When creating a home gym there are a few staples that everybody should have. One of the most important of these is the dumbbell set. In this dumbbell buyers guide we will go over many dumbbell options including the new selectorized weight dumbbells, Olympic dumbbells, standard dumbbells, spinlock collar dumbbells, and fixed weight dumbbells.
A standard dumbbell set comes with two dumbbell bars, weights, and collars. These used to be common with most home gym sets and you can still find standard dumbbell sets at most exercise equipment stores. The main advantage of standard dumbbell sets is that they are inexpensive. The disadvantage is that you have to remove the collars and change weight plates.
Most new dumbbell sets now come with spin lock collars which are easy to remove and change plates. Many even have ergonomic bars with rubber grips so you know the collar is tightened properly. These usually come in a chrome finish and are convenient to use.
Olympic dumbbells are similar to the standard dumbbells except that the circumference of the bar is usually 2 inches thick. The bar is normally smooth chrome, because of this Olympic dumbbells are often used with spring lock collars. Spring lock collars are easy to take on and off and make changing weight plates fast and easy. Advantages of Olympic dumbbells are that they will match your Olympic barbell set and you can create heavy weight sets with them.
If you want speed and convenience and want to create that professional gym feel, then fixed weight dumbbells are what you need. These are usually solid metal dumbbells. Most people start with 5 lb weights and then work up in 5 lb increments. The most common type are metal hex dumbbells, rubber hex dumbbells with chrome handles, round rubber dumbbells with chrome handles, and chrome or cast dumbbells. Using fixed weight dumbbells is faster and more convenient than changing plates and collars. The disadvantage is that collecting lots of different weights can be expensive and you may also need to purchase a storage rack and have enough room to store them.
The Cadillac of home gym dumbbells are the selectorized dumbbells. These come with a bar that sits in a rack of weight plates. You turn a dial on the set and select the weight that you want to use. This means that you can get away with only having one dumbbell set but having more weight options than other sets. They usually come with a holder or a special rack so that the plates will be in the proper order when you return the set to the rack. These are high tech and save space, the disadvantage to these is that they are expensive and can have a limited upper weight.
Depending on individual needs and budget there is a dumbbell set for everyone. The most important thing is that your home gym is safe and convenient so that you can get the most out of your workout. We hope that our dumbbell buyers guide will help you achieve your goals.
