Should You Buy Adjustable Dumbbells? Pros And Cons Explained

There is a lot of debate surrounding whether adjustable dumbbells are the centrepiece of any home gym, a useful stopgap or should be dismissed in favour of a more traditional set of weight plates for strength training.

A set of adjustable dumbbells has always been treated as the first step of any new home gym, often marketed as the dumbbells that grow with you.

As progressive overload is at the core of muscle building and strength training, adjustable dumbbells can seem like a worthwhile investment, but are they an essential part of your routine?

To understand why, it is worth going through everything you need to know, the pros and cons of adjustable dumbbells and whether they are preferable to a conventional rack of dumbbells.

What Are Adjustable Dumbbells?

There are two main types of dumbbells, but unlike fixed-weight dumbbells, which tend to be created in a certain shape and set weight before being coated in bumper rubber, adjustable dumbbells can be tweaked to fit particular workout and fitness needs.

There are technically two types of adjustable dumbbells:

• Plate-loaded dumbbells work like adjustable barbells, where you slide weights onto a metal knurled bar and secure them in place with a clip or spinlock collar.

• Selectorised dumbbells consist of a stand with a number of weights in it, which you can adjust using a dial or locking system to select the right amount of weight for your workout.

In most cases, when people talk about adjustable dumbbells, they are referring to the latter, and there are countless options when it comes to size, shape, locking mechanism and stand design.

What Are The Benefits Of Adjustable Dumbbells?

Adjustable dumbbells are convenient, cost-effective, designed with progressive overload in mind and ideal for smaller home gyms.

Convenient For Beginners

When you are starting out setting up a home gym or space at home to continue exercising when you cannot make it to the gym, a sturdy set of adjustable dumbbells is a very logical place to start.

Because you can do so many workouts with dumbbells or use them to add resistance to other parts of your routine, choosing the right set of dumbbells can give you a head start with your home gym whilst you decide if other pieces of equipment are right for you.

Ideal For Smoother Progression

Adjustable dumbbells help to get around the biggest problem with fixed dumbbells; once you master a lower weight and your body is used to it, there is nowhere you can go with a fixed weight.

Depending on the design of the adjustable dumbbells, you can finely tune how heavy you plan to lift, which stops the problem of weight gulfs where one dumbbell is too light but the next step up is slightly too heavy to lift comfortably and safely.

More Affordable

A set of adjustable dumbbells is significantly cheaper than an equivalent set of fixed dumbbells. 

Depending on the type you choose, it can save you up to 60-70 per cent if you pick the right set that suits your needs.

If you plan to commit yourself to self-improvement, adjustable dumbbells are a cost-effective place to start.

Space Saving

A set of adjustable dumbbells takes up far less space than a tree stand or rack filled with dumbbells.

Given that a problem that many people starting with a home gym have is a lack of space, having a piece of equipment that can easily be stored in a corner whilst providing versatility to your workouts is beneficial.

Wider Variety Of Workouts

As free weights, dumbbells already give you a lot of options when it comes to adding resistance and challenge to your workouts, but adjustable dumbbells also allow you to quickly switch from one weight to another as and when you need to.

This allows you to more easily tailor your exercise routine to target specific muscle groups, which can sometimes require lighter or heavier dumbbells than you would typically use.

What To Consider When Buying Dumbbells

Whilst it can sometimes seem like adjustable dumbbells are a must-have for any home gym, no piece of exercise equipment is perfect for everyone. 

There are certain inherent compromises to adjustable dumbbells, and it is important to keep them in mind before you decide to buy.

Upfront Cost

One reason why certain people prefer fixed dumbbells is that the cost is modular, as you only need to buy new dumbbells when you get too strong for the previous set.

This means that the cost of your home gym can be spread out over several weeks, months or even years depending on your progress, and if consistent aesthetics are not a concern you can opt for the best value dumbbells each time. 

Adjustable dumbbells must be paid for upfront, which increases the pressure to commit to your progression.

Complex Mechanisms

Adjustable dumbbells have moving parts that you need to feel comfortable using and modifying in order to make the most of your workouts, and can potentially be a point of weakness.

Unlike fixed dumbbells and barbells, you cannot drop them without risking the mechanism, and it can take a little bit of time to learn how to adjust the switches or dials quickly enough to avoid disrupting your momentum.

Big Or Small Increments

Alongside the maximum and minimum weights, the biggest difference between dumbbells is the size of each weight increment.

Usually, adjustable dumbbells can be tweaked by the kilogram, but 2kg and even 4kg increments are not uncommon, and it is important that you feel comfortable with the increments of your dumbbells before you buy to avoid potentially insurmountable gulfs.

Additional Bulk

Adjustable dumbbells tend to be bulkier when in use than a fixed dumbbell, due to the multiple plates needed to make it suitably versatile.

This can affect the centre of gravity on the dumbbell, which can take some getting used to.

Variable Grips

Similarly, the type of grip handle and where you are meant to hold your dumbbell can vary between different models of adjustable dumbbell, from conventional to truly bizarre.

Be sure to not only check images of the dumbbell in question but see it in action before buying.