Latest news with #dumbbells
The Independent
25-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
10 best dumbbells for building strength and muscle at home, tested by a fitness writer
Contrary to their name, dumbbells are a smart investment if you want to build fitness at home. These versatile free weights allow you to train for strength, endurance and mobility by opening the door to myriad exercises, and you only need one or two to get started. You might already have a pair gathering dust in the garage, in which case this is your sign to blow away the cobwebs and get lifting. However, given you've clicked on this article, you're probably in the market for a new pair – a mission I can lend a hand with. Dumbbells have been my primary training tool for well over a decade, and in that time I've had the chance to sample a wide range of them. From this, I know what options are on the market, and what makes a good one. Deciding on the best dumbbell for you will depend on your goals, preferred type of training and budget. Below, I've tried and tested options to suit all comers, and attempted to provide all the information necessary to help you find a dumbbell that fits your needs. How we tested There's only one way to test the best dumbbells: lift them. I used the products below for every workout they were suitable for, and even some they weren't, to test their robustness and functionality. This meant using the adjustable and selectorised sets for at-home strength training workouts, as well as some lighter prehab exercises. Then I subjected the fixed weight sets to a bit of everything, from CrossFit WODs and HIIT classes to good old fashioned bodybuilding. Why you can trust IndyBest reviews The IndyBest fitness team practice what they preach. When they're not writing about the latest health and fitness trends and products, they're out their training and trying them for themselves. This provides plenty of opportunities for testing new products, whether that's apparel, footwear, wearables, lifting accessories, recovery tools or gym equipment such as dumbbells. The best dumbbells for 2025 are:
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ditch the gym — strengthen your whole body in under 30 minutes with this workout
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Finding the time for a workout is challenging, even for fitness pros like me. Fortunately, it doesn't take hours a day to get stronger and build muscle — if you've got some dumbbells and a half hour, you can make major strides in your health and wellness goals. I was just cleared to resume exercise after having a baby, but fitting the gym into my schedule has been impossible. I scrolled through Instagram to find an at-home workout to do instead, and stumbled on Lauren Jayne Lawler's recent 24-minute full-body workout. Here's what I thought of her routine. Working out at home is great, but I always recommend meeting with a certified personal trainer first to learn proper exercise form and technique. If you're recently postpartum like me, always follow the recommendations of your medical team. In addition to a set of dumbbells, you'll also want to roll out a yoga mat for some cushioning. All of the exercises can be done with just two light dumbbells, but it's best to have a moderately-heavy and a heavy pair available as well. There are six exercises in this program, each done for 45 seconds in three circuits. You'll rest for 15 seconds in between each move, and rest for 30 seconds at the end of each circuit. The exercises are: Supine grip Romanian deadlift to curl squat Gorilla row Static bridge chest press Squat knee to elbow crunch (both sides) Front delt raise squats Overhead reverse lunge knee drive When Lawler said this workout was 'full body,' she wasn't kidding. Here's what I noticed: All of the exercises in Lawler's workout are compound moves that target multiple areas at once, so you'll be working almost all of the major muscles in your body (more on the 'almost' part below). Compound exercises are a great option when you're limited on time. Movements like the static bridge to chest press require effort from your hamstrings, glutes, deep core, and pecs all at once — in 45 seconds, you'll have effectively worked your upper body, lower body, and core. By the time I finished my third circuit, my entire body felt fatigued. That's a pretty impressive feat given the workout's relatively short duration. I was sore the next day, but it didn't impact my normal routine, so I knew I had worked at an appropriate level. The triceps didn't get much attention in Lawler's program, at least not in the same way that the quads, glutes, biceps, and shoulders do. It's not that these muscles weren't working at all, but it was in a more supportive or stabilizing manner. I wanted to bring my triceps into action, so I altered one of Lawler's exercises a bit. During the second circuit, I added an overhead tricep extension to the overhead reverse lunge knee drive. This felt like a natural place to insert the exercise, and it didn't interrupt my flow at all. This routine is pretty comprehensive on its own, so you certainly don't have to throw in anything extra. However, you can add a tricep move and still keep the workout under half an hour. This workout's structure is similar to HIIT (or high-intensity interval training), with short exercise bursts followed by even shorter rest periods. The beauty of timed intervals is that you can go at your own pace — if you're a beginner or you want to focus on building strength, you can perform the movements more slowly. If you want a cardiovascular challenge, you can move quickly. Since I hadn't exercised in a while, I chose to do Lawler's routine at a moderate tempo. My heart rate stayed elevated the entire time, but it never got into a 'high intensity' range. This allowed me to get the best of both worlds — I was able to use heavier weights on moves like the supine grip RDL and overhead reverse lunge knee drive, while also breaking a sweat and getting a little breathless. I finished all three circuits in a little over 23 minutes, which is close to what Lawler estimates. I'd given myself a full half hour for my workout, so I got to squeeze in some stretches and mobility work at the end. Most '30-minute workouts' tend to be closer to 35 minutes in length, so I appreciated Lawler's accuracy. That being said, what usually makes these programs longer than advertised is the inclusion of a warm-up and cool-down. You can fit both into those extra six minutes. No more crunches! Build a strong, stable core with these 5 standing ab exercises I swapped running for 'Jeffing' for a week — and now I'm hooked I tried the 5-4-5 walking technique for a week — and it boosted my fitness and mood
The Independent
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Millions of dumbbell owners urged to stop using product ‘immediately'
Nearly four million BowFlex dumbbells have been recalled after over 300 complaints, including more than 100 injury claims, were filed. The recalled products are BowFlex 552 and 1090 adjustable dumbbells, sold at Costco, Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Amazon. Injuries reported include concussions, abrasions, broken toes, and contusions due to the dumbbells dislodging during use. Johnson Health Tech Trading advises customers to immediately stop using the dumbbells immediately and seek a refund or voucher, contacting purchasers directly. Customers have expressed frustration with the recall process, particularly regarding the disposal of the weights and the value of the compensation offered, especially given BowFlex Inc.'s bankruptcy filing in March 2024.
