Up to 80 pounds of weight per dumbbell means can use the same set of weights for every muscle group for a complete full-body workout, and our Men's Health trainers were able to incorporate them into all of their full body exercise programs in their experience using them. Drop down to a little weight for bent-over flies, for example, or pile on the plates for more intense squats. For beginners and folks looking to engage in moderate strength training at home, a set that maxes out at 50 pounds per dumbbell should suffice. They offer a range of weight that can be used for a wide range of exercises and is a great starting point. Beginners can work on everything from bicep curls to overhead presses to squats with these. The plastic casing doesn’t make these the best choice for those who are prone to dropping weights during workouts, but all-in-all, we’ve found these extremely reliable for most movements.

The appeal is in their simplicity and cheap price point. However, there is a reason they are cheap and here’s why:

DOUBLE DISCOUNT SALE

If you're building out a home gym and especially if you like to train accessory motions and work through a full range of motion, you still can't beat standard dumbbells," explains Samuel. Studies have found it can also improve bone health, boost the efficiency of your heart and lungs and reduce resting blood pressure. Strength-training can be even more important as you get older, too; the stronger you are, the better your balance will be, which can reduce the risk of falls later in life.

I’d choose the rubber ended versions because they’re really durable and also help to protect the floor against any damage and reduce noise." Those with sensitive neighbours, take note. How much weight do I need for home dumbbells?

This out-of-the-box design provided the sturdiest experience of any adjustable dumbbell we tried, making these great for functional movements like snatches and devil’s press (add these into a full-body workout at your peril). The removable rubber rings that fit around the attached plates are also a clever feature for protecting your floors. These Bowflex adjustable dumbbells have weights that adjust from 10 to 90 pounds in 5-pound increments, which replaces up to 17 pairs of dumbbells (that’s a lot of potential saved time and money). We love that the weight distribution is close to that of traditional dumbbells, and the weight range makes them one of the heavier options on this list. Overall, they’re a really durable piece of equipment that we use weekly in our strength routines. "I've dropped these from three or four feet up after tough sets of presses, and they hold up just fine," Samuel recounts. (Although we don't recommend making a habit out of dropping any adjustable dumbbells on the regular.)

This comes down to three things: Space, personal preference, and how you plan to use your dumbbells.Key features – Main material: Latex-free plastic; Weight range: 3.6-22.7kg; Number of weight options: 8 Weakness: You have to spin the collars on and off every time you want to change the weight, making this a lengthy process. They also tend to have a lower maximum weight than dial and digital dumbbells. Dial Selectorised dumbbells typically sit in a tray. On each side of each dumbbell, you’ll find a dial that shows the load in kilograms or pounds (some models will show both metrics). The center dial couldn't be easier to use—just turn it until your desired weight appears and stops blinking, and you're good to go. Unlike other dumbbells on this list, the iSelects utilize a single adjustment mechanism for both dumbbells, which saves you the time of adjusting each one separately.