Looking to get a dumbell set + bench for home

[DVad3r]

At my gym the dumbells are a total diasaster. I spend more time looking for matching sets/weights and lose my pump almost everytime. The only time it's good there is at 2 am in the morning when you are all alone. I was thinking about getting a set for home, with a bench. It will be good because I can workout with dumbells and switch it up from my routines at the gym. Also my parents can make use of them too, I know my dad would enjoy working out a bit.

So far all I have come across is the Bowflex SelectTech dumbells seen here? What do you guys think? Quality/Price?

I haven't been to any fitness stores yet so I have no idea how much an actual set of dumbells would run me?

http://www.bowflexselecttech.c...ech+1090+Dumbbells.jsp

 

[MegaVovaN]

Buy really basic, sturdy bench - if you want to go cheap you'll have to buy a flat bench, since one that can be incline/decline is more complex --> more flimsy when cheap.

For DBs, Do not buy adjustable ones! They unbolt and take time to change (you lose pump again). Spend money on regular old set with small increments (5 lb) to about 60 lb, then increments of 10 lb.

Used will be cheaper than new.

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
Buy really basic, sturdy bench - if you want to go cheap you'll have to buy a flat bench, since one that can be incline/decline is more complex --> more flimsy when cheap.

For DBs, Do not buy adjustable ones! They unbolt and take time to change (you lose pump again). Spend money on regular old set with small increments (5 lb) to about 60 lb, then increments of 10 lb.

Used will be cheaper than new.

Yea Id like to find a used set, but don't see much of that around here. Bench wise I'd like one that I can do incline/decline on.

These Bowflex ones don't look like they take too much time to adjust? How much would a new set cost approx?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Why are you looking specifically for dumbbells? Barbells are always customizable and there are always bars + weights around.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged
Why are you looking specifically for dumbbells? Barbells are always customizable and there are always bars + weights around.

Some people prefer dumbbells and in many exercise, the dumbbell variant is actually a superior exercise. Maybe he can still go to the gym for things that are easier with barbell, and do the dumbbell stuff at home.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged
Why are you looking specifically for dumbbells? Barbells are always customizable and there are always bars + weights around.

Some people prefer dumbbells and in many exercise, the dumbbell variant is actually a superior exercise. Maybe he can still go to the gym for things that are easier with barbell, and do the dumbbell stuff at home.

Well, I thought moreso I'd do what I could with what I had. If DBs aren't available, I'd just use the BBs regardless of preference. Sometimes you sacrifice practicality to desire when it's the simplest and cheapest option.

 

[Deeko]

True - I'd assume he doesn't want to give up his dumbbells, and hey if that means he can do part of his workout at home, even easier. Whatever floats your boat.

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged
Why are you looking specifically for dumbbells? Barbells are always customizable and there are always bars + weights around.

Some people prefer dumbbells and in many exercise, the dumbbell variant is actually a superior exercise. Maybe he can still go to the gym for things that are easier with barbell, and do the dumbbell stuff at home.

This.

And like he said, I have all my barbells at the gym available anytime, it's the dumbells that are all over the place and impossible to find/use. I like to switch my workouts up, and find that dumbells are pretty good, especially for stablelizer muscles. Also there are a few things you can do with dumbells that you can't do with a barbell.

It would be pretty impracticle to get anything else really. I've got 2 gyms 5 minutes from my house which I go to, one being 24/7.

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: Deeko
True - I'd assume he doesn't want to give up his dumbbells, and hey if that means he can do part of his workout at home, even easier. Whatever floats your boat.

Yup, I gotta get my dumbells in badly 🙂 That's what I first started out with at the gym and they give you some crazy pumps 😀 Plus having them at home and being able to do arms + other exercises I'm usually too lazy to do at the gym is awesome. Especially when being in fat mode and watching Stargate SG-1 😉

 

[TallBill]

Don't buy those adjustable DB's. Get something like this and some plates. A HELL of a lot cheaper, and almost as easy. Honestly, how many times do you change weights per workout anyways? You could always buy more db bars as well.

Btw, pushups and curls is not a "workout".

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: TallBill
Don't buy those adjustable DB's. Get something like this and some plates. A HELL of a lot cheaper, and almost as easy. Honestly, how many times do you change weights per workout anyways? You could always buy more db bars as well.

Btw, pushups and curls is not a "workout".

I have those (bought at Academy) and hate them - they unlock (washers get loose) after a few movements! I HATE them.

 

[conorvansmack]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN

Originally posted by: TallBill
Don't buy those adjustable DB's. Get something like this and some plates. A HELL of a lot cheaper, and almost as easy. Honestly, how many times do you change weights per workout anyways? You could always buy more db bars as well.

