PowerBlock Pro 50 vs Bowflex Selecttech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells | Home Gym Review

A few months ago I posted a review video for the Bowflex SelectTech 552 dumbbells but with winter coming I needed an expandable set so I grabbed these PowerBlock Pro 50's and thought I'd throw together a comparison video between the two for everybody. I hope you find it helpful. Please let me know what you think about this one in the comments. Love and peace everybody. Out!
0:00​ Overview
1:00​ Price and Expansion Options
3:00​ Material Build Comparisons and Durability Examples
4:57 Illustration of Adjustable Dumbbell Mechanisms For Each
7:03 PowerBlock Adder Weight Illustration
8:40 Adjustable Dumbbell Length Comparisons
11:50 Bowflex Locking Issue
14:35 Verdict and Conclusion
Bowflex® SelectTech® | How to Fix Dial
• BowFlex® Support: Sele...
****DO NOT PURCHASE THE POWERBLOCK PRO 50'S FROM AMAZON IF YOU WANT THE EXPANDABLE SET! The listing includes copy that describes the dumbbells as expandable twice once to 70lbs and then again to 90lbs but they actually don't expand at all. The Link I've provided you with here is to the PowerBlock website where you can get the correct pair of expandable dumbbells.
Power Block Pro 50 EXP Adjustable Dumbbells powerblock.com/product/pro-se...
These are Amazon Associate program links and I will receive a small percentage of income from your Amazon purchases. I use these funds to buy new gear to review. I appreciate your help with this.
Power Block Pro 50 NON-EXPANDABLE Adjustable Dumbbells amzn.to/3ARM5kT
POWERBLOCK Large Column Stand, Silver/Black, Model:Large Column Stand Silver amzn.to/3A59Up0
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Version 2 | Two Adjustable Medium Dumbbells amzn.to/3xnlc7S
Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbell Stand with Media Rack amzn.to/3xolLi6
Bowflex SelectTech 1090 Adjustable Dumbbell (Single) amzn.to/2QUaEN3
Gear I use to produce these videos:
Canon DSLR Camera [EOS 90D] with Built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DIGIC 8 Image Processor, 4K Video, Dual Pixel CMOS AF, and 3.0 Inch Vari-Angle Touch LCD Screen, [Body Only], Black amzn.to/3l0zXcH
Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens for Canon, Black (210101)
amzn.to/3Ade929
Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Standard Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (New, White box) amzn.to/3A0H75c
Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Lens amzn.to/3Fa6RzL
Neewer 2 Pieces Bi-color 660 LED Video Light and Stand Kit Includes:(2)3200-5600K CRI 96+ Dimmable Light with U Bracket and Barndoor and (2)75 inches Light Stand for Studio Photography, Video Shooting amzn.to/39Zxol4
Rode Wireless Go - Compact Wireless Microphone System, Transmitter and Receiver amzn.to/3l06kby
Viozon Selfie Live Floor Stand Set 5-in-1 10" LED Ring Light Microphone Mount moveable Compatible with 12-17" laptop/7-13 Tablet/3.5-6.7" Phone/Digital Camera SLR&DSLR Online Meeting Recording amzn.to/2Y73qJc

[@UsawaFitness]

I've got an important update about Amazon PowerBlock 50's. Be sure to look for PowerBlock Pro "EXP" 5-50. The Amazon listing for the PowerBlock Pro 50's includes expandable to 50lbs but they aren't. You must see "EXP" in the title. See this video for more kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJfIhomvf5eLfs0

[@luisnetoTV]

Hello. First of all, thank you for this video. Indeed, I think this can be misleading. The video is showing the non-expandable model, but you mention they are expandable. Perhaps it would be good if you could change to title of your video to "PowerBlock Pro 50 EXP vs (...)" , since you talk about expandability? Or perhaps you could make a new version of the video, maybe just replacing those segments? It could help avoiding some people from making the wrong choices.

[@UsawaFitness]

@@luisnetoTV Hi and thank you for watching and your comment. I'm not sure if you took a look at the description or not but I mentioned what you're talking about in there because I bought these thinking they were the expandable version due to the Amazon description only to find out they weren't thru a comment from one of my viewers. I then created a new video pointing out to look for the "exp" in the title of PowerBlock dumbbells in order to not make the mistake I made.

