Ironmaster Heavy Handle Plate Kit - Unboxing, Installation, and Initial Impression / Review

[@jpfoley31]

Great video. With regard to finding the notch, I just put the Allen screw tops on that side and use them instead of the notch as an indicator.

[@Fitforacting]

Nice job man! I wouldn’t mind getting these too. Great buy💯 Ironmaster fan for life here 🤩

[@shanea7050]

Just saw your review and bought them. Thanks for the info.

[@axelgutierrez4075]

Let me know if you enjoy them as much as I do!

[@axelgutierrez4075]

After using the DB’s with the kit installed for a couple of weeks, I have very little complaints! The balance is definitely better, making it easier to keep proper form and prevent hand fatigue. Due the smaller 5” handle space, my wrist does touch/rub against the plates during some exercises. For example, incline chest presses, where the wrists are slightly angled inward. Nothing is painful and I don’t feel like it’s too cramped in terms of space, but it does touch for me.

[@roninwarrior216]

Does the 160 usd come with 4 pieces, 2 for each dumbbell or just 2 pieces?

[@axelgutierrez4075]

@@roninwarrior216 it comes with 4 pieces total as well as the wrench!

[@roninwarrior216]

@@axelgutierrez4075 thanks for the response

[@meangreen2792]

Thanks for the review. Going to have to pull the trigger and get them. The fit and finish looks great.

[@axelgutierrez4075]

Thanks! The fit is perfect but I did run into issues with the finish being too smooth. I address that in my follow up video.

[@briand5047]

Good review. Was hoping for reviews of the other Ironmaster things you have.

[@axelgutierrez4075]

Thank you. I’ll get some videos up soon, promise. Any ironmaster accessory in particular you’re hoping to get a review on?

[@briand5047]

@@axelgutierrez4075 Any bench attachments you have. Thanks.

[@ctatham]

Thanks for posting this unboxing. Hadn’t seen these yet but now they are on my too-buy list. Looking forward to a review (if you haven’t posted yet) but seems straightforward enough. I agree though, I never drop these below 25lbs anyway so these make sense.

[@axelgutierrez4075]

Hi Craig. Yes, I do plan on doing a short follow up video to show some of the exercises that are now a little awkward with the additions. I suggest following them on Instagram as they send updates on inventory that way.

[@maxmil2224]

Thanks for the review. Just got mine delivered today. Excited to install and give it a shot.

[@axelgutierrez4075]

Awesome! Here’s a tip I tried. If you put the bolt-side of the add-on on the same side where the notch on the handle is (like I do in the video), it makes it easier to find the notch when you change the weight plates. Enjoy the new toy!

[@DoritosResidue]

Thanks for reviewing these. I just bought it. Mainly because of the reviews say it centers the dumbell far better. Also the weight plate change is as tedious as spinlocks. Always use itonmasters for heavier reps and powerblocks for lighter exercises

[@axelgutierrez4075]

I hope you like the kit! I’m with you 100%. I use my powerblocks for supersets and lighter work because of the ease of changing weight. But when it comes to the serous weight where I might need to get a little rough, the ironmasters are my go to!

[@tomjones8235]

I agree with everything you wrote. The heavy handles balance the weights better and they let you get up to 90 lbs per hand if you have the first (to 75 lbs) add-on kit. I also have a non-expandable set of PowerBocks. The Ironmasters are used for anything above 50 lbs and the PowerBlocks are used for everything up to 50 lbs.

[@MeepMeep88]

Lol they put the lettering/label of the weight increment on the wrong side. I guess it's just easier to cast the iron this way. I put all 4 handle kit on one handle. Makes it super snug in your hands.

[@axelgutierrez4075]

I’m going to try that now! I never thought of putting them all in a single handle. The fact that you can easily remove them is a big plus. I’m sure there are some exercises where having a snug grip is great. Thanks for sharing that tip!

[@MeepMeep88]

@@axelgutierrez4075 Good luck, unless you have girly hands like me lol.. Not gonna be comfortable I imagine. Also if you plan to do it, put the most inner side plate so that the lettering is facing towards each other so you have more room for your hand. As in place the first pair on the dumbbell as you normally would, then put the next one with the lettering facing inwards. The dip in the plate will give you a bit more room vs if you put the flat side facing inwards. If that made any sense.

