Weider has a history of making decent fitness equipment for an affordable price. These adjustable dumbbells aren’t decent, they’re awesome! The Weider Powerswitch 100 lb. weight set has outperformed my expectations by far, and I hope to be able to use these as often as I have been for years to come. These are dumbbells adjustable in 5 pound increments starting from 10 pounds and go up to 50 pounds.

Weider Adjustable Dumbbells Review:

My first fear of the weider powerswitch 100 dumbbells after I bought them was of the integrity of the weight-switching mechanism failing. The switching mechanism of the adjustable weight dumbbell has a tendency to fail or be sticky with some sets. But with the Weider set it’s been as smooth and easy to use as it was on day 1. I have recently read some reviews of these same dumbbells saying the mechanism can get a little stiff, but that some all purpose lubricant like WD40 makes them like new again. I have not had to use any WD40 on my set.

I love the grips of these dumbbells. The part-metal-part-rubber grip fits very comfortably in my hand and facilitates the exercises that I do. Often when I’m away from home and use other dumbbells I immediately notice the difference in comfort when holding some traditional dumbbells. Most that I have used have a smaller diameter grip, which, when compared to the Powerswitch’s grip, is much less comfortable for me.

The other thing I love about the Weider Powerswitch adjustable dumbbells is that they come with a nice, heavy, sturdy stand. Not all sets come with a stand included in the price. The stands makes picking up and setting down the dumbbells very easy. The only thing about the stand I don’t like is sometimes when I have the dumbbells loaded all the way to 50 pounds the weights seem a little too snug coming out of the stand unless you lifted them out at a certain angle. After some time using them I got used to this and it’s no longer an annoyance.

Weider Dumbbell Bottom line:

After a year of use and abuse these weider adjustable dumbbells are still in awesome shape- really as good as new. I’m very pleased with them, would buy them again, and recommend them to anyone building a home gym who is limited in the space they have for equipment.

I’ll cut to the chase- the cheap dumbbell we recommend for the home gym is an adjustable dumbbell. Why? Price and space. Most rooms you set apart for a “home gym” won’t fit an entire rack of hex dumbbells comfortably. But replace that entire 4-5 foot long rack with one set of dumbbells and you free up a lot of room for you to exercise in. An adjustable dumbbell set is small enough to fit nicely in the corner of room without getting in the way at all. You don’t get that with 9 pairs of hex dumbbells on a rack. That takes up almost an entire wall.

Why are adjustable dumbbells cheap? You’re paying for less material and less shipping. With a hex set of 5-50 lb. you get 540 pounds of weight in the box. With an adjustable set from 5-50 pounds you get 100 pounds of weight in the box. Even though you get a fifth of the net weight, you don’t pay a fifth of the price. That would be sweet. But adjustable dumbbells have built in mechanics that allow you to switch between weights, which of course you pay for. Some sets are more expensive, some are less, but overall, you’ll pay around $0.60 per pound. Even the cheap dumbbell sets that are hex-style don’t come close to that price.

Here are three cheap dumbbells that are adjustable and great for a home gym.

Powerblock Adjustable Dumbbells: These are the best out there. They are the most durable, smallest, and have the best warranty of all adjustable dumbbells. Many exercises, like tricep, bicep, and shoulder exercises, can be cumbersome because of the size of some adjustable dumbbells, but are easy to do with the Powerblocks. And you won’t waste any time during your workout adjusting between different weights because of how easy their switch mechanism is. Also, you pay about 55 cents per pounds with the 5-50 lb. set.

Weider Powerswitch Adjustable Dumbbells: These are awesome too, and a little cheaper than the Powerblock. The switch mechanism takes a little getting used to, but after some workouts you’ll get the hang of it quickly. I own these and love them. They come with a stand and cost $299. You can’t beat that price.

Lifecore Adjustable Dumbbells: These are very comparable to the Weider Dumbbells. Though they aren’t as inexpensive, they do come with a stand, and go up to 55 lbs. instead of just 50. That added weight is really nice, especially for back and leg workouts.

So before spending $700-$900 on some “cheap dumbbells” take a look at what adjustable dumbbell sets have to offer you and your home gym. You’ll save money, save some space, and get an equally great work out.

