Does anyone have experience with adjustable dumbbells? Are there any practical differences in different exercises wether you use 10 kg plates or 5 kg plates? I’m primarily thinking about ROM in exercises like presses, bench and maybe incline curls.
I can share this: I bought the dumbbell bars that can be loaded with the same weights that I use on my barbell. It’s not nearly as practical as the fixed weight ones at the gym. You can’t comfortably rest them on your lap between sets, the weights slide off if you hold the bar vertically, and dropping them dents my wooden platform.
The next plan is to try the dumbbell holder arms for my titan rack but otherwise I’m not sure anything is a suitable substitute for the standard ones at the gym. Maybe instead just buy a pair of 60’s and 90’s. I bet most of the time you won’t need much else.
Thanks for the input. Did you use 25 or 10 pound plates and did you Discover any major difference in ROM?
I also use dumbbell handles for 2" olympic weights. They’re ok. The shaft protruding means you need to be a little careful not to hit your body with the pokey bits. The size is comical with 25-lb weights, never mind 45 plates. For anything more than 60 lbs, I’d prefer fixed weights.
These are ‘axle’ style with a straight 2" shaft through the hand area too. The ends are open, so I’m a little scared that I’ll slip and take a 2" core sample from my face. I plan to get some plastic plugs for the ends.
I use the old school 1" adjustable dumbbells with the spindle ends and I have a separate set of 1" plates that I use for it that I can load up with a decent amount of 10lbs (approximately 5kgs) weights on to it and I don’t have any issues with ROM on those plates.I think this is definitely a YMMV sort of thing as I’m a bit smaller in the upper body right now so a set of 60lbs and 90lbs would do a whole lot of nothing for me personally because the heaviest weight I even use is 50lbs for my dumbbell flat bench.
If you can find a set for cheap on a craigslist style app, I’d go with what @BobbyD is using.
I’ve had the ironmaster adjustable ones going on five years. They are secure. Other than the square shape, they feel like fixed dumbbells and are just as compact. I got the optional microplates so I can adjust in 1.25lb increments.
Power Blocks are fantastic. If you’re going to get adjustable dumbbells then that’s what gets my vote. I have the Power Block Pros in my garage gym. Simple design that is time tested and backed by a solid warranty.
Adjustable dumbbells are now in great demand because they can be used by anyone. Using dumbbells, you can perform sets of exercises for different muscle groups. Initially, you need to use the minimum weight because you risk getting injured if you take a lot. About a year ago, I set up a home gym. I think I did a great job of it because I was inspired by the best compact home gym, and for a good reason. I used the expertise of the best professionals.
I’ve got a crappy cap weight plates from one of 300lb sets. It’s been fine for the lifts that I do (don’t do any Olympic lifts or anything), but over time it has become less and less usable. The end of the sleeve (large circle that prevents the plates from coming any farther onto the bar, collar?) on both ends began to slide bit by bit. I got around this by simply pushing them back in; however, now any movement from the floor causes the plates to push on the collars as I set the bar back down and slide them in. Eventually the collars slide too far and the cap standard weight set cave in to the sides as well, making it damn near impossible to finish a set of more than 2 or 3 reps.
I stupidly tried superglue in hopes that it would help, but it had virtually no effect. Is there any way to prevent the collars from sliding around, or do I have to spent money on a new barbell? I’m going to be moving out and going to college between 6-8 months, and therefore would rather not have to buy a new bar since I would rarely be able to use it.