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If you're looking to make your at-home workouts a bit more challenging, a set of adjustable weights are the perfect versatile addition.

If you've ever ventured into that slightly intimidating corner of the gym where all the free weights sit in their racks, then you may be aware that lifting dumbbells and barbells can actually be a super rewarding (albeit challenging) workout.

Weight training can help you to burn fat, tone and strengthen your muscles, and even improve your posture and metabolism. But with the past year leading to many of us forsaking our gym memberships in favour of the safety and ease of at-home workouts, you might find yourself lacking the necessary tools to properly commit to it - because who has the storage space or the money to invest in a whole rack of weights?

That's where adjustable dumbbells come in to save the day. As the name implies, they're handheld weights that can be adjusted to add or remove weight plates and reach the desired difficulty you need to work out different parts of your body, making them cost-effective, space-saving and especially efficient for households with multiple weight training wannabes at different strength abilities.

So, we've rounded up a few of the best adjustable dumbbells you can buy to get your at-home setup looking a lot more versatile.

These solid cast iron adjustable dumbbells look the business, but don't be intimidated - because they're super easy to put together and use. The set includes two handles, four 0.5kg plates, four 1.25kg plates, four 2.5kg plates, four collars and an extended bar for barbell exercises. Add and remove the included weight plates to lift anywhere between 4kg and 20kg in dumbbells, or 33kg with the barbell tube. The bars are textured for a more comfortable and stable grip, and they're wide enough to make lifting easier without bumping your wrists for certain exercises.

The Fitness Master 30kg Adjustable Dumbbell from Catch has a bit more of a modern and sleek look. Constructed from durable materials with ergonomic design qualities in mind, the set includes four each of 2.5kg plates, 2kg  plates, 1.5kg plates and 1.25kg plates. There's also two dumbbell bars, an extra thick barbell bar, and end nuts to hold the plates on securely, and the contoured grip of the handles allows them to sit comfortably in your hand.

The ideal set for beginners to start weight training to work their biceps, triceps, deltoids and pecs, this versatile kit allows you to work your way up to a 20kg weight. It includes 2 x 2 kg solid bars, 4 disc collars,  8 x 1 kg weight discs, diameter 28 mm.- 4 x 2 kg weight discs, diameter 28 mm.

These Fortis Adjustable Dumbbells feature an innovative dial design that allows you to choose from 15 different weights to gradually increase difficulty between sets without wasting time. This one comes a lot cheaper with two dumbbells including for $299, which is a pretty sweet deal in our opinion. Easily adjust your desired weight resistance from 2.5kg to 24kg, then leave the dumbbell in its rack when not in use for simple storage.

Available in adjustable 10kg, 15kg, or 20kg options, this dumbbell set is the cheapest option on this list but will still serve you well through every workout. The counterweight is covered in rubber to avoid damage on your floors, there's an included barbell option,and special embossing prevents the dumbbells from rolling away.

Featuring an ergonomic curved grip bar that promises to keep hands sweat-free to avoid slipping, and a hexagonal plate design to stop them from rolling away, these dumbbells are cost-effective and not too bad to look at either. You can buy the adjustable sets in 20kg, 30kg or 40kg options, each of which comes with a 40cm padded barbell bar, and there's an easy-to-use safety lock on the nut to keep things secure.

Dumbbells can activate muscles and stimulate muscle growth, improve muscle force and flexibility, and even promote coordination and stability for muscles and joints. Like all weight training, using dumbbells can increase your muscle mass and decrease body fat. There are even additional benefits like improved posture, reduced stress, and injury prevention.

Adjustable dumbbells don't come cheap, but that's because you're paying for the convenience of having multiple dumbbell weights in the one package - so instead of buying lots of different weights to suit each of your workouts, you can add or remove plates to have a customisable, multi-function workout tool.

If you're keen on saving space and money as well as convenience, then adjustable dumbbells will be your saving grace - well worth the cost of the investment! You can add and remove plates depending on what you're feeling up to. They're also ideal as a shared at-home exercise system for couples or housemates who want to split the bill and each have the ability to adapt the weights to their desired level of difficulty. If you'd prefer regular dumbbells though, you can find a huge range at Decathlon or Catch.

Keep decking out your at-home gym with the best exercise bikes to save on spin class, the comfiest sneakers for hitting the gym, and the best resistance bands to get the booty of your dreams. And don't forget to soothe that post-workout ache with the best foam rollers and the best massage guns.

This article was originally published 21st January 2021 and was updated 13 January, 2022.