Adjustable Dumbells

Adjustable dumbbell sets make a good space saving proposition for those who have inadequate space for exercising. They would usually cost more than were you to buy each individual set. The 552 saves the space equivalent of 15 sets of regular dumbbells and multiplying that by two gives you thirty pieces to take be taken care of. It’s quite a hassle to first find them to suit your requirements and then arrange their storage. Unless properly stored, they could prove hazardous, like I could barely save my foot from getting a broken bone, as I tumbled over one that I just happened to leave close the kitchen door, as I often workout in that area.

Having decided to go for one, I conducted my own search on the net and short listed three different models, based on features, and the all important customer reviews for each. I wanted to have one set offering two dumbbells within $500. That eliminated the Bowflex1090 Single from my list, as it sold for more than $300 each. Moreover I’m not into bodybuilding or have a large frame and didn’t feel the need for such heavy weights. The 1090 adjusts from ten to ninety pounds in increments of five pounds. You need to buy two and that adds to be cost substantially. I found it better for bodybuilders or people with larger frames.

Battle of The Adjustable Dumbbells

Finally, it boiled down to the Bowflex 552, or the PowerBlock Classic Adjustable 5 to 45 pounds. Ultimately, I decided to buy the Bowflex. Both looked, and seemed to have good customer review on the whole. So, I had to refine my research to decide for the better one.

A big drawback with the PowerBlock Classic is that it demands utmost care while inserting the pins that hold it together. Else, you stand the risk of hurting your self if one of the weights falls down. These are all held up together by magnetic pins. Now, that‘s not so convenient for someone like me who has a somewhat carefree attitude towards such petty details. And, once you happen to have an accident, it might be the end of weightlifting or bodybuilding for you! But, disciplined characters that follow the minutest details to the last point would find a better choice in the PowerBlock Classic. On the whole Powerblock earns the favor of users because of its styling and sturdy design. It needs very little storage area and has the capacity and design for upgrading to heavier handle and dumbbell. The weights are squares’ and not so bulky like Bowflex522. It may also be added here that it’s priced slightly lower than the Bowflex 552.

At the same time, the Bowflex 552 has many positive features. It offers easy adjustment with the turn of a dial. The weights simply click into place. Though some viewers mentioned that a weight might fall off, no one really reported of it actually having fallen off. Perhaps, some viewers concluded that because of the looseness they experienced while handling it. Its square handle was also not liked by some of the reviewers. At the same time, some reviewers thought its shape offered easier grip. This set is longer than the PowerBlock Classic by three inches that makes it heavier and bulkier too, posing difficult storage for some of the users. The Bowflex measures just about 16 inches. It has better looks that appeal visually. I liked its looks and the convenience of storage it offered, ultimately prompting me to go for it.

People who like to go for strength training but feel handicapped, due shortage of time that limits their going to gym, now have an excellent option of using adjustable weights. These get easily accommodated in just about two feet of area.

The set from Bayou comes in chrome plated steel and has a 5 in 1 adjustment over a wide range of weights. The tray provided along with may be attached to a bench or be left on the floor just like that. The range of weights available varies from 25 to 50 pounds. The equipment is very affordable, costing half of any other comparable product.

Here’s a list of advantages of having a set of Bayou adjustable dumbbells:

1. This kind of your personal gym doesn’t eat into much of space and can easily be left in a corner of the room. This compact package, which barely takes the space of a set of dumbbells, offers a complete strength training workout.

2. As the weights are adjustable, these can conveniently be adapted to suit your varying requirements and be used within the privacy of your home. They provide a very economical solution, compared to a costly machine or a big dumbbell set.

3. Perhaps the most helpful feature of adjustable dumbbells is the ease with which you can carry them along as you go out for the weekend or on along vacation. That means you need not miss your regular workout even when away from home.

4. Should you be looking for an economical option, you will find Bayou very affordable, costing just about half the price of any comparable set. You save not only space, but money too.

In case you intend going ahead with a strength training program, or are already into it, you have a great option in adjustable dumbbells. Bayou adjustable dumbbells are portable and easy to use, thus allowing you to keep with your scheduled workouts.

