Bowflex 552 dumbells Vs Powerblock 5.0

 

The Bowflex 552 Selecttech Dumbbells vs. Powerblock 5.0 Dumbbells

 

The two most popular adjustable dumbbell sets on the market square off on size, cost, durability, customer service and handle shape.

 

First let’s compare size; the Bowflex set has a slight advantage for width of handle but a huge disadvantage on length. The length of the dumbbell is the most important for exercises like arm curls and shoulder presses. The Powerblock is way more compact so the advantage here is for the Powerblock.

 

The next thing to compare is price. The Bowflex 552 set is $399 and the stand is $159. The Powerblock 5.0 set is $299 and $129 for the stand. The large cost advantage goes to Powerblock again.

 

The durability and quality is the next thing to look at. I checked Epinions.com for reviews on the products and kept running into dial issues and plates falling off the Bowflex 552 set. It was weird, even people who recommended the Bowflex dumbbells had these issues. I had to search a couple pages deep on my Google search to find an issue with the Powerblocks and that person said it was his fault and dropped them at a weird angle from a good height. The advantage again goes to Powerblock.

 

The customer service was the next thing compared. Again I went to the internet and found multiple complaints about Bowflex not fixing known problems after the warrantee and dealing with a call center. In direct contrast the customer who had dropped the Powerblock raved about the company’s customer service. It looks like Powerblock wins again easily.

 

The last thing to compare is handle shape. The Powerblock has a lot of people on Bodybuilding.com complaining that their wrist hits the side bars. The Bowflex has a nice comfortable grip with no bars to hit their wrists. The 5.0 Powerblock has slimmed down the side bars and I could not touch them when I was working out but could see where people felt like they could. The advantage on the shape clearly still has to go to the Bowflex.

 

With winning four out of five categories it looks like the Powerblock clearly dominates this comparison. It is rare the less expensive equipment wins. I am a strong believer in “you get what you pay for”, but in this case, Powerblock has proved that theory wrong.