We Compared Every Major Adjustable Dumbbell Set. This One Offered the Biggest Bang for Your Buck

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services.  If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

One of the biggest challenges of building a home gym is figuring out where to put everything. If you’re training out of a garage or spare bedroom, space fills up fast, and most people don’t have room for a combo rack, multiple benches, a weight tree, or a full run of dumbbells. That’s where space-saving gym gear like adjustable kettlebells and adjustable dumbbells earns its keep. One piece of equipment gives you multiple weights in one, making progressive overload simpler without turning your workout space into a storage unit.

As home training has exploded over the years, so has the number of adjustable dumbbell options. Brands like Snode, Nike, and BowFlex now offer a wide range of well-designed sets, but many sit at a higher price point that may not make sense for every home gym. That’s why we like the NordicTrack 55-Pound Select-a-Weight Dumbbell Pair. For under $400, you get a solid, no-nonsense set of adjustable dumbbells that can handle even the most punishing at-home workouts.

Want the inside scoop on the best fitness gear of the year? Check out the rest of Men’s Journal 2026 Fitness Awards, where we’ve tested everything from adjustable dumbbells and pre-workouts to recovery tools and wearable fitness trackers.

The Men’s Journal Fitness Special is on newsstands now. Order your copy today!

NordicTrack 55-Pound Select-a-Weight Dumbbell Pair Key Product Features

NordicTrack gets many things right with its Select-a-Weight Dumbbell Pair. For starters, the set offers maximum adjustability—including 15 different weight options—thanks to a simple two-step adjustment process. A sliding pull tab adjusts in 10-pound increments, while a separate dial allows you to tack on an additional two and a half or five pounds. The length of the bar automatically adjusts based on the weight, and the rubberized grip offers a comfortable, ergonomic feel. Additionally, each purchase comes with a free 12-month subscription to the iFit app, which includes virtual training, video workouts, and more.

What helps this set earn the “best value” spot is how well it fits into a wide range of home gym setups and its sneaky good build quality. The footprint is compact enough for small spaces, and the overall construction feels sturdy without pushing the price into the premium tier. Although there’s a good bit of plastic on these dumbbells, they don’t feel cheap. And we know from personal experience they’re durable. Our tester has used this exact set extensively over the past few years in a garage setup. No cracks, loosening parts, or other obvious signs of wear. They’re as good now as they were brand new.

The 10- to 55-pound range also hits a sweet spot for most home lifters, giving you enough weight for big moves like presses, rows, squats, and lunges. The overall design keeps the dumbbells nicely streamlined, so they don’t feel overly long or blocky at lighter settings—a common issue with some adjustable models. It’s a versatile set that suits beginners and intermediate lifters especially well, and the coated plates keep noise to a minimum when you’re moving through circuits.

Pros

• Comes with multiple weight increments, ranging from 10 to 55 lbs, for versatile training.
• Features a comfortable, ergonomic grip that won't slip, even during intense workouts.
• Purchase includes a free 12-month iFit membership with more than 10,000 workouts.

Cons

• The weight range tops out at 55 lbs, which might be too light for more advanced users.
• The build features more plastic than some users might want.
• The pull tab works fine, but it’s slower than an adjustable dial, so the overall experience isn’t as streamlined as other options.
  

Final Verdict

If you’re just starting to build out a home gym and want adjustable dumbbells that prioritize durability and a workable price tag, the NordicTrack 55-Pound Select-a-Weight Dumbbell Pair is an easy place to start. The top-end weight is lighter than some of the premium, overbuilt options on the market, but it’s still plenty for beginners, casual lifters, or anyone training in a lighter-to-moderate range.

The pull-tab adjustment system is fairly straightforward and gets the job done without a steep learning curve, even if it’s not quite as seamless as dial-based systems. Where these really shine is in the basics. The grip feels secure in hand, and nothing about these feels flimsy or overcomplicated. They’re affordable enough to fit into most home gym budgets, and while they might not win points for aesthetics, they make up for it by being reliable, functional, and ready for hard training.

Why You Should Trust Me

I’m the associate health and fitness editor at Men’s Journal, where I write and edit stories covering everything from workout programming and training trends to hands-on testing of some of the industry’s most popular gym equipment. I’ve spent the last decade consistently training and testing products, logging real training time with everything from adjustable dumbbells and kettlebells to cross-training shoes, recovery tools, and the latest supplements.

Most days, if I’m not writing or editing, you’ll find me in the gym, barbell or dumbbell in hand and chalk on my shirt, subconsciously trying to figure out what gear actually improves training and what’s just marketing.

Related: New to Lifting? Coaches Say These Are the Best Weightlifting Shoes for Beginners