The American Council on Exercise, a non-profit fitness organization, listed cost-conscious workouts among the most popular fitness trends for 2010, and home workouts using portable fitness equipment are among them. Dumbbells are a modest investment in your health and wellness. You can work out your entire body in the privacy of your home with a good set of dumbbells.
PowerBlocks
PowerBlocks are selectorized dumbbells. Also called adjustable, selectorized dumbbells combine an entire set of weights into one unit--one selectorized dumbbell can replace five or 10 regular ones. A PowerBlock is about the size of a couple loaves of bread. Various weights are stacked inside one another. Use the sliding bar to select the weight you want. Colored vinyl represents weight increments, usually 5 lbs. Grab the dumbbell and only the weight you select will release. PowerBlocks come in different weight options--you can choose blocks that only go up to 24 lbs, or ones that go as high as 130. The space that 10 sets of regular dumbbells would take up can be compacted into two PowerBlocks.
ProForm Adjustable Dumbbell Set
ProForm is well-known for their cardio equipment--you have probably seen their ellipticals and treadmills at the gym. The company also makes an adjustable dumbbell set. A selector knob on each dumbbell block allows you to easily select between 10 and 50 lbs. The blocks are less bulky than a PowerBlock, but there are not as many options. A stand for the dumbbells is included, so you can have up to 100 lbs. available to you in a compact area.
Cap Barbell 40-Pound Set
If you don't need as many options and as much weight as offered, the Cap set is a simple, portable option. A portable plastic storage case carries two dumbbell handles and a set of weight plates, all totaling 40 lbs. The 30 lbs. of weight plates include four 5-lb. plates and four 2.5-lb. plates. Threaded collars are easily twisted on and off to switch out the weight plates. This Cap set is an economical, portable option if you don't need large amounts of weight.
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