Looking to pick up a set of adjustables for my home gym. Looking at a few options, but I keep seeing PowerBlocks since they're expandable. Is the cage awkward?
Does anyone have any recommendations based on what they own?
Adjustable Dumbbells
Looking to pick up a set of adjustables for my home gym. Looking at a few options, but I keep seeing PowerBlocks since they're expandable. Is the cage awkward?
Does anyone have any recommendations based on what they own?
They all fricking suck. Just buy a real dumbell set.
which set would you recommend?
Don't listen to this anon. Tons of people use adjustable dumbbells for their home. They work just as well for building muscle and will save you a ton of money and space. Obviously though you need to be careful with how you treat them OP. You can't just drop them and expect things will be okay. At least not most.
pepin fast series is the best one, but its expensive
$1400+ for 2x60lb? FOH
Ironmaster are really good but you can't quickly do dropsets. I have a pair of shitty oly dumbbell bars I got used that I can load up if I need to use two weights rapidly.
but anon its only $500 more for the 120lb version!
I have the Bowflex and they get the job done. The rubber gripped handles are kind of shit and the rubber stretches over time and gets sticky. I ended up having to tape my grips up.
>Bowflex
kys, literally worst option
powerblocks are great, cage is as much an asset as it is an annoyance
the cage isn't awkward generally but having to tip out the slugs for sub-10lb increments is a bit of a chore.
still better than spinlock tbh
buy old school ones where you 'screw' on plates
Ironmaster
I have powerblocks and they're fine for most things. There are some exercises that get a bit weird/impossible when you use a lot of plates. Goblet squat comes to mind. I think I also had some trouble getting a good grip on triceps extensions recently, but I might have confused it with some other exercise (pullovers maybe). I have the rubber coated ones though. I think I would have opted out of that if I were to buy a new pair though, as they seem bulkier than the regulars.
Just get classic dumbbells with screw locks. They're cheap, reliable and safe.
yeah i have those bowflex ones, don't get them. they are cool as a gift but I hate them, they are the proprietary software of the fitness equipment, I would much rather have a set of Olympic style dumbbells so I could use the plates on other equipment.
My set and the wife's
Powerblocks are good, I have a pair of EXPs. Watch some israelitetube adjustable dumbbell comparisons then decide.
Bowflex suck, I'm on my second set, got it used, good deal. The plastic tabs wear out over time, mine will drop a plate if I shake it too much. Also if you drop one, the plastic tabs will break causing it to drop plates too. Power blocks seem to be the simplest most reliable design.