Best Dumbbells for Women

Dumbbells are amazing tools to help you achieve your goals. Their versatility and effectiveness make them perfect for any women looking to improve their fitness.

With that being said, it’s important to find the right dumbbells to fit your needs. There’s nothing that can kill a workout faster than having the wrong weight options, or using uncomfortable equipment. 

In this article, I’ll give our picks for the best dumbbells for women, taking into consideration quality, price, value and more!

• Best Overall: CAP Barbell 150 LB Hex Dumbbell Weight Set
• Runner-Up: Epic Fitness 150-Pound Premium Hex Dumbbell Set with Heavy Duty A-Frame Rack
• Best Value: Amazon Basics Neoprene Coated Dumbbell Hand Weight Set
• Best Adjustable: Cap Adjustabell 
• Best Lightweight: Brave Heart Neoprene/Vinyl Coated Hand Weights Dumbbells Set with Rack

Best Overall

This set comes with two 5lb, 10lb, 15lb, 20lb, and 25lb dumbbells. The small 5lb increase between the dumbbells ensures you’ll have the perfect amount of weight for any exercise. 

The quality of these dumbbells is top notch. The handles are super comfy, and the rubber coating means you won’t have to worry about your floors or walls getting scraped. 

Some women might think that the 20 and 25 pound dumbbells are too heavy for them. It’s important to remember, however, that heavier weights can be very useful even if you’re not trying to build a lot of muscle. 

Runner-Up

The Epic Fitness 150-Pound Premium Hex Dumbbell Set is truly an epic set of dumbbells. This would be my number one choice for women if not for the high price tag. Still, if you’re looking for the best set of dumbbells for women that money can buy, you can do no better than the Epic Fitness 150-pound set. 

So what makes this set so great? Well, everything. The dumbbells are super high quality. The storage rack is convenient and doesn’t take up too much space.The ends of the dumbbells are coated in pvc instead of rubber, meaning that they don’t need to be shipped in oil like other dumbbells. This, in turn, means that you won’t have to deal with cleaning them, and you won’t have to put up with an annoying rubber smell. 

Most importantly, the set comes with the perfect range of weight for most women. The contents of the set are as follows:

• 5-pound pair of PVC coated hex dumbbells
• 10-pound pair of PVC coated hex dumbbells
• 15-pound pair of PVC coated hex dumbbells
• 20-pound pair of PVC coated hex dumbbells
• 25-pound pair of PVC coated hex dumbbells
• 1 heavy-duty, compact 5 tier A-frame dumbbell rack to easily store and access the dumbbells

The one thing that holds this set back is the price-tag. If you can afford it, however, you’ll be getting a premium set of dumbbells that are sure to last a lifetime.

Best Value

Amazon Basics goal is to make high quality products simple and affordable. With their neoprene coated dumbbell set, I think they’ve done just that. The contents of this set are as follows:

• Two 5 pound dumbbells
• Two 10 pound dumbbells
• Two 15 pound dumbbells
• Three-tier storage rack

These dumbbells have the same design as much more expensive models. But the lack of a big brand-name means they’ll be a lot lighter on the wallet. 

One thing that should be noted, however, is that the neoprene coating might be a bit more fragile than other dumbbells. 

Best Adjustable

A simple turn of the handle lets you adjust the amount of weight quickly and easily. The Cap Adjustabell dumbbell adjusts from 5 to 25 pounds, meaning one pair can take the place of a whole set of conventional weights. This is invaluable for women lacking workout space.

The main downside with this, and with any adjustable dumbbell, is durability. There are a lot of moving parts to these types of dumbbells. So, unlike conventional equipment, no matter how well you care for them, you can’t be sure they’ll last forever.

With that being said, if you’re a woman who is tight on space, the Cap ADJUSTABELL is an awesome choice. 

Best Lightweight

The Brave Heart Vinyl Coated Dumbbells Set is the perfect set for women to start their resistance training. This set comes with two 2 lb, 3lb, 5lb, 8lb, and 12 pound dumbbells. This is the perfect variety of weight for women who aren’t particularly looking to build muscle but want to get leaner and build endurance. 

The soft vinyl coating is super comfortable and won’t leave your hands with blisters or calluses. 

The set also comes with a solid steel rack to hold the dumbbells, which could be a good thing or a bad thing. The rack is great if you have the space for it. Since these dumbbells are so light, however, some women might prefer to simply store the dumbbells in a closet or beneath their beds. In that case, I recommend buying single neoprene dumbbells without a stand. 

What to Look for When Buying Dumbbells for Women

Comfortable Handles

Perhaps the most important feature to consider when buying a dumbbell is the handle. Look for handles with some type of texture added. The handles of some cheaper dumbbells are completely smooth. This can cause it to move in the hand while you’re exercising, creating discomfort and blisters. 

