Crane Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells

EDITOR’S NOTE: Updated for 2026, including the addition of a one-year progress report.

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Nothing gets people thinking about getting healthier like January 1st. I’ve heard from more than one gym rat that their workout space gets invaded after the new year, only to fade out by March. It has some to do with the desire to make a fresh start of a new year, and probably a lot to do with all the food people ate during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Retailers know this, which is why you’ll see plenty of ads for treadmills and weights and all the other stuff that makes up a home gym. Aldi, never one to miss out on an opportunity, brings a host of fitness gear to its famed middle aisle each January.

Several specific items show up each year, including an item made for strength training: an adjustable dumbbell.

The Crane Fitness Adjustable Dumbbell is an Aldi Find, which means it’s only in stores for a short time. Once it’s sold out, you won’t be able to get it again until it comes back, which is likely next January. You can’t order it online if it’s sold out at your local store.

In 2024, Aldi sold two variations for the same price: a single 25-pound dumbbell, and two 12.5-pound dumbbells. We grabbed the 12.5-pound pair.

Both dumbbell options cost $49.99 in January 2026. That’s the same price they cost at the end of 2024, and is a lot less than I can find online, which may in part be because of the high shipping costs for a set like these. They’re not the heaviest set, so if you’re looking to buff up with, say, 50-pound dumbbells, you won’t get them here. But if you need two 12.5-pounders or one 25-pounder, these are cheap.

They come out of the box with the dumbbells, a storage cradle, a manual, and warranty cards.

The dumbbells come with a 3-year warranty serviced by Asperia Nonfood, a German-based company that specializes in “sport, game, and leisure products.” Asperia Nonfood has supported other Aldi fitness products.

The manual has the usual warnings and instructions, and it’s not a bad idea to read them through before using these. That said, these are not complicated to use. First, you’ll have to cut the zip ties off the dumbbells so you can properly use them.

From there, it’s about deciding on weight. Each dumbbell has one knob. By pulling the knob and moving it, you can set the weight on both sides of the dumbbell.

Once you’ve set the knob, you pull the dumbbell up and out of the cradle. Assuming the dumbbell is in the cradle right, any extra weights will be left in the cradle, in their slots. When you’re done with the dumbbell, you place it back into the cradle, allowing the dumbbell to hug those weights. If you adjust the knobs on the cradle to make the weight heavier, the required weights will lock into the dumbbell.

I found the mechanism easy to use. The knobs can be a little finicky, but not overly so, and with practice I got better at using them.

My impression with these is that they feel substantial. They have a nice rubberized grip in the middle with a metal frame. The build quality there certainly gives off good vibes. The cradle is plastic and maybe not quite as substantial, but it seems up to the task of holding the dumbbells and excess weights when needed.

The Verdict:

If you’re looking for some dumbbells that are less expensive than what you can find most other places, Aldi’s Crane Adjustable Dumbbells are worth a look. Currently available in both a single 25-pounder or two 12.5-pounders, these can be used however you need dumbbells to be used.

Update (January 2026): These continue to work as expected after a year of regular use.