Owning a whole array of dumbbells saves you lots of time. Let’s say that
you’re alternating shoulder exercises with 5-pound weights and chest exercises
with 15-pound weights. All you have to do is put down the 5s and pick up the
15s. With adjustable dumbbells, you constantly have to remove the collar
and add or subtract weight plates, which is a huge pain. You may be tempted
to use the wrong weight because making the switch is a hassle. Also, locking
the weights on securely can be difficult; they can jiggle around or, worse, slide
off in the middle of your workout.
A terrific product called PlateMates (www.theplatemate.com) can save you
a lot of money on dumbbells. PlateMates are magnets that you stick onto
each end of a dumbbell to increase the weight. The magnets come in four
weights:^5 ⁄ 8 of a pound, 1^1 ⁄ 4 pounds, 1^7 ⁄ 8 pounds, and 2^1 ⁄ 2 pounds. With PlateMates,
you cut down on the number of dumbbells you need to buy. For example,
instead of buying a pair of 15-pounders, 20-pounders, and 25-pounders, you
can pass on the 20s and create your own 20-pound weights by putting a
21 ⁄ 2 -pound PlateMate on each end of the 15-pounders. You can stick the
PlateMates on the 25-pounders to create 30-pound dumbbells, and so on.
PlateMates come in different shapes to accommodate different styles of
dumbbells. (However, they won’t attach to dumbbells coated in rubber, and
the magnets may lose strength over time.) PlateMates cost $19 to $28 per
pair. We recommend them in Chapter 25 as one of ten great fitness invest-
ments under $100.
If you choose to buy separate dumbbells, realize that you’ll need eight or
nine different pairs. Although some people use the 10-pound dumbbells for
every exercise, this isn’t a good idea: A weight that’s heavy enough to chal-
lenge your back muscles is much too heavy for your arm muscles; a weight
that’s just right for your shoulders is too light to do your chest any good. If
you want to see results, you need to give each muscle the right challenge
For most beginning women, we recommend buying dumbbells weighing 2, 3,
5, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 20 pounds. Even if you can’t use the 15s and 20s right
away, you’ll grow into them pretty fast. The whole set costs between $60 and
$150. As for beginning men, start off with 8, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and
50 pounds. This set runs $200 to $600.
Shop around and try out different brands of dumbbells. Some have contoured
handles that may feel more comfortable than straight ones. Some dumbbells
have foam grips; others are coated in rubber. Dumbbells with hexagonal ends
are great because they won’t roll away. A dumbbell rack is also a good idea. A
rack can cost up to $200 but will keep your weights organized and your home
gym looking tidy.
If you don’t have the space for a whole array of dumbbells but don’t want to
fiddle with dumbbell kits, either, you have a couple other choices:
Chapter 20: Designing a Home Gym 319