Are Adjustable Dumbbells Worth it?
Now is a good time to invest in home gym equipment—or upgrade the equipment you have. The global fitness equipment industry had $10.31 billion in sales in 2020 alone, and is expected to grow to $15.25 billion by 2026. That means there are more equipment options than ever available, so you can outfit your home workout space with nearly anything you need to help you get a great workout.
With more choices, you’ll also have to make some decisions. What equipment do you need to build or maintain your fitness? How much space do you have in your home, and how much do you have to spend? The price of fitness equipment can range from very affordable to a small fortune, and you can get compact pieces, or choose items that will take up most of a spare bedroom or garage.
So are adjustable dumbbells worth it? What are the benefits of adjustable dumbbells and are they worth the investment? We break it down to make your decision easier.
One Essential Piece: Adjustable Dumbbells
You can Google essential home gym equipment and come up with thousands of lists of what fitness experts say you should have to stay fit. One item that’s going to show up on nearly every list is a good set of adjustable dumbbells. The benefits of adjustable dumbbells make them an essential piece of equipment in your home gym.
Versatile
You can use adjustable dumbbells for a variety of exercises and get a full-body workout. They also work different muscles than machines or barbells, including stabilizing muscles.
Space saving
They don’t take up much room and can be stored out of sight. Simply pull them out when you want to use them. You can keep them by your desk for a quick workout between Zoom meetings, or even take them outside on a nice day to enjoy some fresh air.
Easy
They are simple to use. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or expert, you can get going right away using adjustable dumbbells.
Maintain balanced strength
Adjustable dumbbells make your muscles work unilaterally, so you’re using a single leg or arm at a time. The benefit of adjustable dumbbells used in unilateral exercises is that they make you use both sides of your body equally, making it difficult to develop a stronger side. Dumbbells can also help correct imbalances that may already exist and help prevent injuries.
Other benefits
Beyond muscle training, adjustable dumbbells can help strengthen bones and improve your balance. Weight training can also improve your metabolism, body composition, and help you sleep better.
Traditional dumbbells are a simple design and have remained largely unchanged over the years. You’re already familiar with fixed dumbbells, where each dumbbell has a set weight. A more recent innovation is the adjustable dumbbell, where you can change the weight of a single dumbbell. Depending on the design, quality and weight range available, adjustable dumbbells can be an affordable, versatile addition to your home gym.
Are Adjustable Dumbbells Any Good?
Looking at both adjustable and fixed dumbbells, here’s how they stack up against each other.
Cost
What does it cost to get a decent set of dumbbells? The average adjustable set includes two dumbbells that can be adjusted in 5 pound increments from 5 lb. to 50 lb. and costs about $400. That’s about one third of the cost of a comparable set of fixed dumbbells, which will run about $1200 or more. You can save money by buying a few fixed dumbbells at a time, but as you get stronger, you’ll need to buy heavier weights for your set. Eventually those additional pieces can cost far more than a single set of adjustable dumbbells.
Size
Where will you store your dumbbells? While dumbbells are small to begin with, adjustable dumbbells take up even less space than a comparable fixed set of dumbbells. A set of adjustable dumbbells that range from 5 to 50 lb. each have 10 different weights in each dumbbell but only have the footprint of the 50lb. dumbbells. In the Core Home Fitness Adjustable Dumbbell Set, each dumbbell measures 14.5 inches long, 7.9 inches wide, and 7.5 inches high. That’s only slightly larger than an average athletic shoe box. They weigh a total of 100 lb., and easily fit in a small space in a closet or under a bed, or can be tucked inconspicuously along the wall in a bedroom, living room, or home office. A comparable set of fixed dumbbells in 5 lb. increments has 20 separate pieces and weighs 550 lb. total. They are best stored on a rack for ease of use, which takes up considerably more space.
Adjustability
Are adjustable dumbbells easy to use? Sets like the one from Core Home Fitness are easy to adjust the weight and start using. With the dumbbell in its cradle, a simple twist of the handle lets you quickly dial in the desired weight, without having to manually add or remove plates. Just dial, pick it up, and start lifting. It’s no more effort than choosing the size of the fixed dumbbell you want and picking it up.
So, Are Adjustable Dumbbells Worth It?
If you’re serious about strength training, adjustable dumbbells not only have a cost advantage over fixed models, they’re also easy to adjust to the weight you want and can be conveniently stored out of the way. Their compact size also lets you keep them within easy reach of your desk or in your living room, so you’re ready to work out whenever you want.
Today’s adjustable dumbbells are well-constructed, sturdy and won’t break from normal use. Choose a quality set and you’ll get many years of workouts from them.
In today’s hectic world, dumbbells give you an efficient way to maximize your time. You can get a good weight workout with dumbbells in just a few minutes a day for all-over toning or have a longer strength-building routine. Take advantage of free blocks of time throughout the day by starting your day with a workout, taking a fitness break during remote work, or doing a few reps during commercial breaks while watching TV.
You can shop for and buy adjustable dumbbells online. Look at reputable companies with a long track record, like Core Home Fitness, for the best options.
Between the ease and versatility of working out at home, the value of a quality set of adjustable dumbbells, and the convenience of not having to be around sweaty strangers at some gym, the benefits of adjustable dumbbells make them a solid investment for your home workouts. Check out our set of Adjustable Dumbbells to buy your set today.
