If you have or are creating a home gym, an adjustable dumbbell weight set is an invaluable piece of equipment due to their compact size and space saving abilities. I have found them to be one of the best investments you can make, as coupled with a training bench you are able to perform a full body workout with a minimal amount of space and equipment.
BrainGain offers two different dumbbell sets that both go up to 40kg, with one pitching itself as a more premium product (Octagon) but with a price difference of £150 between the two, this post explores the features of both and whether the extra money is worth it.
40kg Octagon Adjustable Dumbbells (Pair)
Price: BrainGain £549.99, Ebay £529.99 Amazon £499.99
Features: 16 individual dumbbells with increments of 2.5kg, 5kg, 7.5kg, 10kg, 12.5kg, 15kg, 17.5kg, 20kg. 22.5kg, 25kg, 27.5kg, 30kg, 32.5kg, 35kg, 37.5kg, 40kg
If this was a beauty competition, then there would be only one winner as the aesthetics of the Octagon dumbbells with its smooth plates and slick look is head and shoulders above it’s relatively plain and somewhat clunky looking counterpart.
However of more importance for lifters is that the octagon shape has a larger surface area, meaning that resting the dumbbells on your knees before manoeuvring them into position for things like chest press makes for an easier experience.
The adjusting mechanism also has a more premium feel to it, with the dumbbell being adjusted with a simple and single rotation with the handle which is incredibly easy to use, making switching between weights a breeze.
Additionally, while it is never advisable to drop adjustable dumbbells for fear of damage, BrainGain states that these are the most durable dumbbells that they produce and from a stability point of view the weight plates are compact with no spaces in between them, making for a smooth movement while exercising.
40kg Adjustable Dumbbells (Pair)
Price: BrainGain £399.99, Ebay £374.99, Things in common..
Both pairs come with a strong holding tray for each dumbbell, making them easy to store and organise. If buying direct from the BrainGain website both products come with a 12 month warranty. If you are opting to buy a pair of BrainGain adjustable dumbbells, you are in safe hands as both products are great pieces of equipment for a home gym, both offering excellent value for money – perspective is everything and the price of either set is still far cheaper than joining a commercial gym for a year. The regular dumbbell at £399.99 is hard to beat from a value point of view, it has one extra weight settings, the weight changing mechanism is still great for a a budget product…but it the one downside is that you do fear dropping them a bit. So on that basis the winner is the Octagon, and the reasons I think it’s worth the extra £150 are as follows; If you have either of these products, I would love to hear from you and find out what you experience has been with them! Conclusion