Adjustable Dumbells VS. Olympic Loadables

[$h0BoKen223]

So I just thought I'd share my experience from my most recent equipment shopping. Sorry if this isn't in the right sub forum..

I have a lot of experience with different home gym setups and of course dumbells. I've had two different roomies that have the bowflex adjustable dumbells. They're really convenient, and easy to use, but clunky and cheap feeling on the plates and grips. I just got a new place in a more rural area so I wanted to put together a nice little training area for days that I couldn't train or days I wasn't feeling the gym and wanted to just hit some more reps at home.

So anyway I started looking at the adjustable dumbells because they're space efficient and cost effective compared to several sets of dumbells. After shopping around though I had become frustrated because any way I cut it I was going to spend 500 bucks and possible receive a crap product. Every adjustable options had reviews talking about how they failed and dropped a plate out during an exercise or that something got stuck and now its just a 35lb dumbell.

So I ended up going with the Rogue DB-10 loadable dumbells. I was concerned at first thinking like why the fuck would I spend all that money on just a dumbell handle, and I still had to buy plates. Alsp they look super fucking long online. Ultimately, I weighed my options and considered the fact that for any decent adjustable set I'd be at 4-500 and there's no telling how long they will last.

So I took the risk and got the Rogue DB-10's. I had considered the Titan Fitness 15 inch'ers but decided to spend the small fortune on the rogues for two reasons.
1.) They're 4 inch sleeves and smaller grips so I can load up the plates as I need.
2.) They will almost definitely outlive me as long as they're not kept outside.
3.) They look cool. ( I know I said 2 so sue me.)

So to wrap this bullshit post up.. The dumbells are actually a great length, no bigger than the average 35lb gym dumbell. I feel like I spent too much money but I'm not worrying about dropping a plate out of my adjustable setup or having it bind up because some plastic clip broke.

Anyway, I spent like two weeks going over my options so just thought if anyone else on here was looking at similar options this might help.

 

[Demondosage]

So I just thought I'd share my experience from my most recent equipment shopping. Sorry if this isn't in the right sub forum..

I have a lot of experience with different home gym setups and of course dumbells. I've had two different roomies that have the bowflex adjustable dumbells. They're really convenient, and easy to use, but clunky and cheap feeling on the plates and grips. I just got a new place in a more rural area so I wanted to put together a nice little training area for days that I couldn't train or days I wasn't feeling the gym and wanted to just hit some more reps at home.

So anyway I started looking at the adjustable dumbells because they're space efficient and cost effective compared to several sets of dumbells. After shopping around though I had become frustrated because any way I cut it I was going to spend 500 bucks and possible receive a crap product. Every adjustable options had reviews talking about how they failed and dropped a plate out during an exercise or that something got stuck and now its just a 35lb dumbell.

So I ended up going with the Rogue DB-10 loadable dumbells. I was concerned at first thinking like why the fuck would I spend all that money on just a dumbell handle, and I still had to buy plates. Alsp they look super fucking long online. Ultimately, I weighed my options and considered the fact that for any decent adjustable set I'd be at 4-500 and there's no telling how long they will last.

So I took the risk and got the Rogue DB-10's. I had considered the Titan Fitness 15 inch'ers but decided to spend the small fortune on the rogues for two reasons.
1.) They're 4 inch sleeves and smaller grips so I can load up the plates as I need.
2.) They will almost definitely outlive me as long as they're not kept outside.
3.) They look cool. ( I know I said 2 so sue me.)

So to wrap this bullshit post up.. The dumbells are actually a great length, no bigger than the average 35lb gym dumbell. I feel like I spent too much money but I'm not worrying about dropping a plate out of my adjustable setup or having it bind up because some plastic clip broke.

Anyway, I spent like two weeks going over my options so just thought if anyone else on here was looking at similar options this might help.

I went out and purchased a cheap 110 lb cap weight set with adjustable dumbbells and a barbell. No, it’s not Olympic style plates or barbell but it gets the job done for light to moderate dumbbell work or barbell movements, think more like arms and shoulder day, I mainly hit push-ups with a weighted backpack on for chest development. I guess you can get to a point where you can make damn near anything work, but those cap adjustable dumbbells I actually like. Now, they are a pain in the ass changing up weights with because the screw on collars you have to turn like 100 rotations with to lock down, but one of the benefits to not changing work weights up as much (especially on arm days) is that you feel more engaged and focused with what you do have at your disposal.

 

[$h0BoKen223]

I went out and purchased a cheap 110 lb cap weight set with adjustable dumbbells and a barbell. No, it’s not Olympic style plates or barbell but it gets the job done for light to moderate dumbbell work or barbell movements, think more like arms and shoulder day, I mainly hit push-ups with a weighted backpack on for chest development. I guess you can get to a point where you can make damn near anything work, but those cap adjustable dumbbells I actually like. Now, they are a pain in the ass changing up weights with because the screw on collars you have to turn like 100 rotations with to lock down, but one of the benefits to not changing work weights up as much (especially on arm days) is that you feel more engaged and focused with what you do have at your disposal.

I almost went with the screw on ones because I had them when I was younger and always did me well. I just remembered during curls the screw on collars would start to unscrew themselves. But that may have just been the brand I had back in the day.

 

[Sp2.0]

I had the bow flex selecttechs. They're convenient but fairly fragile. The upside is they're easy to repair and replace parts on. I've had to repair them a few times.

 

[Maximus014]

I have some thick grip loadable Olympic dumbells, they're great, I personally don't like adjustables, just have to buy a bunch of 10s 2 sets of 5s and 2.5s and you're good to go I think it's the way to go for a home gym set up rather than spending all that money on a dumbells set

 

[Btcowboy]

Started worh loadable and switched to 1092 adjustables. I like the adjustables myself

 

[MR_Midas]

I have some thick grip loadable Olympic dumbells, they're great, I personally don't like adjustables, just have to buy a bunch of 10s 2 sets of 5s and 2.5s and you're good to go I think it's the way to go for a home gym set up rather than spending all that money on a dumbells set

Yes, adjustable dumbbells are just a great option for the home. I own one myself.

 

[TheRingloVale]

The ironmaster adjustables are awesome...it's the closest feel to an actual normal dumbbell that there is. I have enough to load them up to 130 each, and there is another kit that can take them to 175 I think. They're flat on the bottom so you can kick them up for presses like normal DBs. They feel rock solid and aren't rattly. They are tough enough to drop and not worry (might ruin your floor though).

The only drawbacks are cost and they are slow to load.

 

[MR_Midas]

The ironmaster adjustables are awesome...it's the closest feel to an actual normal dumbbell that there is. I have enough to load them up to 130 each, and there is another kit that can take them to 175 I think. They're flat on the bottom so you can kick them up for presses like normal DBs. They feel rock solid and aren't rattly. They are tough enough to drop and not worry (might ruin your floor though).

The only drawbacks are cost and they are slow to load.

Their cost is of course space, I doubted for a long time when I wanted to buy. The miser Scrooge in me stopped me from buying for a long time