Dumbbells are among the most common workout equipment pieces in the world and for good reasons considering how simplistic yet highly efficient they are. You can find dumbbells in any public or home gym on the planet, mostly the standard type that many of us are already accustomed to. However, the rise in popularity of adjustable dumbbells tells us that people are becoming aware that although fairly basic, dumbbells can also be quite versatile. Now, we should point out that finding good adjustable dumbbells isn’t exactly easy, not with the wide variety available on the market today. To give you an idea of what to look for, we put together a list of the ten best adjustable dumbbells money can buy.
Best Adjustable Dumbbells – Top List
Adjustable Cast Iron Dumbbells
This adjustable set of dumbbells is designed for high-performance comfort, which is why it features ergonomic grips, handles, and safe collars. With this set, you get two durable 15-inch steel textured chrome dumbbell handles designed to provide a high-standard grip. You also get sixteen 5-lbs plates, four 2.5-lbs plates, and four 1.25-lbs plates, a good enough diversity to help you customize your workout schedule.
Bowflex SelectTech 1090 Adjustable Dumbbell
Thos of you who are familiar with gym equipment should know just how big of a name Bowflex is in the industry. With just a turn of a dial, you can change the resistance of these fully adjustable dumbbells from 10 lbs all the way up to 90 lbs and everything in between. You can adjust the overall weight in 5-lbs increments so as to gradually increase your strength and benefit from no less than 30 exercise options these dumbbells open up for you.
StairMaster Pair of TwistLock Adjustable Dumbbells
Although not exactly cheap, these high-end adjustable dumbbells from StairMaster are among the most versatile out there. We say this because you can adjust the dumbbells without ever taking your hands off the handles to change the weight. In fact, the simplistic, highly visible selection windows let you keep track of the currently selected weight while their sleek overall design ensures that you get to handle them as comfortable as possible.
Featol Adjustable Dumbbells
The sheer flexibility of these fully adjustable dumbbells recommends them for bodybuilding exercises, not to mention their ergonomic grip. Covered with a thermo plastic elastomer coating, these dumbbells benefit from a non-slip grip that makes them easier to hold. It also adds to their hardness and toughness, thus improving their resistance against drops. Furthermore, these dumbbells are extremely easy to readjust simply by pressing a button, a commodity that all high-end adjustable dumbbells tend to enjoy.
Merax Deluxe 71.5 Pounds Adjustable Dial Dumbbell
What makes these dumbbells stand out is the unique dial system that lets you quickly switch from one exercise set to another. As such, it combines twelve sets of weights into a single one, offering a versatile workout setup for you to employ. We should also point out that each dumbbell adjusts from 11 lbs to 71.5 lbs in 5.5 lbs increments, which should provide a good enough flexibility for you to customize your workout regimen.
Omnie Adjustable Dumbbells
It isn’t just the adjustable design that recommends this dumbbell set but also their durable plates made of high quality cast iron with a baked enamel finish. This construction makes them both rust and oil proof, which is definitely something to look for in dumbbells. Interestingly enough, these dumbbells also come with a free chrome-finished section of barbell rod and a surprisingly long warranty.
Bayou Fitness Adjustable Dumbbell
This 50 lbs adjustable dumbbell features not only a compact and easy to use design but also an accommodating storage tray for good measure. This clever design ensures that you will save space and time when it comes to storing it. As for its versatility, let us point out that you can set up the weight of the dumbbell in increments from 10 lbs to 50 lbs according to your personal preferences.
Unipack Adjustable Dumbbells Kit
You get not one but two adjustable dumbbells with this kit, which is definitely something to look for when setting up a home gym. As for the dumbbells themselves, we should point out that they are made of high-quality cast iron with chrome handles for added durability. Furthermore, their collars and handles are threaded for a more secure fit, which is great consider the fact that their plates are made entirely from cast iron.
Power Block GF-SPDBLK24 Adjustable SpeedBlock Dumbbell
This pair of adjustable dumbbell weights offers a very cost-effective strength training option for everyone who doesn’t want to go to the gym. Fully adjustable and easy to use, these dumbbell allow you to configure their weight in 3 lbs increments from 3 to 24 lbs. Using a selector pin, they enable you to choose the desired weight of your workouts. It should also be said that these dumbbells are a lot more compact and balanced than standard dumbbells.
