16 Best Adjustable Dumbbells to Buy UK 2023: Bowflex, JaxJox & More Tested

Unless you own an at-home training facility to rival that of Dwayne Johnson or your favourite pro sports team, buying racks of single-weight dumbbells would be both mega spenny and take up loads of space. But, thanks to our best adjustable dumbbells, it’s possible to carve out a part-time iron paradise without giving up your garage. Let’s level that home workout right up, shall we?

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Are Adjustable Dumbbells A Good Idea?

Ergonomic and compact, adjustable dumbbells offer up to 24 different weight options in one, replacing a decadent dumbbell rack with a single, space-saving piece of kit. That leaves more room for full-body dumbbell exercises (think thrusters, lunges and deadlifts) and other fitness gear (that’s your barbell, skipping ropes, kettlebells and squat rack).

Sure, the price of some sets might raise a few eyebrows at first glance, but these ‘bells are cost effective. Hear us out. The cost of a gym membership is rising and will soon surpass the singular fee of an adjustable dumbbell. Plus, with fixed free weights, you’d have to splash out every time you made decent progress and needed to challenge yourself with something heavier. No such pain with adjustables; you simply push a button/twist a dial/slap a couple more plates on and feel the burn.

Below, our expert testers at the MH Lab and own experienced editors have compiled a list of their best adjustable dumbbells for building muscle, strength, endurance and power from the relative comfort (if you’ll allow us to call it that) of your living room. Don’t say we don’t spoil you.

How Do Adjustable Dumbbells Work?

Though there are some obvious exceptions (namely, these and pairs), most adjustable dumbbells fit into one of three categories; digital, dial and spinlock.

Digital

The latest evolution of the humble dumbbell, these innovative bits of kit allow you to change the resistance of your weights with minimal effort (just what you want between energy-sapping sets).

They come with clever holding docks that have a small screen, and buttons on the side. When the dumbbell is racked, you can use the buttons to select your chosen weight (displayed on the screen). Then, the relevant plates will attach to the bar while any unused plates remain in the rack.

The docks have to be plugged in to work, and the dumbbells tend to max out at about 20kg, but those are the only real downsides.

Dial

Looking like the lovechild of a free weight, a high-security safe and a Transformer, these nifty training aids can help you look your (Optimus) prime — sorry.

They have the customary dumbbell design — plates attached to a central handle — but each end is capped with a rotating dial that can be used to select how much weight you want on the bar. You’ll need to re-rack it into its holding dock before changing the resistance. Then, similarly to digital dumbbells, any excess weight plates will be left behind while the necessary load will remain attached to the bar.

Some will have a dial on each end, while others save time by only requiring you to turn one dial to switch the resistance. We also like the addition of security locks to a few models, making sure the plates stay in place.

They can rattle a bit in use, but we tested on a single dumbbell, making these a good option for at-home heavy lifters.

Spinlock

Commonplace in teenage bedrooms the world over, these classic bits of kit will no doubt be familiar to you. Usually comprising two bars, a selection of smaller weight plates, and four spinlock collars that twist into place on the grooved ends of each dumbbell to secure the load, these old school lifting implements offer everything you’d want from a pair of weights.

Yes, it can take a while to change the weight as you have to spin each individual collar on and off each time, and the plates can clang when you press them overhead. But their no-frills build makes them a darn sight cheaper than their tech-heavy counterparts.

Men’s Health Lab Approved

Never ones to shirk a workout, we sent our MH Lab team on a mission to find the finest adjustable dumbbells on the market.

They sourced nine highly recommended free weights and set about putting them to the test, working through a session of 11 bodybuilding staples including lateral raises, lunges, bench press and (of course) the humble dumbbell curl.

Top-scoring models provided the natural, sturdy feel of a fixed dumbbell, with minimal rattling or shaking, and had a practical shape that was easy to wield.

Our pros rounded out their testing by timing how long it took to change the weight of each dumbbell from the lightest load to the heaviest possible, as a quick transition can hold the key to a successful spicy drop set.

The adjustable dumbbells that passed our rigorous testing are stamped with our MH Lab Approved badge. The other entries have been carefully chosen by our editors after impressing them during home gym pump sessions.

Happy lifting…