Best Dumbbells of 2024 – Buyer’s Guide & Reviews

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If you want to get into the best shape of your life and develop toned muscles, or even become a bodybuilder, a good place to start is with a good set of dumbbells. Dumbbells are very versatile pieces of weight lifting equipment, and when used right they can help you build muscle in your body from top to bottom. The thing is that dumbbells can cost a fair amount of money and there are so many options out there that it might be hard to choose the right ones for you.

Well, we are here to help you choose the best dumbbells that will suit you and your goals. Not all dumbbells are the same, not all have the same quality, and not all are meant for the same people. Give this a read through because we have some fantastic choice in terms of the best dumbbells around, plus some tips on choosing the right ones for you!

Summary: The Best Dumbbells

What To Look For When Buying Dumbbells

Dumbbells can end up being quite expensive, and a decent dumbbell can cost anywhere from 1 dollar per pound and up. They are definitely a good investment to make, but you don’t want to end up spending a bunch of money on equipment that is lackluster. Here are just a few considerations that you should keep in mind before you go out buy any dumbbells.

Shape

You may not think that the shape of your dumbbells is all that important, but we beg to differ. Some dumbbells are round and those can end up being a nuisance because they end up rolling away from you the second you put them down. The ideal choice to go with is a dumbbell that has hexagonal shaped weighted heads because the flat sides will sit firmly on the ground in one spot.

Weight

Another obvious consideration to keep in mind when buying dumbbells is the weight. If you are a beginner and just want a light weightlifting workout you should get lighter dumbbells. On the other hand, if you are already fairly experienced at weight lifting you may want to go for the heavier ones. Remember that dumbbells can come in sets and a variety of weight levels so you can slowly work your way up from lighter ones to heavier ones.

Material

Like we have said many times before with several other pieces of equipment, metal is key. Simply put, there is nothing better than metal because metal is strong and when compared to other materials it is the least likely to break. That being said many modern dumbbells have rubber or neoprene coatings, sometimes just on the weighted heads, or sometimes on the whole thing.

Dumbbells with a rubber coating just on the heads are ideal because the rubber serves to make them more durable, it reduces noise when you put them down and also helps reduce the pain of dropping a dumbbell on your feet. Moreover, neoprene coated dumbbells can be quite useful, especially for lighter workouts and people who need an increased amount of grip; neoprene definitely helps you deal with slippery and sweaty hands.

Grip & Handle

Another important thing to keep in mind before making your final purchase is what the handle is like. Ideally speaking, your dumbbells should have textured handles to prevent slipping and injury. This can come in the form of textured metal, or a neoprene coating can help with this too. On a side note, while neoprene coating is good for some things, it is not an ideal thing to have on heavier dumbbells.

Dumbbells Reviews

Our Rating

This is a fantastic pair of dumbbells to go with. These things come in a very wide variety of weight levels, thus making them ideal for first time users and for the most experienced of weight lifters too. Not to mention that they are extremely durable, plus more than safe for everyone to use as well.


Design

One of the things that we really like about the Rogue Rubber Hex Dumbbells is that the wide range of weights that they come in makes them ideal for absolutely anyone to use. They can be used for presses, lunges, curls, and much more too. These things range all the way from 2.5 to 125 pounds, making the Rogue Dumbbells perfect for people of all fitness levels and exercises of all kinds.

Another thing that makes these dumbbells ideal is that they feature a classic hexagonal design. This makes them very convenient because they won’t go rolling around all over the floor the second you put them down. The weighted heads are also covered in heavy-duty rubber, something that helps to reduce noise when you put them down, plus it helps to reduce damage to your floor as well. The rubber casing also helps to reduce wear and tear on the dumbbells themselves.

These things are made out of solid metal to make them as durable as can possibly be. There is also the fact that the handles are chrome plated for extra durability, and it also serves to give them a good gripping surface. These dumbbells are ergonomically designed to fit in your hands with ease so you can hold onto them without any trouble at all. There is also the fact that these dumbbells have a proprietary head to handle construction which means that these things will never come loose.

Value for money

When it comes to this pair of rogue dumbbells you really couldn’t expect any more value for the price that you are paying. These dumbbells, for the pair of 25 pounders for instance, cost around 60 dollars, and the prices go up or down according to the different weight levels. That is very affordable and valuable when you consider the fact that the Rogue dumbbells are durable, comfortable to use, and will definitely tone your muscles like nothing else.

Build quality

The build quality of these dumbbells is simply spectacular. The Rogue Dumbbells are made out of premium metals and are covered in a high-quality rubber coating to make them even more rugged than ever before. These things are very comfortable to use and feature good grip, plus the coating helps to keep noise down and your floor from getting damaged.

