Best Dumbbells For Your Home Gym

Review & Comparison, Last Update December 26, 2023
Dumbbells, also known as free weights, are perfect for strength workouts. Whether you're new to physical exercises or want to boost your regular training program, pay attention to our shortlist of the best dumbbells and enhance your workouts! ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
TYPE
PACKAGE
WEIGHT RANGE
MATERIAL
CONVENIENCES
WARRANTY
 
PROS

These dumbells boast the patented weight customization system for adjusting the desired weight easily and very quickly. The branded stand included in the set ensures compact storage. 

CONS

The dumbbells are still bulky, even with the lowest weight on.

OUR VERDICT

Bowflex dumbbell set provides a complex and flexible all-in-one solution both for professionals and for beginners. With a single set, you'll be able to make up an efficient and versatile at-home training program and achieve your bold fitness goals even if you lack time to go to the gym sometimes.

detailed parameters
TYPE
Bowflex
PACKAGE
2 handles, 20 plates with different weight, 2 specialized stands
WEIGHT RANGE

From 5 to 52.5 lbs

MATERIAL

Metal with a rubber coating

CONVENIENCES

Storing rest, Durable molding around metal plates, Rotating weight lock

WARRANTY

2 years

PROS

Made of wear-proof vinyl, the dumbbell coating is distinguished by high resistance to tearing and all sorts of physical damages. A handy stand allows storing the weights neatly and conveniently.

CONS

The dumbbell might feel a bit slippery in wet hands.

OUR VERDICT

Highly rated by numerous users for premium quality, durability, and long-lasting lifespan, this complete set of dumbbells will come in handy for achieving your individual fitness and endurance goals at home as well as will be a functional addition for any professional gym.

detailed parameters
TYPE

Fixed

PACKAGE

3 pairs of dumbbells

WEIGHT RANGE

3, 5 and 8 lbs

MATERIAL

Cast iron with a vinyl coating

CONVENIENCES

Roll-resistant design, Non-slip grip, Printed Lb specification, Weight stand

WARRANTY

2 years

PROS

The roll-resistant design will prevent the dumbells from rolling around when your exercise. Meanwhile, neoprene coating is not only nice-to-the-touch and grippy but also will leave no traces on the flooring.

CONS

Weight marks easily wear off. 

OUR VERDICT

Available in a low weight range starting from 1 lb and coming in a set of two, these dumbbells from Crown Sporting Goods will make a perfect match for novices and senior users as well as for children and teenagers who make their first steps in strength training. Besides, they are great for rehab programs.

detailed parameters
TYPE

Fixed

PACKAGE

2 dumbbells

WEIGHT RANGE

From 1 to 10 lbs

MATERIAL

Cast iron with a textured neoprene coating

CONVENIENCES

Roll-resistant design, Non-slip grip, Printed Lb specification

WARRANTY

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The engraved Lb specification won't fade or rub off during the whole item's service life. Besides, the marks are pretty big and easily visible from a distance. Even heavyweight dumbbells are pretty compact and convenient to handle. 

CONS

It's better to exercise in gloves to avoid calluses.

OUR VERDICT

Offered within a wide weight range up to 50 lbs, these heavy-weight all-purpose dumbbells from CAP Barbell is an ideal choice for experienced athletes and weight-lifters who know how to get the most out of resistance training. To need your needs, you can get either a single item or a pair. 

detailed parameters
TYPE

Fixed

PACKAGE

2 dumbbells (There is an option to choose an individual dumbbell)

WEIGHT RANGE

From 5 to 50 lbs

MATERIAL

Handle: steel with a chrome finish

Weight plates: steel core with a rubberized coating

CONVENIENCES

Roll-resistant design, Contoured grip, Engraved Lb specification

WARRANTY

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The neoprene coating on the handles will ensure a super-firm and secure grip cutting down the risk of the dumbbell slipping out from your hand even during intensive workouts. Besides, it will save you the need to use fitness gloves.

CONS

Lighter weights might seem a bit unstable. 

