I have owned a set of York Dumbells for a couple of years now, and so have relevant experience in this set. The set is up to a maximum weight of 20kg, which is certainly enough for any beginner and can still be used by the majority of stronger fitness addicts.

---The Weights---

They come in 3 different sizes; 4 0.5kg weights, 4 1.25kg weights and 4 2.5kg weights. At this point, you might be like.....BUT THAT IS ONLY 17KG?! I too was slightly perplexed when I first bought them but I quickly realised that the middle holding bar weighs in at around 2kg and each securing cog is around 0.5kg, bringing the total up to a heavy 20kg. The weights are solid cast iron and the supporting bar is also made of iron I believe. This ia advantageous compared to alternatives as other dumbell kits are often made of sand and this leaves the potential for a messy split which cannot occur with metal weights.

---Use---

The varying weight of the weights allows you to customize your workout routine a lot as you can dictate the weight you use for different exercises. Again, this is an advantage over sand dumbells which are of a fixed weight. The grip on the metal bar is also wide enough for all sizes of hand which is useful and the weights are fastened securely by the metal screw cogs. The metal bar is very easy to wipe down with a cloth if you get it sweaty and share these weights with other people.

---Issues---

There is only one issue that I have with these dumbells and this is an issue with all sets of dumbells. This is that they tear away at the skin of your hand unless you wear gloves. However, this is not a unique problem; this occurs with every set of dumbells and happens to most people if they are used regularly. Therefore, this is not so much an issue with this set of dumbells but with dumbells in general and can be fixed very easily by wearing a set of workout gloves whilst working out.

---Overall---

Overall, I would give this set of dumbells a 9 out of 10 as they are suitable for all beginners and moderate users. They are very practical and easy to clean making them an ideal addition to your fitness gear.