Customer Reviews

PowerBlock SportBlock Personal Set 5 - 45 lbs. - Shipping Included

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have owned the PowerBlock for about 10 months now and I must say I'm very happy with it. I bought it because I was starting to run out of space and my room was looking like a mess as I bought more and more conventional dumbbells. It works very well for almost every exercise: Dumbbell raises, seated press, one-hand row, incline press, curls, overhead press, etc. The only down side is I can't do a behind the head curl with it due to it's square shape. For this I keep one conventional dumbbell around since it's easier to grip with two hands at once in that position. The other minor complaint is the pins used to select the weight is a bit hard to insert if the block isn't perfectly flat, such as when it's sitting on a carpet. Overall, I'm still very happy and consider it well worth the price when you consider how much it replaces.

I am only 15, not a big dumbbell pro, I admit. But these things are sturdy. I was working out with my dads old barbells and I saw the commercial for the Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells. I wanted them. Of course, at the store seeing them in person they seemed very flimsy, the weight plates seemed to "jiggle" if you will. So the person at the store showed me the Powerblocks, which have a very contravercial shape. But they are so much better and I have loved them ever since. They are not really expensive if you consider space, time, and pure bragging rights.

I can't imagine shipping cost of these over the internet. But if you are looking for dumbbells, even if you're a beginner (45lbs each hand is alot for a beginner) you're gonna like these alot more than the competitors. (Ok, you can't do all the exercises like the other reviewers said but come on, they are better than the over-advertised bowflex.)

It is wonderful to have an entire weight system that fits into two large shoeboxes. These are easiest to use if you have a hard, level surface that is about thigh-height to place them on - it makes putting the weight down, changing the level, then picking it up again (in seconds - you are just moving a bar from one set of holes to another) a breeze. My trainer carries her set from client to client because they are so compact and "lightweight" compared to carrying around an array of dumbbells. The only very picky complaint I have is that it is easy to bang up your wrist if you lift the weight too quickly or with too much weight on it because of the way the structure balances with your hand inside it. (And this complaint is awfully picky - you should be very careful lifting _any_ kind of hand weight!)

Okay, i was at a Garage sale the other day to these rich houses, which i do alot, and this guy was selling his PowerBlock set. He sold the stand by itself earlier in the day to someone else who had a Powerblock but need a stand. The guy was asking $125 for the 2 yr old set that he don't use no more because he prefer to hit the local gym. Well i wasn't planning on buying it but he made me a deal i can't refuse. Since it didn't have the stand, he was willing to sell it for $100. I didn't care for the stand anyways ;) He was also selling a Parabody bench for $30 bucks and i told him if he would throw it in if i buy his PowerBlock and since it was late in the day, he said sure its your lucky day and thats what i got....whoopie!!!!!

Trying it out today, i can change the weights on the Powerblock quite easily by just sliding the pin....piece of cake. It feel very stable and i like the 5 lb increment. The big plus is that it save space unlike fix dumbells or having plates laying all over the place which can takes time to change if your not too proficient at it. This is much better then the SelectTech because the dumbell bar on those are way too long which i tried at Sports Authority a long time ago plus they are expensive too. The grip on the PB is better and is protected by those near your wrist so you won't injure yourself. Head curls are manageable, just not too easy. But it just minor gripes but i know i got a steal on a great piece of equipment so take that!

On the dumbell bench, compare to a PowerTec, the Parabody is the next best thing....not those cheap unstable Weider stuff that can injure you. The padding is comfy too.

Now i can do my light weight exercise at the convenience of home in the morning without taking much space....just lovely. I am quite fat and need to lose weight so this is for my health too. And the beauty of it is that i can easily sell the PowerBlock for a profit because people just don't sell em.

Highly recommended!