My pair of adjustable dumbbells are the most used piece of equipment in my home gym. I use them for pretty much every workout. While it’s possible to pick up a cheap pair of adjustable dumbbells, I don’t think it’s worth it! I bought a pair of cheap adjustable dumbbells to compare to my more expensive nuobell dumbbells and there was a huge difference in build quality.
Why You Shouldn’t Buy Cheap Adjustable Dumbbells
There are two main reasons why you shouldn’t buy a cheap set of adjustable dumbbells:
- Poor build quality. Cheap adjustable dumbbells tend to have a poor level of precision and are prone to breaking.
- If anything goes wrong, shipping back the dumbbells can be difficult and expensive.
They Aren’t the Build Same Quality
There is a noticeable quality difference between the cheap adjustable dumbbells and the quality pair. I own a pair of Nuobells which are some of the best adjustable dumbbells you can buy in Australia. I compared them to cheap knockoff pair which was about the price. There was a big difference in the quality of manufacture. The machining of the plates was rough and plates just didn’t fit together perfectly – which is something you want in a pair of adjustable dumbbells.
I found that the cheap pair of adjustable dumbbells made a lot of clanking noise. This was due to the weight plates being less precise. I also found the adjustment mechanism in the the cheap pair of dumbbells just didn’t rotate smoothly and kept jamming. Again this all due to the precision in manufacturing. I more expensive product should have a higher degree of precision and a better finish. I’ve certainly found that to be the case with the Nuobells.
I’ve found that most of the cheap adjustable dumbbell sets come with a warning like “don’t use in overhead exercises”. Using cheaper adjustable dumbbells is a safety risk.
Hard to Get a Refund
Many of the cheap knockoff dumbbell sets are sold in marketplaces. The sellers tend not to stick around for too long and if something goes wrong, getting a refund can be tricky. Especially having to ship back a heavy pair of dumbbells. You might need to pay hundreds of dollars in shipping! I would rather buy from a well known brand that will properly handle returns if something goes wrong.
If you are going to buy cheaper Dumbbells buy Spin Lock Dumbbells
If you aren’t looking to spend $500+ on a quality pair of adjustable dumbbells I would recommend going with a pair of spin lock dumbbells. These are the cheapest dumbbells you can buy, but they are also unlikely to break.
I started working out with spin lock dumbbells and they lasted just fine. I was never concerned they would break and I was perfectly happy using them with overhead exercises. While these dumbbells aren’t as convenient as quick change adjustable dumbbells, they are durable, safe and long lasting. So if you are just a beginner and getting into strength training, I would definitely go with spin lock dumbbells rather than buying a pair of cheap adjustable dumbbells that will most likely break.
