Best Dumbbells in India - Reviews and Comparison 2021

• Fixed: A fixed dumbbell is the most common type found in a commercial gym. You will see them in pairs, and they weigh anything from 1kg to 100kg each. However, if we talk about the home facility or small gyms, a dumbbell weighing 2.5kg to 30kg is good to go. The higher weight, i.e. 50kg-100kg, is relevant for serious weight lifters and bodybuilders. Fixed dumbbells are further divided into various types, and amongst those, the most common are rubber dumbbells, urethane dumbbells, hex dumbbells, and chrome dumbbells.

• Adjustable: These dumbbells are ideal for those who want to practice with various weights, but either doesn’t have space or budget for that variety. Basically, adjustable dumbbells are designed keeping less space in mind. Different brands are offering adjustable dumbbell varying on the basis of shapes, sizes and designs. They offer a dumbbell set weights with 2kg increment scaling via an innovative lock-and-load system. On the downside, these type of dumbbells is quite bulky because of the ways in which the weight needs to be segmented. Also, if you need to change the weight quickly, they don’t come in handy.

A dumbbell plate set is an excellent alternative to adjustable dumbbells. It consists of a small bar with plates attached on both ends. They are a great option if you are looking for a range of weights and saving space and money. Moreover, it is a relatively quick option compared to adjustable dumbbells because it is easy and fast to add or remove the weight plates, which usually weighs between 0.5kg to 2.5kg. 

• Studio: These are lightweight dumbbells used in the studio classes for light resistance work as part of their activity programme. So, if you are looking for very low weight denominations such as 0.5kg – 10kg, they are good. Studio dumbbells are colour coded by weight for easy identification during classes. They are coated, i.e. the whole dumbbell (including the handle) has a layer of textured rubber or neoprene to protect it against regular use and abuse. Due to the full coating, it becomes easier to have a grip, especially during cardio-heavy exercise classes. Moreover, they have an anti-roll shape, ensuring they don’t cause any hazard when on the floor.

Studio dumbbells prove to be inexpensive when bought in large quantity, let’s say, 40-50 pairs.

For a quick recap, let’s check the table.

Weight is the first factor that you need to emphasise seriously. In fact, it becomes all the more critical if you are going for fixed weight dumbbells. So, firstly find out how much weight you are going to lift.

Another reason that weight matters is not one size dumbbell is suitable for all exercises. It’s simple; you don’t need a 25 kg dumbbell to increase your arm strength. You can achieve a great result, at least, for some time, with a set of 2.5 kg as well. Similarly, you can’t do the full-body workout with lightweight dumbells, and you need heavier weights to work on your lower back.

We would suggest the following:

• If the weight range is extensive, go for a pair of adjustable dumbbells for lighter weights and fixed dumbbells for heavy weights. 

• If the weight range is not much, get a pair of adjustable dumbbells at least, to begin with.

• Beginners should start with a dumbbell of between 10% to 15% of their body weight.

• Experts should choose dumbbell of between 20% to 25% of their body weight.

• If you are someone in between the above categories, choose a dumbbell of between 15% to 20% of your body weight, or you could try out different dumbbells and see what works for you.

Space matters when buying a thing like a dumbbell. If you are short on space, avoid buying fixed dumbbells. So, if your living room is your workout point, choose adjustable dumbbells. However, if there is enough space in your home gym, basement, or garage, you can easily avoid the hassle of changing weights as required in adjustable dumbbells or a dumbbell plate set.

A great way to store your dumbbell and save some space is to get a dumbbell rack.

There are a few materials that are commonly used to make dumbbells. Let’s check them out one by one.

• Solid Metal: Metal dumbbells are the most common ones. Yes, they are the ones with a silver metallic handle and black disc(s). Instead of being colour-coded according to weight, the weight is stamped on the ends or embossed somewhere in the metal. They are preferred because they are easy to hold than vinyl-coated dumbbells when the hands are sweaty. However, you need to be cautious with them because if dropped on the floor, they can cause huge damage.

• Vinyl-coated: These are made of cast iron with a tough vinyl coating. The weight is colour coded, so it is easy to identify them. Usually, the purple weights are 4.5 kg, while the pink weight is 1.81 kg. More so, they cause less damage when accidentally dropped on the floor and also, they are kind to your body if you bump up against them. On the downside, if your hands are sweaty, it is hard to hold a grip on them.

• Rubber: Rubber dumbbells are known for their long life. These dumbbells have rubber coatings over their plates or discs. The rubber material limits the exposure to moisture, thereby preventing rust. Another advantage of the rubber dumbbells is that they have reduced pressure impact on the floor. So, when you drop them on the floor, you need not worry about the ugly scratches. Besides this, they are incredible in use and comes at the least price.
  The only downside is that they produce a pungent smell in the initial stage. However, it does disappear with time!

