Loadable Dumbbells have always been a preferred choice among Home Gym owners due to their Compactness and Price. This guide contains everything you need to know about Loadable Dumbbells. If you are still stuck with your decision as to which Dumbbells to buy, I suggest you read our Dumbbell Buying Guide first.
Depending on the country you live in, available options might change. However, overall knowledge helps you buy the right products, saving time, money, and energy.
There are multiple benefits of buying Loadable Dumbbells over Fixed Weight ones. As the name indicates ‘Loadable’ means you can adjust the weights according to your needs. Loadable Dumbbells are generally very cheap. Price is dependent on the type of weight plates you buy. I will also explain which types of plates you should buy according to the dumbbell rod. Not all weight plates and dumbbell rods are the same.
Weight plates are available in different Internal Diameters. 3/4″, 1″, 1-3/16″ and 2″. In metric it would be 19mm, 25mm, 30mm, and 50mm. You will buy dumbbell rods that support the internal diameter of the weight plate. The size should match. If you buy oversized plates, they will create a lot of rattles and the whole dumbbell will be useless. However, there are a lot of limitations to Loading Dumbbells which you will understand by the end of this article.
So let’s first understand the Types of Loadable Dumbells available worldwide.
Olympic Loadable Dumbbells
Standard Loadable Dumbbells
Threaded Loadable Dumbbells
Table of Contents
Olympic Loadable Dumbbells
Specifications of Olympic Loadable Dumbbells
Note: Dimensions and Weight, however, are Brand Specific. We have considered a broad range.
Weight Plate Support: 50mm (2 inches) Internal Diameter
Loadable Sleeve Length Range: Varies from 3.625″ (9 cm) to 6.75″ (17 cm)
Total Length of the Rod: Varies from 14.25″ (36.2 cm) to 20.5″ (52 cm)
Weight of the Rod: Varies from 6 lbs to 15 lbs
Handle Thickness: 25-29 mm
Weight Support: up to 150 lbs (Model Specific)
You need a super-strong plate locking mechanism. Such locks include Spring Clips and Collars. The dumbbells won’t have any locking mechanism by default. Except for the Gungnir Barbell and Dumbbell rod where they have inbuilt collars. You can check the image above.
Advantages of Olympic Loadable Dumbbells
Supports a wide range of Weight Plates used in weight lifting competitions. All the Olympic Type plates have a 50 mm internal diameter which the rod supports.
The weight loading sleeve is bearing supported. Weights can rotate freely and provides a good user experience.
Disadvantages of Olympic Loadable Dumbbells
Cannot use Standard Bumper Plates. Almost all bumper plates used in Crossfit and Olympic Competitions always have a fixed outer diameter of 45 cm (18 inches) which is too large to perform any exercise with.
Restricted Range of motion. While performing Pressing movements like the Shoulder and Chest Press, Dumbbells collide with each other. Olympic Loadable Dumbbells have the largest length of all.
Weight plates of 50mm (2″) inner diameter are generally larger. Nowadays, it is hard to find Metal Plates with 50mm ID. Overall the Olympic Loadable Dumbbell with weight plates is very bulky to use. The bulkiness is felt especially while performing Bicep Curls with rubber weight plates. The whole dumbbell needs to be held away from the legs. If Steel/ Cast iron plates are used, there aren’t any such issues.
When Collars are used as the plate locking mechanism, they add bulk to the dumbbell rod. Collars are generally thick in size since they need to hold the weights from falling off. If you intend to use spring locks, make sure that they hold the weights vertically before using them. I suggest using double springs on each end.
Expensive Dumbbell Rods.
Standard Loadable Dumbbells
Specifications of Standard Loadable Dumbbells
Weight Plate Support: 25mm (1 inch) OR 30mm (1-3/16 inches) Internal Diameter
Loadable Length Range: Up to 5″ (12.5 cm)
Total Length of the Rod: Up to 18″ (45 cm)
Weight of the Rod: Varies from 3 lbs to 8 lbs
Handle Thickness: 26-28 mm
Weight Support: up to 150 lbs (Model Specific)
Depending on the country you live in, Gyms in your locality use either 25mm Internal Diameter plates or 30mm ID plates.
For Isolation workout sessions like barbell curls or tricep extensions, where lesser weights are used, 25mm ID plates are preferred. For all other workouts, 30mm ID plates are used. However, this varies from gym to gym and country to country.
25mm ID plates are generally made of Cast Iron and Steel. 30mm ID Plates can be Steel, Cast Iron, or Rubber Coated.
Advantages of Standard Loadable Dumbbells
You can use the same Weights you use for the Barbell in the Gym. If you have some old Cast Iron plates with you, they will be a perfect fit.
Inexpensive as there isn’t any bearing mechanism. It is just a solid Steel Rod.
Gungnir also produces Standard Loadable Dumbbells with Inbuilt Collars. The loadable sleeve has a diameter of 24mm (1 inch).
Disadvantages of Standard Loadable Dumbbells
Some larger gym weight plates have an Outer Diameter of 45 cm, which cannot be used due to their bulk.
Collars when used, add to the bulk. However, spring locks can be used.
Cast Iron plates are hard to find. Whereas Steel Plates are available in most countries. Steel can be somewhat more expensive than cast iron but the price justifies as steel is more reliable and will not develop any cracks like cast iron ones.
Rubber weights are larger which can be a problem.
