Dumbbell exercises

Dumbbells let each arm move on its own path, which usually means a longer range than a barbell allows: the dumbbell bench press goes deeper, and the dumbbell row pulls further back. The cost is balance. Two dumbbells are harder to control than one bar, so you lift less in total, and getting heavy dumbbells into position is a skill of its own.

They are the first choice for isolation work like the lateral raise and curls, for single-leg exercises like the Bulgarian split squat, and for training at home with little equipment. For the heaviest lifts, the barbell is usually the better tool.

Dumbbell racks jump in fixed steps, and those steps differ from gym to gym. StackUp suggests the next weight from the step you set, so set it per exercise to match your rack and the suggestion lands on a dumbbell that exists.