Adjustable Dumbbells

Adjustable dumbbells might look a little strange, but they offer a world of benefits to both the amateur as well as the seasoned fitness buff.

Picture in you mind a rack of weights, like you'd see at a weight room in a gym. Takes up a lot of room, right? Adjustable dumbbells condense all those dumbbells you see on the weight rack down to the size of one large dumbbell.

There is an adjuster pin attached to the outside of the weight. Simply slide the pin underneath the weight of your choice, and lift the resulting weight - the rest of the weight plates remain where you leave them. You'll need to use the adjuster pin to adjust the weights as you move from exercise to exercise.

The weights are a little bulky, and the shape - with the weight on the outside of your hands - takes a little getting used to. My roommate, whose hands are larger than most men's, had a hard time getting her hands into the interior space. The grip itself was also a little narrow for her, but it was just perfect for my tiny little hands!

There are a number of different PowerBlock models to choose from. The beginner set is called The Sport 2.4 and ranges from 3 to 24 pounds in three pound increments - so you have 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 pound weights. That's 8 pairs of dumbbells in all - and all in one nice compact package. This set runs around $150.

The next size up, the The Sport 5.0, is the model that I've had for a few years now. It replaces 10 pairs of dumbbells and ranges from 5 to 50 pounds in 5 pound increments and retails for $299 a pair.

PowerBlocks continue up in size all the way to 130 pounds per hand, which is probably more than any sane woman would want to lift. They also offer stands on which to put the weights - they run from $29 up to $249.

Bowflex^® SelectTech^® Dumbbells: Bowflex is a well-known and trusted name, so it's no wonder that their adjustable dumbbells have quickly gained a following as well.

Looking more like a traditional dumbbell, the SelectTech has weight plates on either end. Turning dials allows you to increase the weight in 2.5 pound intervals.

Bowflex offers two models. The 552 model features weight ranging from 5 pounds to 52.5 pounds. The 1090 model ranges from 10 pounds to 90 pounds.

Both SelectTech models are on the pricier side - the 552 goes for $399, and the 1090 is $699. The weight stand comes in at $149.

Bayou Stamina® Versa-Bell® Adjustable Dumbbells: Bayou adjustable dumbbells are, like the Bowflex SelectTech, more like regular dumbbells. The weight plates are made of chrome-plated steel, and you simply turn a dial to change the weight.

The smallest size is the 12.5 pound VersaBell, which lets you increase weight in 1.25 pound increments, which gives you a total of nine different weights. This model runs $138.

The next size up is the 25 pound VersaBell, with weight adjustable in 2.5 pound increments at a cost of $163. And the 50 pound version adjusts from 5 pounds to 50 pounds in 10 pound increments, and costs $330.

All of the Bayou models come with a plastic tray.

Return from Adjustable Dumbbells to Fitness Equipment Reviews


Retrun from Adjustable Dumbbells to Little Black Dress Fitness Tips