Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I wish I could give stars in halves; this product would get a solid 4.5 from me. Rounding up to a 5 would mean folks who aren't taking the time to read the review might assume that there's really no room for improvement, but there is.
After reading this review you might think I work for Powerblock or something, but I don't. When you're spending between $150-400 on a set of "high performance" adjustable dumbbells, applying a bit of logic can go a long way for your satisfaction and safety.***AREAS THAT COULD USE IMPROVEMENT***
To help counteract the perceived bias I might have, I'm gonna try something different; I'm going to start with the CONS of the Powerblocks.
1. The magnets in the selector pin could be stronger. As a safety measure, there are magnets in the pin that hold it against the bars on the side of the weight stack, reducing the chance of it slipping out during an exercise. This makes a lot of sense, but the magnets are pretty weak. During some pretty basic exercises the magnets will come lose and lose their hold. Now don't get freaked out -- it's not like the pin flies out and it's scary to work out (there is an elastic band acting as a backup safety also). I'm talking like millimeters here; I can see that the pin has moved just enough where you can tell the magnets aren't holding. Rather than a whole bunch of cheap magnets within the pin, two small high-quality earth magnets would give a better hold while still being pretty easy to remove.
2. The weight selection process can be a bit finicky on carpet or non-flat surfaces. Because there may be a bit of shift in the weight stack on carpet, sometimes it's tricky to stick the weight pin in correctly. I recommend leaving these weights on a hard surface while in use, or better yet get the sport tray/stand to accompany them.
3. The pin can be put in crooked across two different weights. If you're not paying attention (and you should be!), it's somewhat easy to put the pin in crooked so that it crosses two weights. You will probably notice this right away when you go to pick up the weight, and it's not that big of deal since the pin still holds onto the heavier weight, but possibly re-engineering the pin shape or something could help prevent this entirely.****POWERBLOCK VS. THE COMPETITION****
Okay, now here's the part where you assume I work for Powerblock. Let me say that this set of dumbbells (and the Powerblock line in general) is a MUCH better choice than the SelectTechs (STs). While comparing these 24-pounders to the 52 pound SelectTech's isn't really fair simply for weight comparison reasons, I wanted to point out why I think this line is vastly superior:
1. The Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells (I'll call them STs) are the same width whether you pick up 5 pounds or 52.5 pounds. And by the way, they are WIDE -- about 16" each. Imagine doing curls with 5 pounds per hand and needing THIRTY TWO INCHES across to do it -- makes for an uncomfortable curl, especially for narrower people. The Powerblocks (PBs), on the other hand, are narrower and more compact the less weight you add. All the stuff you don't need is left on the floor, not in your hand.
2. The STs require you to turn TWO dials to appropriate number on each dumbbell. There are 15 different weight settings on the STs, so what if your next weight is on the opposite side of the dial? That's right, it will require EIGHT CLICKS PER SIDE OF EACH DUMBBELL to pick up the new weight. That means it takes between 4 (minimum) and 32 (maximum) clicks of the dial to change weights each time. And you can't just flick the dials, either. The PBs, on the other hand, require two moves no matter what weight you're selecting: pull the pin out, put the pin in. Period.
3. The STs, while far "cooler" looking, have a lot of plastic on them. Pick a set up at your local Sports Authority and see if you can tell how the weigh selector mechanism works. Then, consider how durable (and potentially unsafe) you think your $400 weights would be if you dropped them. The PBs are mostly metal, with the inner handle being the only thing that contains plastic, and it's not cheapo plastic either. If you drop them, I'm guessing they'd hold up fine, although I wouldn't recommend it.
4. With the STs you HAVE to have the base to set the handles back into due to the design of the product. If you didn't have a tray to hold all the weights that were left behind, it'd be a nightmare to put the handles back together and try and switch to another weight. In fact, I'd like to see someone try =) The PBs are self-contained, so they work fine without the stand. The weights that you don't pick up stay in a compact stack that won't move.********CONCLUSION AND SUMMARY********
Aside from those gripes, I really enjoyed these Powerblocks. In fact, I grew out of them and traded up to the Sport 9.0 model (which I will review separately). If 24 pounds per arm is enough for your routine, it's an absolute no-brainer to pick these guys up. Note that Amazon has built in the shipping cost to the price of these dumbbells.
PROS
+ Much more compact than the competition
+ Quick weight changes to ANY weight
+ Well built/durable
+ Great price on the lower weight set (if 24 is all you need)
CONS
- Magnets in pin could be stronger
- Doesn't work quite as well on carpet
- Possible to put the pin in crooked if you're not paying attention
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PowerBlock SportBlock 24 Adjustable 3 to 24-Pounds per Dumbbell SetThe only dumbbell system that can expand to meet your strength needs, PowerBlock dumbbells are the most versatile and effective exercise tool ever developed for strength training. PowerBlocks work intuitively. Rather than requiring you to buy a room full of dumbbells, PowerBlocks act just like a weight stack at the gym, with a weight handle that fits inside the first weight, which fits inside the second, which fits inside the third, etc. When you want to change weights, you simply move the weight selector pin into the appropriate slot and you're set. As you lift the core, all the weights above the selector pin are lifted at the same time, turning your 3-pound dumbbell into a 6-pound dumbbell, or your 6-pound dumbbell into a 12-pound dumbbell. Not only is the system remarkably easy to use, but it's also cost- and space-efficient, as a single pair of dumbbells can do the work of dozens.
This pair of SportBlock 24x3 dumbbells, for instance, adjusts from 3 to 24 pounds in 3-pound increments (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 pounds), in effect doing the job of 16 individual weights. Even better, the weights are more compact and balanced than traditional dumbbells, with a padded handle that protects people with weak wrists. Best of all, the free weights are terrific whether you're trying to build muscle mass, firm and tone your physique, or get rid of unwanted body fat. The SportBlock set offers a maximum weight of 24 pounds per hand and carries a limited 10-year warranty.
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