Dumbells or barbells

[checkmate]

If you had to choose between getting some weights for home which would you perfer, Dumbells or barbells?

[sarcasm]

barbell and 1500 pounds in plates.

[haider]

definitely barbell and weights..
and a power rack

[buffbong]

i would say dumbells cause you can do more of a variety on all bodyparts with them.  but i could personaly do alot with just a barbell also...

[knny187]

dumbbells   

[SLYY]

Barbell......a squat and deadlift are not the same with dumbells .....Plus if you have a power rack, you can do everything with a barbell...

[Ledd]

BARBELL.

[Cavalier22]

what a dumb ass thread. get both

[big E]

I think this is a good thread. shows what works for each individual.
im gonna say db. just more to do with db. i would miss my squats and deads though.

[mem]

Dumbells, (capable of) an infinate variety of movements...
for all body parts chest, back, shoulders, arms and legs.
From me... more appropriate to (most) home settings and
in terms of what I could do with somewhat limited space.

Powerlifting? . . . another story.

IF, I *had to tie up the space*
over lets say, just a bench . . .
I would opt for smith machine,
crazy capabilities - but "safe".

[JPM]

If your short on bucks than a BB by all means. And if you have enought room, get a Olympic bar rather than a exercise bar, easier to handle with it's revolving better balanced, smooth action. If your worried about your chest/pec's than rig up a way of doing dips ( after a while put a BB plate around you waist for added resistence with a  rope, chain, etc.). I prefer dips as a better mass builder than the bench press and also for a better pec/delt tie in. Could even set up a chinning device for better lat development.  Can also do BB hack's which affects the quads strongly. Squat cleans are a prime way of building up the legs as well as the back, traps, etc. Good Luck.

[pumpster]

If you have enough space to also get a rack, get barbells.

If there's only space for weights, get dumbbells.

[Luv2Hurt]

Start with an olyimpic Barbell set and a power rack with an adjustable bench.  You should be able to hit everything then.  Then as you can add DB's, try to get maybe 30-80's first so you can do the isolation stuff with them.

[andrew]

barbell all the way, better overall strength and mass

[trulytoned]

i dunno it would be hard to choose, i like DB for curls and what not for higher concentration, but getting db would definetly eliminate squats and deads

[flexfan]

dumbbells. The only straight bb exercise I do are smith machine incline presses. Everything else involves a machine or dumbbells. It's what works for me. Trial and error has taught me this.

[Jr. Yates]

i dunno it would be hard to choose, i like DB for curls and what not for higher concentration, but getting db would definetly eliminate squats and deads

you've turned into a little genius my pupil.

[trulytoned]

you've turned into a little genius my pupil.

pupil? i trained you bitch

[apk19]

i dunno it would be hard to choose, i like DB for curls and what not for higher concentration, but getting db would definetly eliminate squats and deads

Deads yes, squats, no. You'd just be holding the weights by your side instead of a bar digging into your back. Love deads though.

[Sir Duchaine]

definitely barbell and weights..
and a power rack

bang on

An oly bar with 800lbs of weights and a power rack

lovely

[Jr. Yates]

barbell forsure....deads,squats,skulls,narrowpress,benchpress,rows,curls,military press.  all the beautiful core excersises.

[Nathan]

Dumbells! They give you more range of motion plus they engadge more stablizing muscles.
Barbells are good for somthing new or if you want to look like you can lift a lot of wieght but DB are hands down more fuctional!

[brianX]

Barbells and plates are all you need.

[haider]

there is no way you can beat a power rack, a barbell, and plates.
NO WAY.

[ToxicAvenger]

i'd buy me a calf!