There’s nothing more annoying than not being able to workout because your equipment is too uncomfortable.

If you have particularly sensitive hands, buying soft neoprene dumbbells is a good idea. 

Shape

Another thing to consider when buying dumbbells for women is the shape. If you plan to store them on the floor, then you probably want to buy hexagon shaped dumbbells so they won’t roll around.

Available Space

When thinking of the best dumbbells for women, you’ll want to consider how much space you have available. If you’re going to be working out in a small area, you might want to consider buying an adjustable dumbbell.

Just one adjustable dumbbell can take the place of an entire set of fixed weights, saving you lots of space and money. There are two main types of adjustable dumbbells. 

• Traditional Spinlock style:These dumbbells use a traditional fixed rod with threads on the end, allowing you to manually adjust the weight by adding or removing plates and locking them in place with a spinlock. These are usually cheaper than their alternatives, and their simple design is appealing to many users. 
• Adjustable Dial Style: These dumbbells let you adjust the weight by spinning a dial. The dumbbell sits within a tray or a case, and as you adjust the dial, plates are added or left behind automatically. This can be super convenient and a lot quicker than the traditional spinlock style. It also saves even more space compared to its traditional counterpart. With that being said, some users find these dumbbells to be awkward. If you’re used to working out with traditional equipment, this design can certainly feel strange. Of course these ultimately function the same way as any other dumbbell. But the look and feel can take some getting used to. 

Budget

Another thing you’ll want to keep in mind is your budget. Those of us on a tight budget need to be more careful when deciding the weights of our dumbbells. While of course it’s nice to have dumbbells in every weight option you can think of, this isn’t always realistic. 

I find that the most budget-friendly way for women to get into dumbbell training is to buy a few different single dumbbells instead of buying pairs and sets. This allows you to get a broader variety of weight while spending less money.

Of course, it’s nice to be able to work out both sides of your body at once, but it’s not essential. And exercising with just one dumbbell actually has its benefits. It makes your core work even harder to keep the body stable.

Another good option for women on a budget is to buy an adjustable dumbbell.

What Weight Dumbbells Should Women Use?

It’s important to choose the right weight for your dumbbells. What that weight is depends on a lot of different factors such as age, size, strength level, and what kind of exercises you want to use the dumbbells for. 

With that being said, if you’re not sure what weight is right for you, it’s best to start out small and build your way up.  For women, I recommend starting with a few sets of dumbbells ranging between 5 and 20 lbs. 

Remember, smaller dumbbells will always have their uses. Buying dumbbells that are too heavy, however, can stunt your ability and desire to train. So again, if you’re not sure, it’s best to start low and work your way higher. 

Is using dumbbells good for women?

Using dumbbells is great for women! Dumbbells are extremely versatile, and working out with them has an array of benefits on the body. I’ll list a few of the many benefits using dumbbells have for women. 

• Increases metabolism and helps burn fat: Put simply, lifting weight puts your body into fat burning mode. It’s not just about the calories you burn when you’re working out. The muscles need lots of energy to effectively recover as well. This means that you’ll start to burn extra fat even when resting. 

• Tones muscles and builds endurance: Dumbbells are perfect for shaping your muscles. In fact, there’s not a single muscle group in the body that can’t be targeted with dumbbells. 

• Improves sleep: Lifting weights has been shown to improve sleep quality. So iIf you’re a woman who has trouble getting a good night’s sleep,working out with dumbbells, or similar equipment, could be the answer to your difficulties. 

What are good dumbbell exercises for women?

There are tons of  great dumbbell exercises for women out there. I’ll list some of my favorites.

• Bicep Curls: This classic exercise can be done sitting or standing. Start with your arms straight (down by your side if you’re standing) with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing up. Keeping the core tight, slowly curl your hands towards your shoulders keeping your upper arms and shoulders as still as possible. This can be done with both arms simultaneously, or one arm at a time. 

• Squats: Stand with your feet roughly shoulder width apart, holding a dumbbell at chest-level. Then squat slowly down as if sitting in a chair. Keep you back straight and your core tight. You should lower your body until your thighs are almost parallel to the floor. 

• Weighted Side Planks: Holding a dumbbell in one hand, start in a side-plank position with one forearm on the ground and the dumbbell arm extended straight in the air. Keep your hips lifted off the ground. Hold this position between 10 seconds and a minute, depending on your strength level. Be sure to alternate sides after every set. 

Conclusion

Overall, the CAP Barbell 150 LB Hex Dumbbell Weight Set is the best set of dumbbells for women. If you’re on a tight budget, however, picking up a set of Amazon Basics Neoprene covered dumbbells is a great idea. 

I hope this article has answered any and all questions you might have about the best dumbbells for women. Now what are you waiting for? Get out there and start training!