Nuobell – The Best Value Adjustable Dumbbell

Nuobell Adjustable Dumbbell Overview

The Nuobell Adjustable Dumbbell is a selectorized adjustable dumbbell from Swedish manufacturer, SMRTFT that is sold by Rogue Fitness.

It took out our top pick as the best adjustable dumbbell.

The Nuobell has a standard adjustable dumbbell design, removing the need for normal plate-loading.

Unlike the Rogue Olympic dumbbell, this doesn’t use your normal weights, and it doesn’t have the same size. This can be useful if you’re looking to get started and don’t have weight plates lying around already.

The selector is a solid, reliable, and effective mechanism.

Depending on your product choice, it gives you access to dumbbell weights from 5 to 50lbs or 5 to 80lbs, depending on your product choice.

This is great because you can save money or expand your training options based on your personal needs.

The Nuobell is the perfect adjustable dumbbell if you’re looking to get started, don’t own plates, or need a smaller choice compared to the Olympic dumbbell handles.

Not sure if an adjustable dumbbell is right for you? Then check out our guide to buying the best dumbbells for a home gym.

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Who Should Buy the Nuobell Adjustable Dumbbells

The Nuobell Adjustable Dumbbell is the best set of dumbbells for those starting a home gym.

It’s a development that completely transforms your home gym.

The range of weights and size are perfect, and – if you don’t have a wide range of plates already – it’s much cheaper and more effective than a plate-loaded dumbbell set.

This is a fantastic all-in-one dumbbell purchase for anyone looking to develop over time. The 50lbs and 80lbs versions let you choose which weight range you need, too, making it a great set for both beginners and intermediates.

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Why You Should Buy the Nuobell Adjustable Dumbbells

Excellent Value for Money

The Nuobell Adjustable Dumbbell product saves you a ton of money.

If you’re comparing to buying an Olympic dumbbell handle or a set of dumbbells, you may save $500-1500 depending on your choices.

By building the product as a single integral unit, you save space and money. This is compared with a rack of dumbbells that is typically $1000 for a 5-50lbs set or even more for a 5-80lbs set.

These are a great training option but cost a fortune, while the Nuobell Adjustable Dumbbell offers the same function for a fraction of the price.

Great Selector Mechanism

The selectorized design is also more accessible and maybe a great purchase no matter your home gym setup.

This is a great alternative to the plate-loaded system with a manageable size and reliable, high-quality design.

If you’re just starting your home gym or want to add dumbbells but not a ton of plate-weight, this is the choice.

It also saves money since plates are expensive per-lb compared to the respectable price of the Nuobell.

High Quality and Durability

The selector system is of great quality, and Rogue’s comparison with others on the market is positive. As ever, the quality and durability of the build are great.

The actual stability of the dumbbells is good and the internal and external parts are well-made.

This is important for adjustable dumbbells, in particular, since moving parts are always the most vulnerable to damage.

As a result, robust and durable build is more important than ever.

The Nuobell Adjustable Dumbbell is a great take on the standard formula.

It’s not revolutionary – selectorized dumbbells have been around for decades – but it is the height of the design. In addition, they offer excellent build quality – key for a piece of equipment that will see so much regular use!

Good Weight Range and Increments

The selection of weights from 5-50lbs and 5-80lbs are both strong.

These are typical ranges for the average gym user and cover a range of exercises. They’re going to provide most types of pressing, rowing, and other dumbbell exercises.

Only the strongest people will need to expand beyond the 80lbs range for presses. Issues are typically only related to deadlifts and lunges, effective at 80lbs for most people but may not be super heavy for stronger people.

The range is great for the beginner-intermediate home gym trainee.

If you’re looking for super heavy lifting, then dumbbells probably aren’t the best choice – or you can buy supplementary dumbbells above 80lbs!

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Why You Shouldn’t Buy the Nuobell Adjustable Dumbbells

The main limitation to a selectorized dumbbell is the mild limitation of the exercises you can do with it.

While it opens up many of the traditional exercises we associate with dumbbells (like presses and rows), there are limitations.

The inner selector needs to be treated with care – so exercises that might work for rubberized, integral dumbbells aren’t suitable for the Nuobell.

