suggestions for adjustable dumbbells

**Ikaika** · 11-14-2006, 06:49 AM

Ok here's the deal: a buddy of mine is interested in getting a bench and some adjustable dumbbells so he can work out at home. This isn't the beginnings of a home gym or anything, he just wants those two things. He's already picked out a pretty sweet bench, but is at a bit of an impasse as far as the dumbbells.

For all you guys/gals with home gyms set up, what kind of adjustable dumbbells do you have or suggest he look into? I really have no idea what to tell him since I've never bought exercise equipment before.

**DJSTARER** · 11-14-2006, 04:46 PM

from personal experience, i've never seen a set of adjustable DBs made heavy enough. Never more than 60 or 70 lbs.

AYung · 11-14-2006, 07:42 PM

I have the chrome adjustable dumbbells with chrome collars. Works pretty good. Obviously the downfall is the time it takes to increase/decrease weights.

I think a standard one can hold nearly 100lbs per dumbbell.

**Ikaika** · 11-15-2006, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJSTARER

from personal experience, i've never seen a set of adjustable DBs made heavy enough. Never more than 60 or 70 lbs.

i guess i should have specified: he is not a bodybuilder by any stretch of the word. 70 lbs would be more than adequate for him.

beavesmx44 · 11-16-2006, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ikaika

i guess i should have specified: he is not a bodybuilder by any stretch of the word. 70 lbs would be more than adequate for him.

have him check out power block . c o m. Mine go up to 90lbs and an extention can take them to 120 per dumbell.

**Jayhawkk** · 11-16-2006, 04:04 AM

There's one that a buddy got and it seemed pretty nice but it was expensive. Square weights that use a locking mechanism to add more weight. The problem to watch for the adjustable ones is making sure they aren't too long. It makes a lot of exercises hard if they are extending too far out.

navarone · 11-16-2006, 07:27 AM

personally, in my experiance.. i just bought two spin lock collars, and 10lb wgt plates, 5lb wgt plates, and 2.5 lb wgt plates.. If he is gunna goto say.. 50lbs, all he would need is eight 10lb'ers... and four 5ers... at wal-mart this would run him around 68$.. for the entire setup. It works out to be roughly 30cents a pound.

Hope this helps ( i have an entire home gym and such, so yea, thats in my own personal experiance.)

wannabstrong · 11-16-2006, 07:45 AM

I have a small home gym w/ pully's, a bench and I think I have 3 sets (atleast 2) of dumbells. One is a set weider ones, the other(s) are some generic brand from Sports authority. In addition to the weight that came with each set, I purchased more for like 35-39cent a pound from Sports Authority when they had plates on sale. I've gone up to about 100lbs of plates per dumbell and I'm pretty confident they could hold more (unless I run out of bar). In the past I've slammed 4 25lb plates on mine and lifted using them or mixed a 25 on each side plus a couple 10's and 5's.

You said the 70lb would be adequate, so I'd pick out a mixture of small incremants 10s, 5s, 3s/2.5s

Sometimes you'll find that the dumbell bars vary in thickness, mine do. He also might want to invest in a cambered bar (eazy-curl bar) if his wrists normally get stressed too much doing straight barbell curls.

**Ikaika** · 11-16-2006, 06:46 PM

thanks for all the helpful responses. He's probably gonna go with those PowerBlocks since they go up to a reasonably heavy weight and will allow him to do stuff like shrugs too.

11-14-2006, 06:49 AM	#1
Ikaika resident degen Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,666 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 214	suggestions for adjustable dumbbells Ok here's the deal: a buddy of mine is interested in getting a bench and some adjustable dumbbells so he can work out at home. This isn't the beginnings of a home gym or anything, he just wants those two things. He's already picked out a pretty sweet bench, but is at a bit of an impasse as far as the dumbbells. For all you guys/gals with home gyms set up, what kind of adjustable dumbbells do you have or suggest he look into? I really have no idea what to tell him since I've never bought exercise equipment before. __________________ No supplement can make up for the lack of a strong work ethic.

