Dumbells | Adjustable Dumbells | Bowflex Dumbells

Exercise Equipment Expert reviews of Adjustable Dumbells, Bowflex Dumbells, Hex Dumbells, Powerblock Dumbells and Pro Style Dumbells.

Getting a good pair of adjustable dumbells is one of the first purchases you should make for your home gym.

Dumbells are a versatile, cost effective and space efficient solution for strength training at home because they're much smaller than any home gym and offer an unlimited number exercises - pair them with a quality weight bench or exercise ball and you've got an instant home gym.

The new dumbell styles like the Bowflex Selecttech and PowerBlock dumbells make it easy to find a set that will work with your budget and space requirements, and they're a snap to change weight quickly between exercises.

Take a step up to the high end dumbbells, and your options are the traditional hex dumbbells and pro style dumbbells like they have at the health club. Both of these options are best if you're building a full home gym and have the space to use and display them.

Below, I've reviewed all the dumbell sets on the market today and given my take on what dumbells are worth the money, and which one's you should think twice about.

Adjustable Dumbell Set Comparisons

	Adjustable Dumbells Recommended - NO Reason - Cheap but take too long to change quickly during a workout. Can be costly with multiple handles and lots of plates. Adjustable dumbells are still the most popular style of dumbells on the market for home gyms and a good option if you can find them cheap enough. But on the downside, they're a pain in the neck to adjust quickly between exercises and you may need (2) sets of handles to use them effectively. Pricing starts around .20 cents a pound. get Adjustable Dumbells on sale here

	Bowflex Dumbells Recommended - YES Reason - Good alternative to basic dumbells, quick weight changes and long warranty with a high build quality. Bowflex introduced their new Selectech Dumbells and made serious waves in the industry. Their small compact design and quick change feature are great for moving rapidly through your workout. The only drawback is the weight limit of 52.5 pounds, but that's still enough for 90% of users. get Bowflex Dumbells on sale here

	Bayou Adjustable Dumbells Recommended - YES Reason - All metal plate construction, easy adjustment, low price. Bayou is a newer competitor in the compact adjustable dumbell market and hit the mark with a good balance of quality and price. Sets come in either 5-25 or 10-50 pound sets and can be attached directly to their compact weight bench. read the full Bayou Adjustable Dumbells review here for details

	Hex Dumbells Recommended - YES (large gyms only) Reason - Durable and well balanced, but can take up too much space in small gym. The hex dumbbell is a logical step up from adjustable dumbbells and more durable than either Powerblock or Bowflex dumbbells. The downside is they take up more space and cost more. You'll also need a dumbbell rack to store them. Pricing starts at .40 cents a pound. get Hex Dumbells on sale here

	Powerblock Dumbbells Recommended - YES Reason - If you can see your way past the ugly design, Powerblocks are good dumbbells for the money. The Powerblock dumbbells were a revolution when they hit the market and they sold like hot cakes. A space efficient design and decent durability still make the Powerblock a viable option for dumbbells at home. Pricing starts at $129 and ranges up to $848 for the 130 pound per hand version. get Powerblock Dumbells on sale

	Pro Style Dumbbells Recommended - NO Reason - Great dumbells, but way overpriced for what you get. If you have money to burn, by all means get some! If you want the dumbbells like they have at your favorite health club, you need pro style dumbbells. The most expensive dumbbells on the market with options in plate material like rubber casing, chrome and ergonomic grip handles make the pro style the best dumbbells you can buy. Period. But be prepared to pay the price for these beauties! get Pro Style Dumbells on sale here