There is no better way of developing big biceps than exercising a bicep curl. Being in proper form is of paramount importance while using adjustable dumbbells for getting the best out of bicep curls, else you may end up damaging your shoulder. While you undergo bicep curls it is god to be using moderate weights for getting the best results. Rather than continuing to write and educate you on the subject, I would prefer to show you this video for telling you how to do it.

Proper form for a bicep curl:

As you can notice the instructor in the video is using traditional dumbbells and they don’t seem to pose any problems. But, what if I want to work at home and have insufficient space for storage of such a huge stack of traditional dumbbells? Obviously, the answer is to use adjustable dumbbells. Any exercise that you might have been doing with the traditional dumbbells can be performed on adjustable dumbbells without any problem of any sort. Personally, I prefer to use adjustable dumbbells because it’s so convenient to change weights on these. Further, they are comfortable to use, are durable and above all their storage is very convenient.

Well, the only limitation, if it be called so, of these dumbbells is that if you are used to traditional weights, you may take a few days getting used to their new grip. However, most of the users acknowledge that a few reps were all that they needed for getting used to the new grip after which it became natural.

While doing a bicep curl with a set of adjustable dumbbell you should take care of the following:

Moderate weight suffices and you really don’t have to lift too much of weight for excellent results.
To avoid injury your shoulders should be still when doing the.
It helps to have a slow motion for getting the most out of your workout.
Avoid doing bicep curls on two consecutive days -vary your workout.

That’s the way to go ahead with it- the correct form and procedure for a bicep curl for getting excellent results.

Despite all the advantages offered by adjustable dumbbells, they have a big limitation. You know what I’m hinting at. Yes, it’s that “thing” with the weight. It’s rare to come across a unit that has more than 50 lbs. Yet, there are people who incorporate stand-by arrangements for adding a few more pounds by manipulating the weights at each end. Nevertheless I am not in favor of any fiddling with the standard weights provided by the designer. And, there is just one reason for that and it is SAFETY of the user.

There is good news for all you who were getting irked by insufficient weights. Here come to Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells that have a base weight of 75 lbs on each arm. These are called Quick Lock and are the heaviest adjustable dumbbells as of date. Read on to know more about these.

For further improvements of your triceps and pecs ask for Ironmaster’s 120 lb upgrade kit. It facilitates additional 45 lbs on each side, meaning you get a whopping 120 lbs per arm! Now, that kind of a weight will keep many of you busy for a long time.

Here is another interesting news. Should you so desire, the manufacturers will provide you with custom-built set of plates that makes each arm worth 165 lbs. Well, honestly I am yet to see that, being custom built and not readily available of the shelf. But, going by the excellent finish and accurate specifications of the rest of the equipment, I have no doubts about its being functionally safe.

I’m sure you’re getting intrigued of its price. The price of the base set is comparable to most other brands, may be a bit lower in some cases, and addition of 45 lbs on each side will cost you around $ 200. The techno-commercial features are very impressive indeed. It’s great not to find the use of any plastics anywhere in the equipment. Having locked them once, you won’t be able to distinguish these from the traditional hex dumbbells. That’s not the end yet. Having locked them up, you can freely turn them any way to your convenience and liking without any fear of the plates falling off. Further, you can adjust them in increments of 2.5 lbs. Never seen such a slick arrangement!

For the price you pay i.e. $489 plus $75 by way of shipping, you are offered a stand to hold these dumbbells and any additions that you may plan for the future. Even the stand is built solid, just like the dumbbells themselves. Could you ask for anything more?

The range of weights offered by this new system will encourage any enthusiast to attain for better levels of performance. These are not only space saving, but cost saving too, considering that individual 5-75 lb dumbbells would easily cost more than $1300. Even if you buy 10 lbs increments, it would cost upwards of $750!

The space savings and the quality of the equipment makes it a truly “value for money” product. Should you be on the look out for a system, head straight to Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells. You will not regret your decision.

Dumbbells constitute a very important component of any balanced exercise and fitness routine. It’s indeed important to realize a set of befitting dumbbells for your fitness program and adjustable dumbbells offer a good opportunity of that.

