Working out at home is a great affordable way to stay active without leaving your home or spending a small fortune on a fitness membership. And while you may want to hit your local gym for things like classes or using speciality machinery, having a few pieces of equipment like adjustable dumbbells, a yoga mat or a ball at your place can keep you motivated in reaching your health and wellness goals.
To give you a helping hand, we break down everything you need to know about adjustable dumbbells, how they work and our top pick for our favourite brands.
How do adjustable dumbbells work
Adjustable dumbbells work like regular dumbbells you find at your gym. However the main difference is what you’re probably used to are ‘fixed’ dumbbells. This means the weights are attached to the handles and stay put. Whereas adjustable dumbbells can – you guessed it – be adjusted!
The weights are removable and usually feature a lock system so you can set your own weight, lock it in and you’re good to go. The benefits being you don’t need to own half a dozen sets of weights – one pair will do the trick making it a great cost effective and space saving piece of equipment.
The best classic adjustable dumbbells
The iron weight plates come in 10kg and 20kg increments so you can slowly work your way up to the maximum 30kg. It can even turn into a barbell thanks to a connector that joins the two dumbbells creating the perfect equipment for squats and deadlifts.
Ideal for beginners, this set includes a total of 20kg across eight different weight plates, two dumbbell bars and four spinlocks to hold everything in place. Plus you can pack it away in a handy carry case so it stays out of the way.
Setting you back just $55, this two-in-one set from Kmart includes four 1.25kg and four 2.5kg weight plates, a grip handle, five star collars and three rods. Use it as a dumbbell or switch up the configuration to create a kettlebell for your at-home routine.
The best easy to adjust dumbbells
Weighing up to 24kg on either side, this compact set is perfect for your home gym. Adjust the weight by turning a dial which locks it into place so there’s no need for annoying screwing or turning. Turn up the heat in increments of 1.2kg and 2.5kg to find the right set for you.
Ranging from a starting point of 2.5kg all the way up to 24kg, this set is basically 15 sets of weight in one. It’s great for those looking to slowly and steadily increase their strength, while the dial mechanism makes it such a breeze to switch between weights.
The best premium adjustable dumbbells
This compact set of dumbbells doesn’t require any twisting or threading to adjust. Simply slide in a pin mechanism to tailor the weight to your exact needs. Each adjustment increases by 3lb (or 1.4kg) for a total of 24lbs (roughly 11kg) making it a great space-saving option. It also features this open handle design to increase your range of motion.
Erring on the more luxe end of things, this 32kg set from Sumo Strength is compact, sleek, and made from quality grade materials. Quickly twist to lock in your ideal weight in place, weighing from 4kg up to the full 32 in nine different increments. It also comes with holders to keep everything tucked away when not in use.
Weighing up to 48kg, this one set is a barbell, kettlebell and dumbbells all in one. This versatile set can be easily adjusted to your desired configuration and weight for a total of 36 different variations. There’s no screwing involved either, just twist to lock in your chosen weight in place.
How much do adjustable dumbbells weigh
The weight of a pair of adjustable dumbbells will vary from brand to brand. Some weigh as little as 15kg while others can go as high as 32kg or even 50kg per dumbbell.
When choosing which set is right for you, determine what kind of workouts you’ll be doing at home and how you’ll be using the weights as some come with some pretty cool features like a connecting barbell, open-designed handles and comfortable grips.
How to adjust adjustable dumbbells
Each brand and make will have slightly different ways of working but essentially, it’s quite a simple process to adjust the weights of your dumbbells. Many types will feature a dumbbell that allows you to manually screw on weights on either side.
To adjust, simply unscrew and replace it with a heavier or lighter weight. Other varieties have a pull pin that you insert into the dumbbells at certain weight points. While some work with a screw and lock mechanism allowing you to adjust the weight by turning a dial.
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