Best Adjustable Dumbbells

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When setting up a home exercise gym, you are going to have to get dumbbells eventually.  Some home gym enthusiasts swear by dumbbells that are of a set weight and setting them in a dumbbell rack.  This is a nice option, but not for everyone.  It is more expensive and takes up far more room than adjustable dumbbells.

When searching for the best adjustable dumbbells, the choices seem endless.  To make it easier for you, I have selected the best four options, divided into two categories: manual dumbbells and automatic dumbbells.

 

Confidence Pair of 40 lb Fitness Pro Adjustable Dumbbells Set with case

We’ll start with the less expensive manual adjustable dumbbells.  The main complaint for these types of dumbbells is that they take up a bit more time between reps because of having to switch the weights yourself.  If you aren’t willing to pay over $100 though, this is the option for you.  Check out the Confidence Fitness Pro weights or the Cap Barbell Adjustable Dumbbell Set.  Both are competitively priced manual adjustable dumbbell sets that come complete in a case which is handy for keeping your weights organized and makes it easier to store.

 

Cap Barbell 40-Pound Dumbbell Set

Most simple manual adjustable dumbbells sets will usually come with a few weight plates to get you started, but those looking for bigger results may need to buy some additional weights.  The weights can also be used in conjunction with a barbell if you have one, which is a huge plus, can save you money down the line and makes it more versatile.

But if you have a few extra bucks to spend and want to lift with some larger weights, an automatic dumbbell is a great way to go.  By simply turning a knob on the side, you can decide how much weight to use.  Its speedy and compact.

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells

The best brand are the Bowflex SelectTech.  They are sturdy and comfortable during the workout and look a lot nicer than some of the the other products out there.  The two most popular Bowflex adjustable dumbbells models are the 552 and 1090.  The 552 goes to 52.5 pounds for each of the dumbbells in the pair, but the 1090 goes to a whopping 90 pounds, which is more than enough.

Bowflex SelectTech 1090 Single Dumbbell

I recommended the 1090.  It is a great investment which you won’t outgrow and one of the best adjustable dumbbells out there.  Automatic dumbbells are great time savers and have a great amount of weight, so you will be able to use them for a while as you grow stronger.  And while you are at it, you may want to consider the weight stand that Bowflex makes as well.  It is not only convenient, but can help you to avoid injuring yourself by keeping them at a safer height.

The important factor that make dumbbells necessary is they utilize muscles that gym machines don’t work.  When you are lifting a free weight and you have to steady the motion, your are exercising your stabilizer muscles.  By working on machines alone, you won’t get the nice definition in your muscles that you want.

Hopefully this information helps you out of the quagmire of having to research your own dumbbell purchase and avoid the mistakes that so many people make when buying their first dumbbells.  Remember that you get what you pay for, so if you find a deal that is too good to be true, you may want to reconsider.  Good luck and be safe!

Compact Adjustable Dumbbell Set

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The most important factor for most people when looking for a good home gym purchase is if it is nice and compact.  The majority don’t have a lot of excess room to spare in regards to building a home gym.  Finding items that help you get healthy and don’t take up much room is great, but finding ones that are versatile is a gold mine.

SportBell Adjustable Dumbbell

Adjustable dumbbells take up far less room than purchasing many dumbbells of a set weight.  For starters, there is the fantastic SportBell Adjustable Dumbbell.  What is fantastic about this cheap adjustable dumbbell is that it is lighter and has smaller increments.  If you are planning on using any home workout DVDs or exercising with workouts from a fitness television channel, you are going to need a variety of lighter weights to aid in the workout.  The SportBell Adjustable Dumbbell can weigh anywhere from 1 to 10 pounds using 1 pound increments.  Not only will this save you space and money compared to buying ten pairs of different weights it is earth friendly.  This adjustable dumbbell uses 82% less raw materials in comparison to individual dumbbells.  It is also aesthetically pleasing and comes in a variety of vibrant colors.

Cap Barbell Dumbbell Set

While ten pound adjustable dumbbells can be helpful for lighter fitness oriented exercises, you will require a bit more weight to build muscles.  One of the best compact adjustable dumbbell sets that you will find is the Cap Barbell Dumbbell Set.  It is still quite compact as it comes in a handy plastic carrying case which measures 20 x 9 x 8 (LxWxH).  This pair of adjustable dumbbells can go up to twenty pounds each or you can set one of them as forty pounds.  It is incredibly easy to increase to heavier weights by simply purchasing more weight plates down the line.  The included weight plates can also be used if you ever decide to buy a barbell.

Bowflex Selecttech 552 Dumbbells

For an adjustable weight dumbbell that will stand the test of time, check out the Bowflex Selecttech 552 Dumbbells.  Bowflex is one of the most popular and well respected home fitness brands out there, so you know that you can trust the product.  Each of the two dumbbells has a range of 5 to 52.5 pounds with fifteen different increments throughout.  This small dumbbell will effectively replace fifteen different weights that could be cluttering up your home.  It also has an extended warranty of five years for the weights and two years on the parts, so you can rest assured that you will get your money’s worth from this dumbbell.

X Mark Pair of 50 lb. Adjustable Dumbbells

While most don’t think in an aesthetic way when thinking about their home gym, it doesn’t hurt to have equipment that looks attractive.  Case in point is the X Mark Pair of 50 lb. Adjustable Dumbbells.  They work just as well as other adjustable dumbbells and also use chrome plated steel which looks nicer than a lot of the other weights.  Similarly to Bowflex dumbbells, a simple turn of a knob is all it takes to switch between different weights.  This model also comes with a storage tray to keep the weights in place when not in use and for easy storage.  If 50 pounds is too much for you, there is also the X Mark Pair of 25 lb. Adjustable Dumbbells.

Whatever you are looking for in an adjustable dumbbell, there is one out there for you.  If what you are looking for isn’t featured in these weights, don’t give up your search.  There are hundreds of options available, with a bit more research you will be able to find exactly what you are looking for.  Good luck!

Lifting With Bowflex Dumbbells

Dumbbells are the most common fitness equipment; it is an important component of fitness gyms just like butter is to bread. The bowflex dumbbells 1090 is the top of the line brand of dumbbells and it is exceptional because it saves an immense amount of space in your workout area or home gym. You do not need a rack with a lot of weights because the Bowflex dumbbells are just two handle grips that attach to a base with plates that are adjustable at the end of the grip. You can simply adjust the knobs at the end of the Bowflex dumbbells to change the weight from five pounds to over 150 pounds on each dumbbell. The bowflex dumbbells 552 replaces 15 sets of weights and you only need to use the knobs to adjust the weights.

I have rated below the dumbbells on its different aspects with a scale of 1 to 5. A score of 5 means that it is great and at the end I will judge it whether to Pump It or Dump It:

I gave a rating of 4 for its price. This is relative and I think that this would probably deserve a higher score. Unfortunately, I saw bowflex dumbbells for sale at a store that sells sporting goods and the signs were vague because it said you can buy the BowflexSelectTech 2 in 1 Stand for $160 and the dumbbells for $400. I had to get some help and I found out that it was really $400 and it made me hesitant to take out my credit card. You can get used Bowflex dumbbells online that costs around $200 to $300. The risk you take is on the condition of the dumbbells and the wear and tear to the equipment.

I have mentioned the relativity of the price before and I believe that it is worth it if you consider the money and time that it would cost to buy a complete rack of weights.