Best Dumbbell Sets For A Home Gym – The Best In Each Category

We will be reviewing the best dumbbell sets for a home gym.  The reason being, that dumbbell training is one of the most effective ways to increase your functional strength and to build muscle.

Because dumbbells are so versatile, reasonably priced, and don’t take up a lot of room, this makes dumbbells for the home gym a perfect option.

This review breaks down the top dumbbell sets from each type of dumbbell category including rubber, urethane, iron, neoprene, and adjustable dumbbells.

 

How to Buy Dumbbells

When looking for the perfect dumbbell set for your home gym space there are certain things to keep in mind.

The amount of space, what kind of material is suitable for your needs, what weight sizes are best for your workouts, as well as budget.

 

Amount of Space

This could be the single most determining factor when purchasing dumbbells for a home gym.  Full dumbbell sets can be up to 30 pairs or more.  That means that for a compact home gym, it is critical to get the most important sizes for your fitness program.

If your space is limited, start out with just a few dumbbells in the light range, a couple that are medium weight, and at least one heavy set.  You can always add more from there when you are ready.

The most popular dumbbell weights are from 5lbs to 50lbs.  Hex shaped dumbbells might be a good home gym space saver since they stack easier.

You may also consider adjustable weight dumbbells where all of the weights are compacted and connected to one handle.  I review two nice adjustable dumbbell sets in the review below.

 

Dumbbell Material

Most dumbbells are either made out of solid metal or metal encased in an outer coating.  Solid iron dumbells are inexpensive, but they will cause the most damage to your floors.  They are also loud and not as safe as coated ones.

Coated dumbbells are quieter, safer, and easy to clean.  The rubber hex dumbbells in the section below are the best bang for the buck because they cost less than the urethane or PVC coatings.  One drawback of rubber dumbbells is that a full set will leave a slight rubber smell in a small exercise room.

 

Price/Value

This is up to your individual budget.  However, adjustable dumbbells can have 15 or more sets in one and can be a good way to save money.  But, some people don’t like the feel and think they are too bulky.

Solid steel is the least expensive, but they come with disadvantages as well.  The most expensive home gym dumbbells are urethane coated because these have the overall best quality.

Either way, dumbbells are an excellent investment.  They last forever and will hold their value.  I recommend purchasing all of the same brand and type of dumbbells for your set in case you ever decide to sell them to upgrade.

»» For another inexpensive home gym option, check out the best exercise resistance band set, the BodyBoss portable gym.

 

See the Best Home Gym Exercise Equipment for 2020

 

Best Dumbbell Sets for a Home Gym

 

Best Rubber Hex Dumbbells

 

 

Rogue Fitness Dumbbells

 

Weight Sizes Available:  2.5lbs to 125lbs

Rogue Dumbbell Benefits:

• Full selection of sizes are available
• Non-marking rubber coating
• Very durable for the money
• Reduced noise
• Ergonomic, textured, chrome handles
• One year warranty

Potential negatives:

• A full set takes up a lot of space
• Rubber smell in a small home gym

 

Rogue fitness gym equipment is known for its ingenuity and quality products.  And the Rogue Rubber Dumbells are the most popular type of dumbbells that they offer because of their value and durability.

The weight heads are encased with heavy duty rubber for safety, cleanliness, and noise reduction.  The hex shape makes these more functional, cuts down on rolling around, and the stability makes a difference with certain exercises.

Rogue Rubber Hex Dumbbells provide a wide variety of weight sizes from 2.5lbs to 125lbs each.  Up to the 30lb dumbbells, they can be purchased in every 2.5lb increment.  Above 30lbs, they are offered in 5lb increments up to 125lbs.

The Rogue Fitness Dumbbells come standard with textured, hardened chrome handles that will not rust, and they are ergonomically shaped for a more comfortable grip.  Rogue dumbbells can be purchased in either pairs or singles.

