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Buying an Adjustable Dumbbell Set - What to Look for
Buying an Adjustable Dumbbell Set - What to Look for
Dumbbells are an excellent piece of equipment to buy for a home gym of any size. As you can probably tell from our large video library of exercise videos, we are big fans of bodyweight exercises. You really don't need a gym in order to get fit, but there are a few very simple and inexpensive tools that infinitely increase the number of exercises you can do and the muscle groups that you can hit.
Dumbbells are definitely one of those essential pieces of equipment. In fact, if you were only going to buy one or two things, dumbbells would be one of 2 (including an exercise mat and maybe a physioball) near necessities that I would recommend purchasing.
One popular option available for this particular fundamental fitness device is the adjustable dumbbell variety. When you buy an adjustable dumbbell set you significantly reduce the amount of necessary storage. This can be especially helpful if you don't have an entire room dedicated to your home gym; these can usually be tucked away or stored in a closet without taking up too much extra space. This version also typically ends up costing you less than buying a full set of individual, fixed weights.
With all the different purchasing options out there, you want to make sure that you get the highest quality adjustable kettlebells that with withstand many years of use. Here are what features to look for in terms of quality, durability, and function when you're shopping around for this product.
Look for an adjustable dumbbell set that has plates that are easy to switch out
Because you won't be able to just grab a weight and jump into an exercise, you want to make sure that the set that you choose is one that allows you to switch plate weights out quickly and without a lot of fuss. You don't want to cut into your workout time or let your heart rate slow and muscles get cold in between sets while you change the mass that you're lifting. Research to ensure that the plates are held on in a method that is durable and not going to wear down after six months of use.
Read the reviews of the particular adjustable dumbbells that you are looking at buying
Look for all of the features you would normally look for in a handweight; durability, a comfortable grip, your desired thickness of the handles, and an enduring, non offensive coating. Make sure that the size and length of the overall apparatus is going to work for the exercises that you most commonly make a part of your routine. It doesn't matter if you save money on this purchase if you don't end up actually utilizing them because they aren't user-friendly!
Buy a set that encompasses the both minimums and maximums that you need for your specific workouts
Make sure that the adjustable dumbbell set you buy covers both the lightest and heaviest weights that you need for your exercise program. It doesn't hurt to even think ahead a bit in terms of strength gains; it would be very disappointing to buy the weights and then quickly outgrow them.
Also pay attention to the increments of the weights. Consider whether you will need half pound increments or not. Contemplate before making any purchase what you will be using them for; heavy lifting, strength gains, light toning, etc. This will help you decipher which end of the lb spectrum you need to be on in terms of the ranges of heaviness.
Make sure that the set has plates that wont slide
If an adjustable dumbbell doesn't have a proper securing mechanism, the plates might end up being lose on either side and this would cause a “clanking” that could end up both pinching you (rare) or being just plain annoying. Make sure that there is a securing agent that holds the weights securely in place, and then that there is also a bumper of some kind or another that goes in between the plates and the fastener to allow for very little wiggle room.
Choose a set that stores away efficiently
This is one of the least important factors to consider while you're shopping around but considering that the saving of space is one of the perks of this type of weight, it's worth considering. Make sure that the adjustable dumbbells come in a case that allows you to quickly and ergonomically store away your mini home gym.
Why the Rowing Machine Deserves Your Attention
Whether you're getting to know the lay of the land in your local gym, or you're considering a new fitness machine for your home, it's time you got to know the indoor rower, also known as the ergometer or rowing machine. While it may look intimidating at first, it's actually more beginner-friendly than you might think—and it provides one hell of a workout. All the deets, here.
What Is the Rowing Machine?
The ergometer is essentially mimicking the rowing of a shell (aka boat), like those you see in the Olympics, according to Evan Tyrrell, owner of F45 Training in La Jolla, CA.
"The rowing machine is like the Swiss Army knife of the gym," says professional rower Michelle Sosa, a Hydrow athlete. "Its multiple purposes include low-impact workouts, high-intensity sprint intervals, low-intensity endurance development, full-body strength training, core training, heart health, and posture control." Swiss Army knife is right—the rower seemingly does it all.
How Do You Use a Rowing Machine?
The motion you use in a rowing exercise is not always intuitive, but it's actually pretty simple once you dial it in. Here's a handy way to remember how to row: legs, core, arms (on the way out) and arms, core, legs (on the way in). Meaning, when you start from the bottom of a stroke (in the catch position), you should extend your legs, hinge your core, then use your arms to row the handle toward your chest. Then you reverse it to go back to the beginning: Extend your arms, let your core hinge forward, then bend your legs. (You can repeat it in your head as a sort of mantra while you're rowing: Legs, core, arms, arms, core, legs.) A lot of the power actually comes from the legs, but you need to keep your core tight while you push back and eventually pull the handles with your hands/arms.
Sosa notes that the biggest misconception about rowing is that it's an upper-body-only exercise. "The bulk of your rowing stroke is accomplished by the legs and core," says Sosa. (See: Rowing Machine Mistakes You're Probably Making)
"Rowing is about 60-percent legs, 30-percent core, and 10-percent arms," says Joseph Illustrisimo, creator of Let's Dryft in San Francisco (a workout that's half on the rower, half strength training—think Barry's with rowers instead of treadmills). "Most of rowing will be working out your hamstrings and booty, but only if you are hinging properly. It should feel like a deadlift. There's also a large amount of core activation. Your core should be engaged the whole time, so you should learn how to dynamically engage those abs and you should feel a burn throughout."
You can ask a trainer at your gym to show you, or opt for an at-home program with instructional videos. Hyrdow is like the Peloton of rowing machines, so if you're in the market for a home gym addition, this would be a useful way to get some live instruction on how to use a rower. "The instruction piece is critical for beginners to ensure you're maximizing your efforts and doing it safely and correctly," says Sosa.
If you want to try a class that incorporates rowing, you ca try CityRow in New York City, Let's Dryft in San Francisco, F45 Training in multiple locations, and Orangetheory Fitness (in certain locations). These all offer workouts that incorporate the rowing machine into their classes. This would give you more IRL intel on how to properly use the rowing machine and how to vary your workouts to keep things interesting.
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