If you like to work out at home, you need dumbbells — and not just one or two of them, either. You need anywhere from 12-30 dumbbells if you want to work on every part of your body with the right amount of weight.
Of course, most people simply don’t have room in their home to store this many dumbbells. Instead, they try to make do with just a couple of pairs, which isn’t ideal. That’s when adjustable dumbbells can help.
The best, the Bowflex SelectTech 1090 Adjustable Dumbbell, takes the place of 17 traditional dumbbells. It has a weight range of 10 to 90 pounds and adjusts in 5-pound increments, making it ideal for casual and serious lifters alike.
The largest benefit of adjustable dumbbells is their space-saving design. If you’ve set foot in a gym before, you’ve probably noticed a row of dumbbells running the entire length of a wall. While that may be fine for a commercial gym, most people don’t have this kind of space in their home. Instead, you can opt for an adjustable dumbbell to take the place of anywhere from 4 to 15 traditional dumbbells.
Another benefit of adjustable dumbbells is their portability. If you like to work out at the park or another outdoor location, you only have to toss two dumbbells in your trunk and you’ll have a full set of weights to use.
Although adjustable dumbbells may seem expensive, they usually are more affordable than buying a full set of traditional dumbbells.
Adjustable dumbbells may feel a bit awkward at first because of their unusual size and shape. You may not notice this when using the dumbbell at its maximum weight, but it becomes more apparent when using it at the lower weight settings. This is because its overall length isn’t reduced as you drop the weight. The dumbbell will feel nearly as large when you use it at 10 pounds as at 50 pounds.
Adjustable dumbbells are great for traditional workout routines but aren’t ideal for any kind of activity where you are tossing around the weight. Due to the integrated weight adjustment mechanism, they are less durable than traditional dumbbells, which don’t have any moving parts.
Every adjustable dumbbell has a minimum and maximum weight. The greater the weight range, the more exercises you can do, and the more users for which a particular one will be suitable. Beginners need lower weights and serious lifters need heavier dumbbells. If you have several people with varying fitness levels at home, an adjustable dumbbell with a wide weight range will suit all of them.
Along with the weight range, the increments a dumbbell adjusts are important. The most common increments are 2.5 and 5 pounds, some adjust in as little as 1-pound increments. The smaller the increments, the better. This allows you to only slightly increase the weight rather than taking a big jump that may make an exercise too difficult.
An adjustable dumbbell’s grip determines how secure a hold you have on it as well as how comfortable it is for your hand. Any dumbbell you choose should have some kind of traction-increasing texture that reduces the chances of it slipping out of your hand. If you wear gloves when working out, dumbbells with a knurled metal grip are fine. However, if you normally work out without gloves, opt for a dumbbell with a soft grip.
Most adjustable dumbbells come with a storage tray where the unused weight plates sit while you work out. Put the dumbbells back into these trays when you want to adjust to higher or lower weights.
Adjustable dumbbells can cost from $25-$250 for a single dumbbell. The weight range and ease and reliability of the adjustment mechanism are the two biggest determining factors in the price.
A. While you could certainly put together a workout routine that only requires a single dumbbell, most people will be best served by buying a pair. Having just one dumbbell can make it more difficult to keep your body correctly balanced when performing certain exercises.
A. As with traditional dumbbells, adjustable dumbbells require essentially no maintenance other than periodically cleaning them off with a damp cloth or sanitizing them with a disinfectant.
Bowflex SelectTech 1090 Adjustable Dumbbell
What you need to know: From one of the most reputable brands in home fitness equipment, the SelectTech 1090 can see you through years of constant workouts without you having to worry about its mechanism failing.
What you’ll love: It transitions between plates smoothly, adjusts in low 5-pound increments and has a dial system that's easy to use with gloves on.
What you should consider: Its high price tag can put it out of reach for many consumers.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
What you need to know: This reasonably priced option has a low weight range, which makes it a good choice for beginners.
What you’ll love: A simple push-pull design allows you to quickly switch between weights, and it features a comfortable, soft and textured grip you won’t mind holding onto without gloves.
What you should consider: It only replaces four standard dumbbells.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Merax Deluxe 71.5 Pounds Adjustable Dial Dumbbells
What you need to know: This pair is best for serious lifters looking for high-weight adjustable dumbbells.
What you’ll love: Despite having a maximum weight of 71.5 pounds per dumbbell, you can adjust the weight to just 11 pounds.
What you should consider: The measurements are denoted in kilograms.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Brett Dvoretz writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
