Next to a high-quality rack and barbell, dumbbells rank as high as you can get as a gym staple; all the way from the barest of home gyms up to the most advanced and elite sporting facilities. Unlike a barbell, dumbbells are held in each hand, forcing the lifter to stabilise the left and right sides, promoting balance and symmetrical development which may be neglected if solely using bilateral (or two limbed) exercises. Dumbbells can also be more versatile compared to barbells, allowing for different grips and angles without the use of special equipment.

This doesn’t make dumbbells superior to barbells, just different. The increased stability of barbell training allows for more weight to be used and force to be produced. Ideally, dumbbells are used as a complementary piece for developing unilateral strength (preventing asymmetries in development) and aiding the transition from pure gym strength to real-world strength on the field, court etc.