5 Best Dumbbells to Upgrade Your Home Gym in 2024, Tested by Fitness Experts
For a complete home gym setup, you need a proper set of dumbbells—period.
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LET'S CUT TO the chase: If you want a complete home gym setup, you need a proper set of dumbbells—period, full stop. Sure, a barbell, weight plates, and a pull-up bar are great places to start, but they're not as beginner-friendly as one might be led to believe. Bench presses, pull-ups, and chin-ups are excellent for building muscle and strength in your back, but they can be challenging (and even risky) for beginners given their difficulty and the potential to get hurt in the process.
Best Dumbbells of 2024
Read more: How Men's Health Thoroughly Tests and Reviews Fitness Products
The solution? "Grab a pair of dumbbells. Or even a single dumbbell," recommends Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., MH Fitness Director. The best dumbbells provide a versatile and accessible way to build strength, preparing you to slay more advanced lifts while targeting crucial muscle groups throughout the body. For novice lifters, incorporating the best dumbbell exercises into your routine helps build muscle and strength. That's especially true once you embrace heavier-weight dumbbell exercises such as farmer’s carries and powerful presses and rows, Samuel explains.
In short, a set of the best dumbbells can vastly improve any home gym setup. They’re great for upper and lower body exercises, can help address muscular imbalances, and allow for more gradual and predictable weight progression. The best part, though? They are not only more accessible and practical, but also more affordable than most other weightlifting tools, regardless of whether you opt for rubber or iron, adjustable or standard, round or hex-shaped.
When you’re in the market for new dumbbells, it’s easy to assume they’re all the same. While there's some truth to that, the devil is in the details. The best dumbbells feature a combination of durability, comfort, and versatility. Whether you prefer rubber or iron, adjustable or standard, keep an eye out for those that cater to your specific needs. Don't compromise on quality, as investing in the right set will pay off in the long run.
Taking a moment to consider which set is the right fit for you is well worth the effort. Having extensively researched and tested numerous models over the years, we're here to guide you through a list of our all-time favorites. Here are our brutally honest picks of the best dumbbells to elevate your home workouts in 2024.
What to Consider When Shopping for the Best Dumbbells
Fitness and Training Goals
As with any new home fitness gear, you should always consider your own training goals first. If you’re looking to supplement your existing powerlifting or bodybuilding training with accessory work, a set of adjustables is best. If, however, you’re looking to do Olympic lifts, rubber hex dumbbells are the way to go.
Space
How much available space do you have? If you’re a city dweller, live in a cramped apartment, or are shoehorning your home gym setup into the corner of a garage, consider an adjustable set of dumbbells. These take up far less space than a full (and massive) set that includes a rack and a bunch of fixed dumbbell weights that individually weigh between 10 and 100 pounds.
Standard or Adjustable
Here, it comes down to your available space and a bit of personal preference. In most cases, adjustable dumbbells are the way to go. They take up far less space and are often a little bit cheaper than standard, fixed weight alternatives.
Ease of Use
Basically, does the dumbbell feel “good” or natural to you? Again, this comes down to personal preference, and might involve a trip to your local sporting goods store or gym equipment provider to compare a few models in-person.
Construction
We’re talking about what your dumbbells are made of and how durable they are. We recommend rubber hex dumbbells for the vast majority of fitness types. They’re extremely durable, designed to take a beating, including being dropped, dragged around, and lord knows what else. Buy one decent set of hex rubber dumbbells, and there’s a good chance you won’t have to buy another set for a very long time, if ever.
Price
Budget is important for just about every home gym builder. For many people, this might be the deciding factor. We recommend adjustable dumbbells for most fitness types, and they’re typically the most affordable, so we suggest starting there. If, on the other hand, you have the space and extra money to burn, a dedicated set of rubber or iron hex dumbbells might be the better way to go.
How We Tested and Selected the Best Dumbbells
Experts including MH Fitness Director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., Senior Fitness Editor Brett Williams, NASM, Fitness and Commerce Editor Talene Appleton, NASM, and fitness instructor Hollis Tuttle put dozens of dumbbell models through the wringer. Samuel and Tuttle also utilized the top performing dumbbells with several of their training clients.
Each dumbbell was rigorously tested in a variety of categories, including design, durability, functionality, and effectiveness. 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 and 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. The list below represents our carefully considered picks for the best dumbbells to upgrade your home gym in 2024.
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