The most common dumbbells to be found on the market are still free weights. These are also the least expensive variety, largely because of their inconvenient nature and the fact that a set of weights of this kind take up so much space within your home. Of course you can purchase only the weights that you need from the set but for those working to build their weight lifting capacity, an entire set would be necessary.

Of all the styles of dumbbells for sale on the market today, one of the very best innovations is the adjustable dumbbell. Adjustable dumbbells are exactly as they sound, they are weights that can be adjusted to provide the user with different weight ranges. These unique sports gear make it possible to own a single set up of dumbbells which can be adjusted to any weight capacity, basically being the equivalent of the entire set of old-style free weights, only taking up significantly less space within your home.

Not only do adjustable weights allow you to save space, they save you time as well. No longer must you stop in the middle of your weight lifting routine to adjust the weights you’re using. If you’re doing a complex workout routine that requires varying degrees of weight at different stages within the program, you don’t have to worry about breaking the run by stopping to adjust weights. With just a couple of turns of the right levers on your adjustable weights you’re able to continue on with your routine uninterrupted.

There are cheap dumbbells to be found in both the traditional free weight and adjustable weight categories. The least expensive weights available are still the free weights, usually costing anywhere between $15.00 and $30.00 each, with an entire set ranging from 5 pounds to 50 pounds costing a few hundred dollars.

The best of the free weight variety are often considered to be Hex dumbbells. A full set of 5 to 50 pound weights with the Hex name cost about $900.00 on average but are perfect for those with the space in their home for such a luxury.

Adjustable dumbbells can often be found for anywhere between $150.00 and $600.00. The price is usually determined by the weight range that is offered with the particular model you purchase and the brand name of the weights. Of all the adjustable varieties available, Powerblock dumbbells and Ironmaster dumbbells are among the top names.

Adjustable and free weight dumbbells can often be found for sale at local sporting goods stores. Many local retail stores also carry some varieties. By far, the widest selection can be found online and often the best prices as well.

Time loss and interruption of the workout routine were not the only inconveniences that came with free weights. The sheer square footage required to store an entire set of free weight dumbbells was usually too much for most people to accommodate as well. With a full set of weights ranging in increments of 5 to 10 pounds and spanning from 5 to 50 pounds or more, you were usually looking at about 6 to 8 feet of space in your home just to store them.

Trying to save money and don’t care about brand? This one is under $150.

With today’s adjustable dumbbells you can cut down on storage space and keep the flow of your workout routine moving too. These handy weights allow you to have a full range of weights available in a single set of dumbbells, requiring only about half a foot of storage space within your home.

Some of the first adjustable models to be introduced to the market were the Powerblock adjustable dumbbells. These weights are still very popular and will run you about $150.00 to $700.00 a set, depending on the weight range that the particular model you purchase offers. Typically you’ll find ranges being 5 to 25 pounds, 5 to 50 pounds, and 5 to 90 pounds.

Some of the best adjustable dumbbells on the market are made by Ironmaster. The sets of Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells will often cost somewhere between $350.00 and $600.00. The price of these and the Powerblock models often set them outside the budget range of many weightlifters.

Rest assured, if you’re not able to afford a set of Ironmaster or Powerblock weights, there are cheap adjustable dumbbells out there that will serve your needs just fine. In fact, you may want to consider taking a look at the Gold’s Gym adjustable dumbbells. These inexpensive weights cost about $250.00 and offer a wider range of weight options than do the more expensive models, with 5 to 100 pound weight delineations available in a single set of these handy and cheap adjustable weights.

Some of the other varieties of adjustable dumbbells on the market include the Bowflex and the Weider models. Weider adjustable dumbbells are among the very least expensive, usually costing about $70.00, but they also offer only a minimal selection of weight delineations. These weights usually top out at about 25 pounds, which is the reason for the low ticket price.

Here is a video comparing the Bowflex 552 and the Powerblock Sport 9.0

With adjustable dumbbells now being sold in local sporting goods stores and some local retail stores, you may be able to find just what you need and for a reasonable price in your home town. If however you’re hoping to find a better deal or want to check out more varieties of these handy adjustable weights, you may want to do some shopping around online. There are a ton of retailers dealing in sporting goods on the internet and you can often find some remarkable sale prices as well.

Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells

Bowflex’s most popular model of adjustable dumbbell is the SelectTech 552. This versatile set is weighted from 5 to 52.5 pounds and adjusts in increments of 2.5 pounds for the first 25 pounds. This means that this single set of dumbbells takes the place of 15 regular sets of weights or 30 individual dumbbells. Because it adjust in such small and specific increments, the SelectTech 552 can be used in over thirty different exercises, including squats and lunges for your legs, rows and lifts for your back, presses and flies for your chest, crunches for your abs, curls and extensions for your arms and presses and raises for your shoulders. It comes with an extensive set of warranties: 2 years on all parts, 5 years on weight plates and 1 year on labor. While this is one of the more expensive models on the market at around $550, its high quality and versatility make it worth the added cost.

Bowflex Pros:

• the largest weight range of any of the reviewed products
• the smallest adjustable increments of any of the reviewed products
• extensive warranties

Bowflex Cons:

• the most expensive of any of the reviewed products
• width of dumbbells are a bit wide which can get in the way of certain exercises

Powerblock Adjustable Dumbbells

The Powerblock Classic is Powerblock’s top selling set of adjustable dumbbells. Its unique block design comes with a padded handle to help protect your wrist and a selector pin that allows for quick weight changes during your workout. The Powerblock Classic adjusts from 5 to 45 pounds and is fitted in 5 pound increments, meaning that it takes the place of 9 sets of weights or 18 individual dumbbells. Although it does not have the range or specificity of the Bowflex set, it offers more than enough choices for most weight lifters. What the Powerblock lacks in range, it makes up for in price. At around $350 for the set, Powerblock offers great value for your money. It also comes with a limited 10 year warranty.

Powerblock Pros:

• Slightly cheaper than the Bowflex
• great design features such as the padded handles and easy weight change pin
• a solid range of adjustable weights
• the longest warranty of any of the reviewed products

Powerblock Cons:

• less weight range and larger adjustable increments than Bowflex
• weight changing mechanism, which uses a U-shape metal, can be annoying
• doesn’t exactly look nice, which is only a con if you care about that

Gold’s Gym Adjustable Dumbbells

The Gold’s Gym Adjustable Dumbbell is one of the newer products to hit the market. It features hand grips for added comfort, a stand that conveniently holds unused weights in the proper order and an easy knob selection that allows you to adjust between 10 and 50 pounds of weight. With a list price of nearly $500, it is in the same price range as Bowflex. Unfortunately, however, many users have noted flaws in the design and manufacturing. Plastic pieces are liable to break and the adjustment pin frequently sticks.

Gold’s Gym Pros:

• great features such as the included stand and comfort handle grips
• lowest price of the 3 in this review
• solid range of adjustable weights

Gold’s Gym Cons:

• poorly manufactured parts
• weight starts at 10 lbs

In the end, you should choose the adjustable dumbbells that are best suited to your workout style. If you want the most versatility and range of adjustable weights, you should go for the Bowflex SelectTech 552 which is sold as a pair. If you do not need the full range of weights and would like to save a few dollars, you cannot go wrong with the Powerblock Classic. Now if you want one that can go up to 90lbs, then get the Powerblock Elite 90. Bowflex also has a higher weight model as well but it’s pretty expensive.

Now if you just want something inexpensive and don’t care about going for a brand name, then check out these Bayou Fitness adjustable dumbbells for under $150.