Adjustable weights

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jaz050465
jaz050465 Posts: 3,508 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Just started Chalean Extreme and will soon nee extra weights. I was thinking of getting adjustable ones. Do you get what you pay for or has anyone got cheaper ones they can recommend.

Unlikely to get second hand ones as not very populated where I live, and too expensive to ship them.
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Replies

  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
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    Lots of websites are having "carry over" Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales right now that generally include free shipping. Look at ****'s (The store, not porn. Unless you want to; no judgement here).
  • marathon64
    marathon64 Posts: 378 Member
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    I got mine from Sears and they are GREAT! They are marketed under different brands. I got the Welder's they are 25 Lb adjustable (they are sold individually not as a set) My husband has the select tech's from Bowflex which go up to 52 lbs and are much pricier. Shop around for sales/coupons on the sears ones. The select tech often runs specials including th stand. here is the link for mine:

    http://www.sears.com/weider-powerswitch-adjustable-25-lb-hand-weight/p-00615702000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2
  • Mom_24
    Mom_24 Posts: 7
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    I have the lesser expensive ones from Academy, and they work fine for my needs. Adjustable weights are a little bulky though (I would imagine, no matter the brand), but I guess save money and space in the long run.

    Edit:
    Okay the Sears ones mentioned above seem less bulky than mine. Mine do go up to 50 lbs. each, but I don't know if I will get to the point of lifting 50 lbs, one-handed anyway. Mine were $170/set a few years ago at a Black Friday sale. HTH.
  • Farburnfred
    Farburnfred Posts: 333 Member
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    I got mine from Argos (UK) and have a couple of caveats..1/ really be careful what weights they add up to. so mine have plates that are 1.25kg and 2.5kg..so my choices are 3kg, 3.75 kg then 5kg, 7.5 and so on, slightly odd and of course you have to keep them balanced so you go up in some big jumps..

    2/ the grips are not very good.

    that said very useful bit of kit for when I can't get to the gym
  • HeatherMN
    HeatherMN Posts: 3,821 Member
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    I've read a TON of reviews on the various adjustable weights and wasn't impressed with how many people said that the weights didn't lock into the place and actually FELL OUT! Unfortunately, this was the case for all brands I could find on Amazon. I was ready to order the Bowflex 552s and decided since I have the space, it would probably be safer and cheaper in the long run to just buy used dumbbells in the weight increments I need from Craigslist. The thought of needing to replace parts on the adjustable weights ($130 to replace a handle!!) makes me think they aren't a good long-term investment.

    Just my $0.02 from doing the research on them.

    But, if you decide to go with some adjustable ones, the Bowflex Selecttech 552s are on sale for $279 on Amazon right now.

    Oh, and the Weider PowerSwitch from Sears, mentioned above, look to be better quality but they don't go high enough for my needs. By the second month of ChaLean, I was already past using 30 lbs in each hand for the lower body (squats, lunges) moves. Something to think about.

    Best of luck to you!
  • joannathechef
    joannathechef Posts: 484 Member
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    I have the bowflex ones and I love them! Shop around though - oh I did not buy the rack for them it was too much money. I bend down and pick'um up - kind of what I am doing anyway LOL
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
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    If I were to get some I'd get the Ironmaster ones. The base set only goes to 75lbs but you can get addons for 120 or even 165, which is enough for anyone.

    http://www.ironmaster.com/Quick-Lock-Dumbbells/
  • EmilyOfTheSun
    EmilyOfTheSun Posts: 1,548 Member
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    I bought these and they have been working great for me. Though I fear I need bigger ones already lol.
    They go from 3 - 24 lbs in three pound increments.

    http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=PowerBlock+SportBlock+24+Adjustable+3+to+24-Pounds+per+Dumbbell+Set+
  • jaz050465
    jaz050465 Posts: 3,508 Member
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    Forgot to say-,I,m from the UK. I also don't want to have to add and take away weights-I'm looking the the type you 'dial' the weight.
  • HeatherMN
    HeatherMN Posts: 3,821 Member
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    If I were to get some I'd get the Ironmaster ones. The base set only goes to 75lbs but you can get addons for 120 or even 165, which is enough for anyone.

    http://www.ironmaster.com/Quick-Lock-Dumbbells/

    Thanks for sharing these! These never came up in my search and they look more reliable/sturdier than the other options out there.
  • joannathechef
    joannathechef Posts: 484 Member
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    I have the lesser expensive ones from Academy, and they work fine for my needs. Adjustable weights are a little bulky though (I would imagine, no matter the brand), but I guess save money and space in the long run.

