READ NEXT: The best home gym equipment The best adjustable dumbbells you can buy in 2023 1. Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbell: Best overall adjustable dumbbell Each type has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s about deciding which best fits your needs. Let’s help you choose. Digital The Nüobell is the best blend of reliability and authentic dumbbell feel I’ve used," says Samuel, who has been using these for over three years. "The shape and design of these bells makes them ideal for accessory motions, like skullcrushers and biceps curls, and they’re easy to hold for goblet squats too." Aside, from a few scratches, they've held up great to heavy use.

Our health experts put each one through an 11-move bodybuilding workout, working all major muscle groups using a combination of unilateral and bilateral movements, to see which ‘bells felt as sturdy and secure as a fixed weight dumbbell. They also tested how smoothly they could switch weights, before settling on their seven favourites. The appeal is in their simplicity and cheap price point. However, there is a reason they are cheap and here’s why: Overall, they’re a really durable piece of equipment that we use weekly in our strength routines. "I've dropped these from three or four feet up after tough sets of presses, and they hold up just fine," Samuel recounts. (Although we don't recommend making a habit out of dropping any adjustable dumbbells on the regular.)On the other hand, if functional training is more your bag, fixed weight dumbbells will be the one for you.

The weight of adjustable dumbbells boils down to your fitness level and goals. Typically, they come in two main categories: those that max out at around 50 pounds per dumbbell and those that start at 50 pounds and get way heavier. The 18-piece set comes with two bars, four collars and a selection of smaller weight plates. We particularly liked the inclusion of 0.5kg plates (a unique feature for these ‘bells) as they allowed us to gradually increase the weight when progressing on lighter lifts like the lateral raise or rear delt fly. The maximum weight — 10kg on each dumbbell when fully loaded — is on the lighter side, so the Opti’s aren’t suitable for anyone wanting to lift heavy. But if you’re just looking to do a bit of loaded strength training to supplement your regular running schedule, these reliable weights are more than up to the task. This out-of-the-box design provided the sturdiest experience of any adjustable dumbbell we tried, making these great for functional movements like snatches and devil’s press (add these into a full-body workout at your peril). The removable rubber rings that fit around the attached plates are also a clever feature for protecting your floors.

Our roundup of the best all-in-one adjustable dumbbells to help you save space and money

Above all else, the weight spread is impressive, and should prove more than enough for even advanced lifters to perform a variety of exercises at home. Price: Price is important for just about every home gym builder. For many people, this might be the deciding factor. Because a single pair of adjustable dumbbells replace as many as 17 dumbbells, it's important to put this investment in perspective. You want to opt for something that can grow with you in terms of durability and weight range, which the cheapest models often can't. Weight range: Look for a weight range that meets your fitness goals. Most adjustable dumbbells can be adjusted in 2.5-pound or 5-pound increments, so it's important to consider a weight minimum and maximum that fits your needs. Though the humble dumbbell is the ultimate home workout tool, adjustable incarnations offer more versatility, thanks to their wide variety of weight options. A lone adjustable weight will let you add progressively heavier loads to your squats, deadlifts, presses, rows and more, all of which (when paired with the right nutrition) build functional muscle. Price Weakness: You have to spin the collars on and off every time you want to change the weight, making this a lengthy process. They also tend to have a lower maximum weight than dial and digital dumbbells. Dial

You won’t be able to load these dumbbells up with a ton of weight – so once you progressively overload and start lifting heavier and heavier weights, these might become inadequate.An ultra-sturdy set of dumbbells built to last, making them perfect for heavy-duty moves like dead stop rows, Romanian deadlifts, and heavy presses. With a length of just 12 inches (including a storage stand) these dumbbells are as compact as they are versatile. These Bowflex adjustable dumbbells have weights that adjust from 10 to 90 pounds in 5-pound increments, which replaces up to 17 pairs of dumbbells (that’s a lot of potential saved time and money). We love that the weight distribution is close to that of traditional dumbbells, and the weight range makes them one of the heavier options on this list. There aren’t too many weight options to choose from (12kg, 17kg, 20kg and 25kg) and the lightest setting is still quite heavy. But, if you’re after something a little bit different, this stylish dumbbell is worth looking into. That said, even light weights offer enough of a challenge to hit most of your fitness goals, if you think creatively. Varying the tempo of your workouts, selecting more mechanically challenging movements (like subbing goblet squats for Bulgarian split squats) or bundling different exercises into circuits and complexes, can make a pair of lightweight dumbbells feel very heavy indeed. IF THERE'S one piece of home gym equipment anyone can make room for at home, it's a pair of adjustable dumbbells. “There’s a reason dumbbells are in every single big-box gym,” says MH fitness director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., who created an arm-focused muscle-building program, All Out Arms, based heavily around dumbbells. “If you want targeted muscle—and that’s what all guys want—then you want dumbbells.”