[@luisnetoTV]

@@UsawaFitness You're welcome. Thanks for your response. I had not seen the statement in the description. KZbin doesn't show the entire description unless one clicks in "Read more", making it easy to miss, unfortunately. Putting a note on the top of the description could also be good. But I'd like to point out that the text in the description advising people to avoid buying 'PowerBlock Pro 50' from Amazon doesn't capture the entire point entirely. The important thing is for people to be aware that 'PowerBlock Pro 50' are not expandable and 'PowerBlock Pro 50 EXP' are expandable, regardless of the retailer.

[@UsawaFitness]

@@luisnetoTV I appreciate your comments. Hopefully most of the viewers will get it the way it's up there. Thank you.

[@em-performance2016]

Excellent review. I was trying to decide between them and this showed the width, adjustments, and possible issues. Thank you.

[@UsawaFitness]

Thank you for watching it! I'm glad you found it helpful. Let me know what you end up getting.

[@steved7162]

Needed this comparison. Answered a lot of my questions. Primarily the width and the weight adjustments. Very informative review. Thanks!

[@UsawaFitness]

Thank you I'm glad you found it helpful. One thing to note is that when I got those PowerBlock Pro 50's they were listed as expandable but they weren't so I had to send them back and get a pair that had the "EXP" in the title. It's ultra important that you see that so you get a pair that you can actually expand. Everything in this video still stands true but the particular pair that I was showing didn't actually expand. I have the expandable versions now but I made a video about this because it wasn't really clear on Amazon. Here it is... kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJfIhomvf5eLfs0

[@summerso4417]

I just want to thank you for the excellent comparison video from the bottom of my heart. This video is so well made and you covered a lot of details that I am sure many of us wanted to know! Happy new year and wish you a wonderful year in 2023!

[@UsawaFitness]

I'm glad you found it helpful and thank you for visiting my channel! I'm grateful for it.

[@summerso4417]

@@UsawaFitness I am just as grateful 🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@stellajefferson3972]

Awesome review! I am short and was very worried about the length of the Bowflex and constant knocking when doing arm curls, flys, triceps, etc. After watching your review I am going for the Powerblock! Thank you so much!

[@UsawaFitness]

You're welcome Stella! Please make sure you check out the description of this video because I mentioned something I learned about which ones are expandable in it in case you need expandable ones. And thanks for watching! I appreciate it.

[@michaelburns5629]

Amazing informative and edited video Vern. Keep it up.

[@UsawaFitness]

Thank you sir! I'll do my best. 💪🏾

[@mark0028]

Great unbiased video. Very informative. Thanks.

[@UsawaFitness]

You're welcome and thank you for watching.

[@LukesGarageGym]

Great video and editing bro!! I gotta stick to my powerblocks for life!!

[@UsawaFitness]

I'm feeling em too man! Straight up clutch!

[@wild-hernessaerialist6440]

Great video comparison! I like that you showed yourself using them & gave great feedback! I usually climb silks & do aerial acrobatics for my workouts but now that I am getting my personal training cert, I see the benefit of having dumbbells!

[@UsawaFitness]

Thank you! I use everything I review before I do my reviews. I'm loving that you're getting your Cert. That with your aerial silks is going to be dope!

[@wild-hernessaerialist6440]

@@UsawaFitness Thanks!

[@romi888]

Can you use the full 50 lbs of the powerblock to do bicep curls without any hindrance to the wrist? I mean the full range of motion. Thank you in advance.

[@UsawaFitness]

Yes you can. Absolutely. I'll do a short doing those very soon.

[@ociemoore1]

Love ya page brotha! 💯💯💯

[@UsawaFitness]

Thanks man I appreciate the support bro. I'm trying!

[@Infosmercial]

Excellent vid!

[@UsawaFitness]

Thank you!

[@jacobonader1926]

Great review man!👍

[@UsawaFitness]

Thanks Jacobo! I've wanted to do this one for awhile so I was excited to get it out there. Do you own a set of these too?

[@jacobonader1926]

@@UsawaFitness not yet I've been doing the body beast workout and am looking into getting one of this. Based on your review I think I'll get the powerblock. At the moment I just have the regular dumbels and I use dumbell collars with quick release.

[@UsawaFitness]

I see, I see! It sounds like what you have is working for now. I do a lot of body weight workouts during the winter when I'm not moving around as much outside and I love those workouts. I have a few here on my channel. Thanks again for checking this one out.

[@lionsinescanor373]

Great video! Was about to buy the bowflex but this changed my mind

[@UsawaFitness]

I'm glad I could help Lion. Be sure that EXP is in the title for the Power Block's because I found that they had two labels in the description on Amazon which resulted in my having to re-order. Hold up I'll send you the video.

