Review of Pace Weights 1/2 lb. wts

[LeanneM]

Hi everyone,

A few weeks ago, there was a thread going about people who were considering purchasing Plate Mates vs. Pace Weights, both of which are add-on magnetic weights that you can attach to your existing hex dumbbells to add a bit of extra weight. I ordered the Pace Weights, and wanted to give an update about how I like them now that I've used them a few times. Overall, I think that they are great and I definitely recommend them!

They come in 1/2-pound increments, so it's very easy to add smaller amounts of weights to your hex dumbbells. For instance, I have 15-lb. and 20-lb. dumbbells (which is a big jump in weight for me), but I was able to add a few of the Pace Weights to each of my 15's to get the weight where I wanted it to be.

Another thing I like about them is that they allow you to slowly add weight. The Plate Mates only come in one set size, but with the Pace Weights you can add as many or as few as you like. I'm hoping to incorporate them into my weight work by adding one small weight to my dumbbells each week so that I can make good, steady progress.

I had also been worried about how stable the magnets would be, but this aspect of them has also been great. They hold firmly, and were not at all unstable or off-balanced when I added just one of them to my dumbbell.

The price seems high (especially b/c the shipping and handling is so expensive at around $14), but, when you compare them to the cost of the Plate Weights, they turn out to be a better deal since they are more versatile.

The only place I found on-line to order them was directly from Pace Weights:

http://paceweights.com/

I ordered the pack of nine weights, plus one additional weight so that I would have a set of ten. I didn't order the carrying case, and I don't think you need it since the little box that they come in seems to be working just fine.

I hope this helps! If anyone has any questions about them, let me know!

Leanne

 

[angie_nrs]

Thanks for the info. Leanne

This is a timely post for me since I have just been considering platemates to get a good weight between the 15 & 20# weights. I didn't even know these existed. Do you know if they are sold in any sporting goods stores? And why on earth do they sell them in sets of 9???}( I think their marketing/sales dept. dropped the ball on that, b/c they either make it so you have to buy another set to get an even amount to be usable (which seems underhanded to me) OR they just don't have a clue. Either way.....it kind of irritates me, you know?

Glad you like them. This might have to go on my Christmas list.



Angie

 

[LeanneM]

Hi Angie,

Yes, it does seem like their marketing/sales people purposely created the odd number of weights so that we'd have to buy more! Very frustrating!

I spent a couple of hours calling local sports stores and looking on-line to see if I could find them cheaper, but none of the stores near me carried them (and most hadn't even heard of them!), and I couldn't find any other on-line retailers that had them, unlike the Plate Mates, which are pretty easy to find on-line.

Overall, though, as I mentioned, I think that the Pace ones still work out to be a better deal than the Plate Mates since you end up getting more weight/poundage with the Pace Weights -- and you also get the added versatility of being able to increase your weights in smaller increments! When I did the math on it, the Pace Weights also did end up being more cost-effective than buying more hex dumbbells in the sizes/weights I needed.

Glad this helped!
Leanne

 

[Miss Lee]

>And why on
>earth do they sell them in sets of 9???}( I think their
>marketing/sales dept. dropped the ball on that, b/c they
>either make it so you have to buy another set to get an even
>amount to be usable (which seems underhanded to me) OR they
>just don't have a clue. Either way.....it kind of irritates
>me, you know?

At first reading I, too, thought it was incredibly stupid -- until I did the math. 0.5 X 9 = 4.5 -- dumbbells go up in 5# increments. Ten pace weights = 5 pounds so you would just go up to the next size dumbbell instead

I have a question -- are the magnets strong enough to use on rubber coated barbell plates and dumbbells? I read somewhere that they might be.

 

[LeanneM]

Ah, that definitely makes sense!

I don't have any rubber-coated plates or dumbbells to test them out on, but they are really strong, so I think that they would work. Maybe try emailing the company so see what they say.

Leanne

 

[workout junkie]

Thanks for the review Leanne. I was hoping you'd like them once you started using them. Now I'm going to ask my husband for the 9-piece set, plus either 1 or 3 more, for a set of 10 or 12. Glad you don't "need" a case and the box will do. Would rather get more weights than a 20 dollar case. And after comparing the price to the Plate Mates and the number of sets I'd want of those, the Pace Weights are a better deal and more versatile.

I'm glad I held off on Plate Mates, I'd been wanting them for awhile, but now you've introduced me to something better!

Thanks again,
Melissa

 

[LeanneM]

Glad to help, Melissa! I hope you really like them!

Leanne

 

[debbydarestobefit]

Hi Leanne, thanks for following up with a review! Appreciated! Deb

 

[pebblesus]

Yay!
Glad you mentioned this.. I have been trying to find a place to get increments.. like a 17.5 lb dumbell or a 22.5 lb etc.
Its hard to go up 5 lb on things like chest flys.. I even resorted to strapping my ankle weights around them lol.
I think for $36 (plus shipping) for a 4.5 lbs would be great, as you can always up a 5 lb dumbell after that.
Yay