Weights

clairele84
clairele84 Posts: 30 Member
in Fitness and Exercise

I’m starting some weight/strength training and I’m a bit lost as to which kind of weights to get to help with those exercises. Some have said kettlebells and some have said just generic weights - any thoughts please?

Replies

  • Cant_think_of_a_username
    Cant_think_of_a_username Posts: 104 Member

    Hi Claire - which exercises did you have in mind?

    The movement pattern for kettlebell exercises is quite different to dumbbells or barbells but with any of them, the most important thing is to learn proper form to avoid injuries.

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 36,692 Member

    Having done some of both, my suggestion would be to look at some videos of people using them, and pick the one that looks the most fun/interesting. Either can be good, when well-used. Enjoying the work is helpful, because we're more likely to do it more often.

    If you have a chance to go to a gym or friend's home gym and try it out a few times, that's even better.

    With either kettlebell, dumbbells, or barbells - though I hate to say it - we're not talking about a one-and-done purchase. As you get stronger, there are various ways to increase the challenge and keep progress going while using the same weight, but eventually there will be a need to add weight. That means more equipment.

    Some people like adjustable weight dumbbells, and some hate them. (They also tend to be expensive.) You can get bars - dumbbell length or barbell length - and weight plates to go on them for a bit of flexibility, as one option. But you will be changing weights between exercises, then: As you doubtless know, different exercises require a different weight to be challenging. Bars/plates may be a little easier to store in the long run than lots of dumbbells, though (speaking as someone who likes dumbbells but now has quite a range 😆).

    Since you say you've started strength training already, you may also know that there are bodyweight strength programs that can be effective, and require minimal or no equipment. Another option is suspension training - TRX is the well-known brand, but there are other good-quality ones that are less expensive than TRX. They don't require a lot of storage space, and can even travel pretty well. If you're not sure what you'd like, you might consider one of those as a starting point that's affordable and not as space-consuming. There are videos to learn from, or there may even be classes in your area.

    An option to consider would be to see what you can buy used in your area, probably ideally directly from a consumer who bought and lost interest (often cheapest), but there are also reseller shops for exercise equipment in some places. What's available/affordable is another way to look at what to choose, if you don't have a personal preference.

    An ideal way to learn is a short stint with a personal trainer, if that's affordable. Form is important for injury avoidance, and trying out different options in a personal training situation could help you decide. There are online form videos for any of these, but it can be difficult to sort out which ones to trust - though people here could probably help with that. It's harder to critique and refine our own form, though, even if we video ourselves - that's where a trainer can be especially helpful.

    Just a few thoughts. Best wishes for success with your strength training, no matter what route you choose!

  • Retroguy2000
    Retroguy2000 Posts: 2,067 Member

    I have a heavy bias to db over kb. AFAIK, they're far more useful for meeting strength building goals especially.

    Most expensive and most convenient:

    Fixed db's. Say you have a pair of 20's and a pair of 10's now. Fine. Then you progress, you realize you can do more for back and squats, and Romanian deadlift, so you want a pair of 30's. OK. Now it's getting expensive, and 2/3rds of that cost is essentially paying again the cost of the 20's you already own. Then next year you need a pair of 40's. Rinse repeat. Unless you plan to compromise on your exercise selection and progression methods, you'll need a lot of money and space for this.

    Not as expensive, compact, convenient:

    Pair of adjustable db's. Be sure they can go quite a bit heavier than you currently need, to factor in future progression. Check garagegymreviews on YT for reviews of most of them. You might be able to get a great deal second hand via Facebook etc.

    Least expensive and least convenient:

    Loadable db sleeves. Buy weight plates separately, e.g. a pair of sleeves with 2" sleeves then buy standard 2" plates in increments of 2.5, 5, 10. Buy a couple pairs of good quality collars. The downside is, these are slow to change weight. If you're between exercises, no big deal, you're resting between sets anyway. If you want to do super-sets or drop-sets, much less convenient. The upside is, if you need another 5 pounds on each db, just buy four 2.5 pound plates for about $20 total. And, if you get a barbell, you can use all the plates on that too. If you get fixed db's or an adjustable db, then also a barbell, you'll need to buy all the plates you need for the barbell.

    A bench is also hugely helpful. FID preferably, which gives you more angles for shoulder press, chest supported row, preacher curl, incline press, lying hamstring curl, back extension, etc.

  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 14,274 Member

    I second the suggestion of a bench. They're not that expensive, either.

    Something not mentioned so far is bands, which are highly portable, take minimal room, and easily expandable to higher weights. The downside is you have to get creative for a few exercises.

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