Regular GamingAngels readers and visitors to our forum know that we started up a 90 Day Challenge, using video games and a healthier diet in order to lose a few pounds and get fit. Some people are using Dance Dance Revolution, but I am using EA Active (minus the Wii Balance Board). Our resistance band was doing nothing for me which meant it was time to look for something that would bring some challenge to my workout.

I don’t quite recall how I discovered the Riiflex dumbbells. Odds are it was something I saw locally seeing as they are an Atlanta based company. I had been looking around the Walmarts and the Targets and had found weighted boxing gloves, however I am not a boxing person and they had no use for myself away from a Wii workout. Dumbbells, however, can be picked up randomly throughout the day and seemed like the best choice for me.

Each dumbbell weighs 2lbs (1 Kilo for Metric countries of the globe), features comfort grip padding and allows for easy pop in, pop out with the Wii remote and nunchuk. Each controller slides naturally into place, staying nice and snug during my workouts. The bottom sections of each dumbbell are open to accommodate having either the corded or wireless attachments, and there is a window on the top of the remote dumbbell which allows the sensor to interact flawlessly with the sensor bar.

Using the dumbbells with EA Active this past week, I have come to the conclusion that making sure I am using them with each and every exercise I have more than likely tripled my intensity level. For exercises such as Lateral Raises, Bent Over Rows, and Shoulder Presses, using dumbbells is exactly what you would be doing at a gym, which I personally prefer over a resistance band. With the boxing, tennis, baseball and volleyball exercises, adding the dumbbells made me utilize muscles in my arms that I normally wouldn’t be working and brought much-needed resistance to each activity. Even using just one of these accessories with the Side Lunges with Toe Touch and Standing Knee Crunches brings a new challenge to the exercise program. Targets and Heavy Bag with the dumbbells? Been there, done that, arms felt like they were about to fall out of their sockets, but man was it good!

Throughout the day I find myself picking up the Riiflex dumbbells for a quick set of squats or jumping jacks, usually after a bout of writing and needing to stretch my legs. It’s nice to have the freedom to use a gaming accessory without having to be plugged in all the time.

If you are looking for a great way to increase your Wii workout intensity and have something handy around the house for a mini-workout, then I recommend and give the Riiflex dumbbells five shiny gold stars. They are $29.99 for a pair and are sold via PowerPlay’s Amazon store. (And yes, they do qualify for free shipping.)

To learn more about PowerPlay and their goal to bring high quality peripherals to all gaming consoles, visit their website today.

Review product was provided by PowerPlay, and does not affect the outcome of this review.