Pros

  • Easy to hold grips
  • Rubber coating for durability and protection
  • Hexagonal design for convenience
  • Great for a variety of exercises
  • More than affordable

Cons

  • Need to be wiped off before first use

Our Rating

If you are a fairly experienced weight lifter and have a moderate to high strength level, you should without a doubt consider getting the SPRI Deluxe Rubber Dumbbells. They come in a variety of weight levels, are easy to grip, simple to use, durable, and will definitely help you sculpt those Hulk Hogan-like muscles in just a few weeks.


Design

Perhaps the best part about these dumbbells is that they come in a very wide variety of weight levels, all the way from 3 pounds up to 50 pounds. You can get a light workout with the 10 pounders, move up to the 25 pounders for a bigger challenge, and to really get your muscles bulging you can eventually progress all the way up to the 50 pounders. Make no mistake, these dumbbells are definitely not ideal for beginners and the faint of heart.

Something else that we really enjoy about this model of dumbbell is that it features an ergonomically designed handle that is very easy to hold onto, and it is in part thanks to the shape which is combined with a special texturized grip to maximize the traction that you get. Dropping these dumbbells due to sweaty hands is nearly impossible.

Another thing that makes these dumbbells superior is that they are made out of solid metal, plus the grip is chrome plated. There is nothing better than solid metal, something which SPRI got right. Even better is how the weighted heads have a durable rubber coating which keeps them from wearing down over time, plus it makes them very quiet in the event that you drop them on the ground. Yet another great aspect about them is that they have a classic hexagonal design so they won’t roll away from you the second you put them down on the ground.

Value for money

These dumbbells definitely hold some great value for the money that you are spending. Sure they aren’t the cheapest options on the market, but their quality definitely makes up for the little bit of extra money that you are spending. Just to give you an idea of their cost, a pair of 25-pound dumbbells will cost you somewhere around 90 dollars, and a single 50-pound dumbbell will cost you somewhere around 100 bucks. Note that these dumbbells are only sold in pairs up to the 25-pound option.

Build quality

There is really nothing to complain about when it comes to the build quality of the SPRI Deluxe Rubber Dumbbells. They have a solid metal build which is combined with a fantastic rubber coating. These things are durable, comfortable to use, and don’t make too much noise, plus they won’t damage your floor either.

Pros

  • Ideal for intermediate and heavy workouts
  • Come in a wide array of weight levels
  • Solid metal build
  • Great rubber coating
  • Easy to grip
  • Great hexagonal design

Cons

  • Fairly expensive
  • Strong rubber smell

Our Rating

If you are looking for very affordable dumbbells which haven’t sacrificed quality or craftsmanship, then these ones are a good option to choose. The CAP Barbell dumbbells are ideal for beginners due to their light weight and ideal for experts because of course there are heavier ones too.


Design

Something that we really like about these particular dumbbells is that they come in a fairly wide array of weight classes, most of which are more than ideal for beginners to use. The CAP Barbell dumbbells come in a range of weights from 3 to 50 pounds, making them ideal for light weight lifting routines and beginners who want just a little challenge but nothing too extreme, plus for more experienced weight lifters too. They don’t go up past 50 pounds, but if you have ever tried curling 50 pounds you will know that’s already hard enough!

Besides being available in different colors we also really like the rubber coating that each of the hexagonal heads feature. The rubber coating makes these things very durable, it helps to minimize wear and tear both on the dumbbells and the floor you put them on.

The rubber coating also makes the heads a little softer, so just in case you do drop them on your toes, it won’t hurt all that much, plus the coating also helps to reduce noise too. Perhaps the thing that we like the most about the rubber coating on these dumbbells is that it does not have a rubbery or chemically smell like many others do.

Another thing that we really like about these dumbbells is that they have a great hexagonal shape. The shape is ideal for dumbbell heads because they won’t roll all over the ground when you put them down and they won’t roll over your toes either.

Even better is the fact that the CAP Barbell dumbbells are made of solid cast iron so you know that these things are as strong as strong can be. We are also a pretty big fan of the ergonomically designed handles because they let you hold onto them easily, plus they feature a textured design that gives you as much grip as you will ever need.

Value for money

You definitely get a whole lot of value for the price of these dumbbells. For instance, the 10-pound dumbbells cost around 10 dollars per piece, meaning that a pair costs around 20 dollars, making them very affordable indeed, especially when you consider the great quality of the CAP Barbell dumbbells.

Build quality

The build quality of these CAP Barbell dumbbells is really good no doubt. The solid cast iron build makes them a very rugged option, plus the rubber coating brings you a variety of benefits that you can definitely appreciate. For a beginner, these dumbbells definitely come with all of the quality that is needed to get back into shape.

