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The 9 Best Adjustable Dumbbell Sets in 2023, Tested by Certified Trainers
Gone are the days of clunky weight racks.
IF THERE'S one piece of home gym equipment anyone can make room for at home, it's a pair of dumbbells. “There’s a reason dumbbells are in every single big-box gym,” says MH fitness director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., who created an arm-focused muscle-building program, All Out Arms, based heavily around dumbbells. “If you want targeted muscle—and that’s what all guys want—then you want dumbbells.”
What if you don't have an official home gym or workout area? The great thing about dumbbells is that they require little to no space, especially if you invest in an adjustable pair that can shift from light to heavy with a quick turn of a knob or shift of a setting. Adjustable dumbbells offers a range of weights all in one compact footprint, eliminating the need for multiple sets of weights, and even minimizing the amount of other weight equipment you need. Think about it; just one set can typically replace around 15 standard dumbbells.
Read more: How Men's Health Thoroughly Tests and Reviews Fitness Products
They're great at simplifying things by tackling the two main common challenges posed by working out at home: Space and equipment, since most people aren't utilizing an entire rack of dumbbells in their home for workouts (let alone space to accommodate).
To find the best adjustable dumbbells, we tested more than 30 different adjustable dumbbells over the course of the last four years, relying on in-house certified trainers Fitness Director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., and Senior Fitness Editor Brett Williams, NASM. (Samuel also utilized the top performing adjustable dumbbells with several of his advanced clients.)
Each dumbbell was rigorously tested in a variety of categories, including durability, weight distribution, and ability to shift between weights efficiently, as well as aesthetics. All dumbbells were tested with three types of exercises: Explosive exercises (like swings and cleans), multi-joint strength exercises (like bench presses and Romanian deadlifts), and accessory motions (like biceps curls and lateral raises). A minimum of 10 sets and 100 reps were performed at both comfortable and near-max weights for each motion. All dumbbells were also dropped from a basic bench to test baseline durability (no adjustable dumbbell should ever be dropped from shoulder height), and all dumbbells were monitored for signs of rust over a three-month period .We also consulted with both our MH Advisory Board, and our Strength in Diversity trainers for deeper anecdotal and experiential thoughts on the best dumbbells.
And if you prefer working out at home, a pair of adjustable dumbbells is a solution that will allow you to take your training to the next level without needing to step foot in a gym. Take a look at our top 9 picks below.
Best Dumbbells | Best Weight Benches | Best Kettlebells | Best Power Rack | Home Gym Awards 2023 | Best Home Gym Equipment
Talene Appleton is the Fitness and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, where she covers fitness, nutrition, health, and wellness. She was previously the Associate Editor of General Surgery News, and a nutrition writer for The Food Institute. Talene is a retired professional dancer, and loves to spend her free time cooking elaborate meals for her friends and family.
Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., is the fitness director of Men's Health and a certified trainer with more than 10 years of training experience. He's logged training time with NFL athletes and track athletes and his current training regimen includes weight training, HIIT conditioning, and yoga. Before joining Men's Health in 2017, he served as a sports columnist and tech columnist for the New York Daily News.
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