What Are Hex Dumbbells?

Have you wondered “what are hex dumbbells”? Hex dumbbells are different to round dumbbells. Made of six sides, the hexagonal shape of the dumbbell head prevents them from rolling around on the floor.

At Sporteq, we sell hex dumbbells that are purpose-built for strength and weight training. Solid, robust and durable, our Hex dumbbells are rubber encased and created with extra grip for comfort and to avoid slipping. They are made and designed for both commercial and home use.

Our Hex dumbbells are available in the following sizes:

What are hex dumbbells and how are they made?

Hex dumbbells have two heads made from iron, which are welded together into the handle using strong industrial glue. The hex dumbbell heads may be coated with grey paint, protective rubber or polyurethane.

The rubber helps protect the dumbbells if you accidentally drop them on the floor. Moreover, the rubber doesn’t cause dents and marks on the floor if you drop the dumbbells, so they help protect the floor as well. Having a layer of rubber on the hex dumbbells also reduces the noise made if the dumbbells are dropped.

Perfect for gyms, the rubber in hex dumbbells helps protect from the wear and tear that weights normally experience with regular use.

Natural rubber is non-toxic, so the rubber coating of hex dumbbells won’t be toxic for you.

The manufacturing process of making hex dumbbells

Manufacturing hex dumbbells is a very technical process.

The design process of the hex dumbbell begins by establishing the materials, shape, colours and any writing or logos. If there will be a rubber coating on the hex dumbbells the design also includes a shell for the rubber.

A replica of the dumbbell is produced in moulding, which is usually made of aluminium.

Next is the green sand-casting process. The green sand, a naturally bonding wet sand, is placed inside a sand flask. The pattern of dumbbell is then pushed down into the sand for a few minutes and then pulled out. This leaves a mould of the dumbbells.

Then, it is the casting process. The iron is examined and if it meets the grade it is exposed to temperatures of 1205 degrees Celsius until it liquefies. It is then poured into the sand flask mould and left to cool for 8 to 10 hours. A sandblaster is used to remove any excess green sand.

A machine then drills and smooths the dumbbell down.

For the rubber coating, the rubber is heated to 180 degrees Celsius until it is liquid. It is then poured into the shell mould so that the metal dumbbell can be dipped into it. The dumbbell is dipped into the shell and coated with melted rubber, which is left for 6 to 8 hours.

At the quality control stage, the dumbbells are thoroughly inspected and tested. It is checked for damage, cracks or defects. The dumbbells are also weighed to make sure they are accurate.

Benefits of training with hex dumbbells

Using hex dumbbells is a fantastic form of resistance training. If you want to condition your muscles and build your strength and stamina, here are several reasons why you should consider investing in hex dumbbells:

• Mechanic and metabolic muscle growth – Dumbbells force you to work your arm muscles to fatigue, which creates mechanical tension. This combination of contracting and relaxing your muscles can cause your muscles to increase in size.
• Improved circulation – Using dumbbells allows your blood to pump stronger, which boosts oxygen and nutrient flow in your body.
• Weight loss – Dumbbell workouts increase your heart rate and tone your body. Consistently using dumbbells can help burn fat, because weight training consumes calories and increases post-workout metabolism.
• Better sleep – A dumbbell workout causes fatigue, muscle soreness and a chemical called adenosine, which promotes sleep. Research has also found that weight-bearing exercises improve symptoms
• Increased bone health – Weight training with dumbbells helps increase your bone density and thereby protects your bones from osteoporosis-related fractures of anxiety or depression and provides relief from musculoskeletal pain.

How to work out with hex dumbbells

Warm up first, to prepare your body and minimise the risk of injuring yourself. You can do 5 to 10 minutes of cardio, such as running, skipping, cycling, or star jumps.

Do some stretches for your arms and legs, to help you execute a better lift. You can do this by swinging your arms backwards, rotating your wrists, and pumping your calves to relieve tight hamstrings.

Ensure you have the correct form, as incorrect postures could cause damage to your muscles and cause injury.

Choose lighter dumbbells if you are a beginner. Don’t be tempted to use heavier weights if you haven’t tried them before. You can work up to heavier weights gradually, as your body gets used to the feeling.

• Take rest breaks of 2 to 5 minutes between sets. If you want to increase hypertrophy (muscle growth), take 30 to 90 seconds of rest between each set.
• Remember to hydrate. During exercise, your body loses a lot of fluid in sweat, and when you sweat, you lose important minerals such as sodium and potassium. Drink plenty of water during your workout and afterwards, to replenish the fluids lost. It is also important to prehydrate to avoid dehydration.
• Stretch afterwards. Post-workout stretching will slow down your heart rate and decrease muscle soreness. To improve your flexibility, take a couple of minutes to cool down and do some gentle stretching of your hamstrings, thighs, calves and buttocks.
• Ask a gym instructor if you need help or have any questions.

What exercises can I do with hex dumbbells?

There are countless dumbbell exercises to choose from, but here are a few which engage your core and stabilise your joints:

Chest press

Lie down on the floor with your feet flat on the floor. Hold a dumbbell in each hand and keep your palms facing down towards the floor. Keep your hands at a 90-degree angle from the floor.

Inhale, and position the dumbbells a little bit wider than your chest. As you exhale, push the dumbbells up, with your elbows slightly bent. Then, lower the dumbbells back to where you started.

Bicep curls

Stand with your feet hip-width apart and bend your knees slightly. Make sure your palms are facing forward and lift the dumbbells up towards your shoulders.

Dumbbell step-ups

Hold a dumbbell in each hand and put your foot on a bench. Lean into the heel and push off it to step up. Keep your chest tall and alternate steps with each leg.

Dumbbell hip thrust

Lean your shoulders against a bench and let your hips hang off the front. Keep your feet on the floor and place a dumbbell on your hips. Lower your hips down towards the floor, then come back up through your heels, ensuring your back is straight.

Forward lunge

Hold a dumbbell in each hand and keep your back straight. Step forward with your right foot and bend your knee, until your right thigh is parallel to the floor. Allow our back heel to lift, without letting the knee touch the floor.

Why are new weights greasy?

So, you have just purchased a new set of hex dumbbells and you have opened the box, only to find they are greasy to touch. That is because new weights are often sealed with protective oil. This oil could come with an unpleasant smell.

Not to worry, the oil and odour won’t stay on your dumbbells and on your hands forever. Grab a cloth and wipe off the protective oil, and you should be good to go. If the grease still persists, use dish soap or rubbing alcohol to scrub the oil off.

Remember to air out the dumbbells outdoors for a few hours, to help eradicate the bad smell.

Always clean your dumbbells regularly, to remove sweat, bacteria and excess oils. This is especially important if you are using dumbbells in a gym, which are touched and handled frequently. Sanitize your dumbbells after each workout and do a regular deep clean with soapy water.

Bodybuilders chalk up their hands before weight-lifting, which allows them to grip the weight bar better during deadlifts and pullups. Don’t forget to wipe off chalk from your weights regularly to maintain them well.

Now you know about the benefits of hex dumbbells, go browse our broad collection of weights here, including our Hex dumbbells.

Find out more about Sporteq by visiting our website here.

We also sell a variety of equipment for all your training needs, such as squat pads, speed ball sets and core disc sliders.

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