Equipment Review: Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells

All right everyone, let’s get into the first of my home gym product reviews. This week we’ll discuss what I’d say is the most versatile and fundamental piece of equipment in a home gym (and the best place to start): the dumbbell. There are plenty of options for you to choose from: regular, rubber-covered, adjustable, and more. This review will cover the popular Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells.

Let’s dive into it!

Are Bowflex Dumbbells Worth the Price?

Unfortunately it’s not a simple answer, as this question will be different for everyone based on a number of factors. Let’s dig into some of the different aspects of the dumbbells so you can determine whether they’re right for you!

Do Bowflex Dumbbells Get Heavy Enough?

First off, I’ll say that yes, they do get heavy enough for the average person. These dumbbells are able to go up to 52.5 lbs each, resulting in a full weight of 105 lbs. The average person (even experienced lifters) will get by just fine with this weight, and you can do many taxing lifts with this weight.

The increments you can choose from are actually a bit nicer than what you’d get at a gym as well. Typical dumbbells might have half pound increments for 2.5lb dumbbells, but that’s often as far as it goes. The Bowflex adjustable dumbbells allow you to use more 2.5lb increments at the low end, which will allow you to fine-tune your lifts. This is particularly helpful if you’re a beginner and need to use smaller weight increases as your strength improves.

What About Advanced Lifters?

Advanced lifters, this is where you’ll be a bit more concerned with the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells. Sure, we can do a lot with a max of 52.5lbs on each dumbbell, but what about cycling between a barbell to keep your muscles in shock? It’s a fact that dumbbells work your muscles independently of one another, resulting in more customized progress for each body part.

If you’re cycling off of bench press for dumbbells and you’ve worked up to even 135lbs, these will have a limited benefit for your strength-focused workouts. The same goes for back workouts with bent-over rows and shoulder workouts with overhead press. If you’re looking for a wider range for those lifts that really need the heavier weight, you’re better off looking at an alternative that provides more weight per dumbbell.

Are Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells Easy To Use?

The Bowflex adjustable dumbbells are incredibly easy to use. Each dumbbell has a dial on each side that shifts the arrangement of the plates. Simply adjust one dial to the weight you want, then change the other to match. Simple, intuitive, and quick to change weight. I couldn’t really ask for more simplicity with this.

When it comes to durability, I’d say that these are a fantastic value proposition. I’ve been using mine nearly every day for about 5 years and they show minimal wear and tear. The only marks that are visible are some scratches/blemishes on the bottom of the weights where I’ve set them on the floor between sets. This is to be expected with the plastic construction of the plates that house the actual weights, but the plastic is pliable enough that there are no cracks.

I’ve never dropped them, so I can’t speak to how they handle being thrown around. I did see some people speak to the fact that they may break if dropped at full load though, so keep that in mind.

Why Get These Instead of Normal Dumbbells?

There are some really clear reasons to get the adjustable Bowflex dumbbells over normal dumbbells, however there are some reasons you may want to look at other options as well.

Cheaper than normal dumbbells

Adjustable dumbbells really show their value when you take a look at the cost for an equivalent selection of weights with normal dumbbells. Typically you pay around $1 per pound for dumbbells, give or take. If you wanted to buy an equivalent number of weight options with the most basic metal dumbbells that match the adjustable Bowflex dumbbells, you’d pay around $730 before tax. Ouchtown.

They Take Up Much Less Space

If you’ve been to a gym, you’ve seen how much space a rack of dumbbells can take. Most homes don’t have that much space to dedicate to a strong dumbbell selection, and the rack to hold them will cost you another $100 or more.

This is where another huge plus of the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells comes into play: you only have to plan for the space of two large 52.5lb dumbbells. That’s a huge savings on its own for those living with limited free space.

What Are The Cons of Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells?

Like I mentioned earlier in the article, there are a few cons with the adjustable Bowflex dumbbells in particular.

To start, weight is limited to 52.5 pounds for each dumbbell. This is fine if you’re a beginner or intermediate lifter, but if you’re more advanced and really pushing for heavy weight on exercises like dumbbell bench press or shoulder press, these won’t push your muscles to the level they need. If you’re looking for much heavier weight I’d recommend taking a look at something like the Ativafit adjustable dumbbell set that goes up to 71.5lbs per dumbbell.

Another con is the fact that the stand, which is either bundled or sold separately, is an additional cost. And it isn’t cheap! The stand on Amazon costs $148.99 as of this posting, and that’s down from its standard Amazon price of $229! I don’t have this and find that setting the dumbbells on the floor is fine, but lifting from the floor would definitely be something to consider for anyone with back issues.

There are cheaper alternatives that do the same thing. I can’t speak to the materials used or durability, but options like this $195 55lb adjustable dumbbell set (that also has a $20 off coupon as of this posting) make a strong argument against the Bowflex option.

Can I Get Full Workouts With Only Dumbbells?

Absolutely! Here’s an example of a exercises you can complete for each body group with just these dumbbells. Even if you’re a more experienced lifter, there are still exercises for you do to that can give a very strong workout in a pinch. If you’re more of a beginner or just want to make sure you avoid injuries, make sure to take a look at our article on how to properly avoid injuries while working out.

Shoulders:

• Overhead shoulder press
• Arnold press
• Lateral delt raises
• Rear delt raises
• Front delt raises

Chest:

• Dumbbell fly
• Incline dumbbell fly
• Dumbell press
• Incline dumbbell press
• Dumbbell pull over
• Close grip dumbbell press (palms in)
• 90 Degree DB press (on floor)

Back:

• Bend over dumbbell Row
• Incline dumbbell row
• Weighted pull ups (weight between feet if you have a hanging platform/bar)
• Weighted shrugs
• Palms-back lateral raises (traps)
• Deadlifts

Biceps/Triceps:

• DB Curls
• Hammer curls
• Incline curls
• Preacher curls
• Overhead tricep extension
• Skullcrushers
• Bent over tricep extension
• Forearm curls

Legs

• Squats
• Forward lunges
• Reverse lunges
• Romanian deadlifts
• Hamstring curls (between feet, chest on bench)
• Bench step-ups
• Calf raises

Are Bowflex Dumbbells Recommended?

Okay, so the conclusion: are the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells worth it? Sure there are a couple of shortcomings to speak of, but despite these I have to say with a resounding YES! that these are absolutely a worthwhile purchase. I’ve been using mine almost every day for around 5 years now and they work just as well as when I bought them. If you’re looking for a space-friendly option to lift weights and be more healthy, these are an amazing investment that will pay dividends over many years.

Just be like Mac! …without the steroids. Or Jersey Shore. Actually, don’t be like Mac.

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Thoughts on Adjustable Dumbbells? The Bowflex adjustable dumbbells specifically? Sound off in the comments!