 

To save money when purchasing, they are also available in Rogue Dumbbell Sets.  Depending on how you workout, there are a few different sets of dumbbells grouped together to choose from.

The most popular set is the 5-50lb range, but you may also be interested in the heavier dumbbell sets, 55-100lbs, or 105-125lbs.  All of these combinations of dumbbell sets come in 5lb weight increments.

There is also a home gym dumbbell rack available from Rogue.  You may want to get the entire home gym dumbbell set if you have enough room in your basement or garage home gym.

All Rogue durable dumbbells come with a one year manufacturer warranty.

 

Purchase Rogue Rubber Hex Dumbbells

 

 

Best Iron Dumbbells

 

Fitness Gear Cast Hex Dumbbell

 

Weight Sizes Available:  5lb to 60lbs

Fitness Gear Cast Benefits:

• Lowest price
• Heavy duty dumbbells
• Don’t smell like rubber
• Delivery or store pickup options
• One year warranty

Possible Negatives:

• Noisy, less safe, easily damages floor
• 5 lb rather than 2.5lb increments

 

Welcome to old school dumbbells.  They are complete with the clinking and clanging, that make you really feel like your lifting.

They are made of solid cast iron construction so they are invincible.  However, they can rust if the coating eventually chips off, but they offer the best bang for the buck.

Because there is no protective coating they may not be good for some home gym weight rooms.  They can easily dent your floor and they are not as safe as the coated ones, so first be sure they’re a good piece of fitness equipment for the home.

The dumbbell weights are sold in 5lb increments.  5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, or 60lbs.  These hex cast iron dumbbells also come with a standard Dick’s Sporting Goods one year warranty.

 

 

 

Best Neoprene Dumbbells

 

Fitness Gear Neoprene Dumbell

 

Weight Sizes Available:  1lb to 20lbs

Fitness Gear Neoprene Benefits:

• Easy to grip and hold
• Quiet and won’t damage floor
• Great for cardio and toning
• Inexpensive
• One year warranty

Possible Negatives:

• Can tear with heavy use
• Set only goes up to 20lbs

 

These types of dumbbells are generally known to be used by the ladies, though you will see them in rehab centers as well.  The biggest reason that I chose this brand is the variety of dumbbell sizes that are available.

Weight sizes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 20lbs.  They are purchased in singles, and currently don’t have an option to purchase the entire set together.

Neoprene dumbells are used mostly for cardio and some dumbbell weight training.  They work great for functional strength, mobility, and getting lean.

This soft material is comfortable in your hands, easy to grip, and are balanced out with an iron core.  The only negative to neoprene dumbbells is that with heavy use, the outer shell can tear or get worn out.

 

 

 

Best Quality Dumbbells

 

 

Rogue Urethane Dumbbells

 

Weight Sizes Available:  5lb to 150lbs

Rogue Urethane Best Benefits:

• Best Quality
• Highest dumbbell poundage
• Workout room won’t smell like rubber
• Money saving weight packages available
• Many people prefer round dumbbells
• One year warranty

Possible Negatives:

• Highest price type of dumbbell

 

These urethane dumbbells come with the highest price, but you’re getting the best quality dumbbell and extremely durable.  The hardened chrome handle is welded to a single piece and the urethane is odorless and shock resistant.

They start at 5lbs and go up to 150lbs in 5lb increments which is a huge set.  Obviously the entire set would not fit in a small home gym.  Rogue urethane dumbbells are also good if you are looking for the heaviest dumbbell set, these are available up to 150lbs each

 

Although Rogue makes a home gym dumbbell rack to go with these, round dumbbells are known to take up more room, plus they don’t stack.  However, some prefer round dumbells since they enable for extra exercise options such as ab rollers.

They do put together a few money saving options.  The rogue dumbbell sets are; 5-50lb set, also 5-75lbs, 55-100lbs, 5-100lbs, and 105-150lbs.  These sets all come in 5lb weight increments.

