
It’s important to invest in quality equipment when building a home treadmill. Flexible barbells may be part of your choices because they are useful and durable. There’s a good chance you’ll need to buy a new cast sooner than later if you don’t already have a good cast. It’s a concern, as this Reddit debate proves, that’s fair considering before making a purchase.
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I’ve tried adjustable dumbbells from a variety of brands over the years, narrowing down the options to all, whether they’re a beginner or an experienced user. Examine out our entire checklist below to help keep your house training effective.
Best Total Adjustable Dumbbells
The Core Adjustable Dumbbells were my preferred piece because of their style and ease of use. Even at the heaviest weight ( 50 pounds ), they are lighter than the majority of adjustable dumbbells and are comfortable to hold. These function well for both foot and lower body weeks without getting in the way of your motions. I used them without incident during my exercises, including pushing the dumbbells in front of my brain. Flexible dumbbells can be cumbersome, which makes holding them in front of your stomach for exercises like glass squats uncomfortable. This problem is not present in the Core flexible barbell. They also have sweet hand grips so the workouts remain safe in your fingers.
changes over the last few months
June 9, 2024: The BowFlex SelectTech 552 Flexible Dumbbells were recently selected as the best total for this best record. However, this item was discontinued after an influence hazard was revealed as part of a volunteer recall. If you have BowFlex flexible barbells, you can read more below on what this recall means for you. The Core Adjustable Dumbbells are then our best nevertheless.
Best flexible dumbbells for 2025
Pros
- Less cumbersome than other circular adjustable dumbbells
- Easy to transform pounds by twist of a ring
- Sweet grip handle that stays in your hand even when you’re sweating
Cons
- The heavier the weight, the easier the barbell gets stuck when pulling it out of the cabinet
- merely reaches 50 pounds, which might be a problem if you lift more than that.
- The dumbbells rough simply
Due to their appearance and style, I chose the Core flexible dumbbells. I also liked that the fat sheets are magnetic and can be easily separated before the barbell is placed on the rack. The only ones that had a soft control that protruded onto the foundation and then the weight plates were also included.  ,
The fat selection of Core’s dumbbells is 5 to 50 weight, and you can alter it in 5-pound steps. They’re easy to use because you can shift the weight with only a bend of the control and they have the fastest weight change for an flexible barbell with a regular pattern.
Although these barbell are large, I liked how light-weight they were and how light-weight I found them to be. I liked the sculpted and delicate hand control that made the barbell comfortable to hold and molded beautifully into my hand. They also didn’t move around when I put them on the ground, which was a plus because I live on the top ground and didn’t want to upset my upstairs neighbors.
One thing I didn’t enjoy about these barbells was that I would have to keep the rack down when I changed it to a heavier weight. This was because as you pulled the weights out of the cabinet, they felt thick and would become stifling. Core also offers an additional stand for order. The remain is strong and eliminates the problems I encountered compared to just having the rack by itself, based on customer evaluations. Another option I figured out was to spot the plate on a rubber blanket, it provided a better hand and made it easier to roll out the barbell.  ,
Pros
- Heaviest collection of dumbbells, appropriate for experienced lifters
- Easy to change the weight with a ring bend
Cons
- Intervals increase by 11 lbs, which is higher compared to usual five pound intervals
- It appears cheaply made when it has a plastic control layout.
The Flybird 55 LB adjustable dumbbells are made up of cast metal fat panels and a dark plastic-coated control. They range in weight from 11 to 55 weight, increasing or decreasing as they grow. I prefer my workouts to include 5-pound steps and found that doubling the bodyweight each day was a bit much.  ,
The ring on these dumbbells was easy to use and only required a one twist to switch in the bodyweight. You don’t have the option of choosing an in-between fat, unlike the other adjustable barbells I tested. I even found 11 weight as the lightest fat choice to be on the large area, especially for newer lifters.  ,
I’d advise these if you’re an expert lifter and realize you can handle twice the fat each day. The circular dumbbell, which I placed on the ground, resembles other adjustable dumbbells in shape and passed the slide test. In other words, it stayed put and didn’t seem at risk of rolling round. When I was performing heavier lifts like squats and exercise, the dumbbells were the appropriate concern for me. The tackle design was my least favourite because I found the cheap to be hard on the hands and believe it would have benefited more from a protective plastic covering.  ,
Pros
- Its unique shape lends itself to overhead and lower body exercises
- The instruction on the rack on the rack is useful for offset exercises.
- It goes up to 55 pounds, compared to others that only go up to 50
Cons
- If there is more weight on one side, the dumbbells may feel awkward.
