Top Dumbbells for 2024

Dumbbells are an essential piece of equipment for any home gym. They offer a versatile and effective way to build muscle, improve strength, and boost conditioning. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced lifter, having a set of dumbbells in your home gym is an excellent investment.

Adjustable vs. Fixed Dumbbells

There are two main types of dumbbells: adjustable and fixed.

Adjustable Dumbbells

Adjustable dumbbells allow the user to customize how much the dumbbell weighs. It adjusts through a combination of plates on a small steel bar or a dial that regulates the amount of weight.

Pros

• Easy to store
• Potential to increase and decrease weight using only one bar
• Space saver for multiple users

Cons

• Takes longer to change weight increments
• Generally noisier as plates tend to hit each other during lifts.
• Most types depend on screw stoppers and clips, which can lose tightness after long periods of use.

Fixed Dumbbells

Fixed dumbbells cannot be altered in any way, as they are manufactured and shaped to weigh a determined amount.

Pros

• Overall more ergonomic and more comfortable to handle
• Most are available in hex shapes that don’t roll off if placed on the ground
• No time wasted changing weight increments
• Best for HIIT and cardio style classes

Cons

• Multiple dumbbells must be bought to have enough variety
• Harder to store

Your health and fitness preferences will help you identify which option is best for you.

Dumbbells Buyer’s Guide

Cristy Fit

If you enjoy exercise, you’re probably aware of the many types of exercise equipment available. You may have tried out rowing machines, kettlebells, exercise bikes, treadmills, or other equipment.

Luckily, dumbbells take up less space than many of these options, but you still need to pick the right one for your needs.

There are many varieties of dumbbells on the market, making it difficult for a buyer to choose between all the options.

To streamline the process, we have compiled some basic considerations and helpful tips to help you find the best option for your needs.

Construction Quality

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As with every product, a buyer must consider manufacturing materials and potential durability.

The construction of a dumbbell can affect the overall user experience. For example, metal dumbbells will have a different odor compared to dumbbells covered with neoprene or plastic dumbbells.

Here are some things to consider about the construction:

• Metal bars and plates tend to be stronger and last longer, especially if they have a coating. However, metal can scratch flooring or chip tiles. We recommend also investing in good quality mats or at least a thick carpet to prevent damage.
• Rubber or neoprene coating prevents rust. Rust is ugly, unhygienic, and smelly. Another advantage to rubber coating is that it causes less damage to floors (and the product itself) if you drop the dumbbell.

Choose the construction based on your needs.

Ergonomics

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Some dumbbells have rubber handles while others have neoprene or metal bars.

For either adjustable or fixed dumbbells, you’ll most likely encounter the standard steel bar combinations, which are either smooth or grooved.

Smooth bars feel better on the palms, causing fewer callouses. However, a downside to smooth bars is that they are also harder to grip once the load becomes heavier.

Anyone who has experienced grip fatigue will know just how frustrating it is to be unable to hold a weight before having exhausted the targeted muscle.

Another factor is sweat. Once your palms start to become damp, it can be challenging to hold on to smoother bars. The surface becomes slippery, which is why some athletes use chalk.

Grooved bars have the advantage of making it easier to maintain a stronghold. However, they do also dig into your palms, which can cause some pain and unsightly callouses.

Fixed dumbbells will usually have grooved bars or be covered in rubber or neoprene, although there are exceptions.

If in doubt, we suggest physically trying different types at a sports shop before grabbing an online bargain on Amazon.

Maximum Weight

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How much could you potentially lift?

This is a vital question in choosing the most appropriate dumbbells.
If you are seeking to improve your strength, you should never choose what you can already lift.

A key aspect of strength gain is the ability to progress and overload. You have to imagine your lift potential and then overstate it by a few pounds to be on the safe side.

After all, a set of dumbbells won’t be much use to you if you can already lift the total weight of the most substantial dumbbell combinations with ease.