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
The Bowflex XelectTech 552 dumbbells are without a doubt, some of the best adjustable dumbbells the market has to offer at this point in time. Thanks to their adjustable design, they enable you to rapidly switch between exercises at any given time. Interestingly enough, these dumbbells combine 15 sets of weights into one using a unique dial system. At the same time, they eliminate the need to use multiple dumbbells due to their versatile nature, which is definitely something you want from a set of adjustable dumbbells.
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Adjustable Dumbbells Buying Guide
The greatest thing about adjustable dumbbells is that they don’t really differ from one another other than the occasional addition; most of them are fairly similar in terms of design and practical use. Even so, there are a few characteristics that best describe a quality adjustable dumbbell, traits you should always look for when buying a set of dumbbells. Although slightly more expensive than traditional dumbbells, you will definitely get a return on your investment if you buy the right ones.
Weight – The weight of a dumbbell is perhaps the most important aspect to consider, especially when dealing with an adjustable dumbbell. In this respect, you want to consider the minimum weight of the dumbbell, its maximum weight, and the increments that determine how adjustable the dumbbell really is. The incremental increase in weight is without a doubt the most important aspect to look for but so is the overall weight.
Size – You should also consider a dumbbell’s size when looking to get one for yourself, mainly for practical reasons. You do the same thing with a standard dumbbell so why not do it with a much more complex design like the one of an adjustable dumbbell? Even though dumbbells do not really take up a lot of space, you still want one that is compact enough to be easily stored yet big enough to help you work out properly.
Stability – Unlike regular dumbbells, adjustable versions can also be quite unstable if they’re not properly built. In this respect, you will find that sub-par, cheaper versions can be quite difficult to control, especially after you have taken one or two plates off. It isn’t just that but the overall balance of a dumbbell and how sure you are that it won’t lose any of its plates whenever workout sessions get a little intense.
Ease of use – One should also consider an adjustable dumbbell’s ease of use as a way to determine its overall quality. Although dumbbells aren’t exactly intended to be light or easy to carry, you still want to have a good grip on them at all times. If an adjustable dumbbell is versatile enough, you should be able to fully adjust its weight mid-workout with little to no extra effort on your part, preferably by pushing a button or pulling a lever.
Handles – The handles of a dumbbell must always provide you with a good, comfortable grip regardless of how heavy the dumbbell is. It is for this reason that you should look for dumbbells with a good grip, preferably a non-grip handle that doesn’t lose its grip once your hands get slippery enough. Not only that but you also do not want the plates hurting your forearms when performing pressing exercises.
Types of Adjustable Dumbbells
Keep in mind that although most dumbbells share the same general purpose, their construction stands them apart from one another. For the most part, these dumbbells have a short handle and are generally between 8 to 12 inches in length. They also feature a knurled part that is about six inches long and solid steel hexagonal or round ends. They also tend to have a comfortable grip and an ergonomic design. Keep in mind, however, that there are two main categories that adjustable dumbbells fall into – Traditional Adjustable Dumbbells and Selectorized Adjustable
Traditional Adjustable Dumbbells – These dumbbells have between 8 to 12-inch handles with 6-inch knurling handle grips. While some models feature plastic, most have rubberized handle grips to make them easy to handle. You will also find that some of these dumbbells have spinlock ends with grooves that enable you to spin any spinlock collars the dumbbell may be equipped with. Not only that but they also tend to have inbuilt raised stoppers to prevent the weight plates from sliding off.
Selectorized Adjustable Dumbbells – These dumbbells have a platform for each dumbbell to rest on when not in use. They also have handles with selector dials on the end, handles that sit on the same platforms that house the weight plates at any given time. Upon turning the dial to a certain resistance, the handles of the dumbbell lock in that particular level from either end to set the weight plate firmly in place.
Conclusion
Although much more versatile than traditional dumbbells, you can expect adjustable versions to be a lot more expensive overall. That said, they do tend to provide a more adjustable experience, one that will help you find a role for these weights in whatever workout regimen you might be undertaking. Other than that, we should point out that adjustable dumbbells are becoming increasingly popular these days among bodybuilders and casual gym-goers alike.
I began my writing career writing for various content firms, but it was under the tutelage of the editors here at SavantMag.com that I grew as a writer and editor. I love the content we write here and bringing solid reviews to consumers is rewarding beyond what I can even describe.
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