Btw, pushups and curls is not a "workout".

I have those (bought at Academy) and hate them - they unlock (washers get loose) after a few movements! I HATE them.

I have a set like that too. MegaVovaN is right, the nut gets a little loose, so I kept a small rubber mallet around when I was using them. It was a bit of a pain in the @$$, but it did the job.

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: conorvansmack

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN

Originally posted by: TallBill
Don't buy those adjustable DB's. Get something like this and some plates. A HELL of a lot cheaper, and almost as easy. Honestly, how many times do you change weights per workout anyways? You could always buy more db bars as well.

Btw, pushups and curls is not a "workout".

I have those (bought at Academy) and hate them - they unlock (washers get loose) after a few movements! I HATE them.

I have a set like that too. MegaVovaN is right, the nut gets a little loose, so I kept a small rubber mallet around when I was using them. It was a bit of a pain in the @$$, but it did the job.

Yea, the spin-lock dumbbells seem like a great idea, but every time I've used them - and I've tried different kinds at a few different gyms - the nut would get loose after a few reps. I would not recommend them. However, I've never had the chance to try out olympic size dumbbell handles (like this one). Anyone know if these combined with a good set of collars would be any better than the spin-lock?

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: brikis98


Yea, the spin-lock dumbbells seem like a great idea, but every time I've used them - and I've tried different kinds at a few different gyms - the nut would get loose after a few reps. I would not recommend them. However, I've never had the chance to try out olympic size dumbbell handles (like this one). Anyone know if these combined with a good set of collars would be any better than the spin-lock?

I would think that regular collars would work fine. I've also seen a nut tightened collar.

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: TallBill
Don't buy those adjustable DB's. Get something like this and some plates. A HELL of a lot cheaper, and almost as easy. Honestly, how many times do you change weights per workout anyways? You could always buy more db bars as well.

Btw, pushups and curls is not a "workout".

Those are trash. I've used those before at a gym in my building and the things came loose each time.

I change weights a lot, I do pyramid sets, burn sets, etc, it really depends.

And what are you talking about pushups and curls? I don't get it...

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: TallBill
Don't buy those adjustable DB's. Get something like this and some plates. A HELL of a lot cheaper, and almost as easy. Honestly, how many times do you change weights per workout anyways? You could always buy more db bars as well.

Btw, pushups and curls is not a "workout".

Those are trash. I've used those before at a gym in my building and the things came loose each time.

I change weights a lot, I do pyramid sets, burn sets, etc, it really depends.

And what are you talking about pushups and curls? I don't get it...

Well find a set with regular collars. It's going to be 10% of the cost of either the bowflex set or a full set of db's.

 

[DVad3r]

I'm trying to find a set of of dumbells, but not having much luck. Any stores or makers that have new sets available?

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

you could check cragislist for used weights. I'd say walmart for a set of dumbells maybe?

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: M0oG0oGaiPan
you could check cragislist for used weights. I'd say walmart for a set of dumbells maybe?

He's in Poland

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN

Originally posted by: M0oG0oGaiPan
you could check cragislist for used weights. I'd say walmart for a set of dumbells maybe?

He's in Poland

No if I was in Poland there would be a 7 foot tall instructor punishing people for not putting the dumbells back into their correct spots which would defeat the need for a set at home 🙂

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: TallBill
Don't buy those adjustable DB's. Get something like this and some plates. A HELL of a lot cheaper, and almost as easy. Honestly, how many times do you change weights per workout anyways? You could always buy more db bars as well.

Btw, pushups and curls is not a "workout".

Those are trash. I've used those before at a gym in my building and the things came loose each time.

I change weights a lot, I do pyramid sets, burn sets, etc, it really depends.

And what are you talking about pushups and curls? I don't get it...

Well find a set with regular collars. It's going to be 10% of the cost of either the bowflex set or a full set of db's.

I have a set of these. The loosening is true, but I've never had them get loose enough while using them to think I was going to start dropping weights on my toes or anything. They might get a little loose but I'd just tighten them while resting between sets.

I got them because they were cheap and let me share weights with the barbell I have. They're sort of a pain in the ass to change the weight on. But when I priced out getting a set of dumbbells that could be used for a wide range of exercises (which therefore required a wide range of weights) they were very expensive.

There main problem for me is only so much weight can really be put on them. I'm not really that strong so it wasn't a problem for most upper body exercises, but it wasn't really feasible to do any kind of leg work with them. I tried putting two 25lb plates on either side of each one a few times and it was pretty awkward.

One cool thing was you could go up in 2.5lb increments by putting the weight on uneven which was nice for side raises and stuff. I heard using a magnet weight is a good way to do this too though.