Here is a simple guide to weight:

• For cardio-based classes and light lifting, fixed dumbbells are helpful because the maximum weight is not a huge concern.
• For those who have enough space for a comprehensive home gym, fixed dumbbells offer the quickest exercise transitions. They also come in more varied sizes and increments.
• For bodybuilding style workouts, a lot of users tend to choose adjustable dumbbells. They provide a higher maximum weight range without the additional space required for fixed dumbbells.

Keep these things in mind when you’re looking at sets of adjustable dumbbells or fixed dumbells.

Price

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The cost is often the first thing that most customers look at when browsing. An affordable price tag is an attractive feature.

However, don’t be seduced by a false bargain.

The phrase “you get what you pay for” springs to mind. The cheapest items will often have the lowest quality materials and the least warranty options.

Buyers don’t always have to select the most expensive products on every occasion to ensure superior quality. The key when shopping is to determine the value for money.

Some questions you’ll have to ask yourself relative to price include:

• Will it last a long time?
• Is it produced ethically?
• Does it offer enough variations and increment options for several challenging workouts?
• Are there any hidden/extra costs like shipping, warranty not included, and the stand purchased separately?
• Is it user-friendly enough to be used frequently and consistently, justifying the investment?

Storage

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All exercise equipment can be bulky, and dumbbells are no exception.

If you’re looking to buy for a home gym, you will need a suitable space to train and store your dumbbells.

Adjustable dumbbells can be superior for storage. These types of equipment can come apart and take up less space than fixed dumbbell sets.

However, some people care about the design and aesthetics of the gym. You can store fixed dumbbells on racks, making the room appear more organized and clutter-free.

Most suppliers have a wide range of racks and stands. These products either come with the dumbbells, or you can buy them separately.

Weight Adjustment and Increment

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No one wants to waste valuable training time on lengthy plate changes and ineffective exercise transitions.

One word comes to mind for strength training and exercise: convenience.

Convenience is critical when it comes to adjusting equipment. If you need multiple tools, screwdrivers, an additional person there to show you how, or extra time to load and unload, you’ll lose motivation.

The change methods in order of speed for changing the weight are:

1. Fixed dumbbells
2. Dial dumbbells
3. Plates (secured by clips rather than screw caps)
4. Water-filled dumbbells.

There are other advantages to each of these types of adjustment. However, if time is vital for you, choose one with a faster weight selection.

In terms of increments, it is also important to note how much your weight increases once you add a plate. Don’t forget to factor the bar’s weight.

When shopping, you will notice that some sets offer smaller increments per dumbbell or plate. Some have bigger discrepancies.

Which one you choose depends on your purpose for buying the equipment.

Some important points to take into account when deciding on bigger or smaller increments are as follows:

• When performing compound lifts, most people can handle more significant increases and heavy weights.
• Isolation movements require smaller weight increments.
• If you are a seasoned lifter, opt for smaller increments. Your rate of progression will most likely be smaller and slower. As a rule of thumb, beginners progress faster due to being relatively untrained and highly susceptible to strength improvements. Experienced lifters and athletes usually make smaller gains over a more extended time.

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Choosing the best fitness dumbbells for your home gym isn’t always easy, but it will be worth it.

Dumbbells provide a range of options for muscle strength and endurance gains than any other fitness equipment. Use this buying guide and top picks to help you find the ones you want.

About the Author

Cristy Fit

Cristy is a freelance writer interested in a variety of topics from poetry and self-development to fitness, travel, and culture.

As a qualified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, she specializes in Muay Thai kickboxing, resistance training, and running.

Cristy usually achieves most of her daily tasks before the sun is up as a self-confessed extreme morning person.

When she isn’t writing or watching the sunrise, you can find her hanging out by the ocean, exercising, or enjoying a strong caffeine hit. Sometimes she’s doing all of these things simultaneously.

Cristy lives in Australia, where she enjoys long walks on the beach and indulging in the occasional Tim Tam.