    Edit:
    Okay the Sears ones mentioned above seem less bulky than mine. Mine do go up to 50 lbs. each, but I don't know if I will get to the point of lifting 50 lbs, one-handed anyway. Mine were $170/set a few years ago at a Black Friday sale. HTH.

    you will be surprised how fats you get there LOL
  • marathon64
    marathon64 Posts: 378 Member
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    Look for the weider ones by brand name. They are also marketed under a different brand. Maybe Jillian Michaels or something? Hopefully they are available in the UK. In the US Target carries them also.
  • joannathechef
    joannathechef Posts: 484 Member
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    I have an adjustable kettleball too - that's pretty useful too
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
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    If I were to get some I'd get the Ironmaster ones. The base set only goes to 75lbs but you can get addons for 120 or even 165, which is enough for anyone.

    http://www.ironmaster.com/Quick-Lock-Dumbbells/

    Thanks for sharing these! These never came up in my search and they look more reliable/sturdier than the other options out there.

    Sure thing. I've heard nothing but good things about them. Only downside is the cost, but I guess you get what you pay for. It's nice that they have ez-curl bars and straight bars and even kettlebells that take the same weights for a little but of modularity.

    Just a forewarning to those that are looking at sets, make sure the weighs go up high enough. I would say bare minimum 50lbs, ideally more. You might just be starting out now but in 6 months I bet you could use 50lb dumbbells with certain exercises, such as bent-over rows. Plus you can do DB squats or even deadlifts which will require significant weight. (assuming you don't have a barbell setup to do these things).
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
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    You do get what you pay for. Generally the only ones worth buying cost in the area of $300 a pair (excluding sale prices of course). The brands known to make the best ones are Powerblock, Ironmaster, and Bowflex. Weider's higher end ones are comparable as well. Bowflex is questionable because they make slight modifications to the design of their Selecttech dumbbells every year, which are hit or miss.
  • zaph0d
    zaph0d Posts: 1,172 Member
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    I have PowerBlock dumbbells. They are excellent - http://www.powerblock.com.
    Mine go from 5-90 lbs. I can further expand them up to 120.
    I have seen used ones on craigslist.

    I would avoid any that only go up to 50 lbs and cannot be expanded. You WILL grow out of them.
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
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    I have PowerBlock dumbbells. They are excellent - http://www.powerblock.com.
    Mine go from 5-90 lbs. I can further expand them up to 120.
    I have seen used ones on craigslist.

    I would avoid any that only go up to 50 lbs and cannot be expanded. You WILL grow out of them.

    The ones you have are the only ones I personally would consider buying.
  • Leadfoot_Lewis
    Leadfoot_Lewis Posts: 1,623 Member
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    I absolutely LOVE my Bowflex adjustable dumbbells. I've had them for over 5 years now and have never had any issues with them.
  • xxthoroughbred
    xxthoroughbred Posts: 346 Member
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    I got a nice pair of dumbells from ****'s Sporting Goods after a bad experience with the adjustable ones (plates falling out, not locking in place, etc.). I much prefer these because I never have to worry about plates falling on me and I think they were less money for more weight. And then you just need to keep getting plates as you go up.
  • zaph0d
    zaph0d Posts: 1,172 Member
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    I have PowerBlock dumbbells. They are excellent - http://www.powerblock.com.
    Mine go from 5-90 lbs. I can further expand them up to 120.
    I have seen used ones on craigslist.

    I would avoid any that only go up to 50 lbs and cannot be expanded. You WILL grow out of them.

    The ones you have are the only ones I personally would consider buying.

    These actually look very good too, but I don't have any first-hand experience with them: http://www.ironmaster.com/Quick-Lock-Dumbbells/

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