OUR VERDICT

Thanks to an adjustable design, a single pair of dumbbells stands for a whole training system meeting the needs of both beginners and more experienced home workouters. As such, they are also very versatile and make a perfect choice for a whole range of exercises to fit into just about any fitness scheme.

detailed parameters
TYPE

Adjustable

PACKAGE

2 dumbbells

WEIGHT RANGE

From 2.2 to 11 lbs

MATERIAL

Metal with a neoprene coating

CONVENIENCES

Roll-resistant design, Non-slip grip, Ergonomic curve-shape handlebar

WARRANTY

Amazon's 30-day return policy

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Bowflex SelectTech 552

Upgrade Your Home Workouts

Want to be able to follow your strength training regimen at home in the same manner you’d normally do it in a pro gym? If so, an all-in-one dumbbell kit from Bowflex will definitely catch you fancy.

What sets this very set apart from rivals is not only that you’ll get a pair of dumbbells but also that they are weight adjustable, thus, saving you the need to separately purchase dumbbells in different weights. The dumbbells feature the weight range between 5 and 52.5 pounds, which contributes a lot to your fitness workouts. They are perfect for toning your muscles, training your upper and lower body, and burning excess fat. The weight can be adjusted in small increments, allowing you to increase the load gradually. Not only will you enjoy your exercises but also your muscles will work efficiently every time you train.

Notably, the patented Bowflex weight-adjustment system will let you set the desired weight really quickly. It enables you to control the number of plates, and hence the dumbbell weights, with a single turn of the dial mechanism. You can choose between 15 fine-tunings to precisely customize the level of the load according to the tasks you’ve set. A special rubberized pad will prevent the dumbbells from slipping out of your hands when you’re training, no matter the selected weight, while durable molding ensures that the plates won’t cling. And the convenient dumbbells rest facilitates the transportation and storage of the dumbbells.

To conclude, the Bowflex Selecttech dumbbells stand out for exceptionally versatile functionality and provide you with a complex and flexible solution to train all your muscles as well as set and achieve new fitness goals.

Review of Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells (Pair)

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $399.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B001ARYU58

VIDEO
Bowflex dumbells 552 AND 1090 Selecttech dumbbell Review P90X David & Kate Ingram - Symbiotic Fitness David & Kate Ingram - Symbiotic Fitness

What customers say about this product

Key Specs

With these I turn 4 dials and have my weights ready in about 5 seconds. If its too heavy or too light I adjust them just as fast.

Features

Great set of weights! In my opinion they're just as good as steel or rubber coated dumbbells.
 

BalanceFrom BF-D358

An All-purpose Fitness Pal

With an overall healthy and active lifestyle trend, training at home becomes more and more popular and sports clubs welcome more and more visitors. If you’ve already joined the army of active lifestylers and want to be able to comfortably train at home and accurately follow your fitness plan, the BalanceFrom GoFit all-purpose set of dumbbells will become your best sports assistant for a home workout.

Right off the bat, you’ll get as many as three pairs of dumbbells in a single kit. Offered in 3lb, 5lb, and 8lb weights, they are ideal for a whole range of effective and easy-to-perform resistance exercises such as arm rows, bicep curls, and tricep extensions, shoulder and chest presses, squats and crunches or back strengthening rows and bends. Thus, you can use lower weights at more repetitions just to stay in shape and build some endurance or go for heavier weights to increase the muscle mass a bit.

Ergonomically shaped and coated with soft and grippy neoprene, the dumbbells are non-slip and very comfortable to hold in hand. Meanwhile, a cast-iron iron design makes them durable and extremely long-lasting. As convenient and compact as they are, these BalanceFrom dumbbells can also be used to add some resistance when walking or jogging if you seek to burn more calories and will even come in handy to diversify your yoga sessions.

Hexagon dumbbells heads will prevent the implements from rolling around while a weight stand included in the package will ensure space-wise dumbbell storage when not in use. Though the stand comes disassembled, the assembly tool is also included in the set, so, it will take you mere minutes to put the rack together.

To put it simply, the BalanceFrom BFD-358 is one of the best dumbbell sets available on the market. Distinguished by high quality and versatility, it’s an all-purpose solution for full-body training.

