My Dumbbells Top Out at 50 Lbs. Here's How I Bench Press 210 Lbs With Them.

My dumbbells top out at 50 lbs each. But my workouts don't have to. That's the idea behind this short before-and-after video, and it's also one of the reasons I invented Dualbell dumbbell converters. I have a collection of dumbbells that I use for all kinds of exercises. They're useful, versatile, and a big part of my home gym. But when I want to bench press more weight than I can comfortably use with a pair of dumbbells, I don't necessarily want to buy a whole new collection of heavier dumbbells or weight plates. I'd rather get more use out of what I already own. And that's exactly what Dualbell allows me to do.

Before Dualbell: Bench Pressing With 50 Lb Dumbbells

The first part of the video shows me doing a traditional dumbbell bench press using two 50 lb dumbbells. That's 100 lbs of total dumbbell weight, with each arm controlling its own dumbbell. It's a great exercise, and it's one I can continue doing whenever I want. But 50 lbs is the heaviest individual dumbbell in my collection. If I want to add more resistance to a traditional dumbbell bench press, I'd need heavier dumbbells. For a barbell bench press, though, there's another option.

After Dualbell: A 210 Lb Bench Press

In the second part of the video, I'm using the same dumbbell collection in a different way. With four Dualbell converters, I can attach two 50 lb dumbbells and two 45 lb dumbbells to a standard 1-inch bar. Those four dumbbells provide 190 lbs of resistance. Including the bar and hardware, I'm bench pressing 210 lbs. The dumbbells haven't changed. I've simply changed how I'm using them. That's the difference I wanted to demonstrate in the video.

My dumbbells still top out at 50 lbs individually, but I can combine them to create a heavier barbell exercise.

And when I'm finished, I can remove the dumbbells and use them individually again.

How Can You Use Dumbbells as Weight Plates?

Dualbell is a patented dumbbell-to-barbell converter designed to let compatible dumbbells serve as resistance on standard 1-inch bars. Each converter wraps around a compatible dumbbell handle, allowing the dumbbell to slide onto the bar and be secured with a suitable 1-inch collar. Depending on the exercise and setup, you can use one or two compatible dumbbells on each side of the bar. This opens up additional training options, including:

• Barbell bench presses
• Bent-over rows
• Deadlifts
• Overhead presses
• EZ-curl bar exercises
• Landmine exercises

The goal isn't to replace traditional dumbbell training or claim that dumbbells are better than weight plates. It's to give people another way to train using equipment they may already have.

More Weight Options Without Replacing Your Dumbbells

One of the challenges of building a home gym is deciding what equipment to buy next. You might start with a pair of dumbbells, then add heavier pairs, a bench, a barbell, or weight plates as your training progresses. There's nothing wrong with that approach. But space and cost can add up, especially in apartments, smaller workout rooms, and garage gyms. I created Dualbell because I wanted my existing equipment to do more. If I already have 45 lb and 50 lb dumbbells, why shouldn't I be able to combine that weight for a barbell exercise? That's what this 210 lb bench press demonstrates. It's not about making the dumbbells themselves heavier. It's about giving them another job.

Designed for Traditional and Many Adjustable Dumbbells

Dualbell works with most traditional fixed dumbbells and many adjustable dumbbell designs, provided the handle is compatible. The converters are designed for standard 1-inch (25 mm) bars and compatible dumbbell handles up to approximately 1.38 inches (35 mm) in diameter. Dualbell is made in the USA from durable Nylon 66 and has been independently lab tested up to 1,900 lbs. The maximum recommended load is a 125 lb dumbbell per Dualbell converter. As with any heavy bench press, use appropriate collars, a properly rated bar, a secure bench setup, and suitable spotting or safety equipment.

The Same Dumbbells. More Possibilities.

What I like most about this before-and-after video is that it shows a benefit of Dualbell in just a few seconds. Before: I'm using two 50 lb dumbbells for a traditional dumbbell bench press. After: I'm combining four dumbbells from the same collection for a 210 lb barbell bench press. I haven't replaced the dumbbells or given up the exercises I was already doing. I've simply added another way to use them.

My dumbbells top out at 50 lbs. But my workouts don't have to.

That's what Dualbell was created to make possible. Explore Dualbell dumbbell converters.