Customer Reviews

PowerBlock Elite 90 Adjustable 5 to 90-Pounds per Dumbbell Set

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After years of collecting the old standard hex dumbells, and trying to maintain a home gym in the city in various apartments (usually in the common basement) I found the PowerBlock dumbells. For someone without a dedicated room (with lots of space) for their workout equipment, these are fantastic dumbells. They go up to 85 or 90lbs without the add-on kit, and they are super fast and easy to change the weight. They are pricey, but considering the amount of dumbells they replace, well worth it, for the right user.

After using the PowerBlock setup for a couple years I came across IronMaster, another brand with adjustable dumbells. They go to 75lbs without the add-on kit, and cost a little less than the PowerBlock dumbells. I have BOTH in my home gym now, and I will go over the pros and cons of each for those of you trying to decide on a set up like this.

PowerBlocks:

Pros: Well made, comfortable grip, fast and easy to change the weight in 10lb increments, nice stand included, made in USA, ability to go up to 85-90lbs as is, and 120lbs with add-on. Excellent for exercises where you change weight quickly or frequently. Square dumbells don't roll.

Cons: Funky design with 4 pillars around your hand/wrist. It works, but it makes me nervous at higher weights that if I were to drop them I could somehow catch my wrist in there and hurt myself. Difficult to quickly switch weights in increments smaller than 10lbs. This is a problem for many exercises. Although they are sturdy, and have never given out on me, they rattle and the plates move a little when you use them. Again, they seem sturdy but when doing shoulder or bench press it's a little disconcerting. You need to make sure the magnetic pins are fully inserted and in the right spot or disaster could ensue. The dumbells get long when using a lot of weight which can be somewhat awkward for certain exercises.

Overall: These dumbells are best for exercises where you change the weight frequently, or quickly, and work best for non-press exercises in my experience. The add-on kit is a nice option, but the dumbells are already pretty long at 85-90lbs, so it may be impractical for a lot of exercises. They were the first of their kind, they are still a serious contender in this ring.

IronMaster:

Pros: Well Made. More traditional looking & feeling dumbells. Up to 75lbs as is, and 125lbs with kit. Not as long as PowerBlocks, no awkward pillars to stick your hand in between. Nice stand included. Great bench and other accessories available (better than PowerBlock bench after using both). No rattling or moving of plates when in use. Sturdy and well balanced and made in USA. Excellent for press exercises. Just as quick to change the weight in 2.5lb or 5lb increments as it is by 10lbs or more.

Cons: Takes significantly longer to change the weight than PowerBlocks. For press exercises I find this to be less of an issue, but for curls and other quick change exercises it's a bit of a pain. No locking mechanism for the screw in pins. This has never been an issue, or caused a dumbell to fall apart during use, but there's no locking mechanism (or magnet such as PowerBlocks) just friction preventing the pin from unscrewing. I'm not too worried about it, but it has crossed my mind.

Overall: These dumbells are best for users who use higher weights for press exercises and want the traditional look and feel of a dumbell you might find in the gym. They don't rattle or move, and are very solid. They also go higher in weight than the PowerBlocks with the add-on kit, and cost less. Not as good for users using ligher weight and requiring quick changes.

Conclusion: For me, having both pairs is a pretty good set up, but If I were to choose just one, I would stick with the IronMaster. I like them for their sturdiness and lack of rattling especially when using heavy weight. In addition to the IronMaster, I would buy a cheaper set of adjustable dumbells with a lower maximum weight (50lbs maybe) that could be easily adjusted in 5lb (or smaller) increments to use for curls and kickbacks etc...and stick with the IronMaster for the heavier weights, where I really don't mind the extra minute of rest to change the weight! In fact, I think I will sell my PowerBlocks and get a set up like this, and have some money left over for Muscle Milk! :)

P.S. the IronMaster adjustable bench is the BEST I have used!