Review of BalanceFrom BF-D358 GoFit All-Purpose Dumbbells
Last updated price $32.23
Stock In stock
ASIN B01MYYVGU7

 

Crown Sporting Goods Set of 2

A Perfect Starting Point

Today, doing some exercises is more than just a modern trend to keep your body in good shape. It is rather about staying healthy and maintaining overall well-being. And a pair of properly selected dumbbells can bring your maintenance home workouts to a new level. So, if you are at the beginning of your fitness journey and seek to make your at-home training more efficient, the dumbbells from Crown Sporting Goods are for you.

The great thing about these dumbbells is that they are available in a light weight range from 1lb to 10 lbs and will work perfectly for less intensive workouts and those occasions when you don’t actually need heavy weights and rather need to tone your muscles. Thus, you can diversify your aerobics or add resistance to your jogging sessions or regular exercises to improve muscle endurance. On top of that, these lightweight dumbbells will fit any physical therapy or rehab program targeting joint and core restoration after some traumas, fractions, injuries and at some chronic conditions.

Coming down to the dumbbells design, the hand weights have a solid cast-iron construction and are coated with a thick layer of neoprene. The one-piece metal design is meant to flawlessly serve for years even subject to extensive daily use while a nice-to-the-touch resilient coating provides a comfortable non-slip grip even without fitness gloves. Offered in 2lb increments, all dumbbells are color-coded so that you can easily discern the weight in case you have a whole collection.

Overall, these Crown dumbbells are totally recommended for novices and can be also conveniently used by children, teenagers, and senior people to maintain healthy muscle core or recover from surgeries and injuries.

Review of Crown Sporting Goods Set of 2 Soft Neoprene Coated Dumbbell Set
Last updated price $14.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B00TKTQI2G

 

CAP SDPP-010

Keep up With Your Endurance Goals

If you have already brought your body into the desired shape, more likely than not, you exercise not only in the gym but also at home to maintain the muscle strength and further level up your endurance. So, a set of good weights is must-have sports gear and the dumbbells from BalanceFrom GoFit series will definitely add to your collection.

First things first, this dumbbell is available within the weight range from 5 lbs to 50 lbs, so, it is a perfect choice both for experienced athletes who are into resistance training and growing their lean mass and for those who are just at the beginning of their endurance journey and aim to grow their muscles.

As such, the dumbbells are solidly built and designed with safety and convenience in mind. They are made of cast iron and have a dependable steel handle in between. Due to their hexagon shape, they do not roll over the floor which makes them safe to use with other equipment. The Lb mark is engraved so it won't wear off over time and is perfectly visible from a distance. With regards to the handle, though it might look rather slim, it is pretty strong and durable. Plus, it features textured patterns which allow it to neatly fit into the palm and provide a comfortable and firm grip. Hence, despite its considerable weight, the dumbbell will not slip out of your hands.

Before wrapping this up, beware that because this dummbell is rather heavy, you may need to wear fitness gloves in order to avoid skin rubbing and callouses. Regardless, it isn't that big of an issue given that most athletes who regularly work out in the gym usually wear special gloves anyway.

In brief, this GoFit heavyweight dumbbell from BalanceFrom is a reliable and functional choice for professionals and experienced endurance athletes as well as a nice addition both to a home training arsenal and to any sports club or gym.

Review of CAP SDPP-010 Barbell Coated Hex Dumbbell

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B01LOSGT8S

 

Nice C 5-in-1

Adjustable and Versatile Sports Gear

As you have noticed, in the gyms, there's always a whole range of dumbbells from very light ones to heavier weights to meet different training needs. And if you are a fitness devotee and want to achieve a really good body shape and muscles contours, you know perfectly well that it is essential to start with lower weights and increase the load gradually. The catch is, not everyone can afford to buy a whole stand of dumbbells for home use. However, you don't need to. Dumbbells from Nice C can offer you something interesting.

At a glance, these weights look like a common pair of dumbbells you can come across in sports stores and any regular sports center or fitness club. However, they aren't that simple. The standout of these dumbbells is that they include a whole set of tools varying from 2.2 lbs to 11 lbs in weight. The trick is in the design of the gear. When you take a closer look at them, you will see that each dumbbell features removable caps on both sides, allowing you to fit as many weight bars inside as you want. This way, with an empty dumbbell weighing 2.2 lbs, you can increase the load in 1 lb or 0.8 lbs increment, adding smaller and bigger weight bars accordingly, depending on what goals you want to achieve. Such adjustable design not only saves you the need to purchase several dumbbell sets in different weights but also makes the Nice C dumbbells suitable for various training goals - losing weight, strengthening your whole body, shaping your core muscles, improving your endurance, and much more.

