This is the perfect dumbbell for uni students to get big arms

The York Fitness 20 KG Cast Iron Dumbbell Set is the ultimate home weight for uni students

This is the perfect dumbbell for uni students
(Image credit: York Fitness)

University is a magical place. You get to hang out with like-minded people all day long and spend every night partying. But if you're clever enough, you will also take a dumbbell set with you when you go to uni to ensure you get a good pump before you head out into the night. And there is no better dumbbell for university students than the York Fitness 20KG Cast Iron Dumbbell Set.

The best dumbbell for uni students must meet certain criteria, and the York Spinlock Set meets them all. This is an iconic piece of home gym equipment that's been around for ages, so much so that I bet your dad has one somewhere in the garage, rusting away in its grey plastic box.

Sure, you can pack a Bowflex SelectTech 1090i Adjustable Dumbbell or a NordicTrack Select-A-Weight Dumbbell Set if you're in the US, but those are expensive, meaning they will be stolen from your room in no time. This is the first criteria: a uni student's dumbbell has to be cheap not to attract too much attention. It's not like you're going to keep them in safe!

York Fitness 20kg Cast Iron Spinlock Dumbbell Set | Buy it for £99.99 at Amazon UK

York Fitness 20kg Cast Iron Spinlock Dumbbell Set | Buy it for £99.99 at Amazon UK
These adjustable hand weights are as essential for uni life as coat hangers.  The set includes two Chrome Spinlock Dumbbell bars, four Spinlock Collars and York Cast Iron weight plates in the following sizes: 4 x 0.5 kg, 4 x 1.25 kg, 4 x 2.5 kg. Your dad used to love these weights, and you will too!

Being inexpensive is one thing, but uni dumbbells should also be versatile. The York Fitness 20KG Cast Iron Dumbbell Set is fully adjustable, so you can curl with 10 kilos and shoulder press with 15 if you want to. You can go as heavy as 20kg, although in that case, you will only have one useable dumbbell.

Never mind, as you won't use these bad boys to sculpt massive muscles; you only need them to give you a good pump. Before the night out, do a couple of sets of curls, lateral raises and bench presses to get your upper body pumped; don't forget to wear a tight t-shirt!

Need some workout inspiration? We have heap-loads of workout content here on T3, especially about big arms. Here are the best biceps and triceps exercises for home gyms and the best shoulder exercises. But this is just the tip of the iceberg! If you prefer kettlebells, this 3-move kettlebell arm workout is what you need to try. 

Matt Kollat
Section Editor | Active

Matt Kollat is a journalist and content creator who works for T3.com and its magazine counterpart as an Active Editor. His areas of expertise include wearables, drones, fitness equipment, nutrition and outdoor gear. He joined T3 in 2019. His byline appears in several publications, including Techradar and Fit&Well, and more. Matt also collaborated with other content creators (e.g. Garage Gym Reviews) and judged many awards, such as the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance's ESSNawards. When he isn't working out, running or cycling, you'll find him roaming the countryside and trying out new podcasting and content creation equipment.