Best Dumbbells for Seniors

No matter what your age is, dumbbells are amazing tools to help you achieve your fitness goals. Of course, you should always check with your doctor before starting any fitness program and be very cautious when using heavy weights. When used with care, however, the simplicity and effectiveness of dumbbells make them perfect for seniors.

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 using uncomfortable equipment or having the wrong weight options.
In this article, I’ll give our picks for the best dumbbells for seniors, taking into consideration quality, price, value, and more!

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

Best Overall

The Epic Fitness 150-Pound Premium Hex Dumbbell Set is truly an epic set of dumbbells. This is my number one choice for seniors. The one drawback of this set is the somewhat high price tag. Still, if you’re looking for the best set of dumbbells out there, 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 seniors. 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

Runner-Up

This set is perfect for seniors who are looking to improve their fitness. The contents are as follows:

• Two 5lb dumbbells
• Two 10lb dumbbells
• Two 15lb dumbbells
• Two 20lb dumbbells
• Two 25lb dumbbells

The small 5lb increase between the dumbbells ensures you’ll have the perfect amount of weight for any exercise. The quality 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 seniors 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 don’t have crazy amounts of upper-body strength.

Just make sure to always follow safe practices when lifting, and never try to push yourself too far. If you’re not fully comfortable using moderately heavy weights, you should check out our pick for the best lightweight set of dumbbells below.

Best Lightweight

The Brave Heart Vinyl Coated Dumbbells Set is the perfect set for seniors to start their resistance training. This set includes dumbbells of the following weight:

• Two 2 lb
• Two 3lb
• Two 5lb
• Two 8lb
• Two 12lb

This is the perfect variety of weight for seniors who aren’t particularly looking to build a lot of muscle but instead want to get healthier 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 people might prefer to simply store the dumbbells in a closet or beneath their bed. In that case, I recommend skipping the stand and buying single dumbbells.

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. With this set you’ll be getting:

• 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 equipment. 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 fixed dumbbells. This is invaluable for people working out in a small 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 tight on space, the Cap ADJUSTABELL is an awesome choice.

What To Look For When Buying Dumbbells For Seniors

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 sensitive hands, buying soft neoprene dumbbells is a good idea.

Shape

Another thing to consider when buying dumbbells for seniors 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 seniors, 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.

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 seniors 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 seniors on a budget is to buy an adjustable dumbbell. Just one adjustable dumbbell essentially takes the place of an entire rack of fixed dumbbells, saving you space and money.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Weight Dumbbells Should Seniors 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 seniors, I generally 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 Seniors?

Using dumbbells is great for seniors! Even if you’re not looking to build a lot of muscle, dumbbells are wonderful tools to help you improve your fitness and overall health. I’ll list a few of the many benefits using dumbbells have for seniors.

• Maintains and builds bone density: Weight training helps you to maintain and improve the strength of your bones, helping to prevent breaks and fractures.
• Improves sleep: Lifting weights has been shown to improve sleep quality. So if you’re a person who has trouble getting a good night’s sleep, working out with dumbbells, or similar equipment, could be the answer to your difficulties.
• Improves joint health: Weight training not only strengthens your muscles, it also strengthens your joints! This is great news for seniors suffering from joint pain or arthritis.
• Improves balance: Working out with dumbbells can do great things for your balance. Since, unlike with a barbell, there’s nothing to keep the weight balanced for you, dumbbell training requires you to balance the weight using your muscles. This helps you build overall balance and stability in your body.
• Builds and strengthens muscles: Obviously, one of the main advantages of any type of weight training is gaining strength, and dumbbells are no different. As we get into old age, we naturally start to lose strength and endurance. Training with dumbbells is the perfect way to combat that decline and stay strong and healthy as we age.

What Are Good Dumbbell Exercises For Seniors?

There are tons of great dumbbell exercises for seniors out there. I’ll list a few of my favorites.

• Overhead Press: The overhead press can be done standing or sitting. In each hand, hold a dumbbell slightly above your shoulders, about chin height, with elbows locked into a bent position. Then, keeping your core tight and your back straight, press the dumbbells up above your head.
• 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 with both hands at chest-level. Then squat slowly down as if sitting in a chair. Keep you back straight and your core tight. You should lower yourself until your thighs are almost parallel to the floor.

Conclusion

Dumbbells are amazing for improving strength, balance, stability, and overall health attributes that are all especially important to maintain as we get older. Overall, the Epic Fitness 150-Pound Premium Hex Dumbbell Set with Heavy Duty A-Frame Rack is the best set of dumbbells for seniors. 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 seniors. Now, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start training!