I have used dumbbells much longer than a barbell. You can do many barbell exercises with dumbbells, however, there are times when a barbell may be more appropriate. Here are some common barbell exercises:
- Back squats
- Front squats
- Cleans
- Deadlift
- Bench press
You can do each of those exercises with dumbbells as well. Let's take a look at the advantages of each.
Dumbbell Advantages
- Great for beginners - If you're just starting out lifting weights, you may not want to start off using a barbell right away. Dumbbells help to improve coordination as you have to stabilize the weights in each hand. Dumbbells also activate more muscle fibers.
- Safer - Unlike a barbell, you can simply drop the dumbbells, whereas with a barbell you risk becoming pinned under it (for example during a bench press or squat.)
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Barbell Advantages
- Better for going heavy - While you can do the above exercises with dumbbells, they tend to work much better with a barbell. One main reason is because as you progress, you can go much heavier. Trying to perform those exercises with heavier dumbbells can be difficult and they can become much harder to hold.
- Explosive power - Exercises such as cleans and snatches are explosive exercises. It would be difficult to generate the same explosiveness with dumbbells.
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What do you think? Do you prefer one over the other?
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I think both barbells and dumbbells have a valuable role in any workout routine. I use dumbbells a lot more nowadays because I work out on my own at home. It’s a lot safer than risking dropping a heavy barbell. Like you said, the challenge is going really heavy because it’s hard to get DBs into position and stabilize them.
Or you could just go with Hershel Walker’s fitness routine from the other post; that man has some crazy exercise routines!
Both are awesome but barbells are great when you’re trying to even out your bicep muscles.
Both have their benefits. When going hard, I prefer a barbell. Most of the time though, I work out with dumbells
both are necessery for muscles shape and increasing size