I’ve owned this dumbbell for a year, and it still looks like I bought it yesterday. The rubber coating encases the heads and handle, making it feel bombproof while also acting as a shock absorber if you happen to drop it – good news for both the dumbbell and your floor. The compact shape never has never felt cumbersome during dynamic HIIT and CrossFit workouts, and the rubber-coated central bar is lightly textured for a grippy yet comfortable feel. I also love the hex design, which means the dumbbell can double up as a press-up platform for exercises like renegade rows and man-makers.
It’s not the cheapest option on the market, and you may need to invest in more than one set to suit a wide range of exercises. But beyond this, I struggled to find any faults. In my eyes, this dumbbell does pretty much everything right. The hexagonal heads provide a good stable base for performing exercises like renegade rows, it feels incredibly robust, and the knurled metal handles provide a nice balance between being grooved for grip without having so much texture they scratched at my hands. It’s quite reasonably priced compared to rivals too.
These attributes mean you can use it for pretty much anything, whether that’s an energetic HIIT workout where you’re powerfully pressing the weights overhead, a Pilates class or a spot of bodybuilding. The only downsides are the limited weight range (2kg to 20kg, which will still suit most people) and the fact that you might need to buy a second pair when your strength improves. I’m a big believer that the basics will never let you down when it comes to exercise, and this adjustable dumbbell is about as basic as they come. But it’s effective, and it’s more affordable than most, so it earns a place on this list.
In each 17.2kg set you get two bars, four 1.1kg weight plates, four 2.3kg weight plates and four spinlock collars. This means you can load them up for a pair of dumbbells just shy of 9kg each, or lob more weights on one handle to get the total up to roughly 15kg – a good fit for one-dumbbell moves like goblet squats. These weights may not be enough to challenge experienced lifters, but those new to strength training will have everything they need to get started. The collars hold the weights securely in place, and the semi-gloss finish doesn’t look too shabby either, while also boosting the dumbbell’s resistance to rust.
Selectorised dumbbells are significantly more expensive than their fixed weight twins. But if you’re looking to exercise at home and take your training seriously, they might be worth it. One of my favourite things about this Bowflex ‘bell is that it has 15 different weight options from 2kg to 24kg, meaning it effectively does the job of 15 different weights while taking up the same floorspace as a shoebox. With the weight options jumping up in 1kg and 2kg increments, this makes it a great tool for applying the progressive overload principle – lifting gradually heavier weights over time as your strength increases to prevent your progress from plateauing.
You can also switch between the weights in seconds using clearly labelled dials on either end, which is ideal for drop-sets. But, thanks to the many weight options and smooth weight-changing procedure, this is the best selectorised dumbbell I’ve tried for building muscle at home. With the Wolverson dumbbell above, it’s likely you’ll have to invest in a few different weights to support a comprehensive at-home training plan. Not so with this Mirafit set.
The 30kg package comes with two central handles, four 1.5kg plates, eight 2.5kg plates and four spinlock collars, so you can chop and change the weight on each dumbbell to suit the exercise you’re doing. There are also lighter and heavier (20kg to 100kg) sets available to suit all levels of training experience. This offers immense versatility for strength training, allowing you to load up a heavy weight for multi-muscle compound moves like squats, then strip the dumbbell down for lighter isolation moves like lateral raises.
While the collars lock the plates securely in place, I still wouldn’t want to use this dumbbell for explosive overhead exercises like snatches and devil’s presses. The spinlock system is also notably more time consuming than the selectorised Bowflex ‘bell. But these dumbbells are also considerably more affordable, offering great value for money at less than £100. So, if you want to start strength training at home without breaking the bank, I think this is a top option.
I love a hex dumbbell – named after the six-sided design of the heads. The flat surfaces mean you can use it as a press-up platform during renegade rows without worrying about it rolling away, and the knurled steel handle won’t slip out of your hand during sweaty HIIT sessions. The rubber coated heads can survive being dropped and bashed against the ground if you’re trying to cycle through dumbbell snatches during a CrossFit-style workout, and I’m also a sucker for the Batman-esque black and grey aesthetic.
