Adjustable Dumbbells

If you want to train with dumbbells at home, but don’t have the space for a full rack of free weights, adjustable dumbbells are an excellent option. 

A particularly practical option for home gyms, one pair of adjustable dumbbells can take up a fraction of the space of a full collection of fixed dumbbells, while still giving you plenty of scope to build strength and progress your training. Rather than having a separate pair for every weight, you can change the resistance on the same dumbbell and use it for a wide range of exercises.

The Benefits of Adjustable Dumbbells

The biggest advantage of adjustable dumbbells is that you get several weights in just one pair, letting you move between exercises that demand lighter or heavier weights without having to keep multiple pairs of fixed dumbbells around. This makes them especially useful if you’re putting together a home gym in a spare room, garage or somewhere else where space is at a premium.

They’re also a good option if you’re still progressing with your strength training. Instead of buying a new pair every time your current weights become too light, you can simply increase the weight on your adjustable dumbbells.

How Do Adjustable Dumbbells work?

Adjustable dumbbells have a built-in mechanism for changing the weight. Depending on the model, you’ll use a dial, selector, rotating handle or similar system to choose the weight you want. The unused weight stays in the dumbbell’s base, so changing between settings is usually much quicker than manually adding weight plates.

Adjustable vs Fixed Dumbbells

Fixed dumbbells are hard to beat for ease of use. You simply pick up the weight you want and start training. If you have enough space for a storage rack and use several different weights during each workout, they can make a lot of sense for both home and commercial gyms.

The downside is that a collection of fixed dumbbells quickly takes up space as your strength and experience grows. It can also become expensive if you want a large range of weights for different exercises.

Adjustable dumbbells take the opposite approach. You have fewer pieces of equipment to store, but need to change the weight when moving between exercises or sets. For a home gym where space is limited, that’s often a worthwhile trade-off.