I ordered a set of 175lb plates, plus additional pairs of 10lb, 5lb, and microloading plates- all in chrome. This was part of a pre-Christmas sale, and compared to other companies it was a great deal. The order was delivered piece-by-piece over the course of TWO MONTHS. During that time, one pair of 25lb weights was lost in the mail and one of the 10lb weights was damaged in transit. I never received one of the 0.5lb micro plates and just gave up on it.
Due to running out of stock and the extreme delay sending the order, the Kensui CEO personally reached out and shipped me gold-tone 25's and 45's at no additional charge. They also sent a replacement 10lb for the one that was damaged- also in gold-tone.
Do I appreciate their desire to fulfill my order?
- Yes. Absolutely. And massive kudos to the Kensui team for trying their best to get orders out. But I placed my order in mid-December and it was not completed until the end of February.
Do the weights work the same regardless of color?
- Yes. They do.
Would I love to trade in the gold plates so my set was all the same color?
- Yes. Every day.
Quality of the plates is good and the steel is durable and finish is gorgeous. It will show fingerprints instantly, so keep a cloth handy. I am rough on these, and use them on the plate vest, mace, kettlebell, and several barbells. They have held up well, but the brand lettering is beginning to wear off one of my gold-tone 45lb plates and one of the 10lb silver plates after only a month of use.
The colored bands around the outside are super helpful when trying to count, but I wish they were brighter and consistent. One pair of my 5lb weights arrived with a black band and the two others had no indications.
Also, it would be great if 15lb and 55lb plates were available- especially since the 15lb ones are shown in some videos.
Despite the fulfillment issues, I'm planning to order more of these. Not only are they functional and well-made, they're aesthetically superior to the drab black rubber plates or utilitarian steel plates. Since my home gym is visible in my small apartment, I may as well enjoy how the gear looks. Plus, hearing the loud clatter of real steel plates during a lift just makes the whole experience better.
So in short;
Quality 8.5/10
Aesthetics 10/10
Fulfillment 2/10
