Best Rubber Dumbbells
Rubber dumbbells are a great budget-friendly way to introduce some gym equipment to your home.
If you aren’t looking to spend a great deal of money on heavy cast iron dumbbells, then this could be your next best option.
These types of dumbbells also tend to be a lot more forgiving if dropped, and won’t roll around on your floors due to the typical hex design associated with the rubber models.
👑 Our Pick for Best Overall
⭐ Our Other Top Rubber Dumbbell Picks
- Best of the Best: Cap Coated Hex Dumbbell
- Runner Up: Sporzon! Rubber Encased Hex Dumbbell
- Best Set: BalanceFrom Colored Neoprene Dumbbells
Best Rubber Dumbbell Reviews
Cap Coated Hex Dumbbell (👑 Top Pick)
In our view, Cap Barbell makes the best rubber dumbbells, mainly due to their robust design and the wide range of weight options on offer.
The hex dumbbells you can buy from Cap go from 5 pounds all the way up to 120 pounds, and cover every 5 pound increment along the way. That means it doesn’t matter where you’re currently at with your strength training, there’s definitely a weight option that will work for you. This is one of the biggest factors when investing in a dumbbell, since you want to be sure that you have the right amount of weight to offer up a good challenge for your workouts.
As we already touched upon, the design of these dumbbells is another big reason why we rate them so highly. These aren’t dumbbells constructed entirely of rubber, but solid cold rolled steel dumbbells with thick grey iron heads, which are then coated with rubber in the shape of a hexagon. This premium build quality will make your home feel like a real personal gym, and it will feel deeply satisfying to lift the heavy duty weights. There’s something about using certain metals that just feels good, especially when compared to colorful neoprene dumbbells which are less likely to make you feel the same way.
The handle is also designed ergonomically to provide extra security and grip as you use the dumbbells, and the hex design of the heads prevents rolling when you place them on the floor.
Features:
- Available from 5lbs to 120lbs in 5lb increments
- Cold rolled steel handles
- Grey iron rubber-coated hex heads
- Ergonomic handle for grip
Sporzon! Rubber Encased Hex Dumbbell (🥈 Runner Up)
This rubber encased hex dumbbell from Sporzon! Is perfect for working out from home, and is available as either a single weight or a pair of 2.
Unfortunately, many dumbbell brands can have ambiguous product descriptions which lead you on to believe that when you buy the product you’ll get a set of 2 dumbbells, when this isn’t really the case. Whether intentional or not, nobody wants to feel like they’ve been ripped off and paid more than they thought for less than they wanted. However, you won’t have this problem with Sporzon! This brand makes a point to distinguish between single dumbbells and pairs of dumbbells, to make the decision a lot easier for you to make.
The dumbbells offered by the brand range from 10lbs to 50lbs, although it’s best to check the product page to see whether this comes in the form of a single dumbbell or a pair. The rubber encasing for the dumbbell ensures that it’s gentle on your home floors, and shouldn’t cause too much damage even if it slips out of your hand mid-set. As with most rubber dumbbells, you can expect the hex head design, which prevents them from rolling once you’ve set them down on the ground. Then there’s the textured chrome handles which make it easy to keep hold of the dumbbells as you use them.
Features:
- Available as singles or pairs between 10-50lbs
- Encased in rubber
- Textured chrome handles
BalanceFrom Colored Neoprene Dumbbells (💪🏼 Best Set)
If you’re looking for a complete dumbbell set to add to your home gym, then you could do a lot worse than these colored neoprene dumbbells from BalanceFrom.
The first thing you’re likely to notice on inspecting the product page of this dumbbell set is that the dumbbells are colorful, and there’s a rack included. While neither one of those things is necessarily groundbreaking in the grand scheme of things, they can both help transform the atmosphere of a room into a place you go to do exercise.
It’s always a pain to have dumbbells lying around on the floor, especially when this is the place that you eat, sleep, and maybe even work too. As a result, getting a color-coordinated rack is not only visually pleasing, but also helps set the tone for working out, and helps you keep your weights in one place between workouts. The last thing you want to do is accidentally stub your toe on a dumbbell that’s been misplaced, as this is almost as bad as stepping on lego. To finish talking about the rack, there’s also a very convenient carry handle on top which allows for easy transport. This means you could even store it in the trunk of your car if you want to be able to get a workout in on the road.
As to what’s actually included, you’ll get 3 pairs of dumbbells, each with their own spots on the rack. These are 5, 8, and 12 lb weights, so this will either be perfect for you, or it won’t. That’s one of the downsides of this set of weights, since if you feel like you want to lift heavier weights, it might not be a great investment for you. However, there’s a lot to be said for high volume training, so everyone could in theory benefit from using these weights.
The dumbbells themselves are cast iron coated in neoprene, which makes them ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. Then you have the sturdy grip, and the hex heads which prevent them from rolling should you happen to forget to place them back on the rack.
Features:
- Includes 3 pairs of dumbbells (5,8, and 12lbs)
- Neoprene-coated cast iron design
- Includes rack with carry handle
Ultimate Guide
If you want to ensure you get the right rubber dumbbells for your workouts, then you’re going to need to consider the various factors involved.
Training at home is something you should take as seriously as you would in the gym, so why wouldn’t you want to get the best weights possible for your strength goals within your budget?
Such factors include the grip afforded by the dumbbells, the weight options, the feel of the weights, the value for money, and the inclusion of any extras such as a weight rack.
Grip
The grip or handle of a dumbbell is crucial, as it will determine how easy it is to keep in your hand as you’re going through your reps.
