The Best Adjustable Dumbbells
Want to exercise with free weights in your home gym but don’t have space for a rack of dumbbells that includes every weight you’ll need? Consider buying a pair of adjustable-weight dumbbells. Buyer reviews from multiple sources place Bowflex Selecttech at the top of the adjustable dumbbell category. Selecttech dumbbells use a twist dial on the side of the dumbbell to adjust the weight. The Selecttech 552 model pair of dumbbells adjusts from 5 pounds to 52.5 pounds in 2.5-pound increments for the first 25 pounds, while the heavier 1090 model dumbbells adjust from 10 pounds to 90 pounds in 5-pound increments. Bowflex also manufacturers a weight stand that can hold a pair of either the 552 model dumbbells or the 1090 model dumbbells.
What do buyers love about Selecttech dumbbells? Positive reviews tended to note the following:
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells (2009 Model)
- They’re affordable: Buying a single pair of these adjustable dumbbells is less expensive than buying a complete set of fixed-weight dumbbells to cover the same weight range in 5-pound intervals.
- They’re compact: Rather than filling your workout space with free weights at each weight you need, you can have a single pair of dumbbells that provides every weight you need. This is a great way to save space if you use a wide range of weights during your workouts or plan to share dumbbells with a partner or family member who uses a different weight range than you do.
- They’re easy-to-use: The adjustable dial on the side of each dumbbell allows you to change weight up or down quickly during your workout. Many buyers also highly recommended dumbbell stand, which makes lifting, moving, and storing the dumbbells a breeze.
So what’s the downside? Some buyers of the Selecttech dumbbells experienced the following problems:
- When working out using a weight at the lower end of the range, some users thought the Selecttech dumbbells felt bulky.
- Some users found changing the weight between exercises to be more time consuming than simply dropping the weight and picking up the next desired weight, as is possible with fixed-weight free weights.
- Some users complained that the weight plates don’t always fully lock onto the handle after adjusting the weight, leading to a safety issue where the weight may slip off the handle.
If you don’t need a full 50- or 90-pound dumbbell, several manufacturers offer lighter-weight adjustable dumbbells. The Stamina Versa-Bell II dumbbells cover the 2.5- to 25-range in 2.5-pound increments, while the Reebok Speed Pac dumbbells range from 2.5 to 12.5 pounds in 2.5 pound increments.
Once you purchase a set and learn a number of exercises with adjustable dumbbells, you’ll be able to perform high-quality free weights exercises from home!