Adjustable dumbbells and a weight bench can replace an entire living room full of gym equipment, and make working out at home both effective and easy.  Anyone who has done lunges or squats will tell you that dumbbells can really make your exercise routine effective.  If you lack a lot of space and want a solid workout than this is one tool you won’t want to live without.

The first thing you will want to consider when choosing the right adjustable dumbbell set is how much weight you want and or need.

These sets come in many different weight groups.  Most of them go up to at least 24 lbs.  Here is a customer top rated example (from Amazon) of a 3 to 24 pound set by Powerblock.

[phpzon]PowerBlock SportBlock 24, 1[/phpzon]

These smaller sets are perfect for men and women who are average exercisers and are looking to gain muscle and definition, but not a lot of mass.  Between using one of these sets and a sensible diet menu, getting in shape will be no problem.

If you are a body builder you will want to go with a larger set, so that you have more weight to work with.

Of the heavier adjustable dumbbells people really like the ones by Bowflex (52.5 pounds) and the sets by Ironmaster (75 lbs) which comes with its own stand.

[phpzon]Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells, 1[/phpzon]
[phpzon]Ironmaster 75 lb Quick Lock Adjustable Dumbbell System, 1[/phpzon]

Both of these adjustable dumbbell sets are also rated on Amazon at 4 and 1/2 stars by users.  Since they are one of the more expensive pieces of home gym equipment you will buy, it is important to get ones that work the way they are advertised.

What other things should you consider?

Look at the grip of the adjustable dumbbell set that you are considering. Some people prefer a straight grip while others like a more ergonomic curved grip.  There is no right or wrong here,  just personal preference.

Check out the mechanics of the adjusting mechanism. As long as you go with a top rated set like those above, you should be fine.   But each brand has a slightly different mechanism for weight changes, so you need to take that into consideration.

What shape do you want your adjustable dumbbells to be?

Powerblock dumbells are a big rectangle and you grip them on the inside of the weight (check out the above pictures).   Bowflex dumbbells are shaped like traditional dumbbells.  Both of these shapes perform equally well, but what you get depends on what you like.

Adjustable dumbbells are a great addition to any home gym, because they add a lot of versatility to your workout routine.    When you combine them with a weight bench, you will find that you can do just about any exercise that you can in a big gym.