For better or worse, the pandemic changed the way we exercise. As gyms closed, the majority of us had to find new and creative ways to push, pull and sweat from our own living rooms.
The good news? There have never been better and more convenient options for getting in a great workout at home or on the road. For context, thanks to fitness manufacturers creating more space-saving strength-training options, home gym equipment sales became a $5 billion industry in 2022.
With the right equipment, your home gym can have you training as if you’re at a high-end fitness facility — without the monthly dues. With just one weight, a pair of dumbbells or an alternative piece of training equipment, you can tone your biceps, tighten your glutes and more by way of your own at-home cardio and conditioning workout.
But where to start? There are a lot of options on the market — some inexpensive, others not so much. To help, I break down what you should look for when buying weights and used my background in fitness to come up with the 9 best weight sets that will give you the most value for your home workout.
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What to look for | How we chose | Best dumbbells and weights to shop
What to look for when choosing weights for your home gym
Your health may be the greatest investment you make, so getting a piece of equipment that you may quickly outgrow or tire of is a risky venture.
But you probably won’t have to break the bank at first. However, once you outgrow those models (and for most of us, that won’t take long), investing in a quality set of equipment will keep you engaged longer — and will last a lot longer, as well.
But how do you know what you should be looking for? Start with the following:
- Space: Are you building a home gym in your garage? Or, are you relying on a few things that you pull out then return to your closet at the end of each workout? Although having rack full of dumbbells or kettlebells looks awfully nice, sometimes efficiency works best in a limited space. Know your area before you make a decision on which equipment to purchase.
- Purpose or skill level: What are your goals? Are you looking to continue setting personal records with increasingly heavier weights, or are you using them as a supplementary lift for Peloton sessions in your living room? Both workouts are fine; however, select the equipment you think you’ll get the most use from over the long run.
- Price: Again, it’s not essential to take out a small loan for your gym, but you do get what you pay for. While some sets of dumbbells may go for as much as $800 (and oftentimes more), think of fitness as an overall lifestyle and not an overnight fad. Equipment should be an investment and, for the most part, should last many years.
How we chose the best weights and weight sets
While this list is far from comprehensive, your home gym will get an instant upgrade with the addition of any of these recommendations. With more than a decade’s worth of experience as a fitness writer, I’ve been able to test most items from nearly every top brand, as well as some lesser-known, on-the-rise brands.
At the same time, I’ve been able to pick the brains of some of the industry's finest muscle minds to get their unbiased take on which pieces are worth it — and which are worth skipping. I also suggest checking out customer reviews, another good research tool to give products a second look.
Dumbbells and weights to shop
SPRI Vinyl-Coated Dumbbells
- "Sturdy, attractive and easy to grip."
- Easy to level up workouts with one-pound additions.
- Vinyl on the weights may start to crack.
Type: Vinyl-coated dumbbells | Shape: Hexagonal, about 8 x 7 x 4 inches each | Weight range: 1 to 20 pounds/dumbbell
Kickstart your fitness journey with this affordable choice. The no-slip vinyl cover feels comfortable and sturdy in your hands during your workouts. The best part? The dumbbells are available in every weight increment from one to 20 pounds, making them perfect for every fitness level.
REP Hex Dumbbells
- Brand also features an ergonomic option for those with weak grips.
- "Heavy-duty and durable."
- "Inconsistent quality."
Type: Dumbbells | Shape: Hexagonal, 5.2 inches in length, 28 mm - 34 mm in diameter (each) | Weight range: 2.5 to 100 pounds/dumbbell
If you’re a traditionalist and single fixed-weight dumbbells are your thing, you can build a quality weight room from the ground up with this pick from REP Fitness. You can work your way up from 2.5 pounds all the way to 100 pounds per dumbbell.
The dumbbells' knurled handles allow for a tight, slip-resistant grip, which comes in handy during those final reps. If one drops, REP’s low-odor rubber coating will help dull out the thud when it hits the floor.
