Thread: Barbell vs. Dumbbell

Both have their advantages and disadvantages...
They are both bood for stength training. It is personal preference.
Dumbells can give one a bit more flexibility, that is one advantage to dumbells, but again I think they are both good.

Strength training pertains more to how you lift then whether you are using dumbells vs barbells.. If you want strength you have to lift heavy weight low reps..

Originally Posted by mike456

what is more effective for strength training?

Welcome back Randy.

I know both are good but wich is better, basically if you could only use one wich would you choose?

Thanks Mino... It's nice to be back.
I'm glad to see you've been here to keep everyone in line

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Welcome back Randy.

Again Mike, I wouldn't say one is better than another.
Like I mentioned, there are pros and cons to each. Sometimes with specific exercises dumbells may be more appropriate, where in other cases it may be best using a barbell. Try several different exercises and pick those that work best for you. Everyone is different. I like to work both dumbells and barbell exercises into my routines. Listen to the guys here in the forum, you will learn a lot.

Originally Posted by mike456

I know both are good but wich is better, basically if you could only use one wich would you choose?

Originally Posted by Randy

Thanks Mino... It's nice to be back.
I'm glad to see you've been here to keep everyone in line

I thought it was the opposite.

Come to think of it, you do have a strong point there Mino.

Originally Posted by min0 lee

I thought it was the opposite.

Originally Posted by Randy

Come to think of it, you do have a strong point there Mino.

All in good fun.

Whoah, Randy is in the house. Greetings kind sir.

I would never use either one exclusively because that doesn't make any sense.

Gotta use them both if you want to maximize results. You need variety to keep stimulating the muscle. If I only had money for one I would choose a nice dumbell set. You can do a lot more types of exercises with dumbells. If I only had time for one I would alternate dumbells one week and barbells the next. Hell, You can throw in machines on the third week if you have access.

Well hi there Cow, nice to see you're still here to share your wisdom.

Originally Posted by CowPimp

Whoah, Randy is in the house. Greetings kind sir.

I would never use either one exclusively because that doesn't make any sense.

If i had to choose, i would choose dumbells! Wider variety of excercises and allows greater range of motion and as i work out alone it means i can train to failure without risk of being trapped under a bar!

Originally Posted by Randy

Well hi there Cow, nice to see you're still here to share your wisdom.

ahahhahahha nice signature.

ill reprint it in bold. Lift like a Chicken. Look like a Chicken.

i think this point is underrated/overlooked on this board.

use both but dumbells mean both arms are doing the same amount of work

barbells can be led by a stronger arm

Originally Posted by viet_jon

ahahhahahha nice signature.

ill reprint it in bold. Lift like a Chicken. Look like a Chicken.

i think this point is underrated/overlooked on this board.

Why do you think that?? Just because people don't train to failure all the time?
You are the idiot who is gonna eventually be overtrained, from training to failure every time.

Originally Posted by mike456

Why do you think that?? Just because people don't train to failure all the time?
You are the idiot who is gonna eventually be overtrained, from training to failure every time.

i never hear anyone on this board make suggestions like, "remember, RIP THE FUCKEN WEIGHTS". i think it's the most underated fact on this board.


Everyday i hear, blah blah blah, compuonds first, less isolation. GREAT, do this but train like a little girl, and you look like a little girl. I'm not saying the stuff on here's bullcrap..........cuz it ain't, and I appreciate everybit of experience lifters knowledge.

and no it's not cuz people don't train to failure all the time. imo, failure is what your mind sets it at, I'm sure the last time you thought, "oh, I should stop on this rep, cuz the next is gonna be failure.", that really, if you we're determined enough, you coulda lifted the weight an extra 5 reps.

"RIP WEIGHTS LIKE YOU OWN THE FUCKEN SHIT"

my bad the cursing, it's not directed at you....I'm just trying to emphasize my point.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
my new sig quote.

Originally Posted by pengers84

i can train to failure without risk of being trapped under a bar!

Good point for when you are training alone but when you want to lift heavier weights the BB is the choice.

Originally Posted by mike456

Why do you think that?? Just because people don't train to failure all the time?
You are the idiot who is gonna eventually be overtrained, from training to failure every time.

Bro, this basically means what it says...
In other words, if you want ultimate results in anything you have to give it your all.

It doesn't mean you have to consistently lift to failure. If you presume that then you are the "idiot!"

Randy- When I said "why do you think that??" in the previous post it was toward viet-john when he said this- "i think this point is underrated/overlooked on this board." not towards your sig.

Sorry bro... thought you were trying to pick on my sig .
We take pride in our Sigs ya know.

Originally Posted by mike456

Randy- When I said "why do you think that??" in the previous post it was toward viet-john when he said this- "i think this point is underrated/overlooked on this board." not towards your sig.

barbell vs dumbell = tie

Originally Posted by CowPimp

Whoah, Randy is in the house. Greetings kind sir.

I would never use either one exclusively because that doesn't make any sense.

I would have a hard time if i didn't have both. I guess if i had to pick one, It would be the straight bar. As a person gets stronger, I find it would be hard to perform squats and deadlifts and I can't live without those two exercises. I think they should be in all routines if injuries aren't preventing them.

I definitely use both but I am selective about it. I hate the Incline BB Bench at my gym, so I don't use it. However I do Incline DB presses and I hate doing Flat DB Presses because I don't like not being able to see my form while doing DB exerscises. Until recently I didn't do BB Rows because I didn't feel the effectiveness, now they are one of my favorite exerscises right along with DB Rows. Knowing it's beneficial to have a variety, I think it's equally as important to be comfortable with the movements you do as well. I'm not comfortable with Flat DB presses so I don't do them, period.