If you’re looking to buy the best cheapest dumbbells for your home gym, then look no further, because we’ve created this list of the places to buy the most affordable free weight sets. No gym is complete without a quality set of dumbbells. If you’re looking to add a set to your gym, then read this guide first.
Not all free weights are created equal. Some of the cheapest budget sets will wear and tear after minimal use, making the grips uncomfortable to grip in your hands. This can be annoying for those who are looking for a quality home gym set without breaking the bank. Luckily we’ve created this list composed of the best cheap dumbbells to buy.
Where To Buy Cheap Dumbbells?
- AmazonBasics Rubber Encased Hex Dumbbell, 25 lb
- AmazonBasics Neoprene Dumbbells
- SPRI Deluxe Vinyl Dumbbells (Light Grey, 4-Pound, Set of 2)
- SPRI Deluxe Rubber Dumbbells (Sold as set of 2) (10-Pound)
- Cap Barbell Rubber Coated Hex Dumbbell with Contoured Chrome Handle (50-Pound)
- CAP Barbell Color Coated Hex Dumbbell, 15-Pound, Set of 2
Now that we’ve gotten the list of best places to buy dumbbells out of the way, let get more specific with what exactly we loved about each of the cheapest dumbbell sets on our list
1. AmazonBasics Rubber Encased Hex Dumbbell, 25 lb
In terms of value the AmazonBasics Rubber Encased Hex Dumbbell is unbeatable. That is why it is number one on our cheapest dumbbells list. We love the rubber hex dumbbell style of free weight, it’s definitely our favorite in terms of quality, comfort, and durability. Whether you’re performing an intense session where you need to drop the weights and quickly move on to the next set, or doing a light cardio workout, these are the perfect dumbbells for the job.
These free weights have a textured contoured handle for grip comfort and strength. Made of solid cast iron. Other sets of similar style costs almost twice as much as the AmazonBasics version, which is why this earns the number one spot on our list. They offer this dumbbell in 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 pound increments. Please note though that this is for one dumbbell, this is not a set, you need to purchase two if you want a set.
The pros of the AmazonBasics Rubber Encased Hex Dumbbells are:
Pros
- Durable and Sturdy
- Rubber encased
- Comfortable textured grip
- Many weight increments
The cons of the AmazonBasics Rubber Encased Hex Dumbbells are:
Cons
- Not sold in sets
- A little more pricey than some of the others on the list
2. AmazonBasics Neoprene Dumbbells
Our number two spot for cheapest dumbbells belong again to AmazonBasics with their Neoprene Dumbbells. We strongly prefer the hex style rubber encased dumbbell, but they are a little more on the expensive side. In terms of shear budget friendly affordable dumbbells, these neoprene free weights take the cake. The neaoprene coating makes for an easy and comfortable grip, the only drawback with these is they don’t stand a beating as well as rubber encased hex dumbbells. If you take care of these, they should last, just no going crazy and dropping them from shoulder height.
These come in 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, and 20 pound dumbbells, which is great if you’re looking for something a little lighter. They also have a set which comes with a stand, and 3 pairs of dumbbells which is pretty great when it comes to value. Overall another quality set from AmazonBasics.
The pros of the AmazonBasics Neoprene Dumbbells are:
Pros
- Comfortable Grip
- Great value (Neoprene dumbbells are some of the cheapest you will find)
- Has lighter weight options
The cons of the AmazonBasics Neoprene Dumbbells are:
Cons
- Does not stand to wear and tear like a higher quality rubber encased dumbbell (just don’t drop them and they should be fine)
- Only has light weight options, no heavier weights
3. SPRI Deluxe Vinyl Dumbbells (Light Grey, 4-Pound, Set of 2)
Another solid entry into our cheapest dumbbell set list comes from SPRI with their deluxe Vinyl Dumbbells. These are a great budget option. They’re vinyl dumbbells which are very comfortable and have good grips. They are sold in sets of two which is a plus. It’s something you have to watch out for when shopping online for dumbbells, because not all of them are. These are pretty durable, and they have a lot of different weight options, although they lack heavier dumbbells. Still a solid buy that would be a great addition to your home gym.
The pros of the SPRI Deluxe Vinyl Dumbbells are:
Pros
- Comfortable Grip
- Great value (vinyl dumbbells are comparable to neoprene in terms of being the cheapest)
- Has many light weight options
The cons of the SPRI Deluxe Vinyl Dumbbells are:
Cons
- Does not stand to wear and tear like a higher quality rubber encased dumbbell (just don’t drop them and they should be fine)
- Only has light weight options, no heavier weights
4. SPRI Deluxe Rubber Dumbbells (Sold as set of 2) (10-Pound)
Our fourth pick for the best cheapest dumbbells sets is brought to you again by SPRI with their deluxe rubber dumbbells. Again, we are a huge fan of the rubber encased dumbbells over the cheaper vinyl and neoprene style sets. They are a little more pricey though, so if you’re looking for the straight cheapest, these style ones won’t be it. These have everything you’d come to expect from a quality pair of rubber encased dumbbells, sturdy, durable, comfortable textured grips. Overall a great product. They even have some heavier weight options. Just be sure to read the style name very closely because most of the heavier dumbbells are on sold per one, and not in a pair.
