Looking to tone your body by lifting weights? Maybe you’re after travel-friendly dumbbells looking forward to more freedom in 2024. Or extra resistance that can be used in a pool.
If so we have the solution for you by offering some of the best water dumbbells or water-filled weights to match your ideal workout session.
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Our ideal choice is the Jchics Aquatic Exercise Dumbbells.
Our top picks in this compilation for best water dumbbells include:
- Jchics Aquatic Exercise Dumbbells – Perfect For The Pool
- CALIDAKA Water Filled Dumbbells – Best Space Saver
- AQOTER Water Filled Dumbbells Barbells Pair 20-40KG – Barbell Option
- JORDAN&JUDY Water Dumbbells – Best Bargain Option
- Maxmartt Water-Filled Dumbbells – Multiple Water Bag Options
Jchics Aquatic Exercise Dumbbells – Best for Aquatic Workouts
This water dumbbell set has a buoyant and lightweight plastic build that promotes upper body workouts without putting too much strain on your muscles and joints.
They are suitable for normal workouts and especially good for water-based workouts.
They can be filled upto 2 lb weight of water each.
Using these dumbbells coupled with aquatic exercise can help patients who are working to relieve symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, and arthritis.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 10.83” x 8.39” x 3.82”
- Weight: 2.82 ounces
- Weight after filling: 2.2 lb
- Colors: Blue and pink
Pros:
- Great for water workouts
- Excellent buoyancy
- Made with sturdy plastic
- Low water absorption
Cons:
- Weight might not be enough
CALIDAKA Water-Filled Dumbbells – Best for Travel
This pink dumbbell can weigh up to 13 pounds and promotes indoor and outdoor physical activity.
These are easy to store and take up very little space as there are 14 pieces in total making them excellent for traveling.
Like all water-filled dumbbells, it’s a bit of a pain getting the weights workable. These are a bit worse as there are 4 screws on each barbell to put on.
The PVC plastic makeup doesn’t exude any odors but if your sense of smell isn’t offended your vision might be. They only come in pink.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 13.39” x 4.53” x 2.56”
- Default weight: 1.34 pounds.
- Weight after filling: 11-13 pounds.
- Color: Pink.
Pros:
- Foldable and lightweight for storage and travel
- Have a good “feel” of a traditional adjustable dumbbell
- Good for aerobic workouts water-based or not
- Made with polypropylene carbonate
- Soft material not abrasive
Cons:
- Only pink!
- May be prone to leaking if you surpass its weight limits
AQOTER Water Filled Dumbbells Barbells Pair – Best 2-in-1 Weight Option
The AQOTER has a maximum weight of 44 lbs and combines into a barbell with a connecting rod made from steel alloy.
So 2 bags per dumbbell, each with maximum water weight of 22 lbs.
As the Aqoter dumbbells can be turned into a barbell more muscle groups can be targeted with deadlifts and cranked-up squats attacking the back and quads.
Its soft polypropylene carbonate surface won’t damage your floor or feet if you accidentally drop it at its lowest weight capacity, making it okay for beginners who want to feel a burn. But be careful.
Choosing a weight less than the maximum may be difficult as there is no measurement to use. Checking on scales is the only way.
Specifications:
- Initial weight: 1 kilogram.
- Maximum dumbbell weight: 20 kgs – 22 lbs.
- Color: Blue or black.
- Connecting rod dimensions: 40 cms – 15 3/4″.
Pros:
- Barbell option gives versatility
- Adjustable weight and water capacity
- High maximum total weight
- Made with polypropylene carbonate
Cons:
- Its small valve might make it slow to empty and refill
- The connecting rod makes it less of a space saver
- Converting from single dumbbells to the barbell is a bit tortuous
JORDAN & JUDY Water Dumbbells – Best Resistance to Wear and Leaks
These water-adjustable dumbbells ensure long-lasting use for any exerciser. High-quality polyethylene makes the weights wear-resistant and durable.
Weighing in at just over 3 ounces when empty, these dumbbells are the lightest ones featured in this list. They are easy to store and find room in a travel bag.
They are our least expensive water-filled dumbbells and are nicely molded like regular metal weights.
The shape made them slightly less annoying when it comes to the issue of the uneven feel that a liquid gives when in motion.
The single inlet for filling has a double seal and it doesn’t leak and is also wide enough for a healthy faucet flow. This makes it quick to fill and empty.