This is the general issue of the product: while hard-wearing, it does have limited application for functional fitness. You typically don’t want ground contact since the impact may damage the crucial internal selector system.

This is a standard issue, and we’ve seen it in other adjustable dumbbells. It seems to be part and parcel of buying adjustable dumbbells. Moving parts require a little more care. 

For more options, check out our Best Adjustable Dumbbells Buying Guide.

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Nuobell Adjustable Dumbbell Specifications

• Brand: SMRTFT
• Adjustable All-in-One Dumbbell System
• Sold in Pairs
• Patented Swedish Design
• Steel and Plastic Construction w/ knurled handle
• Available in 50LB and 80LB max weight versions
• Adjustable by 5LB increments by flexing handle
• 2 Portable Cradles included
• Plate Color: Black

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Benefits of Adjustable Dumbbells

Adjustable dumbbells open up the world of free weight training in a way that almost nothing else can.

Adjustable dumbbells are part of the best setup you could hope for in a home gym, offering the versatility of a rack full of dumbbells. But, of course, they also cut the cost and space demands, making them perfect for any fitness enthusiast looking to save thousands of dollars!

After a barbell and plates, they’re the best weight investment for your home gym, offering a wide range of exercises at a reasonable price point.

The adjustable dumbbell saves you the expense of a whole rack of dumbbells while still allowing you the versatility to change weight during a workout.

This is much better than the cost of an entire rack of dumbbells or buying a few dumbbells and limiting your training process. 

Adjustable dumbbells also save you a ton of space, as well as a ton of money. They are not only $$$ to $$$$ cheaper than racks but take up no more space than the largest selectorized dumbbell.

This makes them perfect for home gyms and easy to stuff into attics, basements, and garages without needing space for a dumbbell rack.

Adjustable dumbbells are also great for using multiple weights in training without mess or safety risks, unlike preset or ‘integral’ dumbbells. It’s as simple as adding weight in the selector or removing it and doesn’t leave plates all over the floor.

Overall, the idea of an adjustable dumbbell is to fit multiple dumbbells into one.

This saves you the immense inconvenience and cost of buying multiples. You’ll also find that adjustable dumbbells are inexpensive one by one, often competing with premium dumbbells for a single set.

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Adjustable Dumbbells Buying Guide

In order to make sure you are buying, high-quality, value-for-money adjustable dumbbells, learn more about the key features to look for below.

Durability

You don’t want to buy a set of dumbbells that you need to replace within the year.

Better durability makes a better buy when all other things are equal because it determines how much value you get from a product. You’re multiplying the training options and quality by the number of years you’re using it for!

When it’s a home gym purchase, that can easily be decades with a good product.

Free weights like these are designed to last, and better durability means a better investment. Try dividing the cost by how long you’d reasonably expect a product to last, and value for money for quality starts to make more sense.

This is why Nuobell is our winner with construction and material qualities that put it firmly in the first place.

Weight Capacity

Heavier weight capacity typically means better products. It expands the amount of weight you can use and the number of exercises that a set of dumbbells is useful for.

For example, 25lbs dumbbells (like the PowerBlock Sport) aren’t very useful for heavy squatting or deadlifting. In comparison, 95lbs dumbbells (the Elite EXP Series) have much more range for these ‘big’ exercises.

Weight Increments

The increments also count. More increments between weights reduce the amount of weight each ‘jump’ represents. This makes a real difference to whether or not you’re going to hit a PR today or not. This adds up to long-term progress over the weeks and months.

More weight – and better increments along the way – make a better dumbbell. The PowerBlock Elite EXP is fantastic for both of these.

Speed & Ease of Weight Change

These are unusual for most people, but they make a dumbbell easier to use.

In addition, adjustable dumbbells can be changed during a workout if you’re smart about which weights you want and how you’re using them.

This is a minor factor compared to weight capacity and durability, but it does help.

The easy mechanism in Nuobell and Bowflex‘s dumbbells makes for an incredible speed of weight change. They are smooth, easy, and reliable – making them slightly easier to change on the go.

Warranty

A good warranty means you don’t have to worry about incurring extra costs if your product breaks. Of course, even under warranty, you don’t want to deal with the hassle, but it’s better to be covered for as long as possible. 