• Urethane: Urethane dumbbell is a pricey option. Urethane (polyurethane or PU) resembles the rubber dumbbells in look, but it has numerous performance benefits that make it costly.

  First, urethane dumbbells are way stronger than rubber. Their outer layer is very tough to have cosmetic damages. Moreover, the outer layers are resistant to scratches, marks, and chips.

  Second, despite having a hard outer layer, PU weights leave no marking on a new vinyl or wooden floor when dropped. Third, they don’t produce any odour like that of rubber dumbbells.

Dumbbells come in various shapes such as rounded, hexagonal or square ends. If you don’t want to chase weights around the room, then the hexagonal shaped dumbbells are perfect for you. Their shape doesn't let them roll on the floor. This proves to be highly useful while switching between exercises when you’re constantly dropping and picking the weights. More so, you can store them easily, even if you don't have a rack.

While holding a dumbbell, it should feel like it is made for you. And this is possible only when you will choose a dumbbell with the perfect shape and size. Besides, it is also essential for dumbbells to feel perfect for performing the function smoothly. If the grip slips out of your hand, not only it might damage things around you, but it can hurt your hands and give you an unwanted break from the workout.

To have a firm grip, you must choose a dumbbell with a diameter of about 1 inch, and for a higher weight dumbbell, the diameter can be 2 inches.

More so, the grip is also an essential factor because that’s how you handle your dumbbell.

If dumbbells are new to you and you are not sure about the grip size or style, the best way is to experiment with a few weights in the market.

Here are a few accessories that we consider essential to have when you are using dumbbells.

• Gloves: If you intend to work out constantly and there will be maximum usage of the dumbbell, you are prone to having blisters and calluses. Undoubtedly, dumbbells have a textured grip to make the lifting more effortless, yet it is better to get a pair of gloves to protect your hands thoroughly.

• Mats: Mats are usually suggested to protect your floor from damage if the dumbbell is accidentally dropped. The mats designed for weight lifting can withstand the impact of a free weight when they are dropped. They are made of dense rubber and at least half an inch in thickness. And if you want to dampen the sound from the drop, you can always get a thicker mat.

• Bench: Get a dumbbell bench to work more on your shoulders and chest. While lying down and when your legs are on the floor, you need to push the weights straight up while maintaining them at a level around your shoulder and drop them back to your body level.

At times, we spend money on things that we don’t need and that eat our budget. And with things like dumbbells, which comes in so many varieties, you can go astray. Hence, it is advisable to find out your need first and keep your budget in mind before looking for available options. Besides, this will help you choose dumbbells that offers the best value for your money.

Following are the dumbbells exercise that any beginner should start with:

• Lateral raise

• Triceps kick-back

• Biceps curls

• Lunge

• Overhead press

• Bench press

• Hammer press

• Floor press

• Hip thrust

• Dumbbell woodchop

Start your intermediate dumbbells exercise journey with the following:

• Chest flye

• Front squat

• Bent-over row

• T press-up

• Front raise

• Arnold press

• Upright row

Besides the exercises mentioned above, you can do the following dumbbells exercises at an advanced level:

• Split squat

• Chest pull-over

• Dumbbell snatch

• Thruster

• Renegade row

Yes, you can use medicine balls, kettlebells, resistance bands, exercise machines, pullup bars instead of dumbbells. In fact, you can find lightweight dumbbells alternative at homes such as bottled water, soup cans, or bags of rice.

1. Beginner-friendly – Dumbbell exercises are usually simple and easy to perform.

2. Weight loss – They ensure weight loss, primarily when used in high-intensity routines like HIIT. So, looking good and building strength at the same time is possible.

3. Improved stamina and endurance – Whether you intend to go for a sporting event besides weight lifting or simply want more health and energy in everyday life, dumbbells won’t disappoint you in either case.

4. Toned muscles – Yes, dumbbells help with that too.

5. They’re portable – at least when compared to other gym equipment like treadmill, exercise cycle. You can use them anywhere from your gym to the living room, kitchen.

6. Less space – Again, as compared to other gym equipment, dumbbells need less space.

7. Quiet – When using dumbbells, your whole house will never come to know that you are exercising or at least as long as you don’t drop them on the floor!

The famous dumbbell exercises include bench press, bicep curl, bent-over row, shoulder press, lunge, one arm swing, triceps kickback, calf raise, lateral raise, lying dumbbell fly, Russian twist, glute bridge, weighted sit-ups, tricep extension.

Lifetime. Yes, you read that right. If your rubber dumbbells are of superior quality and you maintain them well, they might never leave you.

Dumbbells offer many physical health benefits such as muscle building, stabilisation, activation, strong bones, improved cardio health, endurance, strength improvement, posture improvement, better muscles and joints coordination, boosts metabolism rate, etc.

