I had a conversation with a PT client recently about how much we love lifting weights and that we wished we started doing it sooner.
We’re both in our late 40s, and admitted that we kind of regretted spending so much time when we were younger obsessed with cardio, avoiding the weights rack for fear it would make us bulky. Now with lean muscle mass and bone density naturally declining with age, lifting heavy weights is one of our main priorities.
One thing that has really levelled up my resistance training routine is these Echelon adjustable dumbbells.
Unlike standard dumbbells, these are multiple sets of weights in one, ranging from 7-52.5lb (3-24kg in the UK). They use removable weight plates to change the resistance, and all you need to do to add or remove plates is to twist the dial in the handle.
The Echelon adjustable dumbbells come with a sturdy stand, so when you switch between weights, the unused plates remain safe in the stand’s tray. The stand has an integrated media holder so you can set up your tablet or phone and do strength workouts via the Echelon Fit app (available on iOS and Android).
I’ve been using the adjustable dumbbells for two weeks and I’m sold. Here’s what I liked about them.
They’re easy to use
The beauty of adjustable dumbbells is that everything is in one place and all you have to do to increase or decrease the resistance is turn the dial in the handle.
This means you can switch quickly—literally about a second—and seamlessly between weights, making your training more time-effective.
The only challenge I found was getting the weights into the house—carrying a box weighing 48kg is definitely a two-person job!
I’m progressing faster
Having such a wide resistance range has meant that I’m much more inclined to pick up a bigger weight and push myself. For weeks, I’d been stuck on an overhead press with 12kg, but since trying the Echelon adjustable dumbbells, I’ve progressed to 15kg.
I’ve also been using heavier loads for squats and reverse lunges, and they’ve helped me feel excited about exercise again after having a few weeks of not feeling motivated.
The only downside is that the dumbbells feel slightly bulky at lighter settings because, irrespective of the resistance, the length of the dumbbells remains the same.
They’re space-saving
Every corner in my house is crammed full of exercise equipment, so it’s a welcome change to have the equivalent of 12 pairs of dumbbells neatly stored all in one space. Imagine trying to find somewhere to put that many free weights in your house!
While adjustable weights cost more upfront and can feel like a big investment, in my opinion it’s money well spent. Plus, the Echelon set is currently in the Black Friday sale so now is the time to grab yourself a discounted set.
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