PowerBlock SportBlock 24 Adjustable 3 to 24-Pounds per Dumbbell Set

by Power Block

Product Features

• Pair of adjustable dumbbell weights for efficient, cost-effective strength training
• Adjusts from 3 to 24 pounds in 3-pound increments (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 pounds)
• Selector pin lets you change weights easily, just like with weight stack at the gym
• More compact and balanced than traditional dumbbells; padded handle for wrist protection
• Offers maximum weight of 24 pounds per hand; limited 10-year warranty

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The 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.

Product Description

This set adjusts from 3-24 lbs in 3 lb increments (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24 lbs) in each hand. This set has a maximum weight of 24 lbs per hand and cannot be made heavier than the 24 lb maximum weight per hand. It replaces 8 pair or 16 fixed dumbbells that would have a combined weight of 216 lbs.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 5 x 5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 25.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000A6T9I8
• Item model number: SportBlock 3-24 lbs per hand
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,459 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #25 in Sports & Outdoors > Exercise & Fitness > Strength Training Equipment > Dumbbells

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

162 of 162 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, but not without faults, October 6, 2009

By 

L. Miller "ultraconsumer" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PowerBlock SportBlock 24 Adjustable 3 to 24-Pounds per Dumbbell Set (Sports)

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

101 of 104 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great adjustable dumbell set, January 1, 2009

By 

Joey - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: PowerBlock SportBlock 24 Adjustable 3 to 24-Pounds per Dumbbell Set (Sports)

Length:: 0:57 Mins

The power block dumbbells is my first adjustable dumbbell set i have bought. I love the size of it as i can store it just about anywhere and yet be able to lift weight anywhere from 6-24 pounds. The only problem with it as others have mentioned is that you might mess up getting the pin in straight to adjust the weights but it is easy to figure out when u have messed it up. Another annoying thing about the dumbbells set is while ur working out the plate hit each other and u hear an annoying clunking sound

76 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My favorite adjustable dumbbells and the best of the PowerBlock series, August 31, 2007

By 

Patrick D. Goonan "see profile for URL" (Livermore, CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PowerBlock SportBlock 24 Adjustable 3 to 24-Pounds per Dumbbell Set (Sports)

I really like this product because it is compact and not as cumbersome as the larger sets. For most people, this will suit their needs and they can get an upgradable set later on. The small size allows almost everyone to perform conventional exercises with proper form. With the larger PowerBlocks, this is a concern because of added bulk and length.

The square shape of these dumbbells allows the manufacturer to put more weight in a smaller place. This makes these much smaller than other rounded adjustable dumbbells over the same weight range and increments.

From a safety perspective, I also think these are the safest and most rugged adjustable dumbbells. However, this does not mean that nothing can go wrong. You need to be conscious of inserting the pins straight across and the pin mechanism right side up so the magnets engage to hold the pins together. There is a also a backup elastic band to prevent a plate from falling, but this might not save you in an overhead triceps extension.

This product is rugged and well made. It is less likely to break then some other brands and the concept is simple behind how the adjustments work. In other words, there are less things to break or go wrong and I believe these can take a fairly hard fall and still be fine. I haven't dropped mine, but I base this assumption on the way they are designed and the quality of the materials and how they are put together.

I would definitely purchase these if you do circuit training and want to keep your pulse up. If you become serious, you can buy an expandable set over a larger range later. This is great entry point product.