Pros

  • Solid cast iron build
  • Durable rubber coating
  • Textured handle for grip
  • Ergonomically designed for comfort
  • Come in a variety of weight classes
  • Ideal for beginners and experts
  • No rubbery smell

Cons

  • Inconsistency in design from one dumbbell to another

Our Rating

If you are on the market for some new dumbbells and are just getting into weight lifting you should definitely give the CAP Barbell Neoprene Coated Dumbbells a look. These things are easy to use, have a solid build, and will definitely have you working up a sweat in no time at all.


Design

Like with most dumbbells, these things feature a patented hexagonal design which is very convenient because it keeps them from moving when they aren’t in use, a problem that round dumbbells experience all too much.

Another thing that we really like about these particular dumbbells is that they feature a solid cast iron build which means that they won’t break and will definitely last you for many years to come. Even better is how these dumbbells have an advanced neoprene coating that makes them even more durable.

The neoprene coating keeps the metal interior from being scratched or dented, it helps reduce noise when you drop them on the ground, and it also helps reduce pain when you drop them on your feet. What is also really cool is that the neoprene coating helps you grip these dumbbells with ease thanks to the anti-slip nature of the material.

These dumbbells are perfect for beginners and light weightlifting workouts thanks to the fact that they come in many different weight classes from 1 pound all the way up to 15 pounds. If you are a beginner and you need some good starter dumbbells that are comfortable to use, these ones are a great option for sure.

Value for money

These dumbbells are sold individually as opposed to being sold in pairs, but they don’t cost that much anyway. For instance, a single 8-pound dumbbell will only cost you a little over 10 dollars, making these things very economically friendly, plus when you consider their great quality, the price become irrelevant either way.

Build quality

The build quality of these dumbbells is very good indeed. Being made out of solid cast iron makes them a number one choice, not to mention that their hand friendly shape combined with the superior neoprene coating only serves to add to their quality.

Pros

  • Come in a variety of weight levels
  • Ideal for starters and lightweight lifting
  • Made of solid cast iron
  • Superior neoprene coating
  • Good grip
  • Quiet and comfortable to use
  • Very affordable

Cons

  • Not good for experienced weight lifters
  • Neoprene coating may begin to flake off

Our Rating

If you are a beginner weightlifter and you are looking for a decent set of starter dumbbells, you should definitely consider the SPRI Deluxe Vinyl dumbbells. These things are light enough for beginners, but also heavy enough to offer you a good challenge, not to mention that they have a fantastic coating too.


Design

One of the things that we really like about these particular dumbbells is that they have a convenient vinyl coating to ensure their longevity. The vinyl coating not only keeps the dumbbells free of regular wear and tear, but it also helps to reduce damage and noise when you drop them on the ground, plus it will hurt just a little bit less when they drop on your toes.

There is also the fact that these things have a classic hexagonal shape so that they won’t roll all over the place when you put them down on the ground. Even better is the fact that these things are ergonomically designed so they fit in your hands really well, plus the vinyl coating helps to give you the gripping power that you need to work out all day long.

Perhaps the thing that we like the most about these dumbbells is that they come in a very wide variety of weight classes with almost every single weight denomination between 1 and 20 pounds, something which is ideal for beginners who want to slowly progress their way up to some John Cena size biceps.

Value for money

When it comes to the SPRI Dumbbells you definitely get some great value for the money that you are spending. For instance, a pair of 8 pounder dumbbells will cost you somewhere around 25 dollars. Considering the fact that these things are very durable and comfortable to use too, you really can’t complain about the price.

Build quality

Once again, there would be no reason to have these particular dumbbells on this list if they didn’t have an outstanding build quality. The combination of a solid metal interior with a superb vinyl coating make these dumbbells a one of a kind find without a doubt.

Pros

  • Solid interior
  • Vinyl coating for durability
  • Won’t damage the floor or your toes
  • Quiet to use
  • Hexagonal shape for anti-rolling features
  • Come in a variety of weight levels
  • Ideal for beginner weight lifters

Cons

  • Not ideal for experts
  • Smell very chemically

Conclusion

When it comes to the best dumbbells that money can buy, you really want to pay attention to the various factors that make up a good set of dumbbells because those factors will definitely determine how useful they are to you. The best dumbbells are those which are durable, safe, and comfortable to use, not to mention those that suit your fitness level. Obviously, we would recommend choosing one of the above options, but as long as you keep our tips in mind you could go looking for your own. These are great workout tools that will help you build up a sweat and tone your muscles to turn you into a hulking stud.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about buying dumbbells, please feel free to leave us a note and we will get back to you at the first opportunity we get!