The best setup for your home office should not only include a great productivity setup, but also a good way for you to take a break and get some exercise. The best way to be as productive as possible is to take care of your mind and body. Extensive research shows that intense exercise increases energy levels and improves overall cognitive ability. This means that you can get more done in less time and you will also be taking care of your body.
Setting up a home gym can be a great help for increasing your work productivity. The most useful equipment for a home gym is adjustable dumbbells because they can be used to work out every muscle group effectively, and they are the most cost-efficient option for setting you up for a great workout. Adjustable dumbbells allow you to have the weight needed for different exercises at less than a third of the cost of buying individual weights. In this article, I review all of the key functionalities to look for in your home office dumbbell set.
Max weight
Perhaps the most important part of the dumbbells that you choose is the max weight. When lifting weights, the weight that you lift is important because the heavier weight you can do with proper form, the fewer repetitions you have to do to properly workout your muscles for growth and strength. when working out you will want to do reps until failure, and A good rule of thumb is 8-15 reps to reach failure. Training till failure with proper form is the key to getting the most out of your weight lifting routine.
When considering the maximum weight that you will need, you should consider the lifting exercises that you are your strongest at. Typically, this is benching and squatting. Not only will you want to be able to have enough weight to challenge yourself while exercising with those lifts, you will want to also have headroom to add additional weight when you get stronger. Some dumbbells can be upgraded with additional weight.
It is easy to find an adjustable dumbbell set that goes up to at least 35 lb. I would recommend finding an adjustable dumbbell set that goes up to at least 50 lbs. so you have plenty of add room for when you get stronger.
Upgradability
Typical dumbbells do not have the ability to add additional weight to them, but certain dumbbells do. For example, PowerBlock dumbbells have the ability to attach additional weight for when you get stronger and need to add additional weight. These types of dumbbells can go up to very high weights, but get increasingly expensive as more weight is added. The PowerBlock adjustable dumbbell set can go up to 90 lbs.
Weight intervals
The weight intervals that you can use while working out are also really important. For example, being able to adjust the weight by increments of 2.5 lb can make it easy to dial in the perfect weight for your exercises as you get stronger. At the very least, you will want Adjustable dumbbells that can increase in increments of 5 lb, or less.
Cost
The cost of your adjustable dumbbell set is very important. Typically, the more weight you add, the more expensive your adjustable dumbbell side will be. However, there are certain brands that do a spectacular job of providing their product much cheaper than others, for essentially the same level of quality. You should expect to pay about $400 for a reasonably priced set of adjustable dumbbells that go up to about 50 lb.
Dumbbell Stand
Most adjustable dumbbells come with a holder to place your dumbbells in. You can purchase elevated stands to make picking up the dumbbells easier, but you can do just fine without purchasing an additional stand for them. It is pretty easy to find a stand for whatever set of dumbbells you choose to go with from whatever company you chose to purchase from.
Time Required to Adjust Weight.
Adjustable dumbbells have different ways of changing the amount of weight on the dumbbell you are using. Some are quicker than others. Some use a simple and intuitive rotating wheel that labels the amount of weight that is being added, while other weights do not have any labels, and expect you to know how much weight is being added, or have a color-coded system that helps communicate the total amount of weight. Once you are familiar with your adjustable dumbbells, then you will be able to quickly know how much weight you have added. Some dumbbells require you to add and remove whole plates, and then unscrew, install, and screw on the changed weight. I would avoid weights that require unscrewing and screwing back in because they take about five times longer to adjust the weight that you want to work out with.
Durability
Adjustable dumbbells are a great investment and your health, so their durability is very important. Some adjustable dumbbells instruct users to never drop them.. Of course, it is best to avoid dropping your dumbbells, but some dumbbells will break quite easily if you drop them repeatedly.
Additionally, some dumbbells are made with a plastic interior, which will wear out over time and need to be replaced. A plastic interior can also wear down over time and become a safety hazard. That is why I recommend looking for a dumbbell set that has steel internals because they will last far longer than plastic weight adjustment systems and be safer to operate.
Warranty
Adjustable dumbbell manufacturers will have a warranty of at least 90 days. It is common to have a two-year parts warranty, and most manufacturers provide protection plans that you can opt into for additional coverage.
Bar Grip/ Knurling Pattern
The type of knurling or grip pattern your dumbbell has will determine the grip and roughness on your hands. There are three types of knurling. Hill, mountain, and volcano. Volcano knurling is the least jagged and provides the greatest surface area for your hands. Mountain knurling is very sharp and is known to cut your hands. Hill knurling provides the least level of grip and is the gentlest on your hands. Most beginners will find hill knurling as the best to work with due to not being so harsh on hands.
Recommended product
The adjustable dumbbell set that I recommend is the adjustable dumbbell made by NordicTrack. NordicTrack’s dumbbells are an incredible value! Their max weight goes up to 55 lb, the weight can be adjusted in about 2.5 lb intervals, They are about $70 cheaper than its competitor, the Bowflex 552s, and go to a higher max weight than the Bowflex set. The NordicTrack adjustable dumbbells come with a good case where the weights are adjusted in. They cannot have additional weight added beyond 55 lbs, however. They are incredibly quick to change weights and have a metal interior to keep you safe and last a long time. They also have knurling that has a great grip that doesn’t tear up your hands. I have been using these dumbbells for a long time now and recommend them to everyone who is looking for an adjustable dumbbell set.