However, the warranty also speaks to the durability and faith of the manufacturer in their product. This typically accompanies better designs that have been tested extensively and have good longevity.

Dial vs. Pin vs. Plate Type

Dial mechanisms tend to be the best, shortly followed by pins, and the plate-adjustable dumbbell is its own beast altogether.

For today’s article, the dial is best, pin is second, and plate is third. We want a small, compact, versatile dumbbell, and the dial systems used by Nuobell and Bowflex are the best.

The pin system used in PowerBlock is good. Still, it does put a lot of importance on a single part with a lower durability design than dials.

Good dials are great, while bad dials are terrible and a risk to your dumbbells. Pins are more straightforward and have a very strong “middle-ground” but must be made durable and reliable.

Plates are great – and classic – but limited, and the Flybird example is a lightweight, cheap version of plate-loaded dumbbell handles.

Handle Design and Materials

Handles are the bit you hold, and thus quality here determines what it feels like to use a dumbbell. Rubberized handles are standard for middle and lower-cost dumbbells, providing natural grip but increasing hand sweat and wear over time.

A knurled finish – typically in stainless steel or zinc-coated metals – is a superior choice most of the time. This does cause some churning of hand skin, but that’s both a part of weight training and a good adaptation to develop.

The trade-off is a more reliable, effective grip in all conditions and less loss of grip as you get sweaty. It’s not perfect, but it’s a sign of quality that sets products like Nuobell apart.

Better knurling is great, but you want to get a middle “aggression” knurl that isn’t unnecessarily sharp for home gym use.

Cost

You never want to pay more than you have to. Cash is a limited resource, and being frivolous on products that don’t offer features and quality is a fast way to waste money and get sub-par equipment.

Buy a product that suits your budget. Value for money is a real consideration, and – after a certain point – extra money doesn’t buy extra quality or features. It just ends up being spent on decorative or unnecessary additions.

Any cost should be justified by what an adjustable dumbbell brings to training. Nuobell is the most expensive on our list because the feature-set is complete, and the details are finely crafted, lasting for years.

But PowerBlock‘s cheaper price point is better for some. Flybird‘s entry-level cost is also great if you’re strapped for cash but dedicated to your health and fitness.

Cost is an important factor. It should be justified, as low as you can reasonably get, and always appropriate to your needs and resources.

Don’t get into debt for the Nuobell because it’s the best adjustable dumbbell on the market. 

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Nuobell Adjustable Dumbbells FAQs

Why are adjustable dumbbells so expensive?

They’re really not.

When we think adjustable dumbbells are expensive, it’s because they’re doing a lot of work in a home gym.

They’re actually a great saving over multiple sets of dumbbells or – even worse – a whole rack. These can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Even the best set of adjustable dumbbells on our list – the Nuobell adjustable dumbbells – are roughly half the price of their dumbbell rack alternatives. Options like the PowerBlock Elite EXP get closer to ¼ the price of a rack spanning the same 5lbs to 90lbs range. 

Adjustable dumbbells are more expensive per set because you only need one set. Don’t compare adjustable dumbbells to normal dumbbells – compare them to a range of free weights that includes every weight in their range.
It’ll become clear just what a cash- and space-saving device they are!

Can you get a good workout with Adjustable Dumbbells?

Yes. Yes, you can.

Just like dumbells in general, adjustable dumbells are excellent for home workouts.

Check out our guide to the best dumbbell workout you can do at home to learn more.

What are the best adjustable dumbbells?

The Nuobell adjustable dumbbell is our top pick for most people but does incur a higher cost.

It’s in this product that you see everything that matters: weight range, quality, durability, an excellent brand reputation, and a product that is both easy to use and effective for the long run.

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Nuobell Adjustable Dumbbells Final Verdict

The Nuobell Adjustable Dumbbell really steps up the quality of the selectorized dumbbells we’ve seen on the market for decades.

It’s a great choice for a home gym, streamlining the space and cost demands of a full set of dumbbells while still offering the same versatility.

This makes the Nuobell an excellent purchase when it comes to versatility and value for money. The design is good, and the durability is solid. Still, it goes without saying that this is a versatile, accessible, economical choice.

It isn’t perfect for every dumbbell exercise, but definitely enough to expand your home gym training exponentially.