PowerBlocks Vs. Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbells
By: Keith
I did a lot of research into dumbbells a few years ago. I don’t like gyms and I know enough about fitness to get a full workout from just a few simple pieces of equipment. Dumbbells aren’t necessary if all you want to do is lose weight and to be fit and generally strong; push-ups and pull ups work just fine. Being a guy though, I felt compelled to get bigger muscles (I know it’s vain of me). Thus, I researched dumbbells because it’s way manlier than pulling on bands (the cheaper alternative to resistance training that actually works quite well). It didn’t take long to discover that buying a whole dumbbell rack with weights was going to be outrageously expensive and space wasting. But then I saw those silly commercials that we’ve all seen for Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells. The guy on the commercial is pretty darn ripped, and I wanted to be ripped too so it seemed like a perfect match. Not being a complete idiot though I caught myself before whipping out the credit card, and I decided to do research. My findings are illuminating. There are only two decent competitors in the changeable weight dumbbell market. They are Bowflex and PowerBlocks. All the rest like Reebok and Lifecore are a complete waste.
Bowflex SelectTech 1090 Vs PowerBlock Sport 9.0
PowerBlocks Get the Win:
Comparable Price at 90 Pounds: The Sport 9.0 Series is expandable to 130 lbs, but stage 1 goes up to 50 lbs for 50 dollars cheaper than the SelectTech 552 (which is Bowflex’s 50 lbs version). Stage 2 (90 lbs) is the same price as the SelectTech 1090′s. SelectTech 1090 does not go to 130 lbs so there is no comparison there.
Sturdier: There are no moving parts to damage with the PowerBlocks. There are no dials to get jammed or gunked up, nothing to go wrong (the only way to break them is to drop them). The plates of the SelectTech rattle during use and must be carefully placed back into the holders or the dialing device could get jammed and stuck when redialed. I jammed a set of SelectTechs in just that way two years ago while shopping at Sports Authority. I walked away from them pretending I didn’t just screw up the display.
Quicker: PowerBlocks work by inserting a pin beneath a color coded weight indicator on the block. It’s as simple as pulling out a bar and inserting it into the right colored slot. In other words, it’s one quick move as opposed to dialing around a wheel to match two sides of a dumbbell 4 times (two hands). Having used both of them I can say it takes less than half the amount of time to switch weights with the Sport 9.0 (there is a caveat to this. Read on to find out).
Smaller Weight Increments: The Sport 9.0 increases in 2.5 lb increments to the SelectTech 5 lbs. To achieve the smaller incremental steps PowerBlocks sacrifice their speed advantage. The blocks have 4 internal removable 2.5 lb weights which, when removed, effectively give the user twice as many weight options as with the SelectTech. But, it takes time to fiddle with the inserts. Still, it’s a win for PowerBlocks because of the added versatility. Also, the Sport 5.0 does not have the inserts and goes in 5 lb increments, beating the pants off of the Bowflex 552 version (Not many people go above 50 lbs anyway).
Clunky: SelectTech dumbbells are clunky. They don’t feel solid and they’re way too long which makes it difficult to do certain exercises. The only exercises that are difficult to perform with the PowerBlocks are wrist related movements (because of the caged nature of the block). However, also because of the shape of the blocks, the weight is better distributed in a more compact design making cross body curls easier.
Bowflex has fancier commercials (they have commercials) and they’re hawked by BeachBody and Tony Horton (the makers of P90X). While there is no denying that they do work you can spend comparable money for a superior product in PowerBlocks. PowerBlocks specialize in dumbbells; they have everything from small sport models to full fledged fitness center and professional grade designs. They even have a new KettleBlock model and a Urethane version of the Sport 9.0 series. The KettleBlock looks like an especially intriguing design which adds an entirely new dimension to dumbbell work. Bowflex is the popular choice, but PowerBlocks are the smart choice. They were my choice 2 years ago for every reason I outlined above.
Disclaimer: I didn’t get anything from anybody to say anything. I’m a fitness enthusiast who takes these things seriously, that’s all.
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Back when I actually used to work out after a long day at the office I preferred some quick cardio then a circuit of dumbell exercises. Once I lose a few hundred pounds I’ll have to think about getting some of these so I can get back into the groove. My friend has the Bowflex set and he had been on the fence about whether they were worth the money.
.-= PJ Mullen´s last blog ..Where have we seen this before? =-.
PJ, I’ve heard a lot of people say they’re not sure if the bowflex ones are worth the money. I would say that for all the trouble I’ve heard them causing people that they probably aren’t worth it. They have to be treated gingerly to avoid breakage. When you’re working out hard who has the energy to treat anything gingerly (or the dexterity for that matter)? Thanks for the visit
Oh shit. They look horrid. Call me old fashion but you can’t go past a set of good cold stand alone metal dumbbells. But yes they are expensive. I was lucky enough to get a set going from 20 pounds to 150 pounds in ten pound increments for 500 bucks when the powerlifting gym I’m a member of updated their equipment. They’re about twenty years old and a little rusty in places but they are awesome – they even smell right. Sometimes I just head out to my garage gym to rub their metallic head and just be with them.
.-= Reservoir Dad´s last blog ..Unday # 2 – The Search For Australia’s Most Mentally Sexy Dad =-.
