A Guide To The Different Types Of Exercise Weights

From dumbbells to ViPRs, there are a range of different weights you can exercise with to build your strength and tone up. Here are 7 different weights and how to use them in your next workout. 

Dumbbells

Dumbbells are the most popular type of weight to lift. They allow for a huge range of exercises – including one-armed exercises for training each arm independently. Popular dumbbell exercises include bicep curls, hammer curls, dumbbell flyers, squats and lunges. You can buy dumbbells in various different weights. You can also buy adjustable dumbbells that can allow you to add and remove different weight plates much like a barbell. 

Barbells

Barbells have to be used with two hands and can be used to lift heavier weights. They can help to exercise more muscle groups at once and are commonly used within higher level strength training. Common exercises performed using a barbell include squats, bench presses and deadlifts. You can use different weight plates with barbells to add or reduce the weight. For certain exercises like a bench press, it is vital to have a spotter if you’re lifting very heavy weights.

Kettlebells

Kettlebells consist of a steel ball with a handle. They can be used to carry out unique exercises like kettlebell swings and kettlebell goblet squats. Kettlebells come in a variety of different weights. Gyms will often have sets of kettlebells, but you can also buy your own for home workouts. 

Medicine balls

Medicine balls are weighted balls that can be used to vary up workouts. On top of various lifting exercises like presses, you can throw and catch them. As with other weights listed here, medicine balls can vary in heaviness. Be careful when handling heavier medicine balls so as not to cause an injury – especially when throwing and catching.

Sandbags

Weighted sandbags are a more unusual type of weight that is sometimes incorporated into Crossfit exercises or boot camps. These sandbags can be carried over the shoulders while running, or used to carry out various lifting exercises like thrusters and deadlifts. They come in a variety of different weights. Make sure to choose exercise-specific sandbags rather than regular sandbags. 

Wearable weights

Wearable weights can be worn on the wrists or ankles. They can provide an added muscle workout when doing other exercises like running, boxing or leg raises. They come in a variety of different weights. It’s best to start with a fairly light weight and work your way up. 

ViPR

A ViPR is a weighted tube that can be used to carry out a range of different exercises. Like barbells they can be used to carry out deadlifts and bench presses. However, you can also use them to practice lateral swinging exercises. Check out this guide to ViPR exercises for some inspiration on how to use this equipment.

Experimenting with different weights can help to vary up your gym sessions and also provide a fuller body workout. You can look up different exercises using these weights online.

Top photo by Elena Kloppenburg on Unsplash