If you’ve just started building your home gym, dumbbells are usually the first bit of kit you’ll need. You can train your whole body with just a set of dumbbells, and if you haven’t got the budget right now to kit your entire gym out? A set of dumbbells will allow you to get lifing and build muscles without spending too much money.
Dumbbells were the first piece of gym equipment I purchased for my home gym, and they remain the most used.
Which Weight Dumbbell Should I buy? It’s not that simple!
Deciding what weight dumbbells you should buy isn’t an easy question to answer as it depends on your training schedule, current strength, and how serious you are about gaining muscle.
One Pair of Dumbbells Isn’t Enough.
However, one thing is certain; you won’t be able to develop your muscles with just one pair of dumbbells. You’ll need a variety of weights.
Your leg muscles are much larger and stronger than your triceps, so your legs will need a heavy set of dumbbells, and your medium-sized muscle groups, such as the shoulder muscles, will need a medium-weight dumbbell set. Your smaller muscle groups, such as your triceps, benefit most from isolation exercises with light dumbbells.
Still, even a heavy, medium, and light set of dumbbells won’t be enough because gains in muscle mass and strength come quickly when you first start lifting, and as they come, each muscle group will require a slightly heavier weight to continue adapting.
Beginners Will Need a Minimum of 5 Different Weights
If you’re a complete beginner, you’ll need a minimum of 5 pairs of dumbbells for your first six or so months of lifting. And depending on your budget, you’ll need to decide which type of dumbbell you want for your workouts. Fixed weight, plate loaded, or selectable?
Fixed Weight Dumbbells
Fixed weight dumbbells are the dumbbells pairs you may have seen in your local gym. 5 pairs of decent fixed weight dumbbells ranging from 4lb to 25lb will cost you around $400. Fixed weight dumbbells are expensive, and they take up a lot of room. Typically it’s best to choose the fixed weight type of dumbbell when you’ve been lifting for a while. I didn’t upgrade to fixed weight dumbbells until five years after I’d started lifting.
Plate Loaded Dumbbells
Plate-loaded dumbbells are the cheapest, known as old-school plates and bars. You can purchase a set of plate-loaded dumbbells 5-25lb per dumbbell for around $100 for a pair). The only drawback to the old-school plate-loaded dumbells is they are slow to adjust as you have to keep taking off and adding weight plates. Plus, the dumbbell handles are long and can be awkward to lift with.
Selectable Dumbbells
Selectable dumbbells are also known as adjustable dumbbells. We call them selectable because you can select a weight to lift using a dial or a selector pin; these are the most common type of dumbbells for both beginners and intermediate lifters. Selectable dumbbells replace up to 15 sets of fixed weight dumbbells, save you a ton of space, and work out at around half the price of buying a selection of fixed weight dumbbells.
For beginners you don’t need to go super heavy here. A pair of 25lb dumbbells (25lb per dumbbell) is an excellent choice. Two 25lb dumbbells will cost just under $200.
I’ve been reviewing selectable dumbbells for many years, so I have a pretty good idea of which ones are best for beginners. And I’ve owned many pairs over the past two decades as well. The best pair I’ve come across for beginners are the Flybird 25lb per dumbells pair. Let’s take a look at them below, and I’ll explain why they are such as good buy for your first set.
Flybird 25lb Selectbale Dumbbell pair
Flybird Fitness has been around for years. They produce high-quality, affordable gym gear, and their dumbbells are by a long way the best you’ll find in the 25lb weight range. Their dumbbells adjust from 5-25lb, replacing five sets of fixed weight dumbbells. They adjust in 5lb weight increments which are perfect for beginners. 5lb weight increases are small enough for progress and not too big a jump to cause you to cheat on your form. Always choose a dumbbell that adjusts in small weight increments; otherwise, you’ll slow your progress.
The 5lb to 25lb weight ranges gives you the beginner enough room for growth, and the 20lb and 25lb weight increments should be heavy enough for leg workouts, etc. You shouldn’t need a heavier dumbbell for some time if you’re a beginner.
The Flybirds are a great place to start and are one of the most popular sets of selectable dumbbells for beginners on the market.
