6 best adjustable dumbbells for home workouts in 2024
Looking to build muscle and tone your body but hate the gym? Adjustable dumbbells are just what you need. Here’s our round up of the very best on the market right now.
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Are you looking to build muscle and tone your body but hate going to the gym? Then adjustable dumbbells could just be what you’re after to level up your home workouts.
Think about it: one pair of adjustable dumbbells replaces a full rack of standard weights.
Not only does that mean you can save a tonne of space at home (no need for a fully kitted out home gym here!), adjustable dumbbells are also super versatile. As the name suggests, you can easily add or remove weights to the intensity you’re after to workout different areas of your body, all while in the comfort of your own home. What’s not to love?
Here we’ve rounded up the very best adjustable dumbbells you can buy right now, from budget to bougie, including the five-star rated PowerBlock Sport 24. Shoppers say these “game-changing weights” are “genius” thanks to its easy-to-use selector pin to quickly and easily adjust the weights.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
Our team of experienced writers spend hours researching products to include in articles. We find out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews. We also spoke to Ben Lucas, director of Flow Athletic, former NRL player, and one of Australia’s leading personal trainers, about the benefits of working out with dumbbells, plus his top tips for training with dumbbells.
In this article
- Are dumbbell workouts effective?
- What are the benefits of dumbbell training?
- How often should you workout with dumbbells?
- Tips for best dumbbell workouts
BEST ADJUSTABLE DUMBBELLS
PowerBlock Sport 24, $370 at Gym and Fitness
What You Need To Know
PowerBlock is renowned globally for its dumbbells that are “adjustable, convenient, and compact”. Our pick for newbies is the PowerBlock Sport 24 which can be adjusted from 1.4kg to 10.9kg per hand. (Looking for something heavier? The range goes up to 23kg).
What has made PowerBlock dumbbells so popular is the clever space-saving design which can be taken anywhere as well as the fast and easy adjustability of the weights, where you simply change to your desired weight with a secure magnetic pin.
With a five-star rating, reviewers love the “game-changing” weight set.
“Absolutely love these, I have saved a heap of space in my gym, these have also saved me time as changing the weight is much easier than the old spin lock dumbbells they replaced,” a five-star reviewer wrote.
“I’m loving these weights. They are so quick to change the weight that I don’t have to pause my workout videos in between reps anymore,” another said.
PROIRON 20kg Cast Iron Adjustable Dumbbell Set, $111.99 (down from $139.99) at Amazon
What You Need To Know
The highly rated Proiron 20kg weight set is Amazon’s Choice for adjustable dumbbells with an impressive 4.5 stars from over 12,600 ratings.
The value for money dumbbell set includes two handles, four 0.5kg plates, four 1.25kg plates, four 2.5kg plates, 4 collars, and an extended bar. The Proiron set has been praised for its versatility as it can be easily changed from two dumbbells to a barbell, giving you more choice in your workouts.
Five-star reviews love the “great value” and “good quality” of this dumbbell set.
“Quick delivery, great product, easy to assemble and disassemble. Sturdy and very secured. Good for small space, easy to stow away,” a shopper enthused.
“I’m just an Aussie bloke who had a gym membership costing $70/month. I brought this, cancelled that, and now love doing weights at home. So much more effective. Really good build quality,” another reviewer wrote.
What You Need To Know
For those looking to up the ante, the PowerTrain adjustable dumbbell set goes up to 24kg on each side. With 15 different weight options to choose from (effectively replacing 15 individual dumbbell sets), you’ll be able get a full body workout with these adjustable dumbbells.
Best of all, you won’t waste any time adjusting weights – with a simple turn of the dial, you can quickly change the weight of each dumbbell from 2.5kg up to 24kg thanks to the locking mechanism that secures only the weights you want.
Ideal for small spaces, each set comes with two 24kg adjustable dumbbells and two dumbbell holders.
What You Need To Know
The Centra adjustable weight set – which can be turned into dumbbells and a barbell – includes four 2.5kg plates, four 2kg plates, four 1.5kg plates, four 1.25kg plates, four end nuts, two dumbbell bar, one extra thick barbell bar, two wrist supports and two sport gloves.
Equipped with an innovative anti-loose lock on either side to prevent the weights from slipping, as well as a anti-slip handlebar to help you maintain a strong grip, this multifunctional set will take your home gym to the next level.
Domyos 20kg Dumbbell Kit, $95 (down from $119) at Decathlon
What You Need To Know
An excellent option for beginners wanting to start weight training exercises at home, the Domyos Kit comes with two 2kg threaded bars, four chrome-plated spinlock disc collars, eight 1kg weight discs, and four 2kg weight discs.
Made of durable cast iron, the discs and steel bars have a five year guarantee. The kit is also super easy to store away and transport thanks to its carry case.
With over 3000 reviews on the Decathlon site and a 4.46 rating, fans of the dumbbell kit say it’s “easy to set up”, a “nice price” and praise the “great equipment”.
Force USA 20kg Dumbbell Weight Set, $129 at Gym and Fitness
What You Need To Know
Our pick from Gym and Fitness, one of Australia’s premier online retailers of fitness equipment, is this well-priced Force USA 20kg Dumbbell Weight Set.
Easily transported in a tough black carry case that includes a padded insert to keep everything safe, this weight set includes four 2.5kg plates, four 1.25kg plates, four 0.5kg plates and two 1.5kg spin lock dumbbell handles.
Made of commercial quality cast iron, the plates won’t crack or split when dropped so you can give it your all in your training sessions. The non-sweat knurled grips are made for comfort and the weight plates can be locked and unlocked quickly with the spin spiral collars.
ARE DUMBBELL WORKOUTS EFFECTIVE?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DUMBBELL TRAINING?
- You can hold onto them while doing compound movements such as squats and lunges
- You can also incorporate them into the movement to add more work, such as including a bicep curl, fly or overhead press
- You can do some across-body stability work to really challenge your core and work every muscle
- You can do arm exercises
- You can also add them into floor work, such as doing a push-up, and then dragging the dumbbell in front of you to work the back of your shoulder
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU WORKOUT WITH DUMBBELLS?
TIPS FOR BEST DUMBBELL WORKOUTS
Starting out or want a reminder about best practices? Here’s Ben’s advice for getting the most out of your dumbbell workouts:
Start with the right weight: Choose a weight that challenges you but allows you to maintain proper form. If you’re just starting, begin with a lighter weight and gradually increase as you get stronger.
Warm-up: Warm up your muscles with light cardio or dynamic stretching before starting your dumbbell workout. This helps prevent injury and improves flexibility.
Maintain proper form: Focus on proper form to prevent injuries and maximise the effectiveness of your exercises. Pay attention to your posture, keep your core engaged, and move through the full range of motion.
Balance your routine: Work all major muscle groups to create a balanced workout routine. Include exercises for your arms, shoulders, chest, back, legs, and core.
Compound movements: Incorporate compound movements that engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously. Examples include squats, lunges, and overhead press. These exercises are efficient for working several muscle groups at once.
Controlled movements: Focus on controlled movements throughout the entire exercise. Avoid using momentum to lift the weight, as this reduces the effectiveness of the exercise and increases the risk of injury.
Breathing: Breathe steadily and consistently throughout each exercise. Exhale during the exertion phase (lifting) and inhale during the relaxation phase (lowering the weight).
Rest and recovery: Allow adequate rest between sets to give your muscles time to recover. Overtraining can lead to fatigue and increase the risk of injury.
Progressive overload: Gradually increase the weight or resistance as your strength improves. This principle, known as progressive overload, is crucial for continuous improvement.
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