The MX55 adjustable dumbbells didn’t take long to put together, but the hexagon shape of the plates took me a moment to figure out how to set it up in the rack. They each have indented slots that they slide into to maintain alignment, which is why. Also, the MX55 racks come assembled but users have to attach protective rubber feet ( that come in the packaging ) to the bottom of the cradles first.
These dumbbells replace ten sets of dumbbells, which range from 10 to 55 pounds. They have a small dial on top of each side of the handle, as well as a button beneath them. The dial will pop up when you press the button underneath the weight switch first, which will prompt you to change it. From there you can turn the dial, select the weight and press the dial back down to lock the weight into place.
Because each of the weight plates only weighs 2.5 pounds, these adjustable dumbbells are ideal for doing offset exercises. The weight legend on the rack gives a guide on the proper offset settings based on how much weight you want to lift. For instance, if you are performing a offset squat that weighs 17.5 pounds, all you need to do is change the dials on one side to 15 pounds ( setting 2 ) and on the other to 20 pounds ( setting 3 ). Keep in mind the purpose of offset exercises is to intentionally load one side more than the other, which will make the dumbbells feel unbalanced.  ,
I liked that even while holding a dumbbell that was uneven in weight, it was still comfortable to grip and didn’t dig into my palm. The MX55 adjustable dumbbells are the ideal choice if you want to try out offset exercises or want to concentrate on improving your muscle imbalances.  ,
Pros
- One of the list’s heaviest dumbbells, it weighs up to 71 pounds, making it one of the list’s heaviest.
- Weight changing dial is user-friendly and changes quickly
- Sleek black design seamlessly blends into any space
Cons
- The design looks like the dumbbells could scuff easily
- The function of the dumbbell would be impacted if the plastic button that assists with the dial were to break.
The Ativafit 71.5 adjustable dumbbells were my runner-up for a couple of other categories but ultimately I found them to be the most foolproof to use. The dumbbells replace 12 sets of dumbbells, ranging from 5 to 71.5 pounds. The plastic rack has grooves that latch onto the dumbbells, keeping them secure when not in use. You can tell these are high-quality dumbbells from the sturdy iron plates that make up the weights by looking at them. It also has a nonslip handle with rubber, which helped with my grip when upping the weight.  ,
My favorite part about these dumbbells is how easy it is to change the weights with just a press of the red button on top of the dumbbell and a twist of the dial. This is also the list’s heaviest adjustable dumbbell, making it a good choice for those who work hard and have never used one before.  ,
Editor’s Note: The Ativafit 71.5 Adjustable Dumbbell set has been discontinued since this review. Instead, Ativafit released an updated version, 66lb Adjustable Dumbbell set. Although we have yet to test these ourselves, Ativa claims that it has a smoother adjustment mechanism and is being offered for the same price as its predecessor on its website.
- Smrtft Nuobell 80: In a previous adjustable dumbbell roundup, CNET writer Lindsey Boyers named the Smrtft Nuobell 80 the adjustable dumbbell with the best design. These dumbbells are beyond me, but based on the review, they could potentially compete with the Core Adjustable Dumbbells due to their sleek appearance and appealing design.  ,
- Powerblock Pro 32: Despite not having the opportunity to try these Powerblock sets, I still have a fondness for them. In CNET’s previous best list, the Pro 32 was named the best adjustable dumbbell for beginners and I would’ve probably chosen it as well if I’d gotten to formally test it. These are simple to hold thanks to the ergonomic grip handle’s rubberized design, and the pin-lock system may be simpler for beginners to use than the dials on other adjustable dumbbells.  ,
Best Adjustable Barbells for 2025
Adjustable dumbbells | Weight maximum | Safety features | Materials | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
Core Adjustable Dumbbells | 50 pounds each | Twist lock | Aluminum | $350 |
MX55 Rapid Exchange Adjustable Dumbbells | 55 pounds each | Selector controls | steel made of alloy | $429 |
Flybird 55 LB Adjustable Dumbbells | 55 pounds each | Twist lock | plastic handle and cast iron plates | $389 |
Ativafit 66 Adjustable Dumbbells | 66 pounds each | Latch | Iron | $392 |
We took a multifaceted approach to ensure a comprehensive assessment of performance for diverse needs and preferences. Here are the metrics we took into account.
Ease of use: This is an essential factor when selecting adjustable dumbbells. We looked for simple adjustment techniques and compared the ease with which users can switch between weights.
Weight adjustment increments: We checked out how much flexibility the adjustable dumbbells allow for weight increments.
Design and comfort: A lot of our evaluations were based on the adjustable dumbbells ‘ design. We considered things like ergonomics, comfort and compact storage.
Load versatility: We considered the range of weight options and how simple it was to switch between them while working out.