If you have a slippery grip, or one which doesn’t feel comfortable for your hands, then you might find yourself stopping sets before you’ve actually finished.
The best thing to look out for in order to get the best grip for a dumbbell is some form of anti-slip design.
This comes in many ways, so you’ll have to determine which is best for you.
One way manufacturers will satisfy this brief is by creating a textured finish to the handle since this will make it less smooth and slippery. You can imagine that if you had a very smooth finish, the sweat from your hands would make it more and more challenging to keep a firm hold of the dumbbells.
Another way manufacturers can achieve an anti slip grip is by developing an ergonomic handle.
The medium depth knurling used for the Cap hex dumbbell for example is one such way of preventing your hand from slipping a lot.
Weight Options
Ideally, you want to have a solid idea in mind of what weight dumbbell you are looking for before you invest.
If you’ve been to the gym before, then think back to what weights you were comfortable using, and which weights were slightly more challenging.
It’s entirely up to you, but it’s a good idea to get a dumbbell that feels relatively comfortable for you to use at first. This is because performing exercises with correct form is so much more important than using the heaviest weights you can manage.
The former will help you develop strength in a healthy way, while the latter could lead to injury.
If you haven’t been to the gym before then it might be worth it for you to consider a set of weights, like those from BalanceFrom.
That way, you’re bound to have a few weights that you’ll enjoy using, so it turns out to be a relatively risk-free investment.
Also, think about whether you’ll be fine doing exercises with a single dumbbell or if you’ll want a pair.
If you do want a pair, which a lot of people probably will, then make sure that’s what you’re buying when you’re at the checkout page.
There can often be confusion when buying dumbbells as to whether you’re buying a single weight or a pair of weights, so be careful not to make that mistake.
In general, the more buying options you have, the better.
That’s what puts brands like Cap at the top of our list, since they will offer a wide variety of weight options and give you plenty of choice.
Value for Money
Value for money is an important issue, since if you’re looking at rubber dumbbells the chances are you’re interested in saving some money.
In order to get exactly what you want without breaking the bank, it’s worth shopping around a bit first and seeing what for example a couple of 10 lb weights from one brand would cost versus a couple of 10 lb weights from another brand.
Maybe it ends up being the case that you’d prefer one solidly made dumbbell from one brand, over a pair of lower quality dumbbells from another brand. Or vice versa, perhaps you just want a pair of dumbbells even if that means compromising a little on design and durability.
Likewise, if you really want the most out of your money and you’re satisfied with the weights on offer, you could invest in a set like the one from BalanceFrom.
What’s great about this set is that you won’t need to keep investing in dumbbells, since you’ll have 6 right off the bat.
Rack
Dumbbells don’t often come with extras, so don’t go expecting to get much other than the dumbbell itself and a manual.
However, some will come with a weight rack, which will be a gamechanger for some people.
If you’re looking to turn a room in your house into a home gym, then there’s few better ways to do so then by sticking a weight rack in it full of dumbbells.
This will give you somewhere to store your dumbbells after using them, and can make it convenient to move them around, especially if the rack has a carry handle as in the case of the BalanceFrom dumbbell set.
The Feel of the Weights
You may be wondering what exactly it is we mean by the feel of the weights, allow us to explain.
There’s something about the weight room in a gym that feels especially intense, and can get you fired up.
Maybe it’s watching yourself execute those excruciating last few reps in the mirror, biceps bulging, maybe it’s being around others, or maybe it’s the feel of the heavy duty dumbbells in your hands.
It’s probably a combination of a lot of things if we’re honest, but there is definitely something to be said for a cast iron or steel handle, and robust heads.
If this is an experience you’re looking to recreate at home, then maybe you’d prefer the Cap dumbbells which are built using cold rolled steel and grey iron as opposed to colorful neoprene weights.
Just because the dumbbells are coated in rubber, it doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on the heavy duty feeling of cold hard metal as you pump iron at home.
It’s easy to think of rubber as a synthetic lightweight material, which it is, but the reality is that the way it is used for dumbbells in some cases won’t detract from the feeling of using them.
Get Your Free "Fight Club Physique" Checklist 
Frequently Asked Questions About Rubber Dumbbells
Are rubber hex dumbbells good?
Rubber hex dumbbells are good for building muscle, but also good for your bank balance.
These types of weights tend to be a lot more affordable than ones made from more robust materials like metal, and are also very convenient to use at home.
Due to the odd hex shape of the weights at either end of a rubber dumbbell, you won’t necessarily need a rack to store them at home and you won’t find yourself chasing after rolling dumbbells.
What is inside rubber dumbbells?
While they are called rubber dumbbells, you’ll actually find that these dumbbells still have a metallic base inside of them.
The only difference is, instead of being covered with cast iron for example, they are covered with a coating of rubber.
The rubber itself can be made from tree sap or a whole host of synthetic materials.
Why are hex dumbbells cheap?
Hex dumbbells are cheap because they are made largely with rubber, and synthetic materials.
Given that heavy-duty metals like cast iron are expensive to produce, it’s necessary to have a cheaper made dumbbell which is accessible to any budget in order to appeal to the masses.
The synthetic materials are much easier to create, which in turn makes it a much cheaper product to buy.
A Final Word Word From Energetic Lifestyle
Buying rubber dumbbells could be the smartest thing you ever do for your strength and fitness goals.
Having dumbbells at home is invaluable, but it’s important to take the time and figure out exactly which rubber dumbbell is best for your needs.
Thanks for the great recommendations. I want to try the Sporzon dumbbells. I just ordered them and will let you know how it goes!
Great George. Please do that, we’ll await your account and review!