For space saving dumbbells, check out Rogue adjustable dumbbells or Rogue Loadable Dumbbells.  These save space by adding weight plates to a special dumbbell weight bar.

 

Purchase Rogue Urethane Dumbbells

 

 

Best Adjustable Dumbells

 

 

Bowflex SelectTech Adjustable Dumbbells

 

Weight Sizes Available:  Up to 52.5lbs in 2.5lb increments

Bowflex Benefits:

• Space saving – takes the place of several dumbbell sets
• Saving money buying just one set
• Quieter workouts
• Easy to adjust weight dial – clearly marked
• Two year warranty – with a well known name

Possible Negatives:

• Adjustable dumbbells can feel bulky
• Comes with platform but they don’t make a stand

 

Bowflex is known for the best at-home exercise equipment, and their adjustable dumbbells are one of the most popular on the market.  This is one of the newest innovations in home gym equipment.

The Bowflex SelectTech 552 comes in pairs and just one dumbbell adjusts from 2.5lbs to 52.5lbs in 2.5lb increments up to the first 25lbs.   This can save you from purchasing up to 15 dumbbell sets.

Just the turn of a dial will change the amount of weight to what you want.  Then only the amount selected will release when you pull it off of its platform.  The individual weight plates are coated to reduce noise.

 

Some feel that this type of dumbbell feels a little bulky during certain movements, but most of their customers give this product a 5 star rating.

An added bonus is that this dumbbell set comes with a free Bowflex SelectTech training app.

Other great products are the Bowflex Adjustable Barbell Set and the Bowflex Adjustable Kettlebell which also come with high customer ratings.

 

Purchase Bowflex SelectTech 552

 

 

Best Heavy Adjustable Dumbells

 

 

PowerBlock Series EXP Dumbells

 

Weight Sizes Available:  Up to 90lbs in 2.5lb increments

PowerBlock Benefits:

• Space saving – takes the place of many sets
• Heaviest adjustable dumbbell size
• Reasonably priced
• Quieter workouts
• Easy to adjust weight – clearly marked
• One year warranty

Possible Negatives:

• Adjustable dumbbells can feel bulky
• Heavier stages are an additional cost

 

Rogue fitness is the authorized dealer the PowerBlock, one of the best “adjustable dumbbell” packages on the market.

The reason that they are the “heaviest adjustable dumbbell” is that there are two extra stages that can be added on for up to 90lbs each.  There are stage 2 (50-70lbs) and stage 3 (70-90lbs) expansion kits that get you to 90lbs in 2.5lb increments.

This replaces up to a 28 piece dumb bell set.  PowerBlock adjustable dumbbells will save you both money and space.  The individual weight plates are coated to reduce noise.

 

The most popular “block” provides 5lbs to 50lbs in 2.5 increments taking the place of a 16 piece dumbbell set.  PowerBlock also makes an adjustable dumbbell stand that raises their height so you don’t have to bend over.

To adjust the weight that you want, just choose the numbered size rail for the size that corresponds to your amount of weight.  Then simply lift the handle and only the amount that you selected will be attached to the handle.

Another heavy duty dumbbell option is the PowerBlock dumbbell for commercial use.  This one has available expansion kits that go up to 175lbs!!

 

Purchase PowerBlock Adjustable Dumbbells

 

What Is the Best Dumbbell – Conclusion

As you can see, there are many different dumbbell categories to choose from depending on your individual fitness goals.

My pick for the best dumbbell set for home use is the Rogue Rubber Hex Dumbbells.  They are stackable, easy to clean, quiet, reasonably priced, and available in every size that you would need.

The Bowflex is my favorite for the best adjustable dumbbells.  They are easy to use and a great value for considerably high quality, and comes with a two year warranty.

⇒ If you have any questions or comments on the best dumbbell sets for a home gym, please leave a message below and I will respond.

 

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