Half Human · Adjustable Dumbbell Review
Half Human 25kg Adjustable Dumbbell Review 2026
Half Human are Sweatband’s own strength brand, and the 25kg set are their value play, two full dumbbells, steel hex plates and a single-twist adjuster for around £249 a pair. They will not match the premium sets for finesse, but for a no-frills 25kg pair they are one of the keenest deals here.
Half Human 25kg Adjustable Dumbbell Set
Twist-adjust pair, 5-25kg, steel hex plates
Sold as a pair or a single dumbbell
The verdict
The Half Human 25kg are my best-value pick, and the case is simple. You get two full dumbbells, each adjusting from 5 to 25kg, with solid steel machined hex plates and a single-handle twist, for around £249 a pair. That undercuts a pair of premium singles comfortably, and the steel hex plates are a genuine quality touch at the price, resisting rolling and feeling closer to fixed iron than the plastic-shelled budget stuff.
The compromise is the adjuster. The 25kg set give you just five settings, in 5kg jumps, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25kg. That is fine for general training and progression at the heavier end, but there is none of the fine loading the Bowflex 552i or NordicTrack offer, so dialling in a precise accessory weight is not an option. As a house brand the published detail is thinner than the big names too, and the warranty is a year, so I have scored them as strong value rather than an all-round premium pair.
Strengths
- Sold as a full pair for around £249, strong value
- Solid steel machined hex plates, anti-roll and quiet on the floor
- Knurled, contoured handle for a secure hold
- Single-handle twist is simple and quick
- Storage tray included, with a stand-and-media-rack bundle available
- Backed by Sweatband, a UK retailer with support
Watch-outs
- Only five settings, in coarse 5kg jumps
- No fine loading for precise accessory weights
- Nylon-and-steel build with a one-year warranty
- House brand, so published detail is limited
- Needs seating squarely in the tray to change weight
- No app or smart features
What you actually get
The 25kg set are a complete pair, two dumbbells running 5 to 25kg each, with a storage tray, under Sweatband’s own strength label. A separate version bundles a stand with a built-in media rack for a phone or tablet, and Sweatband also lists a single dumbbell if you only want one or want to add to what you have. The plates are solid steel, machined into a hex shape so they will not roll on the floor, and powder-coated, which feels a lot more substantial than the plastic-encased plates on cheaper sets.
Adjustment is a single handle twist. Drop the dumbbell in its tray, twist the handle to the setting you want and lift, taking only the plates you have selected. Bold markings make it easy to see where you are.
How the twist adjuster works
The single-handle twist is simple and fairly quick, and owners on Sweatband generally rate it easy and satisfying once you are used to seating the dumbbell square in the tray. It is not a precision instrument like the Bowflex dial, but for a budget pair it does the core job cleanly.
The real limit is how few stops there are. The 25kg set give you five settings only, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25kg. Those 5kg jumps work for the bigger movements, but there is no way to add a smaller amount for a gentler progression, and that is the main thing you trade away against the premium sets.
Build and materials
This is where the Half Human punch above their price. The plates are solid steel, machined and powder-coated, with a hex profile that keeps them from rolling and gives a reassuringly solid feel. The handle is knurled and contoured for grip. The build is a nylon-and-steel mix, so as with any adjustable the moving and locating parts are the bits to treat with care, and dropping them is off the menu.
On the grip itself, the knurled, contoured handle is shaped for a secure, non-slip hold, and Sweatband reviewers are positive on how solid the pair feel in general. With the steel hex plates they have got a fixed-iron quality in the hand rather than the hollow, plasticky feel of the cheapest sets. The one habit owners mention is less about the grip than the tray, you need to seat the dumbbell squarely to change weight, so they reward a moment of care rather than a rushed drop-in.
As a house brand the published engineering detail is thinner than Bowflex or NordicTrack, so some of the long-term durability picture is still being written in owner reviews rather than proven over years. Early Sweatband feedback is positive on solidity and the twist action.
How heavy they go, and who that suits
5 to 25kg a dumbbell is a sensible everyday range that covers curls, presses, rows, raises and most accessory and muscle-building work. The 25kg ceiling matches the NordicTrack and sits just above the Bowflex 552i and Echelon, so on top weight this budget pair keep up with sets costing more.
