Dumbbells are an essential part of strength training. In fact, dumbbells are important in any kind of exercise. Whether you’re toning, strength training, and even doing cardio, there’s no doubt that this simple barbell-like gym equipment has become a must-have for any training.
A Brief History of Dumbbells
Before dumbbells looked the way they do now, they used to look so primitive and simple. Dumbbells started in Greece way back when there were philosophers and artists. Of course, back then, they weren’t called dumbbells. They were called ‘halteres’ instead. Halteres were just made of large stones that had holes in them where people hold them.
Fast forward to the 1900s, dumbbells became a thing again when it was shown in a book by John Blundell. The book, The Muscles and Their Story talked largely about gaining muscle and what you need to achieve that. After more people read the book, dumbbells became a hot item for people who are health-conscious.
Since then, dumbbells slowly got a few innovations until it became the stainless-steel versions you see in gyms today. Most of the time, they are lined up in a rack from lightest to heaviest.
All About Adjustable Dumbbells
The innovation didn’t stop there. Instead of having fixed dumbbells that only have one weight per bar, the adjustable dumbbells were created in the hopes of lessening the number of dumbbells you have at home.
Adjustable dumbbells are a kind of dumbbell whose weight can be lessened or increased. You can either add more disks or reduce them so they can fit the weight you need for your workout. Adjustable dumbbells vary depending on the model and the type of lock. Some are locked by a nut or a pin while some are locked by a dial mechanism. Whichever it is, they have removable weights on both sides.
How Adjustable Dumbbells Work
Adjustable dumbbells are pretty much like your ordinary dumbbells except that their weight is not fixed. If the ordinary dumbbells have fixed weights and the plate or disk is attached to the bar, an adjustable dumbbell is not. Instead of a single disk attached at both ends of the rod, there isn’t anything attached to it. It’s like a stick with a stopper at both ends where you place the disks. When you have the weight you want already, you use the pin or dial to lock it. The dial holds the disks together, so they don’t make a rattling sound.
Adjustable dumbbells sound fancy, but they’re really just like your usual dumbbells. Of course, there are more sophisticated-looking ones like those matte-covered disks and a lock that looks like the one you see in a vault. Nonetheless, they really just work in the same way. It’s a dumbbell, how complicated can it be?
Why You Need Adjustable Dumbbells
Picture this. You have a home gym, and you’re thinking of stocking a set of dumbbells that will be your light-medium-heavy weights. When you go to the store, you realize that you would need at least 3 pairs of dumbbells. And since you’re not sure if they are the right weights, you go ahead and purchase 2 more pairs just to be safe. Now you have a full set.
You can only imagine how expensive they are. And aside from that, they also take up a lot of space. If you have 5 pairs of it lying on the floor, then it won’t look organized at all. You can also buy a rack, but that’s an additional expense again.
Adjustable dumbbells are less expensive than your ordinary dumbbells. For one thing, they already come in a set. Some also have their own storage racks, so you don’t have to add that to the list of the things you need to buy.
But the main reason why you should get adjustable dumbbells is convenience. Because you can easily adjust the weight, you don’t have to go back and forth to get a new pair of dumbbells from the rack. Just get the disks, place them right in front of you and lock them. It’s perfect for quick weight changes.
What To Look For Adjustable Dumbbells
If all the talk got you suddenly interested in adjustable dumbbells, then you’re probably excited to get your hands on it. But wait, you have to take these few things into account first.
1. Shape
It might be hard to believe, but there are actual dumbbells that aren’t round. For most people, this sounds absurd, but it really does not make a lot of difference in your workout. They’re of the same weight anyway. However, what you will love about square-shaped adjustable dumbbells is more on the safety side of things.
When your dumbbells are square-shaped, you don’t have to worry about it rolling around or rolling on your foot. Because they’re square, they only stay in one place. Plus, they are very balanced the same way that a circular disk would feel when you are carrying them.
2. Lock
As mentioned earlier, there are different kinds of locks. Some use a pin while others use a dial. A pin is really like a screw that you place whenever you want to lock the disks together. On the other hand, a dial is the one you spin while it slowly secures the disks. For this feature, it’s on your preference and what you think would be easier for you to use.
3. Budget
Last is the budget. Just like any other gym equipment, you have to think about the budget that you are willing to spend on adjustable models. There are plenty of dumbbells, and they range from $200 to 400. Honestly, if you’re not going to use them all the time, it’s just wise to buy the cheaper ones. If you will use them all the time and they have the features that you want, then buying a higher quality and more expensive one is also a good choice.
At the end of the day, dumbbells are extremely basic, and their concept is really so simple. Sure, there’s going to be a few innovations, but they are more on the size, style, and weight.