Are adjustable Dumbbells worth it? It’s a good question, and it depends on how much space you have in your home gym and your budget? Because the gold standard of dumbbells for home use are fixed-weight dumbbells. Fixed weight dumbbells are the hex dumbbells you might have seen in your local gym.
Fixed Weight Dumbbells – Natural To Lift With Compact.
The reason fixed weight dumbbells have always been the gold standard in commercial gyms or at home is that these bells are compact. They feel natural to lift with, with no long awkward handles to get in the way, and more importantly, they don’t require any weight changes. You can just pick up the weight you want to lift and get on with it. Still, the scary thing about fixed weight dumbbells is they’re expensive. A decent rack of 15 pairs can cost you upwards of $1200.
And all those pairs of dumbbells are going to take up a heck of a lot of space in your home gym. A place where most of us don’t have much space to spare.
Why I think Adjustable Dumbbells Are Worth it
The reason I purchased a set of adjustable dumbbells, and the reason many lifters use adjustable dumbbells, is that they save space; as I just mentioned, a full rack of fixed weight dumbells takes up a lot of room, which sadly, I don’t have in my home gym. High-quality adjustables can replace up to 20 sets of fixed-weight dumbbells.
It’s not just the space an adjustable dumbbell saves? Adjustable dumbbells save you money too. A good set of adjustable dumbbells shouldn’t cost you any more than $400, which is a 3rd of the price of a decent rack of fixed weight dumbbells.
Essential To Choose The Right Set of Adjustable Dumbbells
Space and money are why most lifters choose an adjustable dumbbell over fixed weight dumbells. Still, adjustable dumbbells although much cheaper than fixed weight dumbbells are a hefty investment, especially if you’re just getting into lifting. They can seem like a large outlay of cash, so it’s best to know what to look for when choosing a set of adjustables. There are so many sets out there right now, and 80% of them aren’t worth buying.
I can’t stress enough that an adjustable dumbbell set is only worth buying if you choose the right one.
I wasted $100s Choosing The Wrongs Adjustables
There are a few essential features you must look for when choosing your first set. If I knew all the advice Im going to share with you now when I first started lifting, I would’ve saved myself a load of money over the years, but only from experience have I learned exactly what the best adjustable dumbbells should include. I’ve had my last set of adjustable bells for ten years now, and I don’t have any complaints.
What you should Look For When Choosing An Adjustable Dumbbell
Weight Increments are the first thing you should be considering when buying an adjustable dumbbell. Ideally, you want an adjustable dumbbell that adjusts in 2.5lb increments, 5lb at the highest.
Small increses in weight are one of the keys to progress no matter what exercises you are performing or apparatus you are using. And it’s the first thing a lot of beginners get wrong. They choose a cheap set of 50lb dumbbells which have weight increments of 10lb.
Avoid Adjustable Dumbbells With 10lb Weight Increments.
Never choose a dumbbell with weight increases this large. 10lb increments will slow your progress, cause you to cheat on your form, and, at the worst, cause injury. Even Pro bodybuilders would shy away from an adjustable dumbbell with such large weight jumps. It’s almost impossible to progress in bodybuilding with such large jumps in weight, especially for isolation exercises.
Think about it this way if you own a dumbbell that has weight increments of 5lb and can curl a 20lb dumbbell for ten reps, and you want to keep adapting, curing a 25lb dumbbell represents a 25% increase in load. A 25% increase in load is substantial, but it’s much better than the 50% increase you would have to deal with if you choose a dumbbell that adjusts in 10lb increments.
Avoid 10lb increments; 5 lb is okay 2.5lb is ideal.
Fixed Length Handles
The majority of adjustable dumbbells on the market use a fixed-length handle. A fixed-length handle is a handle that stays the same length no matter how much weight you lift. You could be lifting 5lb or 50lb, and the length of the handle stays the same.
The problem with fixed-length handles is that they are long and can be awkward to train with, especially for bicep curls. However, I’ve never thought fixed-length handles are a deal killer because you can get used to them. But even when you’re used to them, you’ll never be able to achieve that natural feel you get from a fixed weight dumbbell. Bowflex 552s are a popular example of an adjustable dumbbell with a fixed-length handle.
Look For Compact Handles
What you should be looking for is an adjustbale dumbbell whose handle only increases in length the more weight you add. This type of adjustable dumbbell feels much more natural to lift with because it’s compact. The closer we can get to the feel of a fixed weight dumbbell, the better.
(At the end of this guide, I’ll recommend a few of the best affordable compact adjustables)
How Much Plastic is Too Much?
Unless you want to spend $600+ on a set of adjustable dumbbells, your adjustable dumbbells will have some plastic in their designs. Most adjustable dumbbells have plastic in the handle and adjustments systems, and a few even have plastic casing surrounding the weight plates.
Plastic breaks easily, so it’s best never to drop an adjustable dumbbell from height. This sadly means no training to failure and dropping the dumbbells on that last killer rep. You need to be careful.
Some of the tougher adjustable dumbbells like the PowerBlocks will survive a few drops. Still, none of the adjustable sets will survive regular drops unless you choose an all-metal design like the Snode AD50s, but they’re overpriced and not worth the extra cash.
Speedy Adjustment Times
And lastly, you want to choose an adjustable dumbbell with a fast adjustment system. We need a fast-to-adjust dumbbell for some exercises like drop sets that require quick weight changes.
Most adjustable dumbbells boast speedy adjustment systems some better than others. The fastest and easiest to use adjustment system is the twist lock adjustment system. This system works by twisting your wrist to the desired weight you want to lift it only takes a second.
Other popular adjustment systems include the weight selection dial as seen on the Bowflex and many other dumbbells, all you have to do with the weight selection dial is turn the dial to the amount of weight you want to lift. Again very easy to do.
And you have the pull and slide selectors not as fast as the dials and twist locks but can easily adjust in under 5 seconds which is fast enough for any advanced or basic bodybuilding technique.
Adjustable Dumbbell Recommendations
1. Powerblock Elite 50s (50lb per dumbbell)
The PowerBlock Elites have been my favorite adjustable dumbbell for many years as they include everything you want from an adjustable Dumbbell. They’re fairly tough not much plastic in the build. They adjust in 2.5lb increments. The handle only gets longer with the more weight you add, which means they’re compact, and they are fast to adjust. I’ve owned a set of these for 10 years and never had any issues.
2. Core Fitness Twist Lock Dumbbells (50lb per dumbbell)
The Core Fitness Dumbbells are an excellent set of adjustable dumbbells, they use the super fast twist lock system and they adjust in 5lb increments. They’re a more conventional design than the PowerBlocks but they are not as tough because there is a fair bit of plastic used in the design. Still, they use a handle that increases in length when more weight is added. They feel compact and natural to lift with.
The core fitness dumbbells are as close as you’ll get to the feel of a fixed-weight dumbbell. Plus, they’re a great price, just $349 for the pair
The Powerblock and Core Fitness sets are my two recommendations for the 50lb per dumbbell sets.
But if you’re a beginner, perhaps you don’t need such a heavy set. Then the best 25lb per dumbbell available right now is either the Flybird Twist-lock Dumbells, impressive solid dumbbells (under $200 for the pair), or the Powerblocks sport 24s, a much lighter version of the Powerblock Elites perfect for beginners and more affordable.
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