If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best dumbbells for garage gym are, then I’d recommend the PowerBlock Elite Dumbbells as the best one.
As you’re planning to confine much of your strength training to your home, it helps to have the best dumbbells for garage gym to elevate your workout routine to the next level.
The following reviews of the five top-rated products, as well as a thorough buyer’s guide, should help you find the right dumbbells for your exercise needs.
Here are the top dumbbells for a garage gym we’ll be reviewing:
- Yes4All Adjustable Dumbbells
- Core Fitness Adjustable Dumbbell Weight Set
- Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
- Merax Deluxe 71.5lbs Adjustable Dial Dumbbell
- PowerBlock Elite Dumbbells
Dumbbells for Your Garage Gym – A Buyer’s Guide
Dumbbells are a staple in fitness training as they’re highly versatile and effective.
Even so, you don’t want to spend most of your home gym budget buying up every set of dumbbells you see.
Some work better for your garage gym and specific training needs than others.
To make sure you get what you need to properly workout, we came up with a few key features to look for in your next set of dumbbells.
Benefits of Using Dumbbells at Home
Before we get into what type of dumbbells you should look for, let’s touch on the advantages of bringing a few into your home garage gym.
Addresses Strength Imbalances
When training with dumbbells, you’re forced to work your limbs unilaterally. It’s difficult to overcompensate while using them.
So, you will notice right away if one side is weaker than the others, making you readjust your training for better strength balancing.
Greater Muscle Activation
Dumbbell exercises have the ability to stimulate inter and intramuscular coordination.
Intermuscular coordination is when muscles work together to stabilize joint motion, while intramuscular coordination focuses on the amount of muscle motor units and their attached muscle fibers activated in a certain muscle.
Since dumbbells require a good deal of stabilization.
As this stabilization will activate the muscle fibers, you’ll start seeing an increase in muscle activation.
Perform Versatile Workouts
As far as exercise equipment goes, dumbbells don’t seem like much at first glance. However, they offer some of the most versatility compared to other equipment.
For instance, if you use an exercise machine, you’re stuck focusing on the muscle group it’s built for. Some machines are also better suited for certain body sizes than others.
Meanwhile, dumbbells can be used by anyone of any size or experience (although lighter ones work best for beginners).
You have one in each hand, so you can go for a mixture of movements and patterns.
The weight of dumbbells also varies, so you can increase as your skill and strength improves.
Safer than Other Equipment
Dumbbells have a high safety factor, especially when compared to barbells.
When doing a bench press, more so if you’re alone in your garage, if you slip up, you can find yourself with a terrible injury or worse.
With dumbbells, there’s no worry about slipping and crushing your chest. Rather, if you feel things are getting too much, simply drop them aside and move on.
Choosing the Right Weight
We mentioned before that dumbbells come in a variety of weights. If you’re just starting out, you don’t want to go too heavy.
Not only will it be difficult to pick up, but using a weight you’re unfamiliar with can cause you to injure yourself by the likes of pulling a muscle.
There’s no harm in beginning your training with 5lbs or 10lbs.
You can simply work your way up as you improve, and before you know it, you’ll be reaching 20lbs, 50lbs, 100lbs and more.
Types of Dumbbells: Which do you Need?
Deciding on the best dumbbells for garage gym also depends on what type you need. There are two main types of dumbbells: fixed and adjustable.
Fixed dumbbells are good to start with, and they tend to be rather affordable, but they’re just that: fixed.
There’s no way to change them without purchasing different pairs.
Meanwhile, adjustable ones allow you to change the weight on a single pair of dumbbells.
This can help you save more in the long run as you don’t have to purchase another pair until you’ve reached the maximum weight on the ones you have.
Comfort and Reliability
Workouts should be challenging, not harmful or difficult. As such, it helps if your dumbbells are comfortable and easy to hold.
Lookout for the ones with a good grip; some are smooth, but still provide enough leverage for you to keep your hands wrapped around even if you sweat.
Others are designed with some kind of pattern to help you get a firmer hold.
However, not much of this matters if the dumbbells aren’t reliable.
Meaning, the material they’re constructed from should be high-quality and long-lasting. This way, you may not have to replace them as they hold up to frequent wear and tear.
Top 5 Best Dumbbells for Garage Gym – Reviewed
Yes4All Adjustable Dumbbells
The Yes4All Adjustable Dumbbells may be the best dumbbells for garage gym for those of you looking for an easy way to grow your weight as you train.
They offer a number of different weights from 40lb pairs to 200lb pairs. Switching the weights out is simple, and this allows them to take up minimal space in your garage.
You may even use the dumbbell connector to turn these into a barbell to further switch up your routine.
These dumbbells are built to last also as they feature cast iron weights that fight off rust and corrosion.
With the handles, they’re a good length for easy holding, and they’re knurled, made from textured chrome.
