The world of weight training carries with it tons of superstitions and incorrect assumptions. One question I see people ask is, “Are dumbbells made of lead?”. If you’ve ever asked this question, let me assure you…
Dumbbells are NOT made of lead. Depending on the type of dumbbell, they can be made of: cast iron (sometimes coated in rubber or neoprene), plastic (sometimes with a concrete filling), or standard metal/steel. Rarely are dumbbells made of anything except these components.
Of course, what a particular dumbbell is made of largely depends on the type of dumbbell in question. In this article, we’ll cover all the different types of dumbbells and the materials they’re made out of.
By the end, you will know exactly what any kind of dumbbell is made out of.
What Are Dumbbells Made of?
Lead has never been a standard component in dumbbells. The idea that lead is in dumbbells is probably a myth which circulates due to the dangers of lead poisoning. You can rest easy knowing your dumbbells won’t be killing you any time soon (but still always lift weights safely)!
The truth is, dumbbells are made of all kinds of different materials. It largely depends on the type of dumbbell we are talking about. So, in order to get a thorough understanding of what dumbbells are made of, let’s go through each of the different types.
Fixed Weight Dumbbells
Fixed weight dumbbells are the dumbbells you would find in any commercial gym. They have one weight (i.e. 25 pounds) and cannot be adjusted at all. Hence, they are fixed weight.
Many fixed weight dumbbells are made of solid cast iron:
The old-fashioned ones are uniformly made of iron. These are similar to the ones I used to workout with back in the day in my old childhood basement gym (ah, the good ol’ days).
Nowadays, many cast iron dumbbells are coated in rubber:
Or neoprene:
Some dumbbells, such as the Rogue Fitness Urethane Dumbbells, are made out of steel. The ends are coated in urethane, which provides a smooth, protective coating, making them easier to use and set down.
Dumbbells with a fixed weight are the strongest dumbbells available materially. Yes, metal may rust over time, but it won’t break on you! Of course, these dumbbells are fixed weight, which means if you want an entire set, you are going to have to make space for them. And, they are quite costly!
If you’re looking for a nice set of fixed weight dumbbells, I definitely advise you to head over to Amazon and check out the Sporzon! Rubber Encased Hex Dumbbell sets:
Sporzon! Rubber Encased Hex Dumbbell
Plate-loaded (Loadable) Dumbbells
Plate-loaded dumbbells are dumbbells which you load either standard (1″) or Olympic (2″) weight plates onto and hold the weights with a collar or clip. These dumbbells are generally only used in home gyms. You can often simply buy a pair of them for low-cost and use the weight plates you already have.
Plate-loaded dumbbells are made of cast iron or steel:
There are some loadable dumbbells nowadays which are made of TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), which is just a hard plastic. It’s quite safe to use.
Generally, the weights you would load onto the steel plate-loaded dumbbells are made of cast iron. The only exception might be Olympic lifting bumper plates, which have a rubber casing so you can drop them safely.
Plate loaded dumbbells may be the best overall type of dumbbell materially. Because of their iron or metal status, we know they are strong. They are also cost effective since you can load the same weight plates onto these or onto your barbell.
In the market for some plate-loaded dumbbells?
If you’re looking for a set which comes with weights, I recommend the Yes4All plate-loaded dumbbells:
Yes4All Plate-Loaded Dumbbells
If you just want a pair of loadable dumbbell sleeves, I recommend these, for Olympic (1″) weight plates:
Sunny Health & Fitness Olympic Dumbbell Handlebar
Or these, for standard (1″) weight plates:
Yes4All Adjustable Dumbbell Bar
Adjustable Dumbbells
Adjustable dumbbells are dumbbells which are selectorized, meaning you can select how much weight you want to load at any particular time. These dumbbells come with a range of weight, with several options.
For example, you may purchase a pair of 25 pound adjustable dumbbells. The weights available may be: 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25. Different sets have different mechanisms for selecting weight.
These types of dumbbells are usually made of plastic, sometimes with a rubber handle, and have steel plates inside of them.
With the Powerblock dumbbells, you insert a plastic clasping device which holds onto the selected weight. With other dumbbells, such as the ATIVAFIT, you adjust a dial to select the weight. I have links to both of these below.
Adjustable dumbbells are a bit more fragile then the fixed weight or plate-loaded types. Because of the plastic and the selectorization, they are much more vulnerable to damage. Of course, the benefits of these dumbbells are their ease of use (turn a dial instead of changing plates), and their space-saving design (you don’t need plates or extra dumbbells).
My favorite adjustable dumbbells are the PowerBlock or the ATIVAFIT:
PowerBlock Adjustable Dumbbells 5-50 Pounds
ATIVAFIT Adjustable Dumbbell (Up to 71.5 Pounds)
Foam Dumbbells
Another type of dumbbell are foam dumbbells. Obviously, these are made of foam! These dumbbells are for lighter weights only, and they are generally found in home gyms for people doing endurance training.
These dumbbells are really safe to use, as they come in lighter weights with a nice, soft, foam padding. Of course, if you are a serious lifter these won’t really do the trick.
If you’re looking for a pair, I recommend these foam dumbbells:
Sunlite Sports High-Density EVA-Foam Dumbbell Set
Water-filled Dumbbells
No, I’m not making this up, there are actually water-filled dumbbells! These dumbbells are great for travel, because you can fill and unfill them whenever you desire!
Water-filled dumbbells are made of plastic or a material called ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene).
If you’re on the go and need a pair, I recommend this one:
Deiris Travel Water Filled Dumbbells
Are the Materials in Dumbbells Safe?
Broadly speaking, the materials in dumbbells are quite safe to use. Of course, I wouldn’t recommend going to the shady guy in the alley for your dumbbells!
Seriously, I could not find any dumbbell manufacturer which makes their dumbbells out of lead or any unsafe materials known to be hazardous or toxic to human health.
Of course, iron and steel carry with it the dangers of rust. It also hurts like hell when you drop them on your feet (not that I know from personal experience of course…). So, watch out for that.
The only material I had to look up for safety was the ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) in some of the water-filled dumbbells. It appears it is safe as long you don’t do anything crazy like setting it on fire!
P.S. I know it may look cool to be lifting flaming dumbbells (I mean, that would look pretty rad), but I really don’t recommend it! Just lift the weights the right way and show off your big muscles instead of your flaming dumbbell
/end of PSA
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