My girlfriend is looking to buy a set of lightweight dumbells to use in her apartment. Probably something around 10 lbs each. I was going to suggest a set of elastic bands, but does anyone have any advice on purchasing dumbells?
Get a dumbell bars with various weight plates. If you an’t bein progressive with your lifting, your just wasting your time. 10lbs will get boring real quick.
Also, make sure the weights are held on the bar by a screwing mechanism and NOT a spring clip. DO NOT use a spring clip.
Not sure if this may help, but …
I like the starlock collar dumbbells handles you can get everywhere (even Wlamart) used with standard free weights. Starlock collars dumbbell handles are the ones where the part of the bell which holds the weights are threaded and the collar simply screws on. They probably weigh about 2.5 lbs each and can used alone all the way up to 80lbs when using 10 lbs plates.
Buy 4x2.5llbs plates; 4x5 lbs plates; and, 8x10 lbs plates and you can use them from 2.5 each up to 55 lbs each. When done, dismantle them and slide them under the coach, etc.
David K
I agree with getting starlock collar dumbbells…bought them at WalMart last month. Have worked well so far. I can mix/match weights as needed to do lunges, etc.
elastic bands are ok, but they get old quickly.
in general, 10’s are useful, as are 12’s, 15’s and 20’s for a woman. i have alot of experience, and still used 10’s today for side lateral raises and windmills.
if possible, try to weigh the weight before buying it. if she can take a bathroom scale that would be good. sure it will look silly, but it’s even sillier to buy wieghts that aren’t consisent.
personally i have alot of the hex weights, but they aren’t always consistent, so that’s why i say if possible take the scale to make sure (this is being picky I’ll admit).
if she wants to go outside and do lunges the 10’s are excellent for this as well. even as she advances she can just lunge further, or add a bicep curl into the lunge–for core work, maybe even a military press at the top of the lunge. neoprene covered weights are great for this as they won’t rust over time, etc. 
here are the hex weights (pardon the corny pic). these won’t roll around either which is helpful
In general, I’m guessing she isn’t going to go too heavy. So, if she starts out with 8’s or 10’s that would be good for awhile then she can add the 12’s and so on.
I’ve been lifting for 12 years off and on and have never really used more than a 30 lb dumbbell (for bent over row), and have used a 45 to 60 lb dumbbell for dumbbell squats (i quit doing this though because of a back injury). 
The nice thing about dumbbells is you can do everything with them and they are small. She just needs the proper training is all. Also as she gets more advanced it’s nice to have higher and lower weights of bells for sets. personally i would hate to have to screw on plates and this and that. i just want a few sets of dumbbells and i’m good to go. they take up no space and cost little.
look into powerblock (www.powerblock.com). Weights start at 21 lb, in 3 lb increments
those are terrible for a woman–starting off at 21lbs is way to heavy!!. do you really use those things??? i hate them.
Yeah, I am familiar with powerblock, but for someone who is just lifting light for maintenance, I think 21lbs is a little much…
They actually start at 3 pounds and go UP to 21 in 3 pound increments (and they make you sexy, too)
.
Ahhhh…that makes a little more sense. Maybe something to look into. Of course, price IS an issue as she is not going to wanna blow a wad of money on some sexy dumbells, just something to get the job done.
This set of powerblocks is $119 and the equivalent set of cast iron would be $99 (and powerblocks take up very little space)
.
oh good lord. she can get 10’s, 12’s and 15’s for way under that price with the hex weights. these three tend to be the staple weights for most women who are in fine shape.
resistance bands are the way to go for muscle tone & ROM. You know that the weights will end up in the garage collecting dust next to the nordic skitrack and ab-lounger. You can get a set of different resistance cords for cheap with a deal that clamps in a door for overhead stuff, and one with paddles for swim exercise. Throw in some push-up bars and a chin-up bar and your upper body is good to go.
Weights are only needed if she wants increased muscle mass, in which case I’d get two large detergent bottles which, when full, weigh approx 20lbs each. Good for curls, shrugs, shoulder raises and squats. Also make her chop wood and pull truck tires up hills.
I’m not feeling the karma
.
I prefer dumbbells to barbells (no messing around with collars and changing out plates every five minutes!). As for brand, I love my Yorks (Made in the USA!). I have a 10lb set, a 15lb set, and one 35lb monster that I found at an Athens, GA Play-it-Again (possibly used by the Bulldogs football team a few years back). You can pick up a nice vinyl set (10lbs and less) at Dick’s but they aren’t made in the USA. If you can’t find them locally, mail order directly from York is not as expensive as you might initially think.
Another brand that you might want to consider is Eleiko. It’s expensive, but it’s the best.
Bowflex/Nautilus makes some interesting dumbbells, you can dial-in your weight from 5-50lbs. You might want to check them out on their website.
Dave in VA
ok, this is just not true. you know what sits in the box under the basement stairs? resistance bands. ultimately, she needs to decide what she wants. women weight train differently then men, and curling 12’s isn’t going to add mass–that is just silly. it keeps a body dense and the bones dense. most women cannot even do a pull up unassisted, let alone 4 sets of 10 military style push ups (and you recommend push up bars???).
no–you guys are guys and don’t understand what a woman needs or what a woman is more inclined to use to keep herself fit. and i don’t know one single freaking person, let alone a woman, who is interested in curling a damn bottle of laundry detergent. that is absolutely ridiculous.
come on!!!
kittycat, i’m loving your attitude 
.
no - the detergent was so that she could wash my jockstrap after fixing me my dinner.
seriously, though, i cant tell you how many what i would call frumpy housewives down at the gym being made to do nautilus and freeweights by bald headed trainers in tight t-shirts. that, IMO, is ridiculous!
no - curling 12s isn’t going to add mass… but why buy a bunch of expensive heavy objects to lift occasionally around the house when a simple band can give you the same (actually better) workout for a fraction of the cost? What i actually said was that if she wants added mass she will need to go with 20s and up - bands will not work for that. Woof! 
"Also, make sure the weights are held on the bar by a screwing mechanism and NOT a spring clip. DO NOT use a spring clip. "
It was about 19 years ago, me a poor college student that bought some weights at Meijer’s.
Doing dumbbell military press the cheap collar came off. A 10lbs cast iron weight fell from overhead (so 7 - 8’) and hit my big toe right at the nail bed. Someday I hope to have a normal toenail again. It’s only been 19 years so I think there is still a chance.