Buying guide
Hex versus adjustable dumbbells
Three formats cover dumbbell training at Lift Sets: fixed hex pairs, selectorised adjustable dumbbells, and spinlock sets that convert into a barbell. They are not interchangeable in a rack, and the plates on the spinlock kits are not sold on their own. Use this page to pick one starting format. Weight bands for hex pairs are unpacked in the hex dumbbell weight guide.
Hex pairs and sets
Hex dumbbell pairs run from 1kg to 60kg, from £8.80 (today's price, Rubber Hex Dumbbell Pairs 1 kg to 60 kg, from). Each bell is a cast iron core with a bonded rubber hex head and a knurled chrome handle. You pick the weight up and put it down; there is nothing to dial. That is the advantage on a busy session and the cost in floor space once you own more than two or three pairs. Graded 3-pair, 5-pair, 6-pair and 12-pair sets are listed on the same range, with no-rack options up to 2.5–60kg. The 2.5kg pair in the photos has black hex heads with the weight moulded into the face.
Selectorised 24kg and 40kg
The 24kg adjustable dumbbell is a 15-in-1 selector, from £159.99 (today's price, Adjustable Dumbbell Pair 2 x 24kg, 15-in-1, Rack Optional, Without Rack) without a rack and £259.99 (today's price, Adjustable Dumbbell Pair 2 x 24kg, 15-in-1, Rack Optional, With Rack) with a rack. It is meant to replace a run of fixed pairs, from a 2.5kg raise to a 24kg press, in the space of one bell sitting in a cradle. The unit in the product photo is a stack of black plates with a red selector, a chrome handle with a black grip, and a dial at each end, parked in a black tray.
The 40kg adjustable dumbbell is £259.99 (today's price, Adjustable Dumbbell Pair 2 x 40kg, 17-in-1, from) and extends that idea to seventeen settings, up to 40kg per dumbbell, for when 24kg is no longer enough on presses. The inner plate is marked do not drop dumbbell. Both models are built around a tray; the adjustable dumbbell stand at £99.99 (today's price, Adjustable Dumbbell Stand, from) holds those trays at a natural pick-up height so you are not bending to the floor between sets. The stand is a black steel frame with two strapped platforms.
Spinlock dumbbell and barbell sets
Adjustable dumbbells barbell sets start from £24.99 (today's price, Dumbbell & Barbell Set 20-30kg, 20kg Set) for the 20kg set, with 25kg at £34.99 (today's price, Dumbbell & Barbell Set 20-30kg, 25kg Set) and 30kg at £39.99 (today's price, Dumbbell & Barbell Set 20-30kg, 30kg Set). Two handles plus a connector bar become a pair of dumbbells or one barbell. Solid cast iron versions are listed at 20kg (£61.99 (today's price, 30kg Cast Iron Dumbbell Set, 20.0kg)) and 30kg (£71.99 (today's price, 30kg Cast Iron Dumbbell Set, 30.0kg)); a 65kg set is £129.99 (today's price, 65kg Dumbbell & Barbell Set, from), which is enough plate weight for squats and rows in barbell mode. The plates in these kits are not sold separately and are not the Olympic 2-inch plates in the plate collection. The 20–30kg kit in the product photo uses black round plates, red spinlock collars, and a knurled connector when assembled as a bar.
Round adjustable pairs are a fourth option if you want a matched selectorised pair with a round head, from £189.99 (today's price, Round Adjustable Dumbbells Pairs, from), in 24kg, 32kg, 40kg and 45kg with 2kg or 4kg increments. Some of those sizes are in stock today and some are sold out, so check the size you want on the product page before you order.
Side-by-side
| Format | Floor safety | Weight increments | Space | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hex pairs | Rubber hex heads that sit flat; pick up and put down | Fixed pairs from 1kg to 60kg in the listed steps | One pair per weight; a set needs a hex rack | Anyone who wants a dedicated bell and no adjustment |
| 24kg / 40kg selectorised | The 40kg unit is marked do not drop; used from a cradle | 15 settings to 24kg, or 17 settings to 40kg | One pair plus trays; optional stand at £99.99 (today's price, Adjustable Dumbbell Stand, from) | Tight rooms that still need many loads |
| Spinlock sets | Kit plates that are not sold separately and are not Olympic 2-inch discs | Total kits at 20kg, 25kg, 30kg and 65kg | Handles, connector and plates in a cupboard-sized kit | A first free-weight kit that must also be a barbell |
Shop hex dumbbells or adjustable dumbbells once you have picked a format. Mixing a hex tree with selectorised trays wastes the stand. Free standard delivery to Great Britain (Scottish Highlands and Islands included) applies on every order, including the 40kg selectors and the 65kg spinlock set.
More questions
Hex or adjustable dumbbells — which should I buy?
How do I stop dumbbells and plates rusting?
Wipe handles after each session to limit sweat corrosion, store weights on a rack rather than the floor, and keep them out of wet or outdoor storage; rust from wet storage is a warranty exclusion. Hex dumbbell handles are chrome-plated and tri-grip plates are rubber-coated precisely to resist corrosion in a damp garage.
What is a spinlock dumbbell and barbell set?
Two handles plus a connector bar that become a pair of dumbbells or one barbell, with plates held on by spinlock collars, sold as complete kits at 20, 25, 30 and 65 kg (solid cast iron versions at 20 and 30 kg). The plates in these kits are not Olympic 2-inch plates and are not sold separately; it is a first free-weight kit that must also be a barbell, in a cupboard-sized box.