If you’re just about to set up your first home gym, you might be comparing adjustable dumbbells vs fixed? It’s a tough decision, and it will depend on the amount of space you have, your budget, and the type of training you’re undertaking.

I’ll go with the assumption you want to build muscle, 90% of people who build home gyms are bodybuilders like myself. I’ve been lifting for over 20 years, and I’ve used and reviewed all types of dumbbells made by every brand out there, and I can say to you the gold standard of dumbbells for a home gym are the fixed weight dumbbells. They always have been.

So lets take a look at the good and bad of the fixed weight dumbbells first, and then we’ll discuss the good, bad, and ugly of the adjustables.

set of fixed weight dumbbells

Adjustable Dumbbells vs. Fixed Weigh Guide.

Fixed weight dumbbells are the Gold standard for a home gym because they have no plastic in the design, which means you can drop them on that last killer rep without fear of breaking a fragile adjustment system. They’ll last a lifetime of heavy use, and you won’t have to pay for any expensive repair bills.

Solid Compact Natural feeling Dumbnlles

Still, perhaps what’s best about the fixed weight dumbbell is its compact size. They feel natural to train with. There are no long handles clashing into your sides when curling or any plate rattle when lifting. They feel solid and compact, which gives you that natural feel when lifting.

No Adjustment System To Slow You Down

Something else you’ll love about fixed weight dumbells is there are no adjustment systems to slow you down between sets. There’s no need to load any weight plates and tighten spinlocks. All you have to do with a fixed weight dumbbell is pick it up and get lifting.

A few advanced bodybuilding techniques like drops sets require speedy weight changes, and you’ll need either a fixed weight set of dumbbells or an adjustable dumbbell set with a super-fast adjustment system to perform them.

Fixed Weight Dumbbells (The Bad)

Space! It’s the No.1 reason people shy away from a fixed weight set of dumbbells as they take up a ton of space, even on a three-tier rack.

The three-tier racks help limit how much space these bells use, but it’s still considerably more space than a pair of adjustable dumbbells. If you want a 3/4 complete set of fixed weight dumbbells (15 pairs), that’s 30 separate dumbbells. You’ll need to make sure you have the space for the rack.

They’re Pricey

Remember, these things last a lifetime, so they’re not going to be cheap. I couldn’t afford a fixed weight set when I first started to kit out my home gym. Fifteen pairs and a rack will cost close to $1000 for a decent set. It’s a big decision to make and something I feel beginners might not be comfortable with.

A rack of fixed weight bells was not my first choice. I chose a set of adjustable dumbbells because they were at the time a 3rd of the price. It wasn’t for another five years that I upgraded to fixed weight dumbbells.

                                                                                         

selectable dumbbells bowflex bowflex

Adjustable Dumbbells (selectable) The Good

There are two types of adjustable dumbbells the plate-loaded kind and selectables. Let’s focus first on the selectable sets of dumbbells. The Bowflex 552 adjustable dumbbells were the first fast adjustable dumbbells on the market, and they’ve been around for almost two decades. They use a weight selection dial on either end of the dumbbell.

Replace 15 Pairs of Fixed Weight Dumbbells

Selectable sets like the Bowflex have a huge appeal because they replace 15 sets of fixed weight dumbbells, saving you a ton of space.

Their adjustment systems are fast, often taking less than 2 seconds to adjust, and they’re cheaper than fixed weight dumbbells. A set of Bowflex 552s costs under $400, which is less than half the price of a rack of fixed weight dumbells.

My first set of selectable dumbbells was the Bowflex 552s. I bought a pair when they’d only been around a year or so, and they were a no-brainer for someone building their first gym. They’re so easy to use, I loved that they didn’t cost too much, and the fact they replaced a whole rack of fixed weight dumbbells was awesome.

Selectable dumbbells are an excellent choice for beginners and intermediates, but sadly, all of them, including popular sets like the Core Fitness, Powerblocks, and Nordictrack dumbbells, have some drawbacks.

To Much Plastic (the bad)

It’s almost unavoidable that if you want a fast set of selectables, you’ll have to deal with some plastic in the design.

The amount of plastic does vary from one set to another, but a pair like the Bowflex have plastic in the handle, plastic casings surrounding the weight plates, and plastic in the adjustment systems. The Powerblock Elites have less plastic because they use a staking system for the weights, but the handles are still plastic.

