Heavy dumbbells are great because they are the most versatile gym equipment that you can have. However, have you ever wondered what is the heaviest dumbbell in the world and how many people can lift it?
As a whole, the heaviest dumbbell in the world weighs 420lbs (190kg) and was manufactured by Armactool Inc, a company from Ontario in 2017. However, the dumbbell was custom-ordered by Peter Czerwinski, better known as Furious Pete, and is not available at a commercial gym.
Today I will explain what is the world’s heaviest dumbbell that the strongest man in the world would give anything to lift (anyway, read this one, you will like it).
The History Of The World’s Heaviest Dumbbell
There are several companies like Rogue or Kingsbox that specialize in creating ridiculously heavy dumbbells for powerlifters and strongmen. Most of these dumbbells (also called monster bells) weigh between 100 to 250 lbs.
As much as 250-pound dumbbells sound impressive, this is not the heaviest dumbbell that’s ever been made.
In about 1906, the British Strongman Thomas Inch created a dumbbell that weighs 172lbs (78kg), which at the time was considered the world’s heaviest dumbbell in the world.
Inch was the only person who was able to lift this heavy iron cast off the floor. The Inch Dumbbell has a handle with a diameter of 2.5 inches, which equates to the diameter of a can of soda, and was extremely difficult to hold.
This overly thick handle makes the Inch Dumbbell almost impossible to lift and it requires gigantic grip strength. Over 100 years ago, Thomas Inch traveled across the world to prove that he is the only person who can lift that heavy dumbbell.
He was right.
For almost 100 years, many people tried to lift this iron cast from the floor to overhead using only one hand and nobody was able to do it.
The first person who successfully managed to clean and jerk this 172lb beast was Mark Henry, a former American powerlifter and Olympic weightlifter.
What Is The Heaviest Dumbbell In The World Today?
In general, the heaviest dumbbell in the world belongs to the Canadian competitive eater and YouTube personality, Furious Pete. In 2017, Peter Czerwinski created a 420lbs dumbbell, which was made of two cast iron rolls that weigh over 200-pounds each, an 11-inch long metal handlebar, and a safety bolt that keeps the weight together.
The whole process of manufacturing this dumbbell took over 2 months. According to Pete, the goal of this project was to shake up the current fitness industry and invite famous people in the powerlifting space into his gym to try to lift that dumbbell.
Pete said that he saw several fitness personalities playing around with 375lbs of dumbbells, which were just a couple of dumbbells glued together. These types of dumbbells are heavy, but they are way too long and uncomfortable to hold.
The idea behind his 420lbs dumbbell was to create a solid weight that is shorter in length, yet much denser so it takes less space and is easier to hold with both hands.
The handle of this 420lbs monster is long enough so that people have enough space not only for a two-hand grip but also to wrap the lifting straps around the dumbbell.
NOTE: Click here to learn more about how much the planet fitness bar weighs.
How To Make The Worlds Heaviest Dumbbell
The heaviest dumbbell in the world was manufactured in Canada by a company called Armactool, a die shop that specializes in sheet metal stamping. The dumbbell has engraved “420” and “furious” on both sides of the weight.
According to Greg MacPherson, the owner of the Armactool, the company used over 450 pounds of steel to create this monster.
Here in the video below you can see the whole process of making the world’s heaviest dumbbell.
How Heavy Do Dumbbells Go?
Normally, dumbbells in commercial gyms usually go up to 150 pounds, depending on the type of gym. Some powerlifting and strong man gyms that specialize in heavy weight lifting can have dumbbells up to 300 pounds.
For example, Gold’s Gym is a chain of fitness clubs that caters mainly to bodybuilders and weight lifters. They offer dumbbells that range from 5 to 300 pounds, depending on the location. I personally saw 300 pounds of dumbbells during my visit to the Gold’s Gym in Venice beach.
Another example is the Powerhouse Gym, which is also well-known to have a HUGE variety of equipment. This is the place where bodybuilding legends like Jay Cutler or Kai Greene used to train at the peak of their career.
These gyms offer resistance training machines, barbells, and dumbbells that range up to 375lbs (more on that later).
On the other hand, gyms like LA Fitness or Planet Fitness have a restriction cap on how heavy dumbbells they use. Most Planet Fitness gyms do not have barbells, squat racks, barbell pads, and heavy weights.
The heaviest dumbbells on the planet fitness are up to 80 pounds (in some locations you won’t find heavier dumbbells than 50-pounds).
The “Judgement Free” and “no intimidation” policy ensures that members do not see people lift extremely heavy weights, therefore, do not feel intimidated by them.
Learn more: Click if you wanna learn more about if planet fitness have barbell pads, check out my article here.
The heaviest dumbbells at LA fitness have around 120 pounds, and the heaviest kettlebells have around 50 pounds.
However, the weight of dumbbells is not universal for all LA fitness gyms and will depend on which location you’re in.
What Is The Maximum Dumbbell Weight In The Gym?
In general, the maximum dumbbell weight accessible in a commercial gym is 375lb and it’s available at Powerhouse Gym in Yucaipa, California.
This dumbbell is made of 36 10-pound plates (18 on each side) and a 10-pound handle that has enough space to fit both hands.
Powerhouse Gym is located at 35120 Yucaipa Blvd, Yucaipa, CA, 92399. This is a home for many famous bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts.
Many people visited this gym not only for training but also to see the legendary vault, the 2000-pound steel doors where the 375lbs dumbbells are stored.
Inside the vault, you can see the old-school bench, a bunch of cast iron plates, and several dumbbells, including the 375lbs beast.
Who Can Lift The Worlds Heaviest Dumbbells?
Not many people can lift the heaviest dumbbell in the world.
Below you can find the video from Rich Piana and his team entering the Vault at the Yucaipa Powerhouse Gym.
What Is The Heaviest Dumbbell Weight You Can Buy?
Overall, the heaviest dumbbell weight you can buy in the shops varies, depending on the type of dumbells.
For example, the heaviest adjustable dumbbells are up to 90lbs, whereas the heaviest monster balls that are sold online are up to 250-pounds.
The most popular heavy dumbbells that are used for strongman events and competitions are loadable dumbbells.
Loadable dumbbells mean you can add or reduce the amount of weight by using thin 5kg (11lbs) steel plates.
For example, Strengthshop.eu offers Monster dumbbells that weigh 35kg (77lbs) when they’re empty, and up to 105kg (231lbs) when fully loaded.
On the other hand, other brands like Watson Gym Equipment, which is based in the UK, are currently selling 150kg (330lbs) dumbbells.
This dumbbell is solid, which means you cannot regular its weight.
The price for this dumbbell (take a deep breath) is $1,810 per piece (the company offers worldwide shipping).
Conclusion
Overall, you can find the world’s heaviest dumbbell available to the public in the Powerhouse Gym in Yucaipa, California.
This dumbbell weighs 375lbs and is stored behind the 2000-pound vault. Only a handful of people were able to lift it, yet, many tried.
However, the world’s heaviest dumbbell that was ever built (weighs 420 pounds) belongs to famous YouTuber, Peter Czerwinski. Peter hosts a number of events in his gym where he invites fitness celebrities and challenges them to lift that weight off the floor.