I'm interested in grabbing a dumbbell set for my home gym, but they're mega expensive.
Do you buy 2nd hand sets? Or the adjustable dumbbells?
After some recommendations.
Dumbbells - What Are You Using at Home?
CustardShot on 03/10/2021 - 21:58
Comments
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08Y1M6ZLP?pd_rd_i=B08Y1M6ZLP&p…
I thought these looked quite good too.
The hex dumbells from Kmart. Great prices and we’ve managed to get a fairly good set of them together (from 3kg up to 15kg). Rebel sells something similar (or, perhaps exactly the same), but they are twice the price.
Seem to be hard to find though. KMart always seems to be out of stock on every size I actually wanted in the past, and they really made me work for them.
Get adjustable if you want to save some $$ and/or space…but frankly I don’t think I ever want to use my plate dumbells again.
My local Kmart only ever had one size in stock and too heavy for me.
I ended up buying the Rebel Celsius hex ones, but only require lighter weights up to 5kg (I'm weak). They do get very expensive at the heavier end.
A couple of years back I put my brothers old rusty barbell out on the nature strip hard waste and it lasted about an hour and now I know why. Heavy weight equals high cost.
oof - Just ordered the 2s, 4s and 6s. Will have to check my store for 10s and 15 for stock as they don't deliver. Couldnt see other sizes.
Do you have a rack to store them?
Agree on the whole kmart prices are very decentMy wife allows me to store them beneath a piece of furniture…just high enough to get anything up to 7kg beneath. I also have 10, 12.5, and 15kg dumbbells, but am not going that high at the moment due to injury, so those are out of the way.
Thought of building a rack, but they're out of the way where they are at the moment, but still easily accessible.
I still need to pick up a couple of lighter weights myself, but they are very hard to find in kmart at the moment. Rebel sometimes does 40 or 50% off the Celsius line they carry, so I'll have to keep an eye out.
It should be mentioned, if you have the space then it might pay to keep an eye out at auctions. Gyms close, or simply lease new stock, and so the old stuff gets sold off. A commercial set can cost some $$$ even secondhand, but they are fantastic to use.
I barely have space for my adjustable dumbells.
Dumbbells - What Are You Using at Home?
That's a bit rude O.P., calling us names and expecting answers to a vague question.
adjustable feels like crap, i just buy the real thing.
Can you recommend where from?
If you can be responsible, the snap in snap out adjustable ones eg powertrain are pretty good value imo.
Easy to axe yourself with it though if not careful.
Today I used a sack of rice and a bag of potatoes
sack of rice
5 kg ? 10 kg ? 20 kg ? or 50 kg ?
Basmati?
I use my dumbbells like anyone else… as decorations in the backyard/patio/gym room.
Are you more of a body weight exercise person?
Or a barbeller?Same, my two Aldi dumbbells are currently decorating the area under my study desk…
Have adjustable dumbells.
Even when I was doing a home work out regularly it works. Got a 40kg cast iron set back in 2013 for $80 and still in good condition. Currently hard to find weights less than $2/kg.Having to change weights with adjustable is annoying when you are doing circuit type/super sets. I generally try do exercises in pairs for muscle groups which don't overlap much (e.g. do rows and presses). To do this i end up choosing exercises where I can use the same weights so it is a bit limiting.
If I was going to get back into weight seriously I would get a second pair of adjustables.
If you have the space a rack of fixed weight dumbells would be awesome. I would keep an eye out for second hand deals around mid next year. Prices currently inflated due to lockdown but good chance that many will be clearing out the covid home gym this time next year.During a previous lockdown I found buying water canisters from Bunnings a lifesaver. Buy a 15L and 25L one and you can essentially use them as adjustable heavy weights (this is more for hanging/pullup type exercises rather than as dumbbells though), and only cost about $10-$20.
This time around I bought kettlebells from Amazon. With prime they were pretty cheap to send over. Bought a 4KG, 6KG, 8KG and 16KG set. Gives me enough variability/combinations to cover off most intermediate weights.
3L Dairy Juice X2. one for each arm.
Also a great source of protein for them gainz!
Eg at Rebel Sport:
https://www.rebelsport.com.au/p/celsius-5kg-rubber-hex-dumbb…
Eg at Kmart
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/5kg-hexagonal-dumbbell/9853…
What I like about these is the hex shape - they don't roll and they stay in one spot and are stable for floor support type exercises (eg standing plank type movements where you're gripping a pair of dumbbells). The handle is still chromed steel, and should stand up to use. The rubber will also offer a little more protection to hard surfaces.
Eventually the rubber is bound to perish and crumble. Not sure how long that would be, but probably a fair number of years unless you're storing them out under the sun. These dumbbells are still, IMHO, much better than the vinyl clad/dipped things you see, which have a tendency to split. Fine if they're cast iron (though less comfortable once the vinyl/plastic comes off), but some others are filled with sand or shot, and splitting is catastrophic.
The commercial dumbbells that are completely chromed will likely last forever, but often they are round (and thus easily roll on the floor). Metal can also be unkind to hard surfaces. If you have a matted gym room though, and the cash to spare, then why not!
Whatever you get, it's useful to have every size in 1kg increments up to about 6 or 7kg. Then some heavier ones for the bigger exercises (rows, leg work, shrugs etc).
I agree with some of the sentiment expressed here on adjustable sets…they are useful where there are limits on cash and/or space, but really, sets of fixed dumbbells are soooo much better.
My physio has a set of weights that look to me to be exactly the same as the Kmart/Rebel ones linked above.
Secondhand is always a good option, though the sort of people selling their weights will usually only have cheaper adjustable sets. As has been pointed out, weights are expensive. If you see them at $1/kg or less, then that's an absolute bargain - people will pay more.
I got this set from Kmart, for $49. I already had some additional weight plates lying around that fit that can also be added on, as I'm currently working with ~10kg weight and will continue to push up higher steadily.
Personally, I think it's a waste to have every size up to 6 or 7kg as recommended above - there's really no need - just get the adjustable set from Kmart as you'll very quickly move above the 1-7kg range.
If you can't find anything, just get a pull-up bar. It is a great arm workout, and also does your back.
Mainly does your back but yeah switching grips great for hitting the biceps.
Another alternative is resistance bands (the thick ones without handles) - I have been using these instead of free weights since lockdown 1.0 and I'm never going back.
i bought adjustable ones.
https://intersport.com.au/product/bodyworx-20kg-dumbell-set/
i think those are the ones i got but i don't remember them being 150, i could have sworn they were 80 bucks when i got them.
also got these https://www.amazon.com.au/Fat-Gripz%C2%AE-Award-Winning-Shor…