Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells
Monday, May 9th, 2011
Bowflex® SelectTech® 552 Dumbbells
People have ever increasing demands from their items these days and ways to get in shape is no exception. We don’t just want a product to serve its purpose well; we want it to fit into our lifestyle too. Such is the case with adjustable dumbbells. I have personally used one, the Bowflex kind that goes up to 90 lbs and I think that whoever thought of these babies know that health buffs who would prefer to do their thing at home than in the gym would want to have an equipment that can progress with them without cluttering their space. A complete set of dumbbells can do the former but not necessarily the latter. Adjustable weights can do both and then some more.
The Pros and Cons of Using Adjustable Weights
The Pros
- We all know that muscles adapt to the resistance they are subjected to after a period of time and the only way to get around this and ensure your muscle growth doesn’t stagnate (and so too your training) is to introduce heavier resistance. With adjustable weights you get to do that without having to run to the store to get new ones once you’ve outgrown your old ones. You simply replace the weight plates and whatnot. So that’s one point for adjustable weights: the assurance that you have readily available resistance you can use. No hassle, no pauses in your training.
- Another obvious point for adjustable weights is their easy-to-store features. As mentioned earlier, you can have all the weight you need with no problems of how to squeeze them into your space. This is especially practical for those with small living spaces.
- Adjustable weights are a great option for those who want to do their strength training without having to run to the gym. Dumbbells can help train and tone practically every muscle in the body with the right training exercises and with these weights, your entire body should be covered well and good, if it is a well-rounded workout you are after.
- Some adjustable weights even have additional features that make them ideal over the average dumbbells and one notable feature is the quick dial and lock switch that you can make use of so you don’t have to get up to change the resistance. You can literally just lie down there, do a little dialing and you’re good to go. Bowflex’s adjustable dumbbells have this exact feature.
The Cons
- Some people find the range to be a big minus but personally, I think that a 130 pound range is pretty good and reliable for the features adjustable weights provide. Heck, I would even go for the 50 to 90 if I didn’t have anyone to share it with. In any case, these weights are for the average person simply wanting to tone, maintain or get fit and definitely not made with the heavy lifters in mind.
- It can get pretty expensive and it isn’t exactly practical if you’ve no intention of using the whole range the product offers. If you’re only planning to use 5- to 10-pound weights, you’re better off buying these weights individually. But if you’re sharing it with someone, such as in my case where I’m sharing an adjustable dumbbells set with my husband, it’s a pretty good investment.
- Users complain about parts breaking, getting lost or making noises. Some even have weights slipping off. These are probably some of the adjustable dumbbells’ biggest and reason-for-concern flaws. Compared to the solid sturdy build of your traditional hexagon weights, there’s definitely some maintenance and caring time that should be allotted for your adjustable set if you ever decide to get one. You want to add oil on some parts and make sure you put them back in their designated area, and you should have a designated area, for them. They’re compact but it’s not good advice to leave them just anywhere. Also, it’s very important to get a good brand. More often than not, you always get what you give, or in this case, pay for.
- Grip isn’t an issue, as far as I’m concerned, but it certainly is for some. The irregular shapes make it hard for some to do certain exercises or even get their hands to grip the product in the first place.
Overall, adjustable dumbbells are pretty up to par with the ordinary or traditional hex weights that are neoprene or vinyl-coated that you can find out there, minus the clutter. At least that is the case as far as my experience with the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells go. But of course, it’s always a different stroke for each different folk so it is important to know about other similar products that are available so you can make the best choice for you.
Vs Weider Adjustable Dumbbells
The Weider Powerswitch Adjustable Dumbbells are pretty traditional looking and compared to the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells, they are much more affordable. There are three models available: 5-25lbs single dumbbell, a pair of these 25 lbs model that adds up to up to 50 lbs of resistance, and lastly a 10-50lbs model that is bought in pairs adding up to a total of 100 lbs of resistance. Compared to the Bowflex SelectTech’s, these models are pretty limited in range. Durability-wise, Weider has had a good share of complaints as opposed to Bowflex’s practically zero. Both have plastic parts that people are initially very wary of but in the end, Bowflex keeps it together while Weider just cracks at the threading (which is a key component in keeping the plates in place) and the storage case.
