The Best Dumbbells of 2026

While Nike is a mainstay in many sports, seeing the iconic Swoosh on lifting equipment is a new development. Fortunately, the Nike Grind Dumbbells ($15-$215) are an excellent entry into the weightlifting space. 

Available in weights from 2.5 pounds to 75 pounds, these dumbbells are made with recycled materials from Nike’s footwear manufacturing process. The result is a line of very cool-looking speckled dumbbells made up of at least 20% ground-up running shoe outsoles, giving each dumbbell a unique, one-of-a-kind style that is a welcome contrast to the drab black or gray dumbbells you find in most gyms. 

As you can imagine, this makes for a very bouncy experience in the weight room. During testing, the dumbbells felt great on movements like dumbbell snatches since the extra bounce provided a little assistance when touching the ground and lifting the weight overhead. It was a double-edged sword, however — that extra bounce means you’ll need quick feet if you drop the dumbbell from overhead (if you know, you know). 

The rounded handles have similar knurling and diameter to the Rogue Hex Dumbbells. That is to say, they’re comfortable and provide a secure grip without abrading the hands. We also love that the hexagonal heads have rounded corners, which gives the Grind Dumbells an edge (or lack of one) over the Rogue Dumbbells. During movements that require resting the dumbbells on the shoulders, the Nike Grind Dumbbells were significantly more comfortable because we didn’t have sharp corners digging into our shoulders.

Overall, we found Nike Dumbbells to be comfortable and responsive, and while they didn’t make the weights feel any lighter, they sure brightened up our lifting space. And at $10 to $20 cheaper than comparable dumbbells, there’s not a lot to dislike about these weights.

In fact, the only real issue that we have with these is that the Grinds only go up to 75 pounds, while the Rogue Hex Dumbbells are available all the way up to 125 pounds. But if 50 pounds is as heavy as you’re planning to go, these could be a perfect choice.

Looking to stock your home gym but don’t have a Planet Fitness budget? It’s no surprise Amazon has you covered with its Basics line. The Amazon Basics Rubber Encased Hex Dumbbells ($16-$55) are, at a glance, similar to the Rogue Hex Dumbbells but at a much lower price. 

The hexagonal heads are encased in rubber to minimize damage to the dumbbells and your floor if you drop the weight. And the knurled chrome-plated handle is grippy without sacrificing comfort. 

Like any bargain, there are sacrifices. First and foremost, they’re sold as singles, so don’t purchase one and expect a pair to come in. It sounds like a no-brainer, but people have reported receiving one when they expected two, so just know that you need to actually order two to get a pair.

Also, we’ve seen reports the actual weight of the dumbbells can vary. You may purchase two 50-pound dumbbells and have a 49-pound and 48-pound dumbbell show up. 

And while the Rogue Dumbbells seem to last forever, we’ve noticed that Amazon Basics Rubber Encased Hex Dumbbells do have some substantial durability issues. After a few months of use, the dumbbell heads have started to loosen up from the handle (none have fallen off yet, but still). Also, the rubber casing on some of them has been chipping and peeling off, exposing the weight underneath. 

But if you’re not a stickler for precise weights, are willing to treat the dumbbells gingerly, and are looking to save a few bucks, you could do a lot worse than these bad boys.

It’s hard to improve on the durable simplicity Rogue’s Hex Dumbbells ($17-$455) offer. Sold in pairs, these weights offer chrome-plated handles with a slight taper to provide comfort no matter how you grip them.

The heavy-duty rubber coating on the heads limits wear and tear on both the dumbbells and the floors you work out on, and they minimize noise. 

The Hex Dumbbells range in weight from 2.5 pounds to 30 pounds in 2.5-pound increments and from 30 pounds to a whopping 125 pounds in 5-pound increments. We’ve personally used these dumbbells for over a decade in various CrossFit gyms and have purchased them for gyms we’ve owned. 

For the most part, they’re built to last — testers have dropped them from overhead on a daily basis for years without any visible damage. The subtle knurl on the grip makes them secure even in sweaty hands without digging into your palms or fingers. 

While the dumbbells are durable for the most part, we have experienced a number of exceptions. If left out in the sun over the summer, the the rubber encasements on the heads can stiffen up and eventually crack and peel off. Also, on rare occasions (we’ve seen this happen on several sets of dumbbells in 10 years), the dumbbell heads can loosen up and start to wiggle on the handle. 

