Hex Dumbbells
I am a major advocate of weight training with free weights, versus machines, so dumbbell workouts are definitely at the top of my program list.
Hex shaped dumbbells are named for their hexagon or six-sided design, and are standard in most homes for their practicality.
Most are cast from iron and coated with baked enamel, and some come rubber-coated. The shape of a hex dumbbell will keep it from rolling away when they're placed on the ground and we all know how annoying that is.
Hex-shaped dumbbells feature raised numbers on their heads so you can easily identify and grab them to perform exercises. Dumbbell weights available in 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35-pound increments, at approximately 49-cents per pound. I found that pairs of 10,15,20,25 and 30-pound dumbbells are all that I really need in my home gym for a full workout.
Like all equipment, the durability of your dumbbells is very important. Hex dumbbells are as indestructible as they appear. They're typically made of welded steel and some have vinyl coating for comfort grip so they're gentle on your hands like a built-in glove. I've don't make it a habit to drop my weights, so I'm can't give you a fair review of how much they would warp or crack if they were dropped repeatedly, but in my opinion if you're constantly dropping your weights they're too heavy for you.
Your set of hex dumbbells really won't take up that much space. They are the most compact of weight and because of their hexagonal design they won't roll when placed against a wall on the floor. However the best way to store your hex dumbbells is on a weight rack or, better yet, a vertical dumbbell rack. There are weights such as these that are composed of barbells (flat plates welded together) but they take up much more space than the dumbbells, plus they appear more dangerous because after quite a bit of use the weights will shift on the bar with barbells not so with dumbbells.