The pros of the SPRI Deluxe Rubber Dumbbells are:
Pros
- Comfortable Grip
- Durable and sturdy rubber encased
- Has heavier weight options
The cons of the SPRI Deluxe Rubber Dumbbells are:
Cons
- A little more pricey than vinyl or neoprene options
- Heavier weights options are not sold in sets (need to buy two)
5. Cap Barbell Rubber Coated Hex Dumbbell with Contoured Chrome Handle (50-Pound)
No list of the best dumbbells would be complete without at least one outing from CAP Barbell. These guys are a known brand making high quality exercise equipment for decades. Their Rubber Coated Hex Dumbbell with Contoured Chrome Handles is another top notch dumbbell. The only reason that these weren’t listed as the number one spot is simply because they are the most expensive option on this list. It is supposed to be a list of the CHEAPEST dumbbells after all, but their dumbbells are such high quality that we had to include them.
These feature everything you would expect from a set of quality rubber coated hex dumbbells. They can with stand a beating, comfortable textured grips, and have heavy weight options which are lacking in some of the neoprene and vinyl dumbbell set varieties. You cannot go wrong with a CAP barbell dumbbell set. That’s why it makes the fifth spot on our list of cheapest dumbbells.
The pros of the CAP Barbell Rubber Coated Hex Dumbbells are:
Pros
- Comfortable Grip
- Durable and sturdy rubber encased
- Has heavier weight options
The cons of the CAP Barbell Rubber Coated Hex Dumbbells are::
Cons
- A little more pricey than vinyl or neoprene options
- Heavier weights options are not sold in sets (need to buy two)
6. CAP Barbell Color Coated Hex Dumbbell, 15-Pound, Set of 2
If you’re in love with the coated hex style of dumbbell (like we are) and you want to add a little color to your dumbbell set the CAP Barbell Color Coated Hex Dumbbells are a great option. These are made of solid cast iron with a protective PVC coating. There durable and have the comfortable contoured grip you can come to expect from a CAP product. The nice thing about these ones is they are sold in sets of two, if you’re looking for a set. They have a variety of lighter weight options ranging from 3 lbs to 15 lbs, each a different coded color. It’s a nice set if you want the comfort and durability of an affordable coated hex dumbbell while have some fun colors.
The pros of the CAP Barbell Color Coated Hex Dumbbells are:
Pros
- Comfortable Grip
- Durable and sturdy rubber encased
- Sold in sets of two
- Color coded dumbbells
The cons of the CAP Barbell Color Coated Hex Dumbbells are:
Cons
- A little more pricey than vinyl or neoprene options
- They only have lighter weight options ranging from 3 lbs to 15 lbs
Overall, their are many great cheap dumbbell options out there. You don’t always want to buy the cheapest option, you want a quality dumbbell set. The cheapest yet good quality. It’s important to decide your goals and the type of exercise movements you will do when choosing a dumbbell set. If you’re going to be doing light weights and mostly aerobic or endurance type activities, or if you’re just looking for a cheap starter dumbbell, maybe the cheapest neoprene or vinyl dumbbells would be fine for you. But if you’re going to be doing explosive movements like dumbbell cleans, or if you’re going to be benching heavy and may drop the weights every now and then, the rubber encased hex dumbbells can withstand that type of beating, and those would be best for that end.
Closing Thoughts on the Cheapest Dumbbells
Ultimately you will only get out of any dumbbell set, what you put into it. Follow a good training regiment, and be consistent, and you will see results. The great thing about dumbbells, is that you get to work all of the little stabilizer muscles in your body better than if you were to use a barbell. No home gym is complete without a good pair of dumbbells. Here are some of our favorite lifts do do with them:
- Rows
- Bench Press
- Shoulder Press
- Tricep Exentsion
- Weighted lunges
- Dumbbell deadlifts
- Bicep Curls
If you’re looking for an instructional on how to use your new dumbbells there are a lot of great articles online! Just look up the specific lifts you are interested in!
We want you to get the most out of your new equipment, so it’s important to remember the diet is just as important as exercise when it comes to training. If you only train hard, and you don’t optimize your diet for success, you may achieve some initial results, but you won’t reach your true potential, so don’t forget about the importance of nutrition!
Remember, if you found a good set of affordable and inexpensive cheap dumbbells that you think should be on the list, be sure to contact us, and we’ll see if it makes our cheapest list.
Thanks for reading!
If you’re interested in a complete home gym set check out our review of the cheapest and best bumper plates.