Other than that, the Rogue’s Hex Dumbbells are durable and comfortable, and they offer heavier weights that most manufacturers. Rogue Fitness is considered the premium in professional and home gym setups, and the Hex Dumbbells are a great example of why.

While it would be great to have a huge space for your workout equipment, most of us can’t fit an entire rack of dumbbells in our spare bedroom or garage. This is where adjustable dumbbells are extremely useful.

NÜOBELL S 5100 Adjustable Dumbbells ($1,140) can be adjusted from 5 to 100 pounds per dumbbell in five-pound increments (there’s also an option that goes from 5 to 60 pounds). To adjust the weight, users simply twist the handle until the dumbbell is the desired weight. 

As far as manually adjusting dumbbells go, it’s hard to get simpler than this. During testing, running the rack during hammer curls or dumbbell bench presses was a snap. The iron plates are durable and tough, and the knurled handles feel just like regular dumbbells. 

One caveat with the NÜOBELL S 5100 Adjustable Dumbbells is that you can’t drop them. While the majority of the dumbbells are metal, the switching mechanism is plastic, which can break if dropped. If you’re a CrossFitter or you tend to drop your weights, this might not be the set for you. Otherwise, these could be the perfect solution for a home gym with limited space.

Eleiko is one of the most well-respected names in Olympic weightlifting. So it makes sense they’ve created a dumbbell that will appeal to Olympic lifting purists. The Eleiko Evo Rotating Dumbbells ($225-$1,025) are extremely pricey, but they’re a rare dumbbell with heads that rotate independently of the handle. 

For the uninitiated, proper barbells have spinning collars. This allows the weights to spin without rotating the rest of the barbell in overhead lifts. This creates a more stable lift by preventing the bar from spinning in your hands during explosive movements that require rotation like clean and jerks and snatches. 

The Evo Rotating Dumbbells serve the same function. While they’re just as effective during stationary movements like strict presses and curls, the rotating heads reduce twisting and instability during workouts that require movements like dumbbell snatches. This reduced fatigue during workouts and felt extremely stable during overhead movements. Plus, it will save your grip during long, intense workouts. 

What doesn’t save your grip, however, is the uniform 38 mm handle diameter. Even though it’s only 3 mm thicker than the more common 35 mm handles, working out with these non-tapered grips felt like training on a fatbar. It was more difficult to hold, but our grip felt bulletproof after a few weeks of training. 

Also, for movements like devil’s presses or pushups on the dumbbells, there’s a chance the dumbbells will roll away from you while you put your weight on them. The hex-shaped heads will minimize this, but the possibility is still there. 

But if you’re a lifting purist and want the best overhead experience possible, the Eleiko Evo Rotating Dumbbells are the way to go.

If you’ve got a traditional Olympic lifting setup, you may not even need a full set of dumbbells. For people with Olympic weights, a set of Olympic dumbbell handles is a great option. And Annzoe’s Olympic Dumbbell Handle ($120 for two) is one of the best of the bunch. 

These heavy-duty chromed stainless steel handles are fitted with Olympic heads that fit weight plates with the traditional 2-inch holes. This allows you to load up to 300 pounds per pair, which is ideal if you want to perform heavy deadlifts, lunges, or shoulder shrugs. 

The collars are ribbed to minimize slippage, and each handle comes with two screw-down clamps to secure the plates. There have been user reports of the clamps creating small divots in the collar ridges, but there should be little effect on performance. 

Keep in mind, these are only dumbbell handles. If you don’t already have weight plates, you’re going to be stuck with two 8-pound weights. But if you’re already kitted out, Annzoe’s Olympic Dumbbell Handle will add a lot of versatility to your home gym at minimal monetary and spatial cost.

If you’re new to working with weights, you’re going to want to keep things light and comfortable. SPRI’s Deluxe Vinyl Dumbbells ($7-$66) are perfect for nervous newcomers with beginner-friendly weight options, smooth vinyl covering, and fun, bright colors. 

With weights starting at one pound and capping out at 20 pounds, these are ideal for calisthenics, rehabilitation, and introductory weightlifting classes. And instead of the knurled handles (which some people find abrasive against the skin), the vinyl coating on the dumbbells provides a smooth, soft touch. 

That vinyl can get slick, however, so if your hands get sweaty, be sure to minimize any flailing or explosive movements to prevent accidentally hucking one of your dumbbells through a window. And if you plan on eventually using heavier weights, you may find the SPRI’s Deluxe Vinyl Dumbbells’ 20-pound top weight insufficient before too long.