[@MeepMeep88]

Lol did you ever try it and was it too tight? 😂

[@pearlyking5931]

Excellent video. Bravo from the UK

[@axelgutierrez4075]

Thank you! I’m long overdue to make a follow up video with my impressions after using them for a while now. They’re not as perfect as I originally thought, but they’re still great!

[@jasonhartsell993]

Great video.

[@hartzogLovesScience]

They are called Allen wrenches, not hex. Past that comment, you made a very good review!

[@cesarb3]

Good review!

[@donleo8037]

Nice video. I was thinking of the 120 kit but these make more sense . I have the 75 pound set and needed 80-85 max.

[@axelgutierrez4075]

Yes, you’d save almost $200 by going with the heavy handle kit over the 120 add on! I have the 120 kit and although I rarely use that much weight at once ( just heavy shrugs and db squats) it does have one advantage. The fact that it comes with 22.5 lb weights makes it easier to use than four 5 lb weights plus a 2.5 lb plate!

[@ufcyaj]

Thanks for the video. Looking forward for the review

[@axelgutierrez4075]

Thanks! Is there anything specific you’d like to see in an expanded review, or just my feedback on how it feels with my exercise routines?

[@arbo3495]

They don't slide along the bar with time?

[@axelgutierrez4075]

I can honestly say that they haven’t moved a bit since I attached them! I do a routine check every 6 months, but there’s been no need to retighten!

[@arbo3495]

@@axelgutierrez4075 thanks

[@Mark-te8ky]

you compare these with the pepin or baadass?

[@axelgutierrez4075]

No, I purchased my Ironmasters many years ago before Pepin and Baadass came out. I do have a set of Powerblocks that I use often for very particular exercises and super sets.

[@redwhiteandblueblood]

Thanks for the video/demonstration These would go a long way to just about completing my Ironmaster set-up whenever I pull the trigger, got the 120 pound add on kit and have been upto about 105/110 pounds for flat presses and dumbbell sumos, but for pressing inparticular I don't see myself needing the 165 pound add on and voiding my lifetime warranty, so this is a good way to get to 135 pounds (just over 60kgs which is pretty heavy still) and pretty sure will still retain the original lifetime warranty.

[@axelgutierrez4075]

Wow, you push some serious weight! I agree, this add-on kit doesn’t void the amazing warranty and is only a few bucks short of the 160 kit.

[@redwhiteandblueblood]

@@axelgutierrez4075 not many exercises I go that heavy, just flat presses and sumos normally. 55-90lbs is my normal training range for compounds, can only go to about 90lbs for incline presses for example, gets far too hard to get into position without a spot if I went heavier But yeah I noticed when I first got my set last year once I got to about 50-55lbs the centre of balance/weight distribution changed dramatically, so I generally go with a grip that's slightly towards the outside of the dumbbell rather than the inside, so as you mentioned in the video, hopefully another bonus of these heavy handle plates alters that balance/distribution to be more even the heavier we go.

[@redwhiteandblueblood]

@@axelgutierrez4075 also got the ultimate row handle delivered last week Used it for my back session yesterday, was sweet as for tbar rows, very similar knurling on the row handle compared to the dumbbells. Works great for cluster sets without needing to change grips or anything, go from wide row to neutral row or vice versa

[@axelgutierrez4075]

@@redwhiteandblueblood nice! I’ve had my eye on the ultimate row handle but never pulled the trigger. It would be nice not to have to swap out the attachments when doing super or cluster sets. Are you planning to buy the additional chain/handle set to do flies with it?

[@redwhiteandblueblood]

@@axelgutierrez4075 definitely recommend the row handle. If you're using it on a lat pulldown it drops the range of motion height however due to its design, probably the only flaw with it (would only really bother taller people on a small machine) I think you'd still need a few cable attachments like a stirrup handle for one arm movements, ezy curl attachment for arms, triceps rope etc, maybe even MAG grips for something different, but this attachment replaces all the lat and row attachments pretty much Unlikely to buy the chain kit, but there's 2 extra holes where carabiniers go either side, so I guess that's where the chain kit is designed to fit, could probably sinch up a few different things to it too

[@gregogogooo]

Hello, how thick are the plates? How long is the handle after you install them?

[@axelgutierrez4075]

Hi Gregory, good question! The plates are 0.86” each and the handle is 5” after the plates are installed.

[@gregogogooo]

@@axelgutierrez4075 thank you for the review and thank you for the answer.

[@SonnyVu-d8n]

$159 to much for #15