Does the plastic affect the quality of your workouts? Not really; all it means is you’ll have to be careful not to drop a selectable dumbbell from height. The adjustment systems are too fragile and won’t survive drops.

The Powerblocks might survive a few drops, but I wouldn’t risk dropping them regularly. Drops are not covered in any of the warranties of adjustable dumbbells, so if you break anything, you’ll be the one who ends up with the repair bill.

Fixed Length Handles (the ugly)

Most fast-to-adjust dumbbells like the Bowflex 552s use a fixed-length handle. A fixed-length handle is a handle that stays the same length no matter how much weight you are lifting. You could lift 10lb or 50lb, and the handle’s length stays the same. Long handles like this are awkward to lift with. They’re not deal killers, you will get used to them, but they’ll never feel natural like a fixed weight dumbbell.

The good news is there are a few selectable dumbbells like the Core Fitness Twist lock dumbbells that use handles that only increase in length when more weight is added. This is the type of selectable dumbbell you should look for. They’re compact, just like a fixed weight dumbbell, and feel more natural to lift with. The PowerBlocks also boast a compact handle.

Too Big a Jump In Weight Will Slow Your Progress

Don’t choose an adjustable/selectable set of dumbbells that adjusts in 10lb increments; this is too big a jump in weight, even for serious lifters. Many of the cheap sets only include increments of 10lb. Avoid these sets.

Small weight increases are one of the keys to progress no matter what equipment you are using or exercises you perform, and ideally, for dumbbells, we want 2.5lb increments or 5lb at the most.

As you see fast to adjust sets, although much cheaper, do have a few drawbacks, nothing I’d say are deal stoppers, just be careful with them, and you’ll be fine. I trained with my set of Bowflex’s for five years and never had any issues apart from the long handles, but with sets like the Core Fitness and Powerblock Elites on the market, you won’t have to deal with those anymore.

                                                                                         

plate loaded dumbbells

Plate Loaded Dumbbells (Old School)

Plate-loaded dumbbells were the first adjustable dumbbells, and they’re just as popular now as they were 50 years ago. The reason plate-loaded dumbbells are still so popular is that they are so cheap. You can purchase a 50lb set of Yes4Alls plates and bars for around $80. That’s a great price, considering how much weight you get.

Unlimited Weight Range

Because you can buy additional weight plates for your plate-loaded set, you’ll not likely outgrow a set of plate-loaded dumbbells anytime soon. You can easily go up to 100lb per dumbbell.

All Metal Tough Design

Just like fixed-weight dumbbells, plate-loaded dumbbells are tough. Much tougher than any of the selectable sets. There are no plastic parts to break and will last many years of use.

Slow Adjustment Times

The main issue with plate-loaded dumbbells is how long they take to adjust. Weight changes involve the loading and unloading of weight plates. This takes around 20 seconds per dumbbell, too long for exercises like drop sets.

Slow weight changes are the only major drawback of the plate-loaded Dumbbells. I feel the durability and the price more than make up for the slow adjustment times.

And lastly, there is usually some plate rattle with plate-loaded bells, and the handles are relatively long because they also use a fixed-length handle. Still, make sure to choose the standard handles. The standard handles are more compact, around 16″ compared to 22″ for Olympic.

To Sum Up

I’ve already mentioned the gold standard will always be fixed weight dumbbells. They’re tough, compact, and feel natural to lift with. They’re the best choice for any home gym or lifter, But they’re expensive and can take up a lot of room. 

Still, if you’re just starting out, a rack of fixed weight dumbells might be overkill right now. I didn’t own a rack of fixed weight dumbbells until my 5th year of lifting. So for beginners, a well-made, affordable set of adjustable dumbbells is a great choice. Choose a compact set that’s fast to adjust and includes at the most 5lb weight increments.

If you want to spend under $200 for a selectable pair, I recommend the Flybird 25lb per dumbbell pair. This pair is compact, well made, and perfect if you’ve just started lifting.

If you have a few more dollars spare, then Id recommend Core Fitness 50lb per dumbbell Twist Locks. They use the fastest adjustment system on the market, they adjust in increments of 5lb, and they’re compact. Right now, they’re selling for $350 for a pair which is a bargain.