Adjustable Dumbbells
Adjustable dumbbells have quickly become a popular replacement for traditional dumbbells. Instead of having to temporarily stop your workout to change the weight you can quickly transition. Previously, adjustable dumbbells were dumbbell bars with weight on each side. Now, you can purchase products such as the Powerblock which eliminate a lot of hassle when changing weight.
Most adjustable dumbbells are designed with a clip that is used to select the weight you would like to use. You can find adjustable dumbbells that go by increments of 2.5lbs, but some may only go by 5lbs. For instance, the Powerblock features two small 2.5lb pipes which are inserted in the dumbbells. If you were to only insert one you could change the weight by 2.5lb intervals.
Why Use Adjustable Dumbbells
There are three major reasons why adjust dumbbells are preferred – 1) quick modification of weight, 2) compact and shaped nicely, and, 3) very convenient for drop set exercises. The last mentioned benefit of using adjustable dumbbells are very important as drop sets are supposed to be quick. You might not be able to perform clean drop sets with the old style of dumbbells as it takes too long to switch weight amounts.
The design of most adjustable dumbbells are also great as you can incorporate it with other exercises. One example of this would be using the Powerblock as push up handles. You could even complete a push/pull exercise where you do a push up then one arm row with the weights. There are many different exercises that can be done with these adjustable dumbbells.
Another important thing to look at is the grip of these dumbbells. A typical dumbbell bar can be rough on your hands and may cause blisters. Many adjustable dumbbells have an ergometric grip which makes for an overall better performance. However, some designs feature a grip with a thick inner and thin outer section and this is not great for lifting weights. You may want to test out the grip of the adjustable dumbbell before you make a purchase. The Powerblock has received a lot of positive feedback for a great grip but this is definitely a personal preference.
Other Benefits
The main goal behind working out is to get bigger or more defined. As you continue to workout you will build strength. After a while you will have to increase the amount of weight you are lifting to keep seeing muscle gains. This could be more difficult with fixed dumbbells and it can take up quite a bit of weight with traditional adjustable dumbbells. With the newer models of adjustable dumbbells you can increase the weight as your lifts increase and you are not required to purchase anything else.
You also have to consider how easy and convenient these dumbbells are. You can change the weight in a matter of seconds. If you are currently using dumbbell bars with weights and safety clips then you already realize the amount of time wasted changing the weight. If you would like to do drop sets or kill sets then being able to change weight quickly is essential. Either way, you do not want too much resting time between sets even if it is a normal lifting day. The new adjustable dumbbells are extremely easy to change weight amounts and you can do so very quickly as well.
There are a few different popular names that are selling adjustable dumbbells. Many of these products will be rather expensive but it is well worth it. The Powerblock brand has been mentioned a few times in this article, and for good reason. If you are thinking about buying an adjustable dumbbell then it would be recommended to check the Powerblock adjustable dumbbell. You may also want to look into other accessories such as the dumbbell stand which is designed perfectly for quick use.
