A selectorized dumbbell, which comprises: (a) a plurality of nested weights that provide a stack of nested left weight plates (6 l) and a stack of nested right weight plates (6 r) that are separated by a gap, an elongated handle extending along an axis with the handle having opposite left and right ends and with the handle being sized to fit into the gap between the weight plate stacks, wherein each nested weight comprises a left weight plate (6 l) and a right weight plate (6 r) that are spaced apart but are continuously physically joined at all times to one another by at least one interconnecting member, the weight plates and the at least one interconnecting member of each weight being separate and distinct from the weight plates and the at least one interconnecting member of the other weights and from the handle, and wherein the at least one interconnecting member of each weight differs in length from the at least one interconnecting member of the other weights such that the weight plates of different weights are spaced apart at progressively greater distances to allow the left and right weight plates (6 l, 6 r) to be nested with respect to one another in their respective stacks, and a selector that couples a selected number of the left weight plates (6 l) to the left end of the handle in a nested side by side manner extending along the axis and a selected number of the right weight plates (6 r) to the right end of the handle in a nested side by side manner extending along the axis; characterized by: (b) a shock absorbing system configured to support the weight plates in a normal, substantially upright orientation relative to the axis of the handle and to allow the weight plates in response to a shock to pivot or tilt sideways relative to the axis of the handle out of their normal orientation and into a deflected, less upright orientation, the shock absorbing system further providing a biasing force on the weight plates when the weight plates are in their deflected, less upright orientation which biasing force is sufficient to restore the weight plates back into their normal orientation after the shock dissipates, and wherein each left and right weight plate (6 l, 6 r) in each nested weight has a flexible joint between the weight plate and the at least one interconnecting member secured thereto such that the flexible joints in all the nested weights comprise the shock absorbing system. (a) a plurality of nested weights that provide a stack of nested left weight plates (6 l) and a stack of nested right weight plates (6 r) that are separated by a gap, an elongated handle extending along an axis with the handle having opposite left and right ends and with the handle being sized to fit into the gap between the weight plate stacks, wherein each nested weight comprises a left weight plate (6 l) and a right weight plate (6 r) that are spaced apart but are continuously physically joined at all times to one another by at least one interconnecting member, the weight plates and the at least one interconnecting member of each weight being separate and distinct from the weight plates and the at least one interconnecting member of the other weights and from the handle, and wherein the at least one interconnecting member of each weight differs in length from the at least one interconnecting member of the other weights such that the weight plates of different weights are spaced apart at progressively greater distances to allow the left and right weight plates (6 l, 6 r) to be nested with respect to one another in their respective stacks, and a selector that couples a selected number of the left weight plates (6 l) to the left end of the handle in a nested side by side manner extending along the axis and a selected number of the right weight plates (6 r) to the right end of the handle in a nested side by side manner extending along the axis; characterized by: (b) a shock absorbing system configured to support the weight plates in a normal, substantially upright orientation relative to the axis of the handle and to allow the weight plates in response to a shock to pivot or tilt sideways relative to the axis of the handle out of their normal orientation and into a deflected, less upright orientation, the shock absorbing system further providing a biasing force on the weight plates when the weight plates are in their deflected, less upright orientation which biasing force is sufficient to restore the weight plates back into their normal orientation after the shock dissipates, and wherein each left and right weight plate (6 l, 6 r) in each nested weight has a flexible joint between the weight plate and the at least one interconnecting member secured thereto such that the flexible joints in all the nested weights comprise the shock absorbing system.