5 min readI RECENTLY MOVED, and after six years, lost my beloved backyard gym. I had just about everything you could stow in an outdoor space: a full power rack and benches, multiple barbells and hundreds of pounds of plates, kettlebells, a stand-up punching bag, a battle rope (my dog’s favorite for tug of war), and of course, dumbbells. My new apartment is wonderful, but I no longer have room to store all my gear, inside or outside. I had to liquidate most of the equipment and reimagine what home workouts look like.
I’m sad that I no longer have an entire gym at my disposal. But I am feeling confident that I’ll still be able to build plenty of strength and muscle in my new spot, since I also upgraded my dumbbell set to the SMRTFT Nüobell 100 (which, as the name implies, are 100 pounds each) shortly before the move.
The SMRTFT Nüobell 580s have been one of our top picks for adjustable dumbbells for years now, and I’ve used them for over five. They’re a reliable home training option that feel like the weights you’d find in a gym, unlike other adjustable dumbbells that have awkward rail and clip designs, weirdly displaced loads, or just not enough poundage to be worth the investment. That last shortcoming is the one small gripe I have with the 580: they only go up to 80 pounds per dumbbell. Sure, that’s more than lots of adjustable sets—but I want as much weight as possible, especially considering the loss of my other weights (and the SMRTFT Nüobell’s premium price).
I’ve used the 100s now for about five months, spanning quick 15-minute home pumps and longer strength sessions in my living room and on the roof of my new building. There are some changes from the 80 pound version that make the 100s an even stronger option.
SMRTFT Nuobell Adjustable Dumbbells (100 lbs)
Pros
- 100 Pounds!!!
- Easy to change weights
- Feel natural in hand for curls, etc.
Cons
- Expensive
- Still not droppable
- Notch on weights is slightly awkward
The SMRTFT Nüobell 100 Basics
RIGHT OUT OF the box, the SMRTFT Nüobell 100s provide a user-friendly experience. Putting the dumbbells together is as simple as placing the separate plates, which are made of steel, on their cradles in the right order, then slotting in the handle. This is so much simpler than some other heavyweight adjustable dumbbells I’ve used, which required whole tool sets to construct (and since I was impatient when I put one together, wound up compromising the whole unit when I stripped a screw).
The plates of the 100 are larger than the 580s, and the rounded design feel sturdier than the 80-pound version’s edged plates. Another improvement: while the lighter model was reliable for me over several years, I was always careful with the weights because I knew their internal mechanism was made out of plastic. The 100-pounders are made of metal and feel much sturdier. I’m still not going to drop them like I would a fixed dumbbell on a gym mat—but I’m also not going to be dropping any weights on my apartment floor or my roof, where I’ve been training.
The quick-change mechanism is the real differentiator of the Nüobell line. The function is smooth, and its tactility is especially satisfying in a world filled with touchscreens (and other heavy adjustable dumbbells that require multiple clunky steps to use). Just turn the weight’s handle while it’s in the cradle, and click through five to 100 pounds in five pound increments. That adds up to 20 different settings. In other words, that’s 20 different dumbbells all in this form factor. Now that I only have space for a single set, that’s a significant difference over the 16 settings of the 580.
Putting the SMRTFT Nüobell 100s to the Test
THESE DUMBBELLS ARE about as close to standard gym weights as you can get without buying yourself a whole rack. As I’ve worked through a long list of exercises across almost five months of home workouts—everything from standard lunges, presses, and squats to explosive snatches and even single-dumbbell swings—I’ve had very few issues with them.
They’re more comfortable to use than the 580 or competitor bells, thanks to the improved internal mechanism and the rounded corners of the plates. The dumbbells are easier to rest on my shoulders as I lower them down from a snatch, for example. And with 100 pounds, I’m able to progress even more on my big compound lifts like presses, deadlifts, and even goblet squats. The knurling on the handles feels grippier than the 580 (granted, with 5-odd years of heavy use) but it’s still not as rough as other bells I’ve used. I feel like it helps me keep a grip on the weights without ripping up my palms.
That’s not to say that there aren’t some pain points. The weights are still fairly clanky. If you want to make a ruckus in your home gym like an old school bodybuilder, you’re in luck. If you want a quieter experience, these won’t be for you. The design also has one awkward spot: When the dumbbells are out of the cradles with anything other than the full 100 pounds, there is a knob exposed at the top of the plate. This hasn’t actually affected any of my reps thus far—but I know it’s there, and I’ve moved much more cautiously with that in mind. I’m especially careful not to drop the weights in that case.
Final Verdict
MY FULL-FLEDGED home gym might be gone, but I’m able to train without much compromise with the SMRTFT Nüobell 100 dumbbells. The weights also tuck away neatly in a corner of my new apartment without taking up too much space, which is why they earned a spot in our 2026 Men’s Health Fitness Awards. The company sells stands for the dumbbells too, if you’ve got a little bit more real estate than I have.
There is just one other factor that might make the dumbbells less than ideal: The price tag above $1k. That’s sure to give some home gym enthusiasts sticker shock. Look around the market, though, and you’ll see models with comparable weight either at a similar price point (or even more expensive, in the case of the REP x Pépin line) or made from cheaper materials (Bowflex 1090).
When you break it down, that cost comes out to around 11 cents per pound. When you’ve got limited space but big goals, that’s not too bad.
SMRTFT Nuobell Adjustable Dumbbells (100 lbs)
Pros
- 100 Pounds!!!
- Easy to change weights
- Feel natural in hand for curls, etc.
Cons
- Expensive
- Still not droppable
- Notch on weights is slightly awkward
Brett Williams, NASM-CPT, PES, a senior editor at Men's Health, is a certified trainer and former pro football player and tech reporter. You can find his work elsewhere at Mashable, Thrillist, and other outlets.