Since my local "weight" gym went down I've been nowhere and didn't even know about this option. Just picked these up, the feeling of being back in "the game" is simply awesome. Combined with Ironmaster's Superbench, crunch/decline and dip attachment you are ready to go in a space less than 4' x 6'. (I had tested the pullup attachment rated to 300 pounds and was surprised at the stability: I'm 200.)

For my condo, a small side room with a closet was just begging for this solution. Not cheap, but for any reasonable athlete who mixes weight and cardio training (I'm a swimmer) it doesn't get any better than this. Some people can get the lower priced 45 pound set but most guys are going to want to have more weight to grow into and at 90 pounds this will be the sweet spot for the majority of guys. You can get the expansion kit beyond it and that's the only downside it the upgrade is somewhat pricey but it's still worth it IMHO should that day come.

One point to consider is the comfort of using the product as you can also get rid of your weight gloves with these. They are so comfortable gloves aren't necessary. Was considering the Ironmaster adjustable dumbells too. They are more standard in the geometry but the feel does require gloves or you must have some serious hands. Also the design is so well done around the hand on the Powerblock that the balance is definitely a nice improvement over the standard dumbell.

With these and a great bench, no more waiting to get to weights in the gym, no more trying to squeeze in work while waiting for a place. And no more see sawing on your gains because you can't get to the gym. These are just awesome for space, convenience, effectiveness and there's no beating the speed of changing the weight.

Also, Powerblock is made in the good ole USA.

I have owned this set of dumbells since 1998. Changing the resistance from one level to the next is as easy as removing the pins and setting the pins on the next level (by 10 lb increments). If you do workouts requiring finer adjustments, 2.5 or 5 lbs, then the handle has to be separated.

As you do a chest press with 75 lbs, it gets challenging, since the set gets wider. However, aside from that, bent rows, curls, shoulder presses, squats, triceps extensions are easy. Wrist curls are a little cumbersome but manageable.

The finish is relatively durable but over a period of 5 years, the enamel does chip off. However, it is not rusting, even after 10 years.

The handles are padded and comfortable.

These are not resistant to damage when dropped so you need complete control with these weights.

Given the modular design, it fits in a space of 2 shoeboxes.

I highly recommend this set. It WILL be the last set of dumbells you EVER buy again.

I was a competitive power lifter for 11 years. I spent a lot of time in the gym - 2 to 3 hours, 4 to 5 days a week. There is not a piece of exercise equipment that I have not used . . . at least once. I can say with authority, Powerblock dumbbells and an adjustable bench are everything you need if want to be fit.

First, Powerblock makes a quality product, both solid and ergonomic. In fact, the balance of Powerblock dumbbells are better than most traditional dumbbells you will find in a gyms (especially after they have been dropped a few times a local "muscle-head"). The box design actually provides additional lateral support for extension movements, like side laterals.

Second, you can easily exercise in a small area, at home. No gym membership. No need to change into "gym" clothes, drag out your gym bag and drive to the gym. You will also save time not socializing when you should be exercising. If going to the gym is part of your social life, this may not work for you. I had always hated being in the gym 3 hours to get a 1-hour workout. It is easy to get distracted around friends.

Third, you will be more likely to exercise if you make it convenient, and Powerblock weights are as convenient as it gets. With a little imagination and research you can find exercises to work all of the muscles that once took you a gym full of equipment.

I have also found that since I workout at home, I can break up workouts into shorter 30 to 45-minute sessions, 4 times/week. It is more fun to workout without the drudgery of a 2-hour commitment each day.

If you want to be fit, include exercise in your life, and not make it your life, Powerblock is a great solution. If you aspire to bodybuilding or power lifting you will need to join a well-equipped gym.

In short, Powerblocks are a great product, especially for people with limited space. The balance is good, and you can do two-handed grips on a dumbbell if you use the adder weight slots. The handle part by itself is great for doing push ups.

