Best Dumbbells For Beginners

Dumbbells are amazing tools to help you achieve your fitness goals. Their simplicity and effectiveness make them perfect for beginners. From curls, presses and rows, to squats and deadlifts, dumbbells are incredibly versatile, and offer beginners everything they need to start training. 

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

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

• Best Overall: Papababe H)230 Rubber Encased Dumbbell Set With Rack
• Runner-Up: CAP Barbell 150 LB Hex Dumbbell Weight Set
• Best Value: Amazon Basics Rubber Encased Hex Dumbbell
• Best Adjustable: Cap ADJUSTABELL, 5-25LB Adjustable Dumbbell

Best Overall

The Papababe H)230 Rubber Encased Dumbbell Set comes with two of the following dumbbells: 10lb, 15lb, 25lb, 30lb, and 35lb. In my opinion, this is the perfect weight range for most beginners. 

If you’re just starting out, you might think that 35 lbs is too heavy for you. But you have to remember, lots of dumbbell workouts don’t require much upper body strength at all. Deadlifts are a good example. Having heavier weights as well as light ones lets you add a lot more variety into your routine. Also,”noob gains” is very real. Beginners get stronger really quickly. Having a varied set of dumbbells from the start keeps you from having to buy more and more equipment at each stage of your early progression. 

The Papababe H)230 Rubber Encased Dumbbell Set also comes with a super convenient storage rack. There’s a lot to love here.

If you’re not ready for the whole set yet, you can also order these as single dumbbells in whatever weight you want. No matter what you choose, you’ll be getting high-quality, comfortable dumbbells that will last you a lifetime. 

Runner Up

Amazon Basics goal is to make high quality products simple and affordable. With their Hex dumbbells, I think they’ve done just that. 

These dumbbells have the same design as much more expensive dumbbells. 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 rubber coating might be a bit more fragile than other dumbbells. I’m still fully confident that they’ll last a lifetime; but they might accumulate some scratches and dings along the way if you’re not careful. 

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 fixed dumbbells. This is invaluable for home gyms that lack 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 beginner who is tight on space, the Cap ADJUSTABELL is an awesome choice. 

What to Look for When Buying Dumbbells for Beginners

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. 

Material

The next thing you’ll want to consider when thinking of the best dumbbells for beginners, is what the dumbbell is made out of. 

Weights aren’t cheap. Nobody wants to spend their money on something just to have to replace it in a few years when it breaks down. 

With this in mind, I recommend buying dumbbells made out of steel and cast-iron. These materials are by far the most durable, and practically guarantees that your dumbbells will last a lifetime. 

On the other end of the spectrum, dumbbells with a neoprene coating are the least durable. After years of use, it’s not unlikely that the neoprene coating starts to chip and peel off, leaving you with the untreated, smooth cast-iron base underneath which wasn’t intended for you to grip. 

That’s not to say that you should always avoid neoprene dumbbells. They can be great for beginners. And most very light dumbbells (under five pounds) are usually covered in neoprene. If you do choose neoprene dumbbells, you should be careful to take good care of them.

Shape

Another thing to consider when buying dumbbells for beginners 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.

If you’re looking to buy very heavy dumbbells (more than 50 pounds) then choosing round dumbbells can be a good idea. At very heavy weights, hexagon shaped weights can eventually crack if they’re repeatedly dropped on a hard surface. Round dumbbells, on the other hand, can absorb more impact. 

Available Space

When buying dumbbells for beginners, 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 dumbbells, 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 beginners 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 beginners on a budget is to buy an adjustable dumbbell. Just one adjustable dumbbell essentially takes the place of an entire rack of fixed dumbbells.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Size Dumbbells Should Beginners 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, gender, your 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. And for men, I recommend starting with a few sets ranging from 10 to 30 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. 

What Are the Best Dumbbell Exercises for Beginners?

There are countless dumbbell exercises that are perfect for beginners. Here I’ll list a few of the ones I think are most important:

• Bench Press
• Shoulder Press
• Bicep Curl
• Shrugs 
• Rows
• Deadlift
• Squats 
• Lunges 
• Calf Raises 
• Farmer Walks

Why Should Beginners Use Dumbbells?

Dumbbells are great for beginners because they’re compact, easy to use, and can be used for so many different exercises. You can work out pretty much every muscle group in your body using dumbbells. They’re not as cumbersome or intimidating as barbells, resistance machines and the like. And, in fact, dumbbells are actually more effective for beginners than most other equipment. 

Dumbbell workouts require you to hold and move weight individually in each arm. This means that you’ll work your core a lot more than if you had a barbell balancing the weight evenly for you. 

Dumbbells also give you a much greater range of motion than barbells and resistance machines. All of this means that working out with dumbbells is great for building balance and stability throughout your entire body. 

Conclusion

Overall, the Papababe H)230 Rubber Encased Dumbbell Set With Rack is the best set of dumbbells you can buy as a beginner. If you’re on a tight budget, however, picking up a few of the Amazon Basics Rubber Encased Dumbbells is your best bet. 

Dumbbells are insanely useful for anybody looking to build muscle, strength, mobility, and overall physical fitness. And their simplicity and effectiveness makes them especially useful for beginners.

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