Adjustable Dumbbells are one of the most useful pieces of equipment for a home gym. You can pretty much do an entire workout with just a set of adjustable dumbbells and a bench. Over the last few years adjustable dumbbells have gotten better and better and there are now a great range of options available in Australia.
The Best Adjustable Dumbbells
These are the best Adjustable Dumbbells you can buy in Australia. All of them are available for sale from local retailers with local shipping options.
Nuobells – Best Overall
Nuobell Adjustable Dumbbells feature the fastest quick change mechanism of any adjustable. When the Dumbbells are in their stand, all you have to do is rotate the handle to quickly change weights.
I currently use Nuobell Dumbbells in my own home gym and have been using them for the last 12 months. I’ve had no issues in terms of durability. Like all adjustable dumbbells you shouldn’t drop them. The locking mechanism feels solid and secure.
Nuobells come in two different sizes in both KG and Pound variants. The larger KG model (which I own) goes up to 32kg which I’ve found to be heavy enough for my workouts. These Dumbbells have increments of 2kg. Unlike some adjustable dumbbells that increase in random increments, the 2kg weight increase is consistent from 2-32kg.
These dumbbells do rattle a little bit. It does depend on the exercise you’re doing, and I no longer even notice it.
I’ve seen a number of knock-off Nuobells available in Australia. Make sure you’re buying the genuine thing. Genuine Nuobells are well made and will last a long time. Some of the knock-offs are just plain dangerous.
Powerblock Dumbbells
If you’re looking for a Dumbbell that is both quick to change and will last forever then the Powerblock Dumbbells are a great choice.
One advantage of the Powerblocks over the Nuobells is you can add a bar or ezcurl bar as an optional accessory.
Powerblocks take more time to change weights compared to the Nuobells but they feel more solid. Still you can’t drop the Powerblocks as it might snap the plastic pin which holds the weights together. At heavier weights you also need to add a weighted handle which is much more time consuming than the Nuobell Dumbbells.
The one thing I don’t like about Powerblocks is the shape and hand position. Your hand is basically gripping a bar inside a cage. For some exercises it may be more awkward to use. This will be down to personal preference.
I would buy the Powerblocks over the Nuobells if you want a tried and tested adjustable dumbbell that is guaranteed to last for years to come. Powerblocks have been around for a long time and their durability is well known.
AmazonBasics Adjustable Dumbbells
The AmazonBasics Adjustable Dumbbells are a great option if you’re just starting strength training. If you’re new to strength training, I wouldn’t drop over $1k on a set of Nuobells. I started out with a set of these Adjustable Dumbbells. They will last a lifetime and you can easily buy more weight plates to increase the weight as you gain strength. You can actually fit quite a bit of weight on these bars. I used 5kg weight plates and was able to get over 20kg on each dumbbell.
You don’t need to worry about them breaking – although I still wouldn’t drop them, it’s highly unlikely you’ll be able to break them.
Changing weights on these is much slower than the quick change mechanisms of the other dumbbells on this list, but it’s really not that difficult.
The quality of the AmazonBasics dumbbells are really good.
Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbell
The Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbell has a quick spin change mechanism that goes from 2-24kg.
There are a couple of cons to this style of design – which has been copied by many cheaper knock-off brands as well. The first is the dumbbells are quite wide and can feel unwieldy in certain movements. Unlike Nuobell or Ironmaster Dumbbells which get smaller, the lighter they are, The Bowflex Dumbbells have a fixed width. The second downside to this design is the weight increments aren’t linear. There are some big jumps in weight at random points.
The pros are these dumbbells are well made and feel solid. The mechanism for changing weights is also really quick and easy.
Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells
The Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells are designed for serious lifters. Unlike Nuobells and Powerblocks, I’d be pretty confident that these can withstand being dropped (although I don’t recommend it).
The Ironmasters have a couple of drawbacks. The first is they take quite a bit more time to change. These aren’t a quick adjusting dumbbell. For many people this won’t be an issue but if you’re looking to do supersets which require a quick weight change, this might not be the best. Of course you could just add a second pair of handles.
The other drawback is the length of the handle which is on the long size. This is so the spindle can screw inside. I find these to be a bit unwieldily for certain exercises. However I do like the feel of these and the Ironmasters feel more like a traditional dumbbell compared to the powerblocks.
MX Select Adjustable Dumbbells
The MX Select Dumbbells are closest in mechanism to the Nuobells. In Australia they retail for cheaper as well. The plastic mechanism for changing weights doesn’t feel as solid as the Nuobell mechanism and I found it to be slightly more fiddly.
What I wouldn’t Buy
Stay away from any of the “knockoff” products that are designed to copy the name brand dumbbells. You’ll see a lot of Nuobell knockoffs. While I’m sure some of them are quite solid some of them have been known to be badly designed and built. Where as the Nuobells have a reputation for holding up.
I also wouldn’t buy some of the cheaper dumbbells from Amazon or Kogan unless it’s a spin lock design.
