The mighty dumbbell. A staple of any commercial gym, and surely the winner of most underappreciated commercial gym equipment. In fact, we’d go one step further and say dumbbells are up there with the best gym equipment full stop. Here’s why.

First of all, dumbbells have been around for thousands of years. From the ‘halteres’ of Ancient Greece to the ‘meels’ of Ancient Persia, and even the Indian club or ‘Nal’ that was used for more than a millennium, dumbbells in one shape or another pre-date any other form of gym equipment by a long long way. The familiar dumbbell we recognise today even dates back to the 17th century. And there’s a reason it’s stood the test of time.

When it comes to improving strength and conditioning, dumbbells just work. Unlike other more complex pieces of strength equipment, almost anybody can pick up a dumbbell and start to see some improvement over a period of time as long as they’re using it correctly. Beginners often start with a dumbbell workout as their introduction to weight training, but with the right progression, it can still be a core part of even the most experienced weight lifter’s routine.

Dumbbells are also pretty universal. While barbells can often be seen as a bit daunting for the intrepid newcomer, it’s not uncommon to see people of all ages, shapes and sizes making their way over to the dumbbell rack and getting it done. Making the transition from a dumbbell set at home to a commercial dumbbell set is also very easy, so they can be a comforting and familiar go-to for those who are new to working out in a gym environment.

Sadly, dumbbells are frequently (and wrongly) seen as being for weight lifters only. That’s definitely not the case. Our final reason for holding the dumbbell up as the best piece of commercial gym equipment is this - it’s ridiculously versatile, which is why it should be carefully considered as part of your gym planning and layout. Almost any workout can benefit from a dumbbell as a form of progressive overload. Whether it’s cardio, core work or plyometrics, dumbbells can be introduced to provide added resistance and increased muscle stabilisation.

Not surprisingly, dumbbells are an integral part of any commercial gym project we work on. But that doesn’t mean we take them for granted, not for one minute. Like all the pieces in our free weights range, our dumbbells have been meticulously designed, manufactured and tested to provide the best experience for any commercial gym’s end-users and to withstand heavy use. From the choice of rubber and polyurethane materials through to the large clear numbering on the side, every little detail has been considered.

So, the next time somebody asks you what the most important piece of gym equipment is, don’t hesitate to proudly reply: “the dumbbell”.

You can find out more about the dumbbells in our free weights range here. You can also see some of our dumbbells in action at a couple of leisure centre projects we recently worked on.