Adjustable dumbbells?

runjosrun

Anyone have experience with these? Are they any good? Best ones out there?

Thanks!

Cherimoose

Sure, they can work for a base level of strength if your goals are modest (fat loss, "toning up", etc). For a newbie female, i'd get one that can go to 25 lbs/12 kg per hand. Your budget will determine whether to get the old school kind with a simple bar and plates, or the newer quick-release kind that's more convenient but much more expensive. The advantage to plates is you can slip them on a longer bar to do squats and deadlifts, since you may need more weight with those eventually. Either way, check second-hand outlets for good deals.

Keto_Vampire

I've got a set of bowflex adjustable DBs...buyer's remorse. Main dislike being the awkward handling/bumping into each other of weights when doing bilateral stuff. I actually like taking out the plates & using them as plate weights (eliminates this issue)

If I could reverse time...these appear to be the best designed & most versatile (worth it for venturing into higher weights). Brandon Campbell has a very good youtube video review on this particular set. $$$...could possibly look for on Craig's list, etc.

Or the kind Jeff Cavalier uses in his athleanX videos look ok (blocky but normal shape)
Also to consider would be adjustable Kettle-bells

Cahgetsfit

I have the old school little short bar that you stick plates on each side and screw into place with a little thing. It works.

sgt1372

I have a 2x50# pair of Gold's Gym adjustable dumbells w/a stand that I bought chesp off of Craigslist.

Saves a lot of space and work well but I never use them because I just do barbell lifting instead.

kshama2001

My ex had adjustables years ago but they were a pain. While there may have been improvements since, when it was time for me to buy, I went with this set: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RNW3OQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1



I also have 3's, 8's, and 12's that I bought at Walmart.

I like doing my knee strengthening exercises in between sets and don't want to spend time fussing with adjusting instead.

collectingblues

Cahgetsfit wrote: »

I have the old school little short bar that you stick plates on each side and screw into place with a little thing. It works.

That's the kind I use, and yup, it works. They're only limited by my strength and the plates that i have.

I know those powerblock things are trendy, but I don't want some piece of equipment to put a limit on what I think I can do.

CharlieCharlie007

I have powerblocks. Expensive but they are awesome.

emmies_123

we have a set that I use regularly for home strength videos. They seem more awkward than individual handweights, but storage takes up a lot less space. The rattling (even though they are locked in place) can get annoying on certain moves, and it is not easy to adjust weight if video calls for light/heavy set and mixes it up a lot. I tend to just do everything on my "heavy" setting and focus on maintaining form if not number of reps. Can also lead to bruising if you have any moves to rack them on shoulders or at hips, due to bulky edges.

pondee629

I like the PowerBlocks. Easily adjustable for many weights ranges. 2.5# differences.

sardelsa

I have the Bowflex ones. They each go up to 52.5lbs. I know some people find them bulky or they get stuck sometimes. I like them and haven't had too many issues with them.

jnomadica

Another vote for PowerBlocks, they’re great.

ExistingFish

Keto_Vampire wrote: »

I've got a set of bowflex adjustable DBs...buyer's remorse. Main dislike being the awkward handling/bumping into each other of weights when doing bilateral stuff. I actually like taking out the plates & using them as plate weights (eliminates this issue)

If I could reverse time...these appear to be the best designed & most versatile (worth it for venturing into higher weights). Brandon Campbell has a very good youtube video review on this particular set. $$$...could possibly look for on Craig's list, etc.

Or the kind Jeff Cavalier uses in his athleanX videos look ok (blocky but normal shape)
Also to consider would be adjustable Kettle-bells

Jeff uses (and sells) AthleanX branded Powerblocks. They seem to come with good reviews.

I personally have my eye on the ones you have in the picture, the Ironmaster ones. They are aesthetically pleasing as well as functional.

Powerblocks are functional, and I'd take them in a heartbeat if I found a good deal on them, but given the money...I'd bet the Ironmasters.

MikePfirrman

sardelsa wrote: »

I have the Bowflex ones. They each go up to 52.5lbs. I know some people find them bulky or they get stuck sometimes. I like them and haven't had too many issues with them.

I have these too. I like them a lot. Expensive, but I like them.

For someone that doesn't want to spend this much, though, I'd go with the handles that have the metal screw on holders with thin plates. Much cheaper.

I have a set like this as well.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/CAP-Barbell-Standard-14-Dumbbell-Handle-w-Collars-Single/45014178?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227032527338&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=63410713712&wl4=aud-566049426705:pla-127090717712&wl5=9030253&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=45014178&veh=sem&gclid=CjwKCAjw4NrpBRBsEiwAUcLcDMyGvXB4JigDgze7LRYgWWtF5dy_wy_ImxMh4SXfavQs9VGZu-N_axoCzNcQAvD_BwE

You have to buy the plates, but I've bought them slowly at a Play it Again Sports for fairly cheap.

runjosrun

Thanks for all the tips, guess I’ll start shopping around and saving for the power blocks or boflex 300$ is nuts for weights

angmarie28

I have 2 sets of the ones that you use plates on. its nice because I can have 2 weights ready to go. The convenience of the other type would be nice, but they are way more than I care to pay for so Ill stick to my cheap basic set. you can get a set with 2 dumbbells, and a few weight plates for $40 I think its enough weight for 2 20lb dumbells

MikePfirrman

angmarie28 wrote: »

I have 2 sets of the ones that you use plates on. its nice because I can have 2 weights ready to go. The convenience of the other type would be nice, but they are way more than I care to pay for so Ill stick to my cheap basic set. you can get a set with 2 dumbbells, and a few weight plates for $40 I think its enough weight for 2 20lb dumbells

Yes, like this one. It's all most people need. Why wait to save $300 when you might be able to afford these now?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Gold-s-Gym-Adjustable-Cast-Dumbbell-Set-40-lbs/21672511

Any local good quality store will have something similar. Like Dicks or Play it Again Sports. Doesn't have to be WallyWorld.

cwolfman13

runjosrun wrote: »

Thanks for all the tips, guess I’ll start shopping around and saving for the power blocks or boflex 300$ is nuts for weights

Weights are expensive in general...but as a beginner, you can start with something cheaper and upgrade down the road if it's something you end up committed to. As a beginner, I wouldn't fork out a bunch of cash right now without knowing how committed you're actually going to be in using them.

From experience, I have over the years had a whole host of various equipment and gear that I thought I would use...some of it I have (my bike was my best investment)...but I've also wasted a bunch of money on stuff that ends up just sitting there until I decide to sell it (don't make all my money back) or just donate it.

Cherimoose

Another advantage to starting with a cheap set is you can learn what you don't like about the set (if anything) so you can choose your next set based on your personal preferences. Or you might decide you want a set of conventional dumbbells instead, or even barbells. Most people with high-end weights started with regular ones.
In the end, weights are weights - the more important thing is following a good program.