[@UsawaFitness]

Here you go... kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJfIhomvf5eLfs0

[@lionsinescanor373]

@@UsawaFitness Thank you so much! 😊

[@UsawaFitness]

@@lionsinescanor373 You're welcome and thank you!

[@TazV87]

I have the Bowflex 552’s and they have been okay. The length of the dumbbell can sometimes annoy depending on what you’re doing. Just found the PowerBlocks sport EXP on sale today. Blocks with both expansions up to 90lbs was $380 total, new. Not a bad deal. Can’t wait to try’em out!

[@UsawaFitness]

WHAT! Where did you get that deal? That's incredible. Congrats 🎉

[@mikeanglada742]

Love and Peace, Bro... another Excellent and very informative Review. Keep Em Coming! and God's Speed... \,,/

[@UsawaFitness]

Thanks Mike! It's going to take something tragic for me to stop so God willing they'll be coming steady for a long time. I appreciate you taking a second to check em out and definitely appreciate the feedback even more. Thanks man!

[@tsachie4822]

Great review!!

[@UsawaFitness]

Thank you. I'm working on another one similar to this right now! 🤣

[@tsachie4822]

@@UsawaFitness thats awesome! I am a new sub, great content!

[@UsawaFitness]

@@tsachie4822 I appreciate the sub! I'm trying my best to grow this community out. Thank you!

[@tsachie4822]

@@UsawaFitness 💯💪

[@stevearteaga6807]

Hey man This vid was hella helpful can you review the nuobell even tho it’s expensive in my opinion they the best looking and functional

[@UsawaFitness]

I'm glad you found out helpful Steve! Be careful with the PowerBlock purchase and make sure you see "EXP" in the title on Amazon. I wrote this in the description and did a follow up but sometimes the description may say they are expandable when they're not. Right now my channel is still small and we're not getting free weights so I have to buy everything so it might be a little bit but I'll add the Nuobell's to the list for future videos. Thanks for watching man.

[@byrnejjoseph1]

Great review 👍🏻

[@UsawaFitness]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!

[@travispowell2471]

I have owned both. Didn’t care for the bow flex dumbbells for the reasons you explained. The power blocks are great.

[@UsawaFitness]

Thanks Travis I appreciate you lending your knowledge to the community here. Thanks again man!

[@axzhor]

The one you have in the video is the non expandable version of Powerblock. The non expandable version increases weight in 2.5lbs, and the exp version increases in 10lb.

[@UsawaFitness]

What! I bought these from Amazon sold by Amazon and they list them as expendable.

[@UsawaFitness]

Just got off the phone with Amazon and they are going to remove this listing. I'm going to put direct links to PowerBlock for expandable versions. Thank you for pointing this out.

[@axzhor]

@@UsawaFitness No problem, I am going for the non-expandable ones, as 10lbs increments are too much for my arms lol.

[@UsawaFitness]

@@axzhor I had to contact Amazon and they said they are going to change the listing. I'm so grateful for you pointing that out. I'm in the process of making another video so that everyone understands that they are currently labelled incorrectly on Amazon.

[@roninwarrior216]

​@UsawaFitness to be honest i really love the non expandables. Each change is 5 lbs or 2.5.

[@Mrdirtysausage]

I have the 552s got em at work for 143 new in box. I must say that I couldn’t pass up the deal and till this day I have not had a complaint about them. I can get a full body work out and yes they are wide, but just make some adjustments and you will be good. That is just my opinion on the 552s I love them.

[@UsawaFitness]

No doubt! It takes a little bit of an adjustment to get used to that length but they are an incredible tool for the home gym.

[@telesniper2]

I looked at the bowflex a couple years ago. Two things killed it for me. One, it's $399 PER dumbbell. I think it's more expensive for the version that goes up to 90lbs (in larger increments). I went ahead and just got a walmart classic spiral lock dumbell set for $100. Then got some extra plates for it for like $50. The way I figure it, you got plenty of time in between sets to add or remove plates even though it's not as convenient. And you could always buy more cheap bars and plates to have multiple dumbells set up if you really wanted too and still be way cheaper.

[@UsawaFitness]

Bowflex cost $400 for a pair. You might have been looking during the covid surge. I've had mine almost 10 years.