It aims to help reduce fatigue and help with grip, but it’s possible that it can feel too rough. Wearing gloves may assist with making it more comfortable.
Pros
- Handles are a good length for easy gripping
- Constructed from sturdy material
- Simple to use and adjust accordingly
Cons
- Easy for the grip to become uncomfortable
- Potential for the star locks to loosen while the dumbbells are in use
Core Fitness Adjustable Dumbbell Weight Set
With TwistLock technology, you can quickly adjust the weight of the Core Fitness Adjustable Dumbbell Weight Set using just one hand.
Each changes from 5lbs to 50lbs, so they may work better for those of you just starting out. They’re also easy to store too as they come with lightweight cradle.
Take care that at heavier weights, the dumbbells may stick a little.
On the handle, you’ll find that it’s contoured with a textured, soft grip. It offers both security and comfort, which may help you learn better grip control while you train.
The grip isn’t clunky either, which may also make the dumbbells easier to hold for extended workouts.
When you’re using these dumbbells, the grip and quick adjustability may make them highly user-friendly.
However, there’s a chance you might notice some shaking and hear rattling. The weights aren’t in threat of falling off, but the sound is noticeable enough.
Pros
- Changing the weights is a quick process
- Designed with flat bottoms to prevent them from rolling away
- Handles offer an easy fit that’s also comfortable
Cons
- Possible for them to stick inside the cradle at full weight
- A bit of rattling and movement heard when using the dumbbells
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
The Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells offer you a wide range of exercises with adjustable weight ranges from 5lbs to 52.5lbs, each changed in 2.5lb increments.
All you need to do to adjust the weights is turn the dials on the sides. It’s quick and allows you to continue your training with minimal interruption.
Although it’s space-saving in the sense that you only need one pair to get various exercises, the weights themselves are bulky.
This may compel you to change up some of your routines so that the weights won’t get in the way.
They do come across as well-balanced though.
There’s a chance the plates may move around, but with the molding around them, they attempt to quiet things down so there’s not much noise as you train.
That durable molding can also encourage a smoother lift-off.
Pros
- User-friendly adjustment process
- Molding around plates offer a quieter workout
- Well-balanced and feels easy to hold
Cons
- Chance for the plates to move a little
- Bulky weights may get in the way of some exercises
Merax Deluxe 71.5lbs Adjustable Dial Dumbbell
Merax Deluxe Adjustable Dial Dumbbell uses a dial system so that you can readily adjust your weight.
It’s an easy-to-use system, but the weight change from 11lbs all the way up to 71.5lbs isn’t a slow progression as it changes in 5.5lb increments.
You may want to adapt your exercises accordingly to fit the wide weight range.
The weights themselves are made durable though as they’re constructed using top-quality metal.
Even though there’s a chance for the black finish to wear off, the dumbbells should withstand heavy, frequent use.
As for working out, using the dumbbells is safe and comfortable.
The grips are rubberized to help you maintain a stable hold so there may be minimal risk of accidently dropping them.
These weights are also locked in tight so you might not experience rattling or shaking while using them or setting them down.
Pros
- Weights are locked in tight
- Comfortable rubber grips
- Weights constructed from high-quality metal
Cons
- Weight changes seem extreme
- Possible for the black finish to wear off
PowerBlock Elite Dumbbells
The PowerBlock Elite Dumbbells features an innovative design that is compact and allows for space-saving storage in your garage.
They’re constructed using premium material that helps them hold up to however many drops you put them through.
As you’re exercising, the dumbbells tend to have a balanced feel thanks to even distribution of the weight.
You may want to take caution, however, that the labels on the weights might be wrong. They can be around 1/2lb or so less than stated.
There may be a slight learning curve to understand how to adjust the weights.
However, once you understand it, the process can be done in the matter of seconds so you can switch the weights and move onto your next routine.
Regardless of which set you get, there are more than a dozen settings. You can choose a 50lb set, 70lb set, or 90lb set.
Pros
- Even weight distribution for a balanced feel
- Compact design that’s easy to store
- Offers a good amount of control
Cons
- Has a slight learning curve to adjust the weights
- Inaccurate weight labels
Final Thoughts
Each set of dumbbells in our top five list may very well fit with your home gym and budding exercise routine.
However, to choose just one, the PowerBlock Elite Dumbbells are some of the best dumbbells for garage gym workouts.
Their unique design stands out the most. It may be the best space-saving option so that they fit in garages of various sizes.
They are also well-made and can withstand the heavy abuse dumbbells see so often when they’re dropped.
Furthermore, these dumbbells offer easy adjustments of weight once you get used to using them.
You can change them out in seconds, not hindering your exercise so you can stay working on a timely manner.
The dumbbells are also balanced well to give you optimal control during each movement, which may benefit you if you’re still starting out in your weight training.
> > If you’re in the UK, check out the best adjustable dumbbells here < <
