POWERBLOCK Sport 24

Product Information

But, like anything else, these aren’t perfect. They won’t feel like traditional dumbbells, and the handle might be a little uncomfortable for some people. Perfect for intermediate-to-advanced weightlifters, these dumbbells adjust from 15 to 55 pounds in 10-pound increments, making a single dumbbell the equivalent of five sets of weights. This weight range may not be the best for beginners, as starting off with 15-pound weights and progressing the load at a pace of 10 pounds can be difficult for those just starting out.

Again, while the caged handle doesn’t bother me, I recognize that people used to lifting with traditional fixed dumbbells might not like the feeling. It might take some getting used to. But, it’s a small sacrifice to make considering the big value you get from these. A Little Noise During testing, we appreciated how grippy the dumbbells felt in our dry hands. But after the sweat test, we did notice some slipping and sliding, which made for an insecure grip during many overhead exercises. Overall, this durable pair is great for intermediate users looking for a space-saving set of high-quality adjustable dumbbells. Thankfully, after requesting it for years, they’ve brought out a knurled handle option for their Commercial Pro Series. These are my personal favorite, but they are more expensive and may not be what most want. We also consulted with experts for safety cues and buying advice for adjustable dumbbells. The experts we spoke to included:The extender options are absolutely worth it for those who lift heavier and need more weight; the non-expandable options are a great value for people who don’t need lots of weight. Beginners will like the Bowflex SelectTech because it's easier to operate and lift. This also decreases the time it takes to change the weight you want to use. This would be beneficial if you were to perform supersets with different weights on different exercises or dropsets on the same exercise. What We Don't Like About Bowflex Another issue for some may be the upfront investment. You will pay more for adjustable dumbbells initially, but after you factor in how much you would spend on the same weights as fixed dumbbells, you may find the cost of the adjustable dumbbells to make more sense. Yes, you could buy a pair at a time and build up, but this would take much longer to do, and you would have all the weights you need by purchasing the adjustable dumbbells upfront. Our Verdict Since the handle is in the middle of the dumbbell and is surrounded by the pinned weight, it does have a few limitations. For example, you won't be able to do certain exercises such as the dumbbell pull-over for the lats and the double-arm overhead extension for the triceps because you can't hold the weight as you should for those movements.

The handle on the Elite Series has a straight, cylindrical feel. It’s more boxed in than the Sport Series. The Elite Series is still made in the USA and is one of the best value adjustable dumbbells on the market, in my opinion. Pro SeriesThe Ativafit Adjustable Dumbbell has a small weight range that is good for beginner lifters but comes as a single dumbbell rather than a set. Isabella Broggini is the Commerce Editor for Verywell Fit and a certified personal trainer who has trained clients at Equinox. Isabella strength-trains using dumbbells several times a week. While testing adjustable dumbbells in The Verywell Testing Lab, Isabella focused her attention on the time it took to adjust each dumbbell throughout the workout circuit as well as how long it took her to set up and unbox each dumbbell. She performed side-by-side comparisons of products and collected first-hand data. There is a sound of metal on metal since they're not one piece,solid dumbbells. Even though they are strong and durable, you still have to be more careful with them, and you certainly don't want to drop them If at all possible. Although these adjustable dumbbells are shaped quite unconventionally, they're very storable given their square shape, which we think makes them worth it for those with smaller spaces.

The only downside, we found them to be slightly less durable than other dumbbells on our list. The dumbbells stayed intact when dropped on gym flooring, but a small piece of one of the dumbbells chipped off when they were dropped on concrete flooring. But rest easy knowing these dumbbells come with a two-year warranty. Unlike most of the adjustable dumbbells on our list, you have to physically screw on and off the weight increments, which a bit more time consuming, but overall easy and intuitive to do. The set comes with a carry case, which is great if you want to take them on the go. But to store the dumbbells in the carry case, you do need to remove all plates and collars off the barbells—which means you have to reassemble your weights with each use. One thing that trips up many people about the handles is that they are caged in, which isn’t the most ergonomic thing in the world. On some movements, the bars hit your wrists. This isn’t a dealbreaker for me, but it’s worth noting. DurabilityWe also noticed that, although the adjustable dumbbells are slightly bulkier than regular dumbbells, they still maintain the traditional dumbbell shape (unlike many other adjustable dumbbells). This allows you to perform any traditional strength training exercise without having to alter your form. We love how easy these adjustable dumbbells are to adjust between exercises. We were also able to maintain a good grip on the dumbbells, even with wet hands, thanks to the grippy rubber handles. The BowFlex SelectTech adjustable dumbbell is easier to operate because you adjust a dial to change the weights. The dials can be turned in either direction. You have to make sure the numbers are the same on both ends of the weight before removing it from the stand. We appreciate that the weights are shaped like regular dumbbells and can be used for all exercises you would do with traditional dumbbells, without requiring you to alter your form or the way you hold them. And our grip was solid with both wet and dry hands. When testing, we adjusted between 15-20 pounds in a circuit of five exercises. Changing the weight between exercises took less than 10 seconds from finishing one exercise, adjusting the weight, and then getting ready for the next exercise.