Ever found yourself needing a specific dumbbell weight but coming up short with your options? It’s frustrating, but there are plenty of creative ways to fill those dumbbell gaps in your gym setup. 

Whether you want to bump your 20kg Dumbbell up to 30kg or your 2kg Dumbbell to 4kg, we’ll show you how it’s possible. In this article, we'll focus on creating a 6kg dumbbell using different pieces of kit, showing that a little ingenuity goes a long way in strength training.

How To Create An Ideal Dumbbell Weight

One of the most precise ways to create a 6kg Dumbbell is by using change plates on a dumbbell bar. Change plates, sometimes known as fractional plates, are small weights that can be easily added to a bar. Typically ranging from 0.5kg to 5kg, they allow you to slowly increase the load, letting you make incremental progress.

Add 2 x 0.5kg fractional change plates to a 5kg loadable dumbbell bar. This combination gives you the exact 6kg you're after. These fractional plates are simply slid on and off the end of a 2” dumbbell bar and can be secured in place with a collar as necessary.

Add a 1kg micro change plate to a 5kg rubber dumbbell. Micro change plates are designed with a flexible opening so they can fit various handle sizes, including barbells and kettlebells. This method is particularly useful if you already have a set of fixed-weight dumbbells.

More Creative Options to Match a Missing Dumbbell Weight

If you don't have the exact plates and dumbbells above, don't worry. There are many combinations you can use to get close to your desired weight. For our 6kg dumbbell example we have identified the following...

• Pair 2 x 2.5kg cast iron weights with a 14" spinlock dumbbell bar for a total of 6.7kg.

• Combine 2 x 0.5kg extra thin steel Olympic plates with a 2" Olympic dumbbell bar to reach 6.25kg.

• Use 2 x 1.25kg deep dish weight plates with a thick grip Olympic dumbbell bar for a 5.9kg total. 

• Add 2 x 0.75kg Olympic fractional weights to an Olympic dumbbell bar, totalling 5.9kg.

• Attach 2 x 2.5kg studio pump set weights to a 30mm studio dumbbell bar for 5.57kg.

When matching weight plates to bars, always make sure the diameter is the same. Standard gym bars usually have a 1" diameter, whereas Olympic bars have a 2” diameter, and studio bars have a 1.18" diameter.

If You Can't Create Your Dumbbell Weight

If you don't have access to change plates or loadable bars, you still have a few creative options to fall back on.

• Use a 3kg hex dumbbell and double your rep count.

• Use a 5kg soft touch dumbbell while wearing a 1kg wrist weight.

• Substitute your dumbbell for a 6kg kettlebell to do a similar exercise.

As you can see, there’s always a workaround for your problem. Here we’ve given you 10 alternatives to create a 6kg dumbbell. Using these methods, you can fill the gaps in your dumbbell collection and keep your workouts progressing. Remember, the key to consistent gains is gradual progression, so don't be afraid to get creative with your equipment!

Tags: Equipment > Power Racks and Cages ; Exercise Type > Strength ; Misc > Gym Planning

Tags: Equipment > Bars and Weight Plates ; Exercise Type > Strength