Here are the pros to the Lifecore Fitness Dumbbells:

1. Grip- These are extremely comfortable to hold. They use a neoprene grip which in my opinion is more comfortable than metal when your using the dumbbells for a longer period of time.
2. Stand- The stand is open, allowing you to sort of step in between the dumbbells to lift them, rather than standing in front of them, which requires you to bend your back a little too much for some people. This stand is sturdy, and it comes with the system.
3. The Lifecore dumbbell comes with a 5-year warranty
4. Adjustable in 2.5-pound increments- this gives you some diversity that a lot of adjustable dumbbell systems don’t.

Why they don’t match up to the Powerblock or Weider:

1. Price- They aren’t the cheapest. If you buy the set with the stand it will run you around $450. You can buy Lifecore dumbbells at amazon.com. For some reason they don’t sell them on the Lifecore website.
2. Weight Switching Mechanism- Compared to the Powerblock and Weider is isn’t as smooth. To switch weights you push a slide bar up or down. It can get caught up a little easier than ideal.
3. Size- This was the biggest draw back for me. They are a lot bigger when fully loaded than most adjustable dumbbells out there. They can interfere with full range of motion with some exercises.

Overall this adjustable dumbbell set would make a great addition to a home gym. They are much cheaper than traditional hex bells, are very durable and versatile, and though they’re not our #1 set, Lifecore dumbbells are a level above most other adjustable dumbbell sets out there.

The Weider Tech Powerswitch dumbbells and stand are very sturdy and easy to use. Assembly is simple- you just put a few screws in to assemble the stand and the weights come ready to go. The grip is really nice- is mostly metal but has a small oval section of rubber that your palm contacts which I think makes holding them very comfortable. Switching between weights is a piece of cake. The only system that I’ve found that is easier to switch is the Powerblock adjustable dumbbell set. To switch weights you pull up on a spring-loaded bar and slide that bar to the desired weight. The mechanics are smooth and there really is no way for the weights to fall out after the pin has been adjusted. Some reviews have said that the switching mechanism catches. I have only experienced that when I’m in hurry and don’t try to be smooth with the transition. Size wise the Weider Powerswitch 100 set is about as big as a hex 45 pound dumbbell, and I’ve only noticed a limitation in range in motion when doing crouched curls. They suit every other dumbbell exercise that I’ve done. 100 pounds is the heaviest they go, which limits some back and leg exercises, but that’s not a big deal for the types of workouts most people do at home, especially with adjustable dumbbells. Overall Weider has put out a great product for a home gym for a reasonable price, and I would definitely recommend to buy Weider Powerswitch dumbbells as an addition to your home gym, and would recommend them over other brands such as the Bowflex SelecTech Dumbbells, and the Lifecore Dumbbells. The only adjustable dumbbell set that I might recommend over the Weider Powerswitch is the Powerblock set.

For the Powerblock U-90 Stage I set, which goes from 2.5 to 50 pounds, adjustable in 2.5 pound increments, you pay $379 plus $59 shipping- a total of $438. That’s 825 pounds of weight replacing 16 pairs of dumbbells. You pay $0.53/lb. The Powerblock Sport 5.0 set goes from 5-50 lbs, adjustable in 5 lb. increments and is $299. So price wise these still kill the traditional hex dumbbell set. There stands cost $100, but aren’t required. So total you’d be starting out at $300 to $500. A superior aspect of the Powerblock design is the lack of moveable parts in the system. You’re not turning a knob or lifting a spring loaded bar to adjust the weights. This adds to their durability and ease of use. Switching between different weights is a piece of cake with these; you simply pull out a silicone flex pin that divides the weights, slip it back in to a different position, and you’re off lifting again.

Also, you can purchase additional weight packages and add them to your set, increasing each bell to 125lbs if you want! No other dumbbell out there does this. Adding this weight will allow you to work with lower rep sets, which will allow stronger people to actually rip their muscles and add bulk. 50 pounds usually isn’t enough weight for more well-seasoned athletes while doing back, leg, and shoulder exercises. The Powerblock adjustable dumbbell is also more compact than the traditional hex dumbbell (see picture below of different 30 lb. weights) and they come with a lifetime warranty. Again, they come with a LIFETIME WARRANTY. So the Powerblock dumbbell set optimizes your dollar, your space, ease of use, and will last you a very long time. Definitely check these out.