11-14-2006, 04:46 PM	#2
DJSTARER eating more folate... Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: State College, PA Posts: 3,995 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 113	from personal experience, i've never seen a set of adjustable DBs made heavy enough. Never more than 60 or 70 lbs. __________________ My philosophies on training: "Extreme training yields extreme results" "Just because you can, does not mean you should" "The best program is the one you are not doing" Penn State Powerlifting-181 lb weightclass PGA Professional of America Current Stats: 474 Squat 601 Deadlift 320 Bench Goals for next training cycle: 500lbs squat and a total over 1400 in competition

11-14-2006, 07:42 PM	#3
AYung IMPC Contestant Join Date: May 2005 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Canada Posts: 2,280 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 41	I have the chrome adjustable dumbbells with chrome collars. Works pretty good. Obviously the downfall is the time it takes to increase/decrease weights. I think a standard one can hold nearly 100lbs per dumbbell. __________________ Clean Bulking Journal http://www.ironmass.com/showthread.php?t=9546 Max Lifts Bench: 155 x 6 Deadlift: 315 x 6 Squat: 245 x 6 1 Rep Max Lifts Bench: 180 - Tested Deadlift: 365 - Tested Squat: 285 - Estimated TOTAL: 831 @ 156lbs Eddie Guerrero (1967-2005, R.I.P.) You'll always be loved and remembered.

11-16-2006, 04:04 AM	#6
Jayhawkk Nutraplanet Rep Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,106 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 44	There's one that a buddy got and it seemed pretty nice but it was expensive. Square weights that use a locking mechanism to add more weight. The problem to watch for the adjustable ones is making sure they aren't too long. It makes a lot of exercises hard if they are extending too far out. __________________ Nutraplanet.com for all your supplement needs! ------------------------------ Hangin's too good for 'em! BURNIN'S too good for 'em! They should be ripped into itsy-bitsy little pieces and BURIED ALIVE!

11-16-2006, 07:27 AM	#7
navarone Pro Stature Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 930 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 49	personally, in my experiance.. i just bought two spin lock collars, and 10lb wgt plates, 5lb wgt plates, and 2.5 lb wgt plates.. If he is gunna goto say.. 50lbs, all he would need is eight 10lb'ers... and four 5ers... at wal-mart this would run him around 68$.. for the entire setup. It works out to be roughly 30cents a pound. Hope this helps ( i have an entire home gym and such, so yea, thats in my own personal experiance.) __________________ Obsessed is a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated Stats: Weight: Between 200-205 depending on the day Bench: 265X5 atm. Squat: 360X5 atm.. Higest Ever 435 Deadlift: 420X3 Waist: 34 Arms: 17.5 cold . Pics Finally! http://www.ironmass.com/f16/nav-s-1-...ulk-12947.html

11-16-2006, 07:45 AM	#8
wannabstrong Pro Stature Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 105 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 13	I have a small home gym w/ pully's, a bench and I think I have 3 sets (atleast 2) of dumbells. One is a set weider ones, the other(s) are some generic brand from Sports authority. In addition to the weight that came with each set, I purchased more for like 35-39cent a pound from Sports Authority when they had plates on sale. I've gone up to about 100lbs of plates per dumbell and I'm pretty confident they could hold more (unless I run out of bar). In the past I've slammed 4 25lb plates on mine and lifted using them or mixed a 25 on each side plus a couple 10's and 5's. You said the 70lb would be adequate, so I'd pick out a mixture of small incremants 10s, 5s, 3s/2.5s Sometimes you'll find that the dumbell bars vary in thickness, mine do. He also might want to invest in a cambered bar (eazy-curl bar) if his wrists normally get stressed too much doing straight barbell curls.

11-16-2006, 06:46 PM	#9
Ikaika resident degen Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,666 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 214	thanks for all the helpful responses. He's probably gonna go with those PowerBlocks since they go up to a reasonably heavy weight and will allow him to do stuff like shrugs too. __________________ No supplement can make up for the lack of a strong work ethic.

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