The dumbbell weight you choose depends on various factors such as your body weight and type, fitness goal, kind of exercise, and whether you’ve used dumbbells before. We recommend the following:

• Select lightweight dumbbells if you are a beginner. Women should start with 2.25 kg - 5 kg weights, and men should start with 5 kg - 10 kg weights. If you aim to build muscle, get dumbbells that you can comfortably do four sets of 6-15 reps with.

• If you are not certain about the weight, get adjustable dumbbells to test your strength and do different exercises with different weights.

Both dumbbells and barbells have their benefits. For example, dumbbells isolate your muscles more as compared to barbells, while barbells let you lift heavier loads. Moreover, progressive overloading is possible with barbells and not dumbbells. So, do not replace one workout entirely with the other, instead, incorporate both barbells and dumbbells into your training and get the best of both worlds. However, there are some areas where dumbbells are better than barbells, and they are as follows:

• They activate your muscles more.

• They provide a better range of motion.

• They are great at minimising strength imbalances between the limbs.

• They are safer to use than barbells.

Adjustable dumbbells have two types- standard and sectorized.
Standard adjustable dumbbells allow you to add or remove plates from the dumbbells to change the weight. Whereas sectorized adjustable dumbbells, being an advanced version, comes with unique locking mechanisms due to which you can easily add or remove the weight plates, even when they’re sitting on the rack. Also, you can stack a much heavier weight on them, which is not possible in the case of the standard adjustable dumbbells.

Do the following exercises to target your chest, triceps, shoulders, biceps, back, legs, and abs:

• For chest, do bench press (flat, incline, decline), fly (lying and incline), straight-arm and bent-arm pullover.

• Triceps extension (single arm and two arms), kickback, lying triceps extension, triceps bench press are good for triceps.

• The shoulder should be targeted with shoulder press, lateral raise, front row, upright row, deltoid raise, and shrugs.

• For biceps, do a biceps curl, hammer curl, concentration curl, and preacher curl.

• One arm row, bent over row, deadlift, back fly, wide row are good to target back.

• Do squats, lunges, side lunge, goblet squat, and toe raise for legs.

• Do weighted crunch, dumbbell side bend, and weighted leg raise for abs.

You must buy a dumbbell rack if you have multiple dumbbells of different sizes.

There is no point getting a rack for a pair or two of dumbbells. And in case you have many, it is wise to get a rack for proper storage of them. A rack will ensure that your gym equipment is not just lying around and tripping you up when you accidentally walk over them.

Dumbbells can be used to target several muscles in both the upper and lower body.

• Lifting exercises should be done to target biceps, triceps, and shoulders.

• Pressing exercises are suitable for pecs and shoulders.

• Do rowing exercises for the back.

• Squats and lunges are great to target glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves.

1. Stand on your feet at least shoulder-width apart. Hold dumbbells with an overhand grip in a manner that palms are facing your body.

2. Next, hinge your body forward by slightly bending your hips.

3. Lower the dumbbells to the ground without curving your back.

4. Brace your core and lift the dumbbells back to the original position.

• Don’t forget to warm up before you lift those weighty little friends. Cold muscles simply mean more chances of injuries. 

• Always complete a single set. Choose that weight that makes your muscles tired once you have done 12-15 repetitions. After all, doing just one set of that may give you similar muscle-building benefits to doing three sets total.

• Using the correct weight is essential. If you think that you can keep going after 12-15 repetitions of one exercise, your weight is too light. The aim is that it should be hard for you to be able to finish the last repetition.

• Remember to rest. Rest is as essential as working out. Always listen to your body, so if you’re feeling sore, take a break. Give each muscle group at least one full day to rest in between workouts.

• Increase the ventilation in the room where you keep the rubber dumbbells and weight plates. To increase the ventilation, you can open the windows, use fans to blow more air around, etc. 

• Another thing that you can do to eliminate the smell is to keep the rubber weight plates and dumbbells under direct sunlight. However, don’t do this for more than an hour as that can damage the rubber.

• You can always use soapy water to get rid of the foul rubber smell.

You can practice several things to enhance the life of rubber dumbbells other than cleaning them regularly, such as using the right products to clean them, and much more!

• Keep the dumbbells out of direct sunlight because the sun's frequent exposure to ultraviolet rays damages the rubber, making it weaker and brittle. 

• Do not use harsh cleaning products, especially ones with bleach or acids because that can seriously damage the rubber dumbbells.

• Whether or not your rubber dumbbells are heavy, durable, be very gentle with them. Never clank them together or throw them on the floor as that can damage the rubber. 

• Do not store rubber gym equipment with sharp objects like scissors, tools, etc. to keep the rubber surface pristine.

• Keep rubber gym equipment away from the water even though your rubber dumbbells are weather resistant and can handle some moisture. If they remain in contact with water for a long time, it can lead to mildew, odour, and many other problems. And if the dumbbells have any metal in them, it could lead to rusting.