New York Times
07-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
BowFlex Recalls 3.8 Million Adjustable Dumbbells After Injury Reports
The exercise equipment brand BowFlex recalled millions of its adjustable dumbbells because of the risk of metal plates dislodging from the product's handle and hitting people during weight lifting. Concussions, abrasions, broken toes and contusions are among the 111 reports of injuries caused by the plates dislodging, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Thursday. More than 300 reports of plates coming off had been filed with the company that owned the brand, the agency said. The more than 3.8 million recalled units are from the models marketed as the 'BowFlex 552, 52.5-lb. Adjustable Dumbbells,' and the 'BowFlex 1090, 90-lb. Adjustable Dumbbells,' the commission said. The model 552 dumbbells adjust from five to 52.5 pounds, while the model 1090 adjusts from 10 to 90 pounds. They are black dumbbells with handles that were sold in pairs and single units, and came with weights with handles, weight plates and a molded plastic trays, the commission said. Consumers are urged to immediately stop using the dumbbells and seek a refund. The dumbbells were sold in stores, including Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Johnson Fitness & Wellness, as well as online on Amazon and the BowFlex website. They sold for between $200 and $800, the commission said. The popular dumbbell models, one of which was a previous Wirecutter pick, allow people to weight train at home without dealing with the bulk of owning a full set of traditional dumbbells. Johnson Health Tech Trading, which is part of the company that owns the BowFlex brand, will replace the dumbbells for customers who purchased the items from April 23, 2024, through May 2025, or refund them the price of the equipment with a voucher, the commission said. BowFlex was acquired by Johnson Health Tech Retail, a subsidiary of Johnson Health Tech, in 2024, after BowFlex declared bankruptcy that year. Customers who purchased the dumbbells from BowFlex, formerly known as Nautilus, before April 23, 2024, can request a refund that will come in the form of a prorated voucher, according to BowFlex. All customers affected by the recall are eligible to receive a one-year digital fitness membership, the company said. Gabe Knight, a senior policy analyst on the safety policy team for the nonprofit Consumer Reports, which tests products and rates them, called the company's solution to the recall inadequate. 'Consumers should be able to receive their money back in full, no strings attached,' she said. According to Consumer Reports, this is not the first time that BowFlex has had issues with its adjustable dumbbells. In 2012, Nautilus, as the company that owned it was called then, recalled roughly 17,000 BowFlex SelectTech 1090 dumbbell models because of an injury hazard. That recall resulted from the weight-selector dial on the dumbbells failing, and causing weight plates to fall when the dumbbell was lifted from its storage tray.
CBS News
06-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
BowFlex adjustable dumbbells recalled after more than 100 dislodging injuries
BowFlex is recalling millions of units of its adjustable dumbbells because their weight plates can dislodge and cause injury to users. The recall comes after over 100 reports of injuries including concussions, abrasions, broken toes or contusions, according to the CPSC. The dumbbells are popular because of their versatility: They allow users to lift dumbbells of different weights, without owning a full set of individually weighted dumbbells, which would take up a lot of space. A total of 3,844,200 units of the product are being recalled, according to a notice from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Thursday. That includes 3.7 million units that were sold by Nautilus Inc. Nautilus changed its corporate name to BowFlex in 2023. BowFlex filed for bankruptcy protection in March 2024 and was acquired by Johnson Health Tech Retail, which will refund customers for the dumbbells' purchase price in the form of a voucher or for replacement units, so long as they were purchased from Johnson Health Tech Trading. For customers who purchased the dumbbells from BowFlex, formerly Nautilus, consumers may request a refund in the form of a prorated voucher. They are also eligible to receive a one year digital fitness membership through Johnson Health Tech Trading. Johnson Health Tech Trading is reaching out to its customers directly, according to the recall notice. Consumer Reports, the nonprofit consumer product testing organization, said the company's remedy is insufficient. "Consumers should be able to receive their money back in full, no strings attached," she said in a statement to The recalled dumbbell sets, called the "BowFlex 552, 52.5-lb Adjustable Dumbbells," and the "BowFlex 1090, 90-lb Adjustable Dumbbells," were sold in pairs and as single units. The black weights came with handles, weight plates and a plastic storage tray. The 1090 dumbbells could be adjusted to weigh between 10 and 90 pounds. The CPSC is urging owners of the recalled dumbbells to stop using them immediately, and to seek out a refund. Consumers can fill out a claim form here.