Also, the Flybird dumbbells use a twist-lock adjustment system. Not only is this the fastest adjustment system on the market it’s also the easiest to use, just twist your wrist to the desired weight you want to lift. It’s that easy and takes just a second to adjust.
The Flybirds are compact dumbbells with handles measuring just 14″, so they feel nice and natural to lift with. There are no long awkward handles hitting your sides or clashing above your head.
They’re Priced at just under $200. Which is an excellent price for a pair of twist lock 25lb dumbbells.
Click here to read our full review of the Flybird 25lb Dumbbells
Do You Need Something Heavier?
If you’re a big guy and you’ve just started working out, and you think 25lb dumbbells like the Flybird’s won’t be heavy enough for you? Then you’ll need to move up the weight range and choose a selectable dumbbell that offers a wider weight range, something like the Bowflex 552s or Powerblock adjustable dumbbell pairs.
The Bowflex and Powerblock sets offer 50lb max weight per dumbbell, a hefty amount. Each of their dumbbells replaces 15 sets of fixed weight dumbbells, and they adjust in increments of 2.5lb, which is excellent not just for beginners but for any level of lifter.
Heavy selectable dumbells like this do cost more. They’re around $400 for a pair, but when you think they replace 15 sets of fixed weight dumbbells, you’ll save dollars and space. 15 sets of fixed weight dumbbells would cost you $800+
The Bowflex 552 Dumbbells are the most popular adjustable dumbbells on the market. They’re used most by beginners and intermediate lifters. They are so popular with beginners because the Bowflex set offers 2.5lb weight increments. Small weight increases are essential for progression and isolation exercises. The Bowflex and the Powerblocks are two of the only selectable sets on the market to offer such small weight increases.
The Bowflex and the Powerblock sets provide enough weight for years of growth if you’re a beginner, so you won’t have to go out and buy anything else any time soon.
If you have the budget right now and are serious about your lifting, purchasing a set of heavier selectable dumbbells like the Bowflex or Powerblocks will save you money in the long run.
You Can Go Plate Loaded For Under $100
Plates loaded dumbbells have been around for decades; they’re old school, and to be honest, I love them because they offer so much for such a low price. The best thing about plate-loaded dumbbells is the weight range is almost unlimited. You can buy a 50lb set and add to the set when and if you outgrow it.
A 50lb set like the Yes4alls can be adjusted in 5lb weight increments, or you can buy the smaller 2.5lb weight plates for it and adjust them in 2.5lb increments. The choice is yours. You can go right up to 140lb per dumbbell, too. It will be a long time before you’ll outgrow a plate-loaded set.
And they are cheap. A decent 50lb set like the Yes4All Adjustable Dumbbells costs under $100 and replaces five sets of fixed weight dumbbells. The Yes4Alls provide increments of 5lb, 10lb, 15lb, 20lb, and 25lb. You can either remove or add weight plates to the dumbbell handle to adjust the weight amount.
Plate-loaded sets are versatile and tough. These things are all metal. You can throw them around your gym and not break anything. Much tougher than the selectable sets and their fragile adjustment systems
Still, plate-loaded dumbbells are slow to adjust. They take 3 or 4 times longer to adjust than a selectable set because you have to remove weight plates, unscrew the collars, etc., manually. But it’s a small price to pay considering how much they offer for the price point.
The plate-loaded sets are another great set for beginners, and if you don’t want to spend over $100? I highly recommend you go old school and choose a plate-loaded set. The Yes4Alls are a favorite of mine. read our: full review Yes4All Adjustable Dumbbell Set
To Sum Up
If you’re asking which weight dumbbell to buy and you’re a beginner? The answer is there is no one weight to choose. You’ll need a selection of weights, as certain muscle groups are stronger and require more weight to grow and develop than others. A selection of fixed-weight dumbbells is the ideal choice. Still, not all of us want to spend that kind of money. For a beginner, the Flybird 25lb Adjustable Dumbbells are a safe bet, they offer five weight increments ranging from 5lb to 25lb, and they’re compact, so they feel natural to lift with, perfect for beginners, and best of all, they’re affordable and won’t take up much room.
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