[@telesniper2]

@@UsawaFitness ah ok. I might be thinking of the Bowflex Selectech 1090

[@supernova4552]

That’s like comparing a Rolls Royce to a yugo, poweblock bar none but good video for people unaware.

[@UsawaFitness]

Thanks Nova!

[@ociemoore1]

I got the 90 pound knockoff Bowflex adjustable dumbbells on Alibaba for 500 lol love them but I've had some weights fall on my feet from the weights sticking

[@UsawaFitness]

Awe naw! Not on the feet Ocie. :-) That's a good deal for up to 90 though.

[@ociemoore1]

@@UsawaFitness ya I love them...but sometimes when you pick up the dumbell some weights may fall off...I hit em with wd-40 and that helped...and I can totally relate to the settings getting locked so frustrating it can kill your workout if you can't fix it quick 🤣🤣🤣

[@UsawaFitness]

@@ociemoore1 Exactly! I feel like I shouldn't get as mad as I do but it's messed up when I'm in my zone. I just finished a shoot now I've gotta hit my workout. SMH. 🤣

[@ociemoore1]

@@UsawaFitness 🤣🤣🤣 keep up the good work brotha! 💯💯💯

[@youtubeistrash2]

I have the 552s. Can someone please tell me if I can leaver these in a hot storage unit during the day because that unit is cool in the early morning. Would hear ruin these?

[@UsawaFitness]

How hot? I feel like that plastic is thick. I can't see how regular storage could hurt them unless it was ultra hot.

[@youtubeistrash2]

@@UsawaFitness little hotter than a sauna. Just worried about either the plastic or messing up the bearings or gears on the turning dial if they happen to be lubricated. I’d imagine heat might dry out the lubrication if there is any. Really hoping it works since I want to have a gym separate of the house. The idea is to get in there at about 5 am every summer morning before the sun rises, cut the AC on in there and hope that the other 23 hours they sit in there including mid summer day they stay functional.

[@UsawaFitness]

Dang that's a hard call. I just don't have a good explanation for you. Sorry about that.

[@user-fi6hg8vq6c]

I've been using bowflex for years and my only complaint, or at least I'm over now, is the width. Not a deal breaker but there are some rare occasions of annoyance.

[@UsawaFitness]

That's my only complaint too! Thanks for leaving some user feedback!

[@user-fi6hg8vq6c]

@@UsawaFitness now that the prices of these have gone down back to earth since the pandemic started im looking for a deal and will probably swap out my bowflex.

[@UsawaFitness]

@@user-fi6hg8vq6c What are you looking to replace em with?

[@user-fi6hg8vq6c]

@@UsawaFitness most likely the poweblocks or octabell but I’m seeing deals on used powerblocks 90lbs setups so most likely powerblocks.

[@UsawaFitness]

@@user-fi6hg8vq6c That's a good choice if you can find em.

[@Nigel__]

I want those Power Blocks primarily for the looks lol.

[@UsawaFitness]

Right! On everything. I feel you 100%

[@UsawaFitness]

I had to send them back though because I had the non expandable version. 😤

[@Nigel__]

@@UsawaFitness I like that there is an expandable version. Will be nice to have just one set of dumbbells and not have to worry about storing multiple pairs anymore.

[@UsawaFitness]

@@Nigel__ I know man! I'm getting a set next spring. What do you use?

[@Nigel__]

@@UsawaFitness Right now, I’m just using cheap dumbbells I got from Walmart. Definitely going to getting the PowerBlock in the near future.

[@crabness]

Some misinfo here. If you buy a Powerblock product and want to know if it is further expandable, if the horizontal bars go all the way to the bottom then it is maxed out. Only if there is space under those horizontal bars is there space for more weight.

[@UsawaFitness]

Yeah man. I'm not sure if you read the description but I was duped when I bought these because of misinformation in the Amazon description for the product. I explained this in the description and I'm a follow up video. Here's the link... kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJfIhomvf5eLfs0

[@JonMuckyMuck]

why is this dude mad at me

[@UsawaFitness]

LOL. I'm over here trying to be a tough guy.

[@xtrasolido]

The bowflex is trash.

[@UsawaFitness]

That's the first time I've heard that but I respect your opinion can you help my community here by expanding on your comment so they can make a better purchasing decision?

[@kelvin-nz7sf]

kettlebells are better than powerblocks and dumbbells

[@UsawaFitness]

Do you mean in general or a particular kind?

[@FrankZen]

Sometimes

[@michaelderenne9838]

Nah