Adjustable Dumbbell Basics

Adjustable Dumbbell: What is it?

Adjustable dumbbells (also known as quick change dumbbells or dial dumbbells) is a dumbbell system where you can change the weight on the dumbbell. Typically they’re composed of a handle with removable weights.

What Types Of Adujstable Dumbbells Are There?

There are generally three types:

Plate loaded dumbbells

These dumbbells are made of a pair of handles that have a screw collar or clamp collar on either side. Weight plates are added to the handles to alter the weight. In order to change the weight, you’ll have to take off the collars, add or remove a weight plate, and attach the collars back onto the handle. Depending on how much weight you need to change, this can take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes.

Quick Change Dumbbell

These dumbbells are an evolution of the plate loaded dumbbells. Instead of adding and removing weight plates, you simply change a pin to a desired weight (for example, the powerblock dumbbells), or dial a knob to select the load that you want (Bowflex dumbbells). The time it takes to change the weight is a fraction of plate loaded dumbbells, typically only a few seconds.

If you own a pair of plate loaded dumbbells, and you’re frustrated with the hassle and the time it takes to change the weight, consider upgrading to a dumbbell such as the adjustable Powerblocks, Bowflex or Ironmaster dumbbells.