What weight dumbells for older man to start working out?

[Motherdare]

I’m getting some dumbells for an elderly relative who wants to start working out. He is 70 plus but generally very fit and active.

What would you recommend? I was think 3kg and 5kg - is that too light?

Thanks.

Kind of an impossible question to answer without knowing how strong he is or what exercise programme is he planning to follow. Plus, ideally with weight training, you need the ability to increase weights over time for progressive overload.

I'd lean towards the 3kg being too light, assuming he will be focusing on compound movements at this stage rather man accessory exercises. If he's requested dumbells then I think he should be involved in selecting the weights to ensure you aren't wasting your money.

Typo: rather than accessory exercises.

I would go 3kg honestly.

@Firesidefox

I would go 3kg honestly.

For a generally active and fit man in his 70s? My mother, of a similar age, uses 3kg dumbells for her upper body after recovering from a fall and has now requested a heavier weight.

If he's someone who still has some regular form of resistance work (e.g. gardening) and he's only get a couple of dumbells, he needs something to give him his most bang for his buck.

Muscular strength in men doesn't decrease hugely with age, he will probably still be stronger than most women. 3kg is definitely too light unless he has an injury or condition that restricts him. He may need 10kg or even more depending on his fitness level.

If you can afford it get the ones that you can add weights to. As in the bar and weights are separate. Argos have some reasonably priced ones

Mine are 2.5, I would not go much heavier at the start - is a selection a possibility?

As a guide, my 12 year old finds 3kg too light.

DH (50, generally active but not brilliant upper body strength) likes my 4kgs.

I like 3/4/5 kg depending on the exercise. That's built up with time. Coming out of lockdown #1 it was 2-3kg.

He needs to try some. The right weight, which does depend on his goals, is a weight is can do 8-12 reps of for general conditioning. Lower reps/heavier weight for strength and power, the opposite for muscular endurance, so lighter and 12-15 reps ish. 3-5 sets. Different lifts require different weights too.

What you lift is entirely personal to your own characteristics and goals and how and what you lift.

Not really helpful, sorry.

Tho I think 3 kg would be too light for a fit person and older people are often pretty strong.

I would go for one of the adjustable sets - what's light for one exercise might be too much for another, adjustable ones give him options.

An adjustable set? I do HIIT and my power wave bag is 20kg. If he's got residual strength I'd be thinking 10kg. He may do one rep the first time but will build up.

Agree that he'll probably want something adjustable, but having said that I find that constantly adding/taking off weights is a bit of a faff and I get on better with a combination of wrist weights and dumbbells as I find it easier to use one or the other or both together.

Though I'd encourage him to start with water bottles and/or cans as he should start light but will probably progress rapidly. This will also give both of you a feel for what might suit him best.