The catch is granularity, not ceiling. With only 5kg steps, lighter and more precise work is harder to dial in, so if your training leans on small, frequent progressions or delicate isolation loads, a finer-stepping set will serve you better.
Living with them
Day to day they behave like a solid, honest budget pair, secure grip, quiet hex plates that sit flat and do not roll, and a twist adjuster that is quick enough once seating them properly is second nature. The stand-and-media-rack bundle is worth a look if you want the weights raised and somewhere to prop a screen.
The main things to live with are the coarse 5kg steps and needing to place them back in the tray accurately to change weight, which a couple of owners note takes a moment of care rather than a rushed drop-in.
Price and value
At around £249 for a full pair, often down from a list price near £298, the Half Human 25kg are one of the strongest value plays here. You get a true 25kg pair with steel plates for less than a single premium dumbbell in some cases, and the optional stand bundle adds storage and a screen holder without a big jump in price.
You are paying budget money and getting budget granularity and warranty back, but the core hardware is more solid than the price suggests. That balance is exactly why they take my highest value mark among the sets that are not bundling in an app.
How they compare
Against the NordicTrack 25kg Select-A-Weight, the Half Human match the 25kg ceiling and undercut it on price, but the NordicTrack step much finer and add a steel-handled, app-linked package, so they are the better pick if granularity and finish matter more than cost. Against the Bowflex 552i, the Half Human are cheaper as a pair and have a more solid-steel-plate feel, but give up the dial speed and fine steps. The Echelon cost more but bundle the app and an upgrade path.
See the full field in our best adjustable dumbbells guide.
Who they are for
Get the Half Human 25kg if you want a genuine 25kg pair with a solid, fixed-iron feel and you do not need fine weight steps. They are a strong first set for general strength, circuits and muscle-building, especially in the stand-and-media-rack bundle, and they are the one to pick when budget is the deciding factor.
Look elsewhere if you rely on small, precise jumps, want the longest warranty and most documented build, or need to train above 25kg a hand.
Specifications
| Type | Adjustable dumbbell, sold as a pair or single |
|---|---|
| Weight range | 5kg to 25kg per dumbbell |
| Weight settings | 5 (5, 10, 15, 20, 25kg) |
| Adjustment | Single-handle twist |
| Increments | 5kg steps |
| Handle | Knurled, contoured |
| Plates | Solid steel, machined hex, powder-coated, anti-roll |
| Construction | Nylon and steel |
| In the box | Storage tray (stand-and-media-rack bundle available) |
| Dimensions | Around 40 x 21 x 20 cm each |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Usage class | Home |
Warranty and support
The Half Human 25kg carry a one-year warranty, shorter than the two to three years on the premium sets and in keeping with the budget positioning. They are sold and supported by Sweatband, an established UK retailer, so returns and support go through a known channel rather than an anonymous marketplace seller. Check the current terms on the product page when you buy.
Care is straightforward. Seat the dumbbell in its tray before you twist to change weight, do not drop them, and keep your proof of purchase.
FitRank breakdown
Performance 3.6
A solid 5 to 25kg working range with a quick-enough twist, held back by only five coarse 5kg settings and no fine progression.
Build quality 3.4
Solid steel machined hex plates feel better than the price suggests, but the nylon-and-steel build, one-year warranty and limited published detail keep them in budget territory.
Value 4.0
Their strongest card. A genuine 25kg pair with steel plates for around £249, often with a stand-and-media-rack bundle option, is hard to beat on price.
Features 3.2
A simple twist, bold markings and an optional stand cover the basics, but with only five settings and no app they are deliberately no-frills.
Frequently asked questions
How many weight settings do the Half Human 25kg have?
Are they sold as a pair or a single?
Are the plates steel or plastic?
How do they compare to the NordicTrack 25kg?
Can I drop them?
Chris writes the home fitness reviews across our sites, including our sister site HomeTreadmill.co.uk. He compares every machine against its rivals on UK pricing and specs, and scores each one with FitRank.
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