Speaking of material, the dumbbells are made of metal and coated with strong and practical neoprene material. The neoprene doesn't wear off and is very nice to the touch. In a combo with a curved handlebar, neoprene works to ensure a non-slip ergonomic grip. That way you can use them comfortably without wearing your fitness gloves and do not worry that they might somehow slip out from your hands.

All things considered, the Nice C set of dumbbells is the ultimate choice for any home gym. Taking minimum space and distinguished by an adjustable design, they will fit into any fitness scheme and training plan to meet the goals of beginners and experienced fitness fans alike.

Review of Nice C 5-in-1 Adjustable Dumbbell Weight Pair

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $65.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B083JLV3X5

 

What Is a Dumbbell?

Dumbbells are, in fact, the most simple and affordable strength training equipment which can benefit absolutely anyone who cares about their health and fitness. Dumbbells help you build your forearms, calves, and virtually any muscle as well as enhance your core and strengthen your back. Training with dumbbell weights is significantly different from training with a barbell. It involves more small stabilizing muscles, gives more freedom to your joints, yet, needs a better balance at the same time. As a result, the load is distributed more accurately and you can target the muscles more precisely. Besides, you’ll be able to make more versatile movements close to those occurring during sports. In our current review, we cover up the most popular types of dumbbells and offer our own shortlist of best dumbbells. Find the most suitable dumbbells to fit your needs!

We're sure that sports enthusiasts will also appreciate kettlebells, the popular sports equipment we're reviewing separately.

What Features to Compare

Type

The type of the dumbbells to buy depends on the activity you’re choosing them for. There are lots of varieties of dumbbells, suitable for different types of exercises and various loads. There are several common types of dumbbells:

  • Fitness dumbbells are popular dumbbells for women engaged in pilates, aerobics and other kinds of fitness activities which involve training with low added weight. Usually, they are hollow tubes filled with sand or other materials;
  • Fixed dumbbells are solid dumbbells made of various materials. They are perfect for children and for people who simply want to stay fit. This type of dumbbells is not designed for weight increment.
  • Adjustable weight dumbbells are probably the most convenient sports implements, consisting of a bar (can be of different diameter) and several weight plates. Such dumbbells let you gradually increase the load or set the appropriate weight for your results.
  • POWERBLOCK dumbbells are adjustable weight dumbbells with blocks, yet they have the significant advantage in adjusting the dumbbells weight. It takes no more than 2-3 seconds to set the needed weight load for your muscles. In fact, two PowerBlock dumbbells can replace a pile of fixed dumbbells and plates.

Choose the right type which meets your expectation and enjoy the maximum efficiency of your training!

Weight

Weight characteristics are the second important criteria to consider when you’re choosing your new dumbbells. A typical mistake beginners often make is the wrong choice of dumbbells weights. Muscles grow only thanks to the load, which we get during the exercise. If you can’t feel muscle fatigue after a certain number of repeats, then maybe the chosen weight is insufficient. Many types of dumbbells, such as adjustable and PowerBlock dumbbells, allow you to increase the weight with extra plates or blocks, which makes it possible to increase the load and achieve new results over time. Also, pay attention to the minimum weight increment which provides a smooth weight gain without disregarding the initial physical training.

Convenience and Practicality

Convenience and practicality are worth considering so to make your workout a pleasure. Pay attention to the design of the handlebar. There are metal and rubberized bars. Metal handles must necessarily have knurled surfaces. But the best option is rubber-coated dumbbell handles. They feel good in your hand and training with such dumbbells is much more comfortable. Dumbbells can also vary in collars. The collars can be different, but their functions are absolutely identical. Winding dumbbell collars provide reliable fastening, but it takes more time to change the weights. The others are spring collars which can be put on quickly, but require extra testing when fastened and also tend to wear out over time. Another important factor is the shape and the coating of the plates. Rubberized discs don’t bang on the floor, don’t scratch it and leave no dents.

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