Clint, Yeah I know. They do look a little un-manly. Thankfully though nobody has to see me using them (except for that one picture
Oh, and I wish I had found a deal like what you got on the dumbbells. If I had the space and money I’d go that rout without question.
You’re absolutely right about the Select Techs not being as great as the Powerblocks. I’ve had two sets for 10 years, and the only things wrong with them is that they look a little worn. The newer designs have made them even better by allowing them to flex. So even if you do drop them, they don’t become bent and jammed like the older ones.
As far as the Kettleblock, though, they need to go back to the drawing board on that design. I got a chance to see them at the IHRSA convention. They’re way too big to be used for the exercises that make the kettlebell design beneficial.
I have both. If I knew then what I know now I would not have bought the SelectTech, having bought the PowerBlock after I got stronger and needed more weight than the SelectTech had. The PowerBlock is nice because you can buy it in stages, adding more weight as you need it, although, it looks like the stage III works differently than stage I or II (haven’t got there yet)
You have a few things wrong. The SelectTech is usually faster going from one weight to another, unless it gets jammed and you have to fiddle with it. The SelectTech does allow increments of 2.5 lbs, you just have to set either end of the weight to different settings, e.g. 20 lbs on one end 25 lbs on the other gives a slightly unbalanced total of 22.5 lbs. The PowerBlock has two 2.5 “adder weights” for the handle, but that does not mean you can step evenly 2.5 lb at a time throughout the weight range. For instance, from 20 to 30 lbs the steps would be 20, 25, 27.5 30. There is no way to get to 22.5, 32.5, 42.5 etc. I usually just make 5 lb jumps, which is OK, but again it usually takes longer on the PowerBlock to make a 5 lb change: You have to pull the pin, pull the handle, throw the lever, dump or add the adder weights, put the handle back in, put the pin in.
Thanks for this review. I have a set of hex dumbells (15-40s) and have been content doing body weight exercises. Lately I’ve wanted to up things and gain some mass. Pricing out more weight comes with a serious tag, so I’m considering selling a Hoist stand and all of the weights. Bowflex has the marketing behind them and I was ready to help pay for their commercials before reading your post. Cheers!
Wow! I was so amped and ready to pull out my card to get the SelectTech and then something told me to look into other adjustable dumbbells. Boy am I glad I did because I would have never discovered the PowerBlocks system. Reading Amazon.com reviews and other reviews regarding SelectTech and PowerBlocks, I am going to check out the PowerBlocks at my local fitness store. More than likely, I will walk out of the store with a set seeing all the great things that people have to say about them. . .especially the ease of use and the fact that they can be upgraded to higher pounds. I’m going to be starting P90X. . .again (recovering from a lower back injury the first time). I have resistance bands, but I want to keep up with Tony and the kids and these dumbbells look like they will do the trick. I have a small apartment and the space saving issue scored cool points with me also. I was also looking at the pretty factor of the SelectTech, but that quickly went out the window. I’m looking for quality, ease of use, price and effectiveness. These are quickly becoming the dumbbells of choice. Stay tuned.
I had a chance to use a fairly worn set of bow flex db’s. I liked the idea had few jams, but the worst was that one of the plates dropped off while exercising which was quite scary. Is there a risk of dropping off plates in power blocks?
Meedzik: Good question. There is virtually no chance of a powerblock weight coming loose from the core. Well, let me qualify that. It is possible to insert the prongs into a wrong hole if you aren’t paying close attention, but that will only cause a jiggly weight, not one that actually falls off. I don’t want to say it could never ever happen, but I’ve never heard of it happening whereas I’ve heard several stories of the bowflex ones breaking because of jammed parts or worn out pieces. There’s nothing to get worn out on the power block. It’s very low tech.
I chose the PowerBlocks over the SelectTechs for reasons of perceived durability. Plus I got the add-on package for Power Blocks (for a total of 90 lbs each side) at a bargain from a local fitness store closing. I’ve done P90X 3 times and currently doing Chalean Extreme (both of which are awesome– I’m 51 yo, 9% body fat, and ripped!)
The PB’s are solid, stable, very compact, and very easy to use. Yeah it takes a few extra seconds to add/remove the supplemental 2.5 weights, but no big deal. I bought the stand for the PB’s which is very nice– don’t have to keep bending over for the weights.
My biggest complaint about the PB’s is the cage around the wrist, but that’s only a problem when I use lifting hooks. I lift 70-80 lbs per side when doing 1-arm rows, squats, or deadlifts, and it’s a challenge to maneuver the hooks into the cage. (I use the hooks because my grip fatigues before the muscle I’m working does.) I tried lifting straps, but couldn’t tighten them adequately because of the cage as well. Nevertheless, I’ve got it figured out with the hooks.
Overall, very happy with the PB’s
I’ve run into the same problem of hand fatigue and have been wondering if I coulkd get straps or hooks to work with Powerblocks. Could you tell me what brand hooks you are using that work with Powerblocks?
Thanks Keith
I was just surfing for either and needed a good review/comparison. I actually own a pair of Select Tech, but haven’t got them to hand at the moment. And reading this review and everyone else’s comments made me remember what Select Tech were like to use. Awkward, large, space invading and sometimes off balance.
I’ll certainly be looking more towards the Power Blocks now.
In one of the power 90 or p90m masters vidoes. There are a set of powerblocks,. Just like the 552 they are not used. I am going to get a set of powerblocks soon