Peloton Dumbbells
- Ergonomically designed handle
- Rubber coating protects floors
- "Clink and bounce" together
Type: Handheld dumbbells | Shape: Square | Weight range: 5-30 pounds
Take your talents away from the bike and bring them towards the weight room with this set of dumbbells from Peloton that range from five to 30 pounds.
With ergonomic handles, even weak grips are sure to get the most out of their workout with these weights.
Bala Bars
- "Comfortable, easy to use."
- Only available in 3lb options
Type: Handheld weight | Shape: Cylinder | Weight range: 3 pounds
Known for their wearable ankle and wrist weights, these handheld ones from Bala have the means to intensify any workout, but especially those that include low weight, high repetition movements.
Available in five different colors, these silicone bands are easy to hold, according to reviewers, even when your palms become sweaty.
Calia Dumbbell Kit
- Ideal set for beginners
- Stand is "not as strong."
Type: Handheld Dumbbell | Shape: Traditional dumbbell | Weight range: 3-8 pounds
Carrie Underwood's fitness brand, Calia, aims to create products that integrate easily into your life. This dumbbell set is ideal for beginners, as it includes weights light enough for high-rep workouts, or mid-level weights for a little bit more intensity.
Plus, they sit comfortably on a stand that will fit in any home gym or rec space.
PowerBlock Adustable Kettlebell
- "Comfortable to use."
- "The magnet system makes changing the weights very quick and easy."
- None to note at this time.
Type: Adjustable kettlebell | Shape: Kettlebell, 5.75 x 4.25 x 10 inches (regular), 8 x 5.5 x 11.25 inches (heavy) | Weight range: 18 - 35 pounds (regular), 35 - 62 pounds (heavy)
Kettlebell training is no longer just for CrossFitters or elite athletes!
Each PowerBlock is four kettlebells in one, with easy-to-operate and secure selection pins, which come with a magnetic lock. Its ergonomic design also means a more comfortable swing each and every time, which you’ll notice the moment you begin adding kettlebell swings into your routine. And ranging from 10 inches to just under 12 inches in height, PowerBlocks can be easily stored away. Plus: Both models include a five-year warranty.
Perform Better First Place Neoprene Kettlebells
- Neoprene coating protects floors.
- "Very durable."
- A "bumper" on the bottom suctions it to the floor when left for long periods of time, according to one reviewer.
Type: Rubber-coated kettlebell | Shape: Kettlebell, N/A | Weight range: 2 to 32 kg (4.4 to 70.5 pounds)
If you have room for more than one kettlebell in your home, the First Place comes in 15 different sizes (each color coded), meaning the stronger you become, the more you can build up your bell collection. These ones are color-coded by weight.
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
- "Requires minimal assembly."
- Bring "versatility and convenience" to workouts.
- Getting the right amount of weights on the first try is difficult, according to multiple reviewers.
Type: Adjustable dumbbells | Shape: Round, 16.9 x 8.3 x 9 inches each | Weight range: 5 to 52.5 pounds
Bowflex’s lesser-priced version (compared with similar products on this list) is a more-than-adequate choice to fulfill your fitness needs. In fact, it has an almost-perfect rating average of 4.8 stars from over 20,000 Amazon reviewers.
The 552 model is basically 15 dumbbells in one, and at 17 inches in length, they aren’t too bulky when it comes to storage. Place each dumbbell in its storage tray, make a quick and smooth turn of the weight selection dial, and you're all set for a muscle-pumping workout with this solid bang-for-your-buck set of dumbbells.
Kabuki Strength Kyübell
- "The versatility is astonishing."
- Two-in-one: Reviewers love the kettlebell and dumbbell combination.
- None to note at this time.
Type: Handheld weight | Shape: Three-handle triangular weight, about 6.4 x 8.3 inches each | Weight range: 10 to 50 pounds
Is it a kettlebell or a dumbbell? The Kyubell is a combination of both. Anyone, even home gym enthusiasts, can benefit from the Kyübell’s versatility.
This unique weight's three-handle triangular design allows users to hit different movements with different-type loads without ever having to change weights — something traditional dumbbells cannot achieve. This allows you to group different types of exercises in a lot less time (read: save space and time!).