I really can't think of any limitations that they have, except for people that drop their dumbbells on the floor. That would not be a good idea with these; probably shouldn't drop your weights anyway... Also, for an exercise like dumbbell flyes where the dumbbells move in a somewhat sideways motion at one point in the exercise, the weight plates shift slightly due to the fact that there is a little space between each one. This doesn't really result in any balance or other issues, but it does happen.
I am amazed at how well these dumbbells do their job of allowing me to avoid having to own a more expensive and space-hogging set of weights without having any real trade-offs.
As a side note, you should probably check your local Craigslist to see if anyone is getting rid of a pair of these before you pay full price.

I have owned this set of dumbells since 1998. Changing the resistance from one level to the next is as easy as removing the pins and setting the pins on the next level (by 10 lb increments). If you do workouts requiring finer adjustments, 2.5 or 5 lbs, then the handle has to be separated.

As you do a chest press with 75 lbs, it gets challenging, since the set gets wider. However, aside from that, bent rows, curls, shoulder presses, squats, triceps extensions are easy. Wrist curls are a little cumbersome but manageable.

The finish is relatively durable but over a period of 5 years, the enamel does chip off. However, it is not rusting, even after 10 years.

The handles are padded and comfortable.

These are not resistant to damage when dropped so you need complete control with these weights.

Given the modular design, it fits in a space of 2 shoeboxes.

I highly recommend this set. It WILL be the last set of dumbells you EVER buy again.

I have had this system for three years now and love it. I purchased the additional add on weights to take it to 135Lbs by dumbbell. I find it very quick and easy to change weights. This system works real well in conjunction with a heart monitor. I can get my heart rate up and keep it in a target range, minimizing rests and making the workout efficient and effective. The workout becomes an interval style of workout, and I can see the impact on my cardio fitness. These weights have been outside the whole time on a covered pation and appear to handle that just fine. I also purchased the workout bench from Powerblock and would recommend that. I used to own a whole mess of loose dumbbells (and mess is the operative word) but converted to this system. All of my weights sit on a 2' by 2' stand and are not strewn all over the patio, thus minimizing complaints from the wife. I have not had any problems with the selectors nor the 2 1'2 lb mini-weights. If you are going to but a dumbbell set, you cannot go wrong with this system.

I purchased the PowerBlock Elite 90 adjustables and the the PowerBlock Stand which can be found here http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XEAUA8/ref=oss_product

They have a very compact space saving design that replaces the need for countless weights that would otherwise take up several times the space that these require. The weight can be easily adjusted in seconds and there is a color coded list of the weight differences on the weights themselves. There are 8 different colors and each color goes up 10lbs from the last. There are 2 cylinder weights inside the handle that can be removed and weigh 2.5lbs each. This is a very well designed set of adjustable weights and I would highly recommend them.

I bought the Sport 9.0 version of these and LOVE them. There is no way I could be happier. I'm seeing great gains. The one thing I did to that cost a little more is to buy an extra set of handles so that I don't have to load and unload the 5lb ballasts between each set.

I just purchased these dumbells and love them so far. I was initially considering buying the SelectTech's but after trying them both ended up going with the Power Blocks. Although the Select tech's look great, I found the length awkward. By comparison the select tech's are several inches longer than a standard db and these are about an inch shorter. The other thing I liked is that there are really no moving parts with these. I don't plan on dropping them, but I don't really see how these would break. The only part is the selector pin and even it can be replaced for about $10. My main concern with these was the shape of the db and I was concerned about having to stick my hand into the block to grab the handle. I've tried most of my workout routine and so far haven't noticed any moves for which these DBs won't work. Overhead tricep extensions are the only exception as it is difficult to hold the DB in this fashion. However, I worked around this by lowering the weight and doing one arm overhead extensions.

They certainly don't look as cool as the Select tech's, but I think at the end of the day they are a much more functional and sturdy product at a slightly lower price.