells
Product Highlights
- 2.5 to 125-lb dumbbell weight range
- 3% (+/-) weight tolerance
- 25 mm handle diameter (up to 10 lbs)
- 35 mm handle diameter (12.5 lbs and above)
- Rubber encased hex heads
- Easy-grip, ergonomic chrome-plated handle
- Proprietary head to handle construction
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Durable heavy-duty rubber heads
- Protects flooring
- Ergonomic handle
Cons
- Shipping not included
- Proprietary construction
- Unclear warranty policy
Bottom Line
Rogue Dumbbells are sold in pairs and available in weights ranging from 2.5 to 125 lbs. This standard rubber hex design is a great, budget-priced option that still delivers on quality, performance, and longevity. The heavy-duty, rubber-encased heads minimize noise and limit wear and tear (to both the bells and your flooring), while the chrome-plated handle is ergonomically designed for a firm but comfortable feel in any grip style.
CAP Barbell Dumbbell Set
CAP Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells
Product Highlights
- Hexagon shape to prevent rolling
- Come in wide range of weight options up to 100 lbs
- Handle is knurled
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Made of solid cast iron
- Weight range from one to 120 pounds
- Hex head prevents rolling
- Medium knurling on entire handle
Cons
- Baked enamel coat chips easily, leaving iron exposed
- Prone to rusting
- No protective rubber coating
- On Amazon, only available up to 25 pounds in pairs
Bottom Line
If you just need to move some weight and don't want to pay much, these are a solid option.
From our extensive experience with free weights, there are plenty of options on the market. If you’re not concerned about having the most durable coating on your dumbbells, we suggest checking out either the CAP Barbell 150-pound dumbbell set (which comes with a weight rack) or purchase individual pairs of hex dumbbells from Rogue Fitness.
The CAP Barbell set is cheaper than the Jelly-Bell weights and features knurled and ergonomic handles. The weight increments are 5-pound jumps versus 2.5-pound jumps, which may not be ideal for everyone.
If you’re looking for the most optionality, go for Rogue. The brand offers the best value of the three and the widest range of weights running from 2.5 to 125 pounds (with 2.5-pound increments under 30 pounds).
RELATED: Rogue Dumbells vs Rep Dumbells
| CAP Barbell | Rogue | Hampton Jelly-Bell | |
| Price | Under $200 on Amazon | Starts at $17, varies per weight | $59 to $244 |
| Weight range | Pairs of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 lbs | 2.5-125 lbs | 2.5-25 lbs |
| Handle | Ergonomic | Ergonomic chrome-plated | Ergonomic urethane coated steel |
| Head | Hex; rubber coated | Hex; rubber encased | Hex, urethane coated |
Customer Experience
All sales are final from Hampton Fitness, so keep that in mind before you make a purchase. The website states in rare cases Hampton may offer exceptions, but you will have to contact the company and return products within 7 days of receipt.
While buying something that is non-returnable may feel intimidating, you will have a 5-year warranty on your purchase.
It’s also worth noting that we found the checkout process to be a bit tricky. When you’re on the Jelly-Belly urethane dumbbell product page, you’ll select a dumbbell size, which will then populate an “add to cart” button.
We suggest adding to cart instead of clicking either of the two buttons below it (“Pay with Link” and “PayPal Buy Now”) which use pop-up windows. You’ll still have these options at checkout, but you’ll have to navigate to your cart at the top right corner to have the option to enter your credit card information.
Customer Reviews
The Hampton Fitness website does not feature customer reviews, so we went to Amazon to find some customer feedback. The Jelly-Bell weights are not currently in stock on Amazon, but there were a handful of older reviews and an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Final Verdict of Our Jelly-Bell Weights Review
While Hampton Jelly-Bell dumbbells may not be the most cost-effective choice, if you decide to go with these free weights you’ll have the ultimate durability with the urethane coating and you’ll be backed with a 5-year warranty policy. Plus, these dumbbells come in fun colors to brighten up your home gym. Just keep in mind the brand does not offer returns and all sales are final.
Full Rating
Jelly-Bell Dumbbells
JELLY-BELL dumbbells feature a steel core covered in colorful translucent polyurethane. You may recognize these dumbbells from your local gym. There are limited but very positive customer reviews. Most users mentioned purchasing these dumbbells for their home gyms after enjoying them in their local gyms. They enjoy the fun colors and comfort of the grips.
Product Brand: Hampton
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 59
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.06
Jelly-Bell Weights Review: FAQs
Can you tone with Jelly-Bell weights?
With a weight set ranging from 2.5 to 25 pounds, most folks (especially beginners) will be able to strengthen muscles and build muscle size. Even seasoned lifters can build muscle with lighter weights, but the repetition range for hypertrophy2 is about 8 to 12 repetitions per set, so it’s still important to find a challenging weight to meet that range.
Are urethane dumbbells worth it?
If you can afford to buy urethane-coated dumbbells or weight plates, we say go for it. It’s not in everyone’s budget but it’s certainly a long-lasting investment.
What is the difference between rubber and urethane dumbbells?
While rubber dumbbells are durable, urethane is the top-notch product for durability when it comes to the coating on dumbbells. Urethane is much harder and has superior abrasion, cut, and tear resistance. It can withstand more dropping and load-bearing and it is resistant to grease and oxygen (meaning it does not oxidize like an iron barbell).
References
- Polyurethane. American Chemistry Council.
- Schoenfeld, B. J., Grgic, J., Van Every, D. W., & Plotkin, D. L. (2021). Loading Recommendations for Muscle Strength, Hypertrophy, and Local Endurance: A Re-Examination of the Repetition Continuum. Sports (Basel, Switzerland), 9(2), 32.
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