Why is the dumbbell so popular?
Does it approximate everyday objects? Nope.
Is the shape uniquely suited to performing every exercise? Not exactly.
Is it easy to hold in multiple ways? Nope.
Kettlebells have been giving them slight competition. But dumbbells are much more popular.
For one simple reason. Tradition. Familiarity. Everyone knows what to do with a dumbbell. The design is self evident. And we’ve seen enough people use one. It’s the norm.
That hasn’t stopped the industry from trying to improve on it.
In the slides, I take a look at the many different tools that have been introduced in the last decade.
To be sure, objects like the stones with handles, maces, long rods, top loaded rods have prominently featured in many cultures across the millennia to train athletes.
We continue to iterate and refine these ideas to make them more accessible and scalable.
Takeaway
The simple idea underlying the need to create a new tool: there is always a better tool for every job.
There is a whole lot going on in the world of fitness to make lifting more accessible that is not quite mainstream just yet.
I hope you learn something new from the slides!
All the images are from the company sites:
Watsons Dumbbells:
The classic dumbbell. Handles may spin or not. Made of steel or rubber. Grip can be fatter or thinner based on weight. Tried, tested, found everywhere and familiar.
Adjustable dumbbells like the Pepin Rep dumbbell and Gungnir loadable dumbbell A convienient twist on tradition. Adjustable dumbbells come in different forms. Some allow you to use standard plates. Others sacrifice that convenience for proprietary plates that can be adjusted much more quickly.
Kettlebell Kings kettlebells
Neatly complements a dumbbell. Load is directly below where you hold it.
The best kettlebells have smooth and grippy handles. Have an even coat of paint around a smooth surface without bumps or bulging branding.
It is better for carries and rows than dumbbells. But not as comfortable for pressing. You can't swing a dumbbell like you can a kettlebell. Snatches and cleans on both objects are completely different movements.
Dynamax med balls
Throwing is an underrated and under-utilised exercise. Muscles work quite differently when you use them to throw forcefully versus do a push up or press a barbell.
The way you can hold a ball shaped object makes it uniquely suited for throwing, hugging to squat and carry around.
They come in cloth, leatherette, canvas or rubber filled with air, sand or fabric.
Goruck Sandbell
Kettlebells are not built for dropping. And carrying training implements while travelling is not practical. But there are fabric based sandbags, kettlebells, cans and balls that can be filled with sand.
Loading it with sand makes it easier to handle, more portable. It adds a lot of bulk though. And bulk can change how certain moves feel. But you can drop it unlike a cast iron kettlebell. A terrific detail is how there are three compartments in the sand kettlebell that keep the load distributed evenly by not letting the sand slosh around. You get these shaped as a ball, stone, sandbags and jerry cans too.
Hyperwear steel bell
Companies like Goruck and Hyperwear are using textiles, metal and sand to make more adaptable weights.
They do not lend themselves to neat, ergonomic lifting like dumbbells and kettlebells. But they approximate the messiness of handling everyday objects. They're safer to throw around. The sand or bearing filling also quickly takes shape in the form of your shoulders or upper back or chest, making them useful and comfortable for picking up, carrying and performing a variety of exercises with.
Rogue Centermassbell
Introduced in 2016, these hand weights spread the entire load around the handle. That lends itself to a more balanced lift. Not to mention, the load feels smaller and more compact than a dumbbell or kettlebell.
How a load is dispersed can change the feedback from a move. It can also make it easier to get a firmer grip on the object. This again is a game changer as stability Is less of a constraint for a good lift. A compact load also makes for more ergonomic lifting.
ATX Deltadumbbells
Also introduced in 2016, the ATX Delta Dumbbells tries to incorporate the best of kettlebells and dumbbells into one object. The rack position makes for a better starting point for pressing and squatting.
The shape also makes the load travel more smoothly on rows and sit more comfortably while carrying. The feedback on raises and flies makes it more challenging than dumbbells.
The shape and dual handle makes it uncomfortable to handle as a single load for squatting. But the design informs me that it is not intended to be used that way. They would make for terrific push up handles.
TRX Y-bell
A 2020 entrant. The Y-bell follows the Centermass bell and Delta bell in providing multiple ways to interact with the object. You can hold it like a kettlebell, dumbbell or slightly off-center Center mass bell. This can make the same load feel different based on where you hold it.
The double handle setup allows you grip it with two hands more comfortably than a dumbbell or kettlebell.
Havak Triad
Another 2020 entrant that aims to provide more grip widths, versatility and loading profiles. The handles come in three different thickness. This can help you challenege your grip strength. Like the ATX triad and Y-bell, you can hold it like a dumbbell, centermass bell or kettlebell to vary how the load feels on different moves.