Micro Gainz dumbbell add on weights are fractional weights plates for dumbbells.
I’ve reviewed Micro Gainz’s barbell change plates before and I love them for micro loading.
Having change plates that can be added to dumbbells makes it possible to progressively overload without big jumps.
I’ll show you the 1.25 lbs, 4 piece set I have and also show you other sets available.
Let’s check them out!
Unboxing
Micro Gainz’s 4 piece of dumbbell change plates come in one box with the plates stacked on top of each other.
Each plate comes wrapped in its own plastic bag and separated by a piece of cardboard.
Once I got all 4 plates out of the box, here’s what they look like.
They remind me of Pac-man.
The open end wraps around a dumbbell handle and the other is spring loaded to maintain tension.
Specs
- Diameter: 4.25″
- Thickness: 3/8″
- Clamping mechanism: Internal spring for constant clamping power, pieces riveted together
- Material: Sintered steel
- Coating: Matte black Zylan coating
Features
There’s really not much to the Micro Gainz dumbbell plates but I’ll show you some features.
At the top and bottom of each plate they added pressed in logo and weight.
On the closed end you can see the rivet that holds the plates together.
Right where both plates connect is where you have the internal spring system.
To the left of the rivet there’s a gap so the top plate has room to move when it’s opened.
How Do Dumbbell Add On Weights Work?
Micro Gainz dumbbell add on weights are two pieces of metal held together on one side by a rivet.
At the connected end, there’s an internal spring mechanism that keeps constant pressure on the open end.
In the pic above I squeeze my fingers through the center of the plate pushing against the spring’s force.
That same force is what clamps down the dumbbell plates on a handle.
There’s only way to put them on so they’re extremely easy to use.
Dumbbell Add On Weights Compatibility
Standard Dumbbells
Standard length for a dumbbell handle is 5″ so that should give you plenty of room to attach a plate on each side.
This gives most hands enough room to attach the plates and still use the dumbbells comfortably.
This works whether you’re using iron or rubber dumbbells.
What matters most with Micro Gainz plates is the handle length.
Adjustable Dumbbells
I own many sets of adjustable dumbbells and the majority have handles that are shorter than the 5″ standard dumbbell handle.
This makes it difficult to use add on plates because they take up room and my hand may not fit.
Out of the six adjustable dumbbells I tested, only three passed the add on weights test.
The other three had a handle that was not long enough to use comfortably.
Trulap adjustable dumbbells passed the test because of their 5″ handle.
Their handle is also thicker so it was nice to see I can still use the plates on bigger diameters.
Trulap’s handle is also knurled so this makes the add on weight even more stable to keep it from moving.
Snode AD80 adjustable dumbbells have a handle that’s 4.53″ long and thicker than normal.
And I’m still able to get my hand in there comfortably enough so that it’s not being squeezed between the plates.
The other adjustable dumbbells that had enough length on the handle to use comfortably were JaxJox.
I stood this one up so you can see the spring’s clamping power keeps the plate at the top of the handle.
Core Home Fitness dumbbells have a handle shorter than 5″.
Looking at the pic above, I added just one Micro Gainz plate and it ate up a lot of the handle space so Core Home is a no go.
Same result with Nuobell dumbbells.
Short handle that leaves little to no hand space when the dumbbell plates are added.
PowerBlock EXP dumbbells come with two 2.5 lbs change weights in them.
But their weights don’t go on the handles so I still wanted to test Micro Gainz on them.
When I try to clamp on the Micro Gainz plates, they hit a cylinder on the bottom of the dumbbell.
This keeps the weight plate from hugging the handle so it doesn’t clamp down securely.
It’s a no go for PowerBlock.
So when it comes to adjustable dumbbells, Micro Gainz only works with those with standard 5″ dumbbell handle lengths.
Will They Work On Barbells?
Micro Gainz sells fractional plates for barbells too (see red plate above).
But I’m nosy so I had to try the dumbbell plates on bars too.
I figured they could clamp on to the shaft of barbells so here’s what I found…
They work on my GetRxd rackable curl bar.
I think this is great because with preacher curls it’s hard to make a big jump on weight.
Here’s what it looks like up close.
The plate clamps on to the shaft of the barbell just like it does on a dumbbell handle.
If it worked on a preacher curl bar, it should work on a barbell right?
So I went ahead and tried it on my Synergee powerlifting bar and yes it works.
I even tried it on my Bells of Steel open trap bar.
But what really shocked me was when I tested it on the thickest bar I own…
The shaft on the Titan safety squat bar is thick.
But to my surprise, the dang Micro Gainz plates still fit and held on.
So the dumbbell add on weight plates are versatile because they can clamp on to many diameters.
Dumbbell Add On Weights Available
Micro Gainz has several options to choose from when it comes to adding fractional plates to your dumbbells.
You can choose the weight and how many plates you want in a set.
I put together a chart to show you the options they currently have.
| Plate Weight | Sets |
| 1.0 lbs | 2 and 4 pieces |
| 1.25 lbs | 2 and 4 pieces |
| 2.5 lbs | 2 and 4 pieces |
| Triple Pack (1, 1.25, 2.5 lbs) | 6 pieces |
Micro Gainz Alternatives
Closest Micro Gainz alternative I’ve seen is from a brand named July Body.
These plates use a rubber band as their clamping mechanism.
If I recall right, Micro Gainz started with rubber bands and improved the quality of their plates with a torsion spring.
So which one is better? Micro Gainz or July Body?
I haven’t had a chance to use July Body plates but I can speak from my experience in working out in a garage gym for many years.
My resistance bands get damaged faster than normal because of the heat and cold environment the garage is exposed to.
For that reason, I don’t foresee the rubber bands on these plates lasting very long.
And to solidify my gut feeling, I think that’s why July Body sells extra bands on their website.
Micro Gainz Pros & Cons
Pros
- Clamping tension: Springs provide great tension so the plates don’t move
- Thin: Thin weight plates leave room for my hand to grip the dumbbells comfortably
- Weight variety: I have more weight increments without the extra dumbbells (ex: If I have a 10 lbs set, now I have 12.5’s)
- Progressive overload: Help me to keep adding small jumps in weight so I keep making progress without sacrificing form
- Compatibility: Fit most dumbbells
Cons
- Adjustable dumbbells: Won’t work with adjustable dumbbells with a handle shorter than 5″ (not enough hand space left)
Micro Gainz Discount Code
The price of the Micro Gainz dumbbell add on weights will vary depending on which set you pick.
But regardless of the weight and number of plates you select, I’m gonna hook up with my exclusive discount code.
Click here and use coupon code SHREDDED at checkout for a 10% discount.
Micro Gainz Dumbbell Add On Weights Review
I like what Micro Gainz has done with the dumbbell add on weights.
This gives me more weight variety in small increments without having to buy additional dumbbells.
They allow me to make small jumps in weight and continue to progressively overloading.
Made of steel and metal parts is promising for durability.
And a strong torsion spring keeps them tightly on my dumbbells for safety.
Check Out Micro Gainz Dumbbell Add On Weights
Micro Gainz Dumbbell Add On Weights
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