If you've ever had one of those weight plates that were made of stone covered by a piece of plastic, then you will appreciate the durability of any of the newer types of dumbells made of metal or a rubber material. Let's face it, when we go all out at times while working out, we will sometimes drop the weights to the ground. Having dumbells that are made of materials that can handle drops is important. Most dumbells today though are made of strong material so the bigger concern is actually your flooring.
Some adjustable dumbell sets are just plain metal blocks with corners. If you have not carpeted floor, it may damage the floor if the corner part of the dumbbell hits the ground. There are other ones that are made of a more rubbery type of material. The best thing to do though is to have your workout area matted with at least a 1/4 inch of padding. This will protect your floors and equipment as well. You can buy these floor mats in pieces and stick them together like a jigsaw puzzle. They aren't too expensive if you don't need that much. You can buy these online. Do a price comparison first though.
The next thing you want to look at in terms of which adjustable dumbell set to buy is the ease of switching the weights. For some, like the Bowflex one, all you need to do is turn a dial to the right number. For others, you have to pull up on a lever and slide it to the right slot. Realize that these are just machines and that machines break down and wear out over time. So you want to pick one that you think will still give you the ease of changing the weight even if it's a little worn out. For example, if the lever one gets worn out or rusty, it may be hard to pull it up and it may even hurt your fingers.
The last thing you want to consider when buying an adjustable dumbell set is price. In general, expect to spend anywhere from $100-$500 or more for a set of these. The price difference is based on the brand, ease of use, material, and maximum weight. If you don't lift a lot of weights, you can opt for the cheaper ones that only go up to 12.5 pounds. The higher the maximum weight, the more expensive it will be obviously. In the next few posts, I'll be reviewing a few of the top brands of adjustable dumbell sets.