Adjustable dumbbells are desirable as they help you with space and time while having a training sessions. That means you may own a personal set of dumbbells exercisers at home or have one at your gym for your use. The advantage of having dumbbells is that you need not buy all the weights in one go. You get started with a few weights and buy additional weights as your capacity to carry weight increases. So your total expense is spread over a period of time.

Adjustable dumbbells facilitate you to gradually increase or decrease weight in steps of five pounds each. Isn’t that such a convenient feature!

For increasing or decreasing the weight in your dumbbell, all that you will be required to do is to just turn a dial provided on the side of the dumbbells. Here’s the proper way of adjusting weight plates in your adjustable dumbbells. Keep the bar along with weights in the tray and then position the dial to the curved end of the tray. It’s as simple as that.

A safe and effective way of changing the weights while using the dumbbells is to turn the dial clockwise for an increment of weight and anti-clockwise when you wish to reduce the weight. This is a very good feature as it allows you to adjust your workout as per the level of challenge you want to have while in your workout. This facility can be extended to have a changed weight every day of your workout session.

As far as procurement is concerned, you can buy this equipment from any of the fitness stores in your area or go inline to study what all is available before zeroing in your choice. Here’s tip for you. Online companies and fitness stores who have their personalized websites, very often sell the equipment at a price lower than retail price! At times you can even have them delivered at home at a very reasonable expense.

ProBell and Hex are the two most popular brands of adjustable dumbbells. The system from ProBell comes with a tray of high-impact nylon to house the adjustable dumbbells. It has plates of zinc dye casting that are coated to give a long life. Likewise, Hex Dumbells are also fabricated from casting of high quality steel.

It will be nice to have adjustable dumbbells as apart of your regular fitness regimen.

Weightlifting is a good way of getting started with a fitness program. If you are already into it or thinking on the lines of following one, there is one piece of equipment that you can hardly afford to overlook. It’s convenient to use and saves you money and time. And, that simply is a set of adjustable dumbbells that replaces many pieces of dumbbells that you might otherwise use in a gym or at home. It’s very easy to use and store. Commercially it’s available in many designs and styles and there are many brands to choose from. Here area few points that you would do well to keep in mind while on a buying mission of this equipment.

You should know before hand what you intend achieving thru your weightlifting program and the role of dumbbells in that. You should have a definite program spread over a few phases and determine what your needs are going to be for different phases meaning, what you require immediately and what you are going to need a couple weeks later or in the distant future.

It will be helpful to conduct some online research, as there are lot many manufacturers of this item. You’ll get to know which are in the top bracket. Go thru many reviews and learn about the price, durability, convenience of use and other such factors. At the same time do not get overly impressed by the reviews online. It is not uncommon to realize that a beneficiary posts too healthy comments of the product. If you try to read between the lines you’ll understand that generally reviewers avoid giving an objective review of the item. It’s not unusual for a reviewer to have some business interest with the manufacturer or the seller of the product under review. Therefore, you should also take into consideration the opinion of a user personally known to you. Many manufacturers have their own websites too. You shouldn’t avoid such sites. It is better to consider the opinion of a reputed review site.

You need to decide the weight range you are going to have. Generally adjustable dumbbells come with a predefined maximum weight limit that may vary from model to model. Some are provided with a maximum limit of 50 lbs while others may have a limit of only 25 lbs. You have to decide if you like to have a low maximum weight or a higher one.

All adjustable dumbbells are provided with the feature of weight increment at a definite predetermined rate. Thus you are required to decide before hand how small an increment you would like. Most of the manufacturers offer this incremental facility in weight of either 2.5 lbs or 5 lbs. It’s for you to decide the one you’ll feel more comfortable with.

You’ll be taking a step in the right direction by personally visiting a sports equipment store to get a feel of the item. Try a couple of adjustable dumbbells to see your personal comfort level and the features available in different models. A good manufacturer would offer a set of these dumbbells along with a set of instruction. Try a few exercises with different weights as per the instruction provided.

The design and styling of a set of dumbbells is also important. At times it may affect the performance of the user. Take into consideration the ease of using them. And, like everything else go for a design and shape that suits your style.

Should you already be into weight machines and feeling the pinch of space and finance for that extra piece of equipment that you have been longing to have, here is the best opportunity for you. Just go for adjustable dumbbells. Here are five good reasons to influence your decision.

