With the REP x Pepin Adjustable Dumbbells, Less Is Less

Space-efficient design ideal for small apartments

In my teensy Brooklyn apartment, space efficiency isn't just nice—it's necessary. Here, the REP x Pepin dumbbells do deliver, taking up minimal real estate compared to a full dumbbell set. Their relatively compact design means they can be tucked away in a corner or under furniture when not in use.

As REP's site says, an adjustable dumbbell that starts at 10 pounds and can go up to 125 pounds while staying at only 18.3-inches long is pretty much unheard of. But these dumbbells' dimensions hit that when out of their cradle, and when in their cradle, are close at 18.9" x 5.3" x 7.2". For reference, the REP QuickDraws are 20.6" x 8.45" x 7.9".

Durability without sacrificing style

These dumbbells do get points for aesthetics. Right out of the box, they have an undeniably premium feel, boasting the following features mentioned on their site:

• Nickel-plated handles with volcano-style knurling

• Functional side rails with comfortable, rounded outside edges

• UHMW protective liners to prevent scratches from steel-on-steel contact

• Laser-etched weight markings

And with their all-steel design (even the cradle), these weights do manage to be more compact than most adjustable dumbbells on the market. 

If you're skeptical about the promise of adjustable dumbbells in the first place, I can assure you they work for any movement you'd do with a more traditional set. To test these, 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)

I also added an overhead tricep press here and there. You can see my hands fit fine within the cage. Credit: Meredith Dietz

These exercises worked fine for a couple of gos at a time. However, issues started up when I repeated them, especially anything with a quick burst of movement.

Distracting rattling and difficulty re-racking

To be clear: I’m a fan of REP as a brand, especially its QuickDraws Adjustable Dumbbells. So, what’s the hassle? It all comes down to the mechanism to change the weight. The QuickDraws use a Lock-N-Load switch, where you can flip one switch at a time or multiple switches all at once for fast weight changes. The REP x Pepin uses a magnetic pop-pin, which quickly became a source of stress for me. 

My knuckles frequently brushed against the pop-pin. Credit: Meredith Dietz

In the picture above, you can see how my knuckles brush against the handle of the pop-pin mechanism while lifting. (It's that little circle that looks like a keychain.) This started to psych me out pretty quickly, since when you pull on that pin handle, you engage and disengage the weights. It's like how you pull on a knob to adjust your weights on machines at the gym. And as you can imagine, being at constant risk of fiddling with this mid-exercise gets a little in your head, even if I didn't actually accidentally disengage any weights while lifting.

Another angle where you can see the push-pins jutting out. Credit: Meredith Dietz

The issue could be worse for others, too. To be frank, I’ve got some pretty small hands. I can imagine a bigger hand feeling uncomfortable and apprehensive about popping the pin out of place. While some users on Reddit explain how this wasn’t a concern for them, for me, this design element simply doesn’t inspire confidence.

In that same vein, the frequent rattling sounds of the weights against each other does not mean they're about to fall off and smash your foot—but it creates an air of unease, if you ask me. Especially during quick bursts of movement, the clanking sounds were a source of distraction during my workouts.

Weight increments frequently misalign and get stuck

The rest of the quick change mechanism should be straightforward in theory—select your desired weight by adding or removing plates. But in practice, I got frustrated with weight increments becoming misaligned and then stubbornly sticking together at incorrect angles. It felt like the pop-pin didn’t always “catch” the weights I was adding on, no matter how firmly I felt they slid into place. What should be a quick weight change between exercises often turned into an impromptu puzzle-solving session.

Extra space causes frustration and difficult re-racking. Credit: Meredith Dietz

You can certainly rebuild and re-adjust the cradle to eliminate the extra space between weights that causes them to misalign. That being said, the rebuilding process in not exactly a breeze.

Additionally, re-racking one dumbbell straight down into the cradle consistently proved challenging. While not a deal-breaker, it's an annoyance that compounds over time, especially when you're fatigued after a set. 

Less user-friendly for beginners

As an beginner-intermediate lifter in a small apartment, I’m looking for a workout experience that’s relatively seamless, so I can focus on form and progress. Unfortunately, while the side rails on these dumbbells provide stability, they sometimes hit my forearm in a way that had me worried about my form and made me miss a more traditional, fixed-set design.

The side rails hit my forearm uncomfortably. Credit: Meredith Dietz

Then again, this is where I appreciate the flat spots on these dumbbells. They create stability when the weights rest against your leg during certain exercises. Simply rotating them so the flat spot contacts your leg makes movements like concentration curls more comfortable.

But despite this thoughtful design element, the overall experience falls short of expectations. That dang rattling becomes increasingly distracting as you progress through a workout, and the concerns about proper alignment of the weight plates never quite leave your mind.

The price tag is simply too high

Adjustable dumbbells are a savvy financial move in general. When you consider that purchasing individual pairs of dumbbells from 5 to 75 pounds in 5-pound increments would cost well over $1,500 (and take up considerable space), the value proposition becomes clear. Still, these dumbbells are pricey compared even to other adjustable dumbbells:

• $1,099.99 for the 85-pound set

• $1,299.99 for the 105-pound set

• $1,499.99 for the 125-pound set

For context, the Nuobells 80-pound set starts at $745. When compared to alternatives like REP’s own QuickDraw Adjustable Dumbbells, the Pepin model falls short despite its higher price point. If you need to go up to 125 pounds, REP x Pepin might be your best option on the market right now. But if you’re a beginner-intermediate lifter, you’re better off going with the QuickDraws. As long as you’re willing to accept a slightly larger design and lower maximum weight capacity, they offer significantly better usability alongside their value.