Vs Lifecore Adjustable Dumbbells
The Lifecore Adjustable Dumbbells set works just like the Bowflex ones: each has to be on their respective tray when you adjust them. The mechanism differs, however: While Bowflex uses an adjustable dial that you turn to change the weights, Lifecore uses a slide-and-lock design. Both have plastic parts which many people have serious doubts with in terms of life expectancy. But neither has ever really broken with careful use. Smashing either dumbbell sets is not recommended.
Since you can probably get the same results using either of the two, I guess the determining factor for which to choose would be the range, price and warranty. If you place Bowflex’s lower-end, Selectech 552 with Lifecore’s Corebell 5-55 head-to-head, Lifecore outdoes Bowflex in the range category by a mere 2.5 lbs while Bowflex wins the price battle as it is priced around $40 lower. These two are a close call as both have equally good reviews with users. If you want heavier weights though, Bowflex becomes the clear winner as it offers up to 90 lbs with its 1090 model. When it comes to warranty however, Lifecore is the clear winner with lifetime offering on the weight plates and Bowflex providing only up to 5 years.
Vs Powerblocks
The Powerblocks Adjustable Dumbbells set is pretty much the only real competition Bowflex has in the category because when compared head-to-head, each has their own advantage over the other. Price-wise, Powerblocks are slightly higher than the Bowflex variety but the difference is almost negligible. In terms of build, they’re equally sturdy too. There’s the clacking sound of the parts that many complain of when you use them but really, they’re just a nuisance in the beginning and is no reason for worry at all as both have been proven to not fall apart and be very reliable and safe even after years of use.
In terms of range, Powerblocks offers more. It has models that have 3-24 lbs, 5-45 lbs and 5-90 lbs ranges as opposed to Bowflex’s 5-52.5 and 10-90 lbs models. Both offer 2.5 increments for the lower weights. Powerblocks also offer add-on weights that can bring you up to 130 lbs of weight for each dumbbell but this is only available for the 5-45 lbs model and not for the cheapest personal training set of 3-24 lbs.
In terms of design, I personally like Bowflex. It looks rather traditional and you get more space for your grips. Powerblocks tend to make my arms feel cramped although they really aren’t. It’s a frivolous category as function should always take precedence over form but to those of you care about the little details, it is worth mentioning.
Function-wise, each has an edge over the other. Bowflex has the edge over Powerblocks for its ability to provide distinct distribution on each end of the dumbbell as you can set the dial lower on one side and higher on the other. This is perfect for tricep curls, as most would say, and for other exercises that works best when this feature is used. In terms of overall weight distribution though, Powerblocks seems to edge out on Bowflex a little since the upper part of the Bowflex dumbbells are a bit bare and most of the weight are settled at the bottom.
Powerblocks are smaller in size which makes them easier to do double-arm exercises with. But the Bowflex carries an advantage for its plastic covered weights over the Powerblocks’ pure metal finish. With the Bowflex, irritating noises when the dumbbells clash are completely eliminated.
As to ease of use, I think each have their advantages as well. In terms of the switching mechanism, Bowflex’s dial switch is a breeze to use; you can run into minor mistakes when switching using the pins with Powerblocks. However, Powerblocks can also easily be adjusted on any flat surface while Bowflex has to be placed in its case.
The Best Adjustable Weights: Price, Feature, and Function
In summary, although I’m a big Bowflex fan and user, I have to say that you can’t go wrong with getting a Bowflex, a Powerblocks Adjustable Weights or a Lifecore set. It all boils down to the features. You have to really ask yourself which of the features you are actually willing to live with and/or without.
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If you are in the market for a Bowflex fitness machine then one option is to buy a used Bowflex. Bowflex equipment is durably built and lasts for years and the bows themselves are designed to never wear out, so you should have no trouble finding a used Bowflex in great shape. One thing to remember if you are going to buy a used Bowflex is that it has to be transported to your home, so you are going to need a truck or a mini-van with a large passenger capacity.