1. Range of exercises

One big advantage of dumbbells as compared to traditional weight machines is that it allows you to execute a series of different exercises without your having to change the machine. For instance you could easily change over from performing bicep curls to triceps by merely changing your body position. In effect it means that rather than having four different machines, you could have a total body workout with only a single set of dumbbells.

2. Price

Now let’s look into the economics of it all. You would in all probability be required to spend a couple of thousands for buying a complete set of equipment to work on different muscle groups. Wouldn’t you be relieved to learn that a set of adjustable dumbbells would cost you only two to three hundred dollars? Think of the savings you make for performing a range of exercises!

Even if you compare the amount with the cost of membership for a local gym, the scales are tilted in favor of adjustable dumbbells.

3. Convenience of adjustability

Now, that’s the most outstanding technical feature of theses dumbbells. Merely a swift change of pin enables you to shift from one dumbbell weight to another. That almost makes it work like a pin loaded weight machine but with dumbbells. This feature that enables you to bring a change of weight with a pin, doesn’t call for a big room full of dumbbell, thus saving floor area apart from the capital cost.

4. Space

Unlike the conventional dumbbells that would normally require a dumbbell rack and a lot of storage space, adjustable dumbbells just need a stand that may easily be tucked away in a corner of any room. That allows you to have more of space for bigger fitness equipment of the kind of a treadmill or ellipticals.

Now you need not have second thoughts on your having a home gym due to constraints of space.

5. Maximum Muscular development

Dumbbells, or free weights as they are often called, offer maximum muscular development. As adjustable dumbbells are not as stable as the machine weight, one is required to use more muscles to help support the weight and to exercise in proper form. Anybody who has performed with a traditional bench press as well with a dumbbell press would testify that working with the dumbbells is certainly harder.

You may be able to bench press 200lb x 8 reps with a traditional bar, but you’ll find it difficult to bench press 160lb (80lb per hand) x 8 reps with dumbbells simply because you are required to work harder to keep the weight stabilized.

Aren’t you prompted to rush your decision for buying that additional piece of equipment that you have been postponing since long?

Workouts with dumbbells, despite being very convenient, are highly effective and efficient. Over the generations almost every equipment and item has undergone a lot of changes in design to make it more suitable for present day needs and dumbbells are no exception. Most of the changes have been brought around because of constraints of space and time. Dumbbells are no exception to the rule. The new set of dumbbells allows you to adjust weight as per your requirements. You just need to pick up the weight from the rack and go ahead with your workout. The system offers ease of operation and other benefits too, but it may not be right to discard the old dumbbells for good.
Here are the pros and cons of the new system.

Adjustable Dumbbells – PROS -

They are space saving. You don’t need a very large area for the rack system. At the end of your workout, you won’t have weights lying around the place, which saves you from the strain of tiding up the place.

You save a lot of time. Generally you are required to change plates of home dumbbells to suit every new exercise you choose to do. The new dumbbells facilitate a very quick changeover without much of an effort.

They are better designed and well made and not flimsy like cheap commercial exercise equipment.

Adjustable Dumbbells – CONS -

You need to spend more on these. The rationale being that getting a complete rack of dumbbells in one go may work out cheaper.

They are fairly expensive. The rational is of course that you are getting a whole rack of dumbbells all at once and it may actually work out cheaper. Buying one dumbbell at a time might be so, but getting two dumbbells handles with a bunch of loose plate weights that suit your requirements, would probably be much cheaper. Primarily you pay for convenience.

Weight is a restriction here as some of these dumbbells systems provide only 45 to 50 pounds. Now, that may be very limited for most of the athletes or even for enthusiasts of muscle building.
It may be a good option for training of the youth or female enthusiasts as well for the elderly people. But everybody else would soon reach a level that calls for heavier weights. There are systems with heavier weights but obviously they are more expensive.

They aren’t like old school dumbbells that have withstood the test of times to have successfully provided the desired results for generations and proven to be efficient. The new generation of dumbbells may ultimately prove to be effective. Yet, those nostalgic about old school of training may not find these to be so exciting. And we are aware that successful training definitely calls for a thrill and the motivation associated with that.