Building a home gym is a great investment, but traditional dumbbell racks take up too much space. Adjustable dumbbells solve this problem, and the market is dominated by two giants: Bowflex and PowerBlock. After lifting with both for over a year, here is a quick buying guide to help you choose.
1. THE SHAPE AND FEEL
Bowflex dumbbells look and feel like traditional gym weights, with a rounded shape that makes exercises like goblet squats comfortable. PowerBlocks have a unique, square “cage” design. While it looks strange, it is very compact, though some people dislike their hands being enclosed.
2. SPEED OF ADJUSTMENT
Bowflex wins for convenience. You simply turn a dial on each end to select your weight, which takes about two seconds. PowerBlock uses a magnetic pin system (similar to gym weight stacks); it is highly secure but takes a few extra seconds to align perfectly.
3. DURABILITY AND DROP RISK
Never drop adjustable dumbbells, but if you accidentally do, PowerBlock is much tougher. It is built mostly of solid steel. Bowflex uses many plastic internal mechanisms in its dial system, making them more fragile and prone to jamming if dropped.
4. WEIGHT RANGE AND EXPANSION
Most standard Bowflex models max out at 52.5 lbs and cannot be upgraded. PowerBlock offers an expandable system; you can buy a base 50 lb set and later purchase expansion kits to take them up to 70 or 90 lbs as you get stronger.
The Bottom Line
If you want a traditional feel and the fastest weight changes for circuit training, buy Bowflex. If you want a nearly indestructible set of weights that can grow with you as you get stronger, invest in PowerBlock.
