Who are BrainGain?

BrainGain is a UK-engineered fitness brand that has quietly built a strong reputation in the adjustable dumbbell market. With over 100,000 units sold worldwide, they're not a fly-by-night brand — they've clearly put serious thought into the design and build of this product, and it shows.

Design & build quality

The first thing you notice when you pick these up is how solid they feel. The locking mechanism is reassuringly firm — there's no rattling, no wobble, and no sense that the plates are going anywhere mid-rep. The non-slip grip handles are comfortable for extended sets, and the storage dock keeps everything neat and accessible between workouts.

The weight selector dial is smooth and intuitive. Adjusting between settings takes seconds — which is exactly what you want when you're moving between exercises in a circuit. The all-black finish looks genuinely premium, especially for a sub-£200 product.

Performance

With 15 weight increments ranging from 2.5kg to 24kg per dumbbell, these cover a wide enough range for most home gym users — from light warm-up sets right through to serious compound work. The increments are sensibly spaced, making progressive overload straightforward to track.

We used these across a range of exercises — curls, presses, rows, lateral raises, Romanian deadlifts — and the secure locking system held firm throughout. Not once did we feel uncertain about the plates staying in place, which matters more than people realise when you're pushing hard.

Space saving & storage

This is where adjustable dumbbells genuinely win over a traditional dumbbell rack. The BrainGain set takes up roughly the same footprint as a single pair of fixed dumbbells, yet replaces 15 pairs. For anyone training in a spare bedroom, garage, or living room — that's a game changer. The included storage dock keeps both dumbbells secure and off the floor between sessions.

Pros & cons

Full specifications

Who are these for?

The BrainGain 24kg set is ideal for home gym users who want a serious, versatile dumbbell setup without dedicating an entire room to a rack of fixed weights. They're well suited to beginners building strength, intermediate lifters running structured programmes, and anyone who trains in a limited space. If you're regularly pressing or rowing over 30kg per hand, you'll eventually need more — but for the vast majority of people training at home, 24kg is more than enough.