5 Best Cheap Adjustable Dumbbells For 2023

1. PowerBlock Sports Adjustable Dumbbells

PowerBlock has been around for a couple of decades; they are the king of the adjustable dumbbell market and my pick for the best cheap dumbbell. So what makes this set of dumbbells so appealing?

First off, it’s great to be able to include a PowerBlock set in the cheap dumbbell range.

Thankfully these guys deiced to offer a more affordable version of their excellent dumbbells sets, and while they may not boast the high weight range of their bigger brothers, the PowerBlocks Elites. The PowerBlock 24lb per dumbbell and 50lb per dumbbell Sport Sets do not differ in quality.

Built to the same excellent quality standards as their higher range sets, the sports are an excellent alternative for beginners and intermediate weight trainers looking for a fast to adjust, durable and affordable set for home.

What makes the PowerBlocks more desirable than the likes of  Bowflex, Merax, and the AtivFit adjustable dumbbells is their size.

The PowerBlocks are compact thanks to their weight stacking system; compact dumbbells are what we need to look for when choosing an adjustable dumbbell.

A compact dumbbell is much easier to train with; they give a more natural feel and avoid the long awkward handles of sets like the Bowflex, which hit your sides when you curl or clash above your head when you press.

Bowflex and the other dial select sets include the fixed-length handle. It doesn’t matter what weight you are lifting, whether it be 10lb or 50lb; the length of the handle stays the same. The Powrblocks only increase in length with the amount of weight you lift.

Another problem all fast to adjust sets share is the amount of plastic used in the build; Bowflex, Merax, AtivaFit all select dial dumbbells use a ton of plastic in their adjustment system.

Fragile adjustment systems mean you’re in trouble if you drop one as the adjustment system will break, leaving you a costly repair bill, which is not covered in the warranty.

While I wouldn’t recommend dropping the PowerBlocks, they are built with a much tougher design thanks to the pin selector adjustment system; they’ll survive a few drops. You can be a little rougher with this set than any of the other fast to adjust sets.

The PowerBlocks Sports have been designed with beginners, intermates, and the female market in mind, especially so with the 24lb per dumbbell set. Still, for under $150 for this set is excellent value for money, and when you take into account, the 24lb set replaces eight sets of fixed weight dumbbells, saving you a load of space as well.

It would be best to think about how you train and how serious you are about your training before choosing any set of dumbbells. 24lb per dumbbell will be enough for a lot of people’s training needs but not for all.

For those of you who are going to take their lifting that much more seriously, you may need a heavier dumbbell.

Your strength will increase quite fast with regular training, and choosing a dumbbell set that can match your strength gains is important, so for those more serious, I’d recommend you choose the 50lb per dumbbell sport set.

Whichever PowerBlock set you to opt for, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

The PowerBlock Sports are fast to adjust, compact dumbbells; they’ll save you space and last thanks to their durable design. An excellent dumbbell from a reputable company, one that really knows what they are doing when it comes to their dumbbells and design.