Threaded Loadable Dumbbells
Also known as Spin Lock Dumbbells are the Best Value for Money Dumbbells you can buy. If you have 25mm (1 inch) Internal Diameter plates lying around, get these cheap Threaded Loadable Dumbbell rods.
There are two thread types. A square thread rod with Star Nuts and Knurled Handle. And the other is a basic 1-inch V threaded rod with molded handle and hex nuts. If I recommend someone a dumbbell rod, it would be the first one.
Specifications of Threaded Loadable Dumbbells
Weight Plate Support: 25mm (1 inch) Internal Diameter
Loadable Length Range: Up to 6″ (15 cm)
Total Length of the Rod: Varies from 14″ (35 cm) to 20″ (50 cm)
Weight of the Rod: Varies from 4 lbs to 8 lbs
Handle Thickness: 26-28 mm
Weight Support: up to 150 lbs (Model Specific)
Advantages of Threaded Loadable Dumbbells
Extremely cheap since this rod is mass-produced. You can buy Weights and Rods separately. Dumbbell rods are priced under 25-30$ for a pair.
Widely available online. Also available with Straight Grip and Curved Grip handle design.
Weights are also cheap to manufacture. Thick Industrial Mild Steel sheets are cut using a plasma torch. Then they are finished off on a Lathe.
Steel lasts for ages if protected against rust. Steel will never break. Due to its high density, the whole dumbbell will be very compact.
No need to buy separate Collars or Spring Locks. The Nut system is the most secure Plate Lock you can find. But make sure they are made of Metal and not Plastic.
Disadvantages of Threaded Loadable Dumbbells
Since Steel weight plates are not cast, there can sometimes be errors in weight readings. If you can find Cast Iron plates somewhere on Scrapyard or Craigslist, they will be most accurate.
Premium Options
If you want a loadable dumbbell that looks and feels premium, I would suggest 3 options here.
Pepin Dumbbells
Pepin Dumbbells also support the same standard (25 mm ID) Cast Iron/ Steel plates we discussed above. They also sell their weight plates. Handles can be purchased separately too.
The handle design is unique. The handle is hollow with female threads. You get 2 spin locks to be inserted into the handle. The benefit of this type of system is that you can place these dumbbells vertically on your thighs to assist you to lift them. The sides of the Dumbbells are flat and won’t hurt your thighs.
Baadaas Dumbbells
A stronger version of the Pepin Dumbbells. They are rugged and can survive drops. Hence priced a little expensive over Pepin ones.
Ironmaster Quick-lock Dumbbells
Both the above ones get a circular plate design. The Ironmasters get a Square shaped design with smooth edges. The mechanism is all same but the Spin Locks are unique with a Quick-lock mechanism instead of a traditional threaded design. This feature enables you to load and unload weights faster than any other Loadable Dumbbells.
Cheaper Options
The PVC coated Sand/ Concrete Dumbbells are the cheapest Loadable Dumbbless you can buy. They are extremely cheap due to their low manufacturing cost. There are additional accessories available that let you convert these dumbbells to barbells.
However, these are extremely unreliable. The weights are a mixture of sand and concrete with PVC coating. If dropped, the PVC coating can break and can let the mixture out.
The dumbbell rods are of weak quality with plastic star nuts. The total amount of weight they can carry will be under 20 kgs.
Moreover, the weight plates are not at all accurate. These PVC-coated plates have a larger volume-to-weight ratio making them the bulkiest weight plates among all.
FAQs
Are Loadable Dumbbells worth it?
All Loadable Dumbbells are 100% worth the price paid. Instead of purchasing a new pair of Fixed Dumbbells, you can add more and more weight plates for the same dumbbell rod saving space and money.
Which Dumbbells are Best for Beginners?
Considering that most Beginners wouldn’t wish to invest in a whole set of Expensive Fixed Weight Dumbbells, we would recommend purchasing Threaded Loadable Dumbbells for all beginners. Any weight plates of 25mm ( 1 inch) internal diameter are supported.
What is a Loadable Dumbbell?
‘Loadable‘ implies that more weights can be added to the same dumbbell rod to match the required weight. There are 3 types of Loadable Dumbbells and Not all are the same. Olympic type supports plates with 50 mm Internal Diameter. Standard Dumbbell rod supports up to 30 mm Internal Diameter. Threaded Loadable Dumbbell supports weight plates with a 25 mm Internal Diameter.
What Dumbbells should I get for Home Gym?
You should choose Dumbbells according to your budget allowance and available space in your Home Gym. If you have space and money, you should get fixed-weight Hex Dumbbells. If space is a problem, you should get the Selectorized Adjustable Dumbbells. If Budget is an issue, you should buy Threaded Loadable Dumbbells that support 1-inch Bore Diameter Weight Plates.
How much does a Loadable Dumbbell Weigh?
The Rogue DB-10 Loadable Dumbbell Rod weighs 10 lbs. Including 2 basic collars, it will weigh 10.8 lbs, excluding Weight Plates.
The Rogue DB-15 Loadable Dumbbell Rod weighs 15 lbs. Including 2 basic collars, it will weigh 15.8 lbs, excluding Weight Plates.
Which Loadable Dumbbells have built-in Collars?
The Gungnir Loadable Dumbbells are the only Dumbbell Rods in the market with Built-in Collars. They also provide a lifetime warranty on their product.
The Gungnir Loadable Dumbbell is available for both types of Weight Plates with 30 mm and 50 mm Internal Diameters.