Our fave features: Our testers appreciate how sturdy and durable the REP Fitness dumbbells are, calling out the friction welding technique used to securely connect the heads to the handle. This means you’re unlikely to feel any jiggling from the heads, and you can trust they won’t loosen as you use them over time. Testers also like how the chrome-plated straight handle feels, saying it reminds them of the more expensive, urethane dumbbells that you find in commercial gyms. (While these ones are made of a weather-resistant rubber, REP Fitness also offers urethane dumbbells.) Other perks include fully knurled handles to prevent slippage and a lifetime warranty for use in home gyms.
Just so you know: Though the knurling provides good grip and control, some testers say they wished the 5.2-inch-long handles were slightly shorter so the weights would be easier to balance and maneuver. If you know you’ll want a shorter handle, consider NordicTrack’s adjustable dumbbells, which come in at 4.5 inches.
Weight: 5–100 lbs. in 5 sets of 5-lb. increments (5–50lbs, 5–75lbs., 5–100 lbs., 55–75 lbs., and 80–100lbs.) | Shape: Hexagonal | Handle material: Knurled chrome-plated | Storage: Not included | Warranty: Lifetime for home use, one year for commercial use | Shipping: Free standard delivery
Best Dumbbells on Amazon: Core Home Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells
Core Home Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells
Pros
- Simple twist mechanism makes changing weight levels quick
- Dumbbell cradles are included
- Cheapest adjustables on this list
- Compact with a max dumbbell length of 14.5 inches
Cons
- Materials aren’t the most durable
- No knurling on handle
- Max weight of 50 pounds is slightly lower than comparable options
Why we picked them: The Core Home Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells feature a max weight of 50 pounds and let users add weight in 5-pound increments with a simple twist-and-lock handle mechanism. “What sets these apart for me is how easy they are to adjust and how normal they look and feel, ”a SELF reviewer previously shared, adding that many adjustable sets feel big and bulky even at lower weights.
Our fave features: The weight plate faces are mostly flat, so you can rest them on your legs or hips between sets of certain exercises, like bench presses, without discomfort. Uniquely, all the heads also have one flat edge of their circumference, which prevents rolling.
Just so you know: The maximum weight is 50 pounds. If you’re looking for more weight, you’ll need to shell out more money for the PowerBlock dumbbells, which go up to and 90 pounds, and retail for around $800.
Product specs
Weight: 5–50 lbs. in 5-lb. increments | Shape: Round with a flat edge | Handle material: Rubberized plastic | Storage: 2 trays included | Warranty: 2-year parts | Shipping: Free 2–4 day shipping on corehomefitness.com and free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime
How the best dumbbells compare
Other dumbbells we tried
Original testing photo
Ativafit Adjustable Weight Dumbbell Set
The Ativafit Adjustable Dumbbells are versatile: A single set has a range of 11 to 88 pounds and can replace 12 sets of weights. They’re also sturdy. The weights’ heads, dials, discs, handle, and plates are all made of steel. While the handle isn’t knurled, it has a rubber grip that our tester notes can be especially comfortable if you use gloves while you lift.
REP Fitness Urethane Coated Round Dumbbell
Unlike other options on this list, REP Fitness’s Urethane Coated Dumbbells are round (so they may roll a bit), but the flat plate faces mean you can rest them easily on your upper leg or upright on the floor between sets. The fully knurled handles also give you maximum grip to power through your toughest workouts. An Amazon reviewer called the grip pad “outstanding” and the “perfect size,” adding that there’s “no rubber smell, and great overall quality.”
Major Fitness Rubber Hex Dumbbells
The Major Fitness Rubber Hex Dumbbells are available to shop as individual pairs in 5-pound increments or in two different sets: 10 to 45 pounds and 10 to 70 pounds. Plus, with this set, if you don’t love them, you get a 35-day money-back guarantee, something we haven’t seen other brands on this list offer.
Snode AD80 Adjustable Dumbbells
We love Snode AD80 Adjustable Dumbbells because they’re super compact—they’re shorter and thinner than other models. They’re also durable. You can drop them from up to 32 inches without risk of damaging them, which is unusual for adjustable dumbbells. (Yep, our testers loaded the bells up with their maximum weight and rolled them off a 30-inch plywood box; the weights worked just fine after.)
Why your home gym should have dumbbells
Abbi Lane, PhD, assistant professor of applied exercise science at the University of Michigan, tells SELF that, thanks to the number and range of exercises you can do with them, “pretty much everyone’s home gym should have dumbbells…resistance training can help you get stronger, improve muscular endurance, reduce fall risk, and improve mood and sleep.”