As discussed, dumbbells can be made of different materials, and the cleaning process for various material is different. We will discuss cleaning tips for all the possible materials here.

• Iron Dumbbells

Iron dumbbells are often painted with high-quality enamel paint or powder coating. This enamel wears over time, and oxidation occurs after that. To clean the iron dumbbells do the following:

1. Put a few drops of dish or any mild soap in 3.5 litres of water.

2. Use a damp cloth from the mixture to wipe clean.

3. Use another cloth to dry to prevent rusting.

• Steel Dumbbells

The method for cleaning solid steel weights and dumbbells is the same as iron gym equipment because the aim is just the same- to prevent them from rusting. Also, if you keep steel weights and dumbbells outdoors, keep them covered to avoid moisture buildup and rust.

• Chrome Dumbbells

Weights and dumbbells are plated with chrome to get the shiny metal finish. To enjoy this sheen for long, you must occasionally wipe them with a high-quality moisture inhibitor or protectant like WD-40:

1. Apply a thin layer of protectant (WD-40) to dumbbells.

2. Wipe the gym equipment down.

3. Wipe them again using a soft and dry cloth.

• Rubber Dumbbells

Rubber dumbbells are either entirely made of rubber or just their ends are coated with rubber and handles are made of steel or chrome. In either case, you can do the following to clean them:

1. Mix a few drops of dish soap in 3.5 litres of water.

2. Use a damp cloth from the mixture to wipe clean.

3. Use a soft dry cloth to wipe them again.

• Urethane Dumbbells

Urethane is a stronger synthetic compound than rubber, and urethane dumbbells are generally made of steel but covered with urethane. And some of them can have just the ends coated in urethane with steel handles. Urethane weights and dumbbells are specially for those who believe in little maintenance because urethane demands very little care. All you need to do is periodic dusting or cleaning. Following are the cleaning directions:

1. Use a clean, damp cloth only.

2. Wipe equipment down.

3. Optional drying.

• The dumbbells have neoprene coating, which makes them anti-slippery.

• It comes in a pair.

• The sets are excellent for strength and resistance training.

• The weight is printed on each end cap.

• The colour-coded feature ensures quick identification.

• It has a hexagonal shape which prevents dumbbells from rolling away.

• The pair is ideal for fitness classes and at-home workout.

• The product has got a one-year warranty.

• This is a pair of selectorized adjustable dumbbells.

• Due to being adjustable, you can say bye to different weight dumbbells and save your space.

• You can adjust 2.27 to 23.82 kg, and adjustment in 1.2 kilograms increments up to the first 11.32 kg is allowed.

• It is made of metal, and there is durable moulding around the metal plates which ensures smooth lift-off and quieter workouts.

• You can use it for a wide weight range. From heavy exercises such as shrugs and lunges to lighter exercises such as curls and raises, you can do it all.

• Simply select the desired weight with a turn of a dial, and you are good to go.

• These hand-held weights have a vinyl coating, so there is no need to worry about damaging the floor now.

• The hexagonal shape stops the dumbbell from rolling away.

• From cardio to basic weight training, you can do it all with these dumbbells.

• They come in colour-coded vibrant shades to indicate their weights.

• The set is available in several weights, from 0.9 kg to 9 kg.

• The rubber-coated hex dumbbells come in a set of two.

• The heavy-duty rubber heads minimise noise and limit wear and tear.

• They are non-slippery and gives you a firm grip even when the hands are sweaty.

• It is uniquely designed to suit the exercise regime as well as bring efficiency while using them.

• The hex shape ensures that they do not roll even on an uneven floor.

• The chrome-plated handle is ergonomically designed for a comfortable feel in any grip style. 

• This is the only dumbbell on our list which doesn’t come in a pair.

• It comes with a one-year warranty.

• The dumbbell is made of solid, high-quality cast iron.

• It is ideal for resistance training.

• This has a hexagon shape which prevents it from rolling on the floor.

• The dumbbell is suitable for fitness classes or a wide range of at-home workout routines.

• It is a cast-iron core technologically built rubber-coated dumbbell.

• The dumbbell has a hexagon shape which doesn’t let it roll on the floor.

• It is an ideal home gym equipment.

• Premium natural soft rubber has been used on the ends to protect and minimise any damage to the floor.

• The dumbbell is made of solid steel and has a chrome finish.

• This is the only dumbbell set on our list that has a fixed weight of 10 kg.

• The dumbbell comes in a pair.

• It is perfect for both commercial and home gym.

• Due to its 10 kg weight, it is suggested for beginner men only.

• It is ideal for all types of workouts. Checkout reviews and comparison of best home gym sets, best resistance band, best gym bag, best treadmills, best yoga mats, best fitness bands in India.