When adjustable dumbbells first hit the market they immediately became popular partly because they condense an entire weight rack into a small yet efficient space. You will find adjustable weights of all different sizes and prices, but not everyone can be called the best. There are a lot of considerations to make when choosing which adjustable dumbbells will best fit your needs.
Adjustable dumbbells come in all kinds of shapes and sizes that can better lend themselves to specific types of workouts and that is only one of your many considerations. Some have a max weight as low as 12.5 pounds while others go all the way up to 75 pounds and they all have different locking mechanisms including dial, pin, and switch. More importantly, they are all priced very differently.
All of this is important to your dumbbells, but it is only scratching the surface. To really be content with your adjustable dumbbell you need to focus on all of its features like a solid base, additional stand, and extended warranties. The most important aspect to consider is the quality of your dumbbells, no matter what you are using them for their reliability is their most important quality.
Adjustment Types
Switch
The switch type is by far the easiest to use because you simply flip a switch to change the weight although this adjustment method isn’t always the most reliable. The switches have been known to break off and depending on the product, the printed numbers can rub off with continual use.
Turn Dial
The most popular form of adjustment is the turn dial which is still fairly easy to use but can get caught up every once in a while. Heavier weights often use dials located on the side while lighter weights opt to put the dial on top of the weights for the most part.
Pin
The locking pin method is only used in a select few models but works great and keeps the weights tightly together. Unlike the other models which use hanging weights, the pin system supports vertical weights so there’s no movement. The biggest downside to the locking pin method is it can get tedious to pull the pin out and stick back in, especially when inserting the pin into wrong slot more than once.
Weight
When choosing an adjustable dumbbell set, the weight is an important factor. Usually adjustable weights come in two variations with 2.5 to 25 pounds being the most popular. However, there’s also another popular variation starting between 5 to 10 pounds and caps out between 50 and 60 pounds.
There may be one or two companies out there offering adjustable weights over 60 pounds. However, given the nature of this products intended use, heavier weights are incredibly uncommon Lighter weight adjustable bells are great for cardio use but if you’re looking to build muscle you absolutely need an adjustable weight set that will go beyond 25 pounds. In all honesty, everything else is a waste of money.
Features
Base
It’s important to choose dumbbells which have a decent base to hold the weights which aren’t in use. Most bases are decent and manufactured with sturdy materials but every once in a while you come across something cheap that won’t hold the plates in place very well.
Stand
Some weights also come with a stand which is a nice way to store your weights when you aren’t using them. It also prevents you from having to bend down to grab them for every set.
Warranty
One of the most important extra features for any adjustable dumbbell is the manufacturer’s warranty. There are a lot of moving parts involved and no matter how well these pieces of equipment are built, there’s always the possibility something could go wrong.
Your Weights, Your Workout
Dumbbells aren’t just for curls as you may know and not every adjustable dumbbell works for every movement. While weight is an important factor when considering how you’ll use your new weights, it’s not the only thing to think about.
HIIT
If you are planning on a lot of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercises which require substantial movements, you’ll want to get a solid pair of weights without a lot of plate movement; otherwise your dumbbells and plates will shift around, making your workout more difficult and less efficient. For HIIT exercises, you’ll want want to invest in a nice pair of pin lock weights in order to keep the plates where they should be.
Circuit Training
With circuit training you’re going to want to choose a pair of dumbbells which allow you to switch between weights quickly and smoothly to accommodate the rapid rounds of multiple exercises. It’s tiresome taking a long time to switch weights and it could derail your workout.
Overhead Exercises
If you’re doing a lot of overhead exercises, you absolutely want a superior set of weights because some cheaper sets have a weight slipping issue. The last thing you want is to be hit on the head by a falling ten pound weight plate during your overhead press. Any weight change system would work for these exercises as long as it’s a high-quality dumbbell set.
Price and Quality
The saying, “you get what you pay for,” is especially true when it comes to adjustable dumbbells. Even a decent set of adjustable dumbbells which max out at 25 pounds can easily run you $50 or more. Just like any other piece of exercise equipment, it pays to invest a little more money now than buying another set a year later when the cheap one falls apart on you.