There’s a nut on the other side too just for a good look and feel of a regular dumbbell.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 10.3” x 3.81” x 3.7”
- Weight when empty: 3.2 oz
- Weight when filled: 2.2 lbs.
- Color: Pink or gray.
Pros:
- Made with high-quality, non-toxic, odorless polyethylene
- It has a double-sealed water inlet to prevent leaking
- Portable and lightweight for storage
- Ideal for beginners and “fitness journeymen”
Cons:
- Light maximum weight
- Molded so not a real space saver
Maxmartt Water-Filled Dumbbells – Best for Muscle Building
If you’re looking for water dumbbells to continue to build muscle resistance whilst away from home, the Maxmartt might be ideal for you. Each dumbbell can hold 2 or 4 weight bags.
The bags are centered onto metal rods which have an unusual unfriendly grip. You might want to wear gloves.
We also found it fiddly to fill with water, made even worse if you’re using all eight bags.
It’s made with polyvinyl chloride material that prevents the weights from leaking. Unlike traditional weights, its surface is soft and won’t cause damage if dropped. It’s also detachable and compact for storage.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 20” x 8.3” each
- Weight: 2.42 lbs.
- Maximum weight capacity: 55 lbs.
- Material: Polyvinyl chloride and metal
- Eight fitness weight bags
Pros:
- High maximum weight
- Adjustable weight capacity
- Detachable and deflatable design
Cons:
- Handles uncomfortable
- Using multiple weight bags at once is uneven
How to Choose the Best Water Dumbbells
There are several factors you must consider before purchasing your ideal water dumbbells. One question might be to ask “why would I want water dumbbells over or in addition to regular adjustable (or fixed) weights?”
- Convenience when traveling. Water-filled dumbbells can squish up small and weigh very little.
- Use in pools. Their very nature makes water dumbbells more suitable and safer for water aerobics.
- Safety. 20 lbs is heavy if it falls on your foot whether it’s water or metal but water dumbbell material will cause less damage and can be made harmless after every session.
Weight Capacity
Depending on your preferences, determine how much you want your water dumbbells to weigh. Most of the materials are lightweight even when you need to fill them up to capacity.
Generally, water-filler dumbbells are viewed as being more common and more suitable as a lightweight alternative to metal weights. We think so too.
However, you can get 40 lb weights or more if you want. This would be a better choice for anyone away, who wants to maintain a “weight” schedule but has no immediate access to regular weights.
We find that the heavier the weight the more accentuated the unevenness is.
Material
Your dumbbells’ material may affect energy exertion and calorie or fat burning. Some form of plastic will be used like polypropylene carbonate but to be honest, I’m ignorant of all the chemical concoctions that exist in the plastic world.
What you want to know is whether it’s rigid or can be squashed down. Does it have a bad smell? And is it biodegradable?
Well, unfortunately, currently it’s a “no” to the last one – hopefully, that will change. Most dumbbells try to use a material that doesn’t have a residual odor.
PVC tends to be the plastic that is the best space saver and PPC is the rigid one – so light but not so small when empty.
What Activities Are Best Suited for Water Dumbbells?
Typically, many people use water dumbbells for many different forms of physical activity and recreation, including:
- Water aerobics
- Physical therapy
- Muscle toning
- Extra weight when running
- Calisthenics
Precautions to Take When Using Water Dumbbells
If you’re a beginner, it would be best to start with smaller weights and work your way up to heavier ones.
When using water dumbbells, be sure to seal the weights tight to prevent accidental leaking. If you filled them up to a heavier weight, avoid dropping them to avoid injuries.
Bags that are not full will mean the water will slop around and cause a disturbance as you move with them. This may be more significant with non-rigid plastic.
Alternatives To Water-Filled Dumbbells
The obvious alternatives to water-filled dumbbells are solid metal dumbbells either the separately sold weights or the adjustable dumbbells. We have more on adjustable weights.
Conclusion
The best water weights for me were the JORDAN & JUDY Water Dumbbells. They do the job, they’re very inexpensive and have a good strong design.
The JORDAN& JUDY dumbbell double-sealed inlet does prevent leakage during workouts and storage.
If you’re looking for water-filled dumbbells but not after heavy weights the 2 lb JORDAN & JUDY Water Dumbbells will fit the bill.
