Where to buy dumbells. And what to buy.

I’m thinking of buying a few dumbells as an alternative to using the multigym at my local centre. Any recommendations on where to get them? I don’t have any local shops and I don’t know if you can buy such stuff online – my postie will never speak to me again!  Is it worth shelling out for anything other than the cheapest, given that it’s only me, and I won’t be using them night and day?

I’d assume the postie wouldn’t bring them on his bike 😀

Maybe have a look locally at facebook market place, there’s usually a metaphorical tonne of weights on there. I got my Kettlebells off MP but there’s always bars and weights up for grabs.

I got a couple from Decathlon, but I’m no connoisseur.

I’ve always found it surprising how expensive such things are!

Argos and Decathlon both have reasonable quality weights if you want to collect.

Lots of places you can buy on-line too such as https://www.fitshop.co.uk/dumbbells

Most will use a courier rather than Royal Mail so don’t worry about crippling your postie.

Personally I find kettlebells more versatile for home workouts and there are some great workouts available on youtube from the likes of Caroline Girvan.

I get teased at work for buying one. So buy a pair. Argos use to do them over the counter as did JF sports

I prefer the gym as it’s just down the road but if I were buying a pair, I’d get adjustable ones such as these:

https://amzn.eu/d/ahqvSVa

Bit spendy.

If you go to Argos, get the cast iron kettle bells, the vinyl ones are twice the size.

I have some from powerhouse fitness. I like a dumbbell with plates , my wife wishes we bought solid set weight dumbells.

If you buy from powerhouse fitness, it’s worth giving them a call as they knocked some off over the phone and it was cheaper than buying online…. This may have changed now

Loads on Facebook. I was going to buy from there .. I got given some in the end- maybe ask around friends and relatives first 😊

Selectable dumbbells are much better than plates, IMO. I’ve got a set of bodymax ones. Yes spendy, but you only buy them once.

I’d say it depends partly on your floors/where you’ll be using them.

Ours came from Decathlon and went for Hexagonal/rubber coated – don’t roll off into things, a lot more gentle on your floor if you put them down a bit hard, since they don’t roll you can use them for some extra exercises.

Someone on here recommend https://wolverson-fitness.co.uk  and their dumbbells seem a chunk cheaper than decathlon (and you don’t have to spend that much for free delivery).  My “black series” cast iron kettle bells came from there are nicest I’ve used.

Again on advice from here we’ve got a mix of dumbbells and kettle bells in alternate weights – eg 5 and 10kg dumbbells and 8 + 13 kettlebells gives more variety in exercise and weight choice.

Second hand would be my shout. Loads of stuff going unused.

I’ve recently bought a “load” of Metis hexagonal dumbells. https://www.networldsports.co.uk/gym-equipment/gym-weights/dumbbells/metis-hex-dumbbell-weights.html

They seem well made and were delivered quickly. I chose hexagonal ones as I thought they would be less faff than changing plates all the time. Safer too. And kinder to the carpet.

Only downside is that they smell when new! Think it’s probably the release oil from when they are moulded. Soon clears though.

I apologised profusely to the delivery guy 🙂

Thanks for all the comments.  I looked on Facebook marketplace but no suitable ones near me. Any ideas where else to look for local stuff ?

I bought these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/404053209972

20% off with the eBay code.

Middle of AdiLidl?

Ours came from https://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/

Bought a full set slowly over a few years…

Kettlebell and Dumbbell storage by Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

The hex shaped are much better than dumbbell with plates. You’ll find the collars keep undoing and also the hex shape is good for ground work, like renegades+devil press. Obviously you can’t adjust them, so will be more expensive to buy multiple sets of you need to. A lot apart to be same generic model/mould, so just get the cheapest you can find. Got mine from sports direct school outlet(can’t remember the name)

Where are you DrJ?

I have a set of the 32KG (each) , 2kg increment adjustable Brain Gain ones that are really good yet barely used.

Joined the gym instead, which is a bit dumb after spending £400 on dumbbells, but I’m sure we can arrange something if it’s convenient, and what you are looking for. I’m in the midlands.

You’ll find dumbells that need weights screwed on really annoying really quickly.

When I did my home gym I bought a decent quality flat / incline / decline bench and Bodymax Selectabells from Power House fitness. You can often get 0% interest deals.

These look like the new version of what I have – had mine since 2014 I think. they’re so worth the money – nice compact setup yet weights from 5kg to 32.5kg in 2.5kg jumps.

https://www.fitshop.co.uk/bodymax-36kg-selectabell-adjustable-dumbbell-wtfd2140

Bought from Decathlon online as they looked cheap, didn’t notice they were individual instead of pairs. 🙁 So took that one back – found a place that did Metis rubber hex ones in pairs, can’t remember or find them now, sadly. But there ARE cheaper online shops than Decathlon, which isn’t something you can say often.

Where are you DrJ?

NE65, so not feasible, but thanks anyway !!

What kind of workouts are you wanting to do? If aerobic circuits type stuff then there is an argument for spending a lot on loads of non- adjustable dumbbells. Likewise kettlebells if you want to do all that compound movement stuff. But if you’re supplementing bike riding with a bit of strength stuff, resting a minute between sets, and not sure home workouts are the way to go, then https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/20-kg-weight-training-dumbbell-kit/_/R-p-7449?mc=8018574&c=black £45 for 20kg seems a sensible start and I’d buy an additional four 5kg plates. Which I got for one of my sons, courier delivery (to his previous address initially but hey…) for total of £100 plus a mat and a couple of bands.

That’s all you need really if you want to add to bodyweight exercises.

I bought some of these adjustable ones. They’re ok. They can be a bit awkward because the larger plates are quite large. I guess they’re (relatively) cheap for a reason.

The selector mechanism was a bit stiff at first but loosened off eventually.

As a space saver they’re great but not as good as either fixed or loose plates. Much, much less faff though.

But if you’re supplementing bike riding with a bit of strength stuff, resting a minute between sets, and not sure home workouts are the way to go

I think that pretty much describes me, so it’s a sensible solution for not much money. A nice setup like @footflaps would be less faff, but I can’t justify the expense or the space !!