Premium PickRank #8 in Adjustable Dumbbells
PowerBlock Elite EXP Stage 1 (5–50 lb, pair)
by PowerBlockOptional
Score
A PowerBlock pair at a lower price than the Pro 50, with a way up: the Elite EXP Stage 1 runs 5 to 50 lb per hand, and PowerBlock's Stage 2 and Stage 3 kits take it to 70 and then 90 lb per hand. Same nested-cage, selector-pin idea as the Pro 50, sold as a pair by Amazon, with a 5-year limited warranty (PowerBlock). The expansion kits are separate purchases, so 90 lb per hand costs more than this price.
- Lifters who want a 50 lb pair now and a path to 90 lb later
- Small rooms where a full dumbbell rack will not fit
- You need 90 lb per hand today — add the kits' cost, or look at the BowFlex 1090
- You want dial-speed weight changes
A pair takes roughly a shelf's worth of space; leave room for a stand if you add the expansion kits.
easy
Adjustable dumbbells are an after-rack purchase unless they replace a whole dumbbell rack.
Strengths
- ↑Expandable to 70 and 90 lb per hand with Stage 2 and 3 kits (PowerBlock-stated)
- ↑Sold as a pair, by Amazon
- ↑Compact nested-cage shape
- ↑5-year limited warranty (PowerBlock)
Weaknesses
- ↓Expansion kits cost extra
- ↓Pin selection is slower than a dial
- ↓Square cage profile clips the forearm on some curls
Full specs
- Weight Range
- 5-50 lb per hand (Stage 1)
- Expansion
- Expandable with Stage 2 and Stage 3 kits to 70 and 90 lb per hand (PowerBlock-stated)
- Mechanism
- Selector pin
- Sold as
- Pair
- Warranty
- 5-year limited (PowerBlock)
Full buying guide
Best Adjustable Dumbbells in 2026
Read the full ranking →Other adjustable dumbbells we rate
Ranked alternatives from the same category, with our score and the current price.
PowerBlock's 5-50 lb pair: pin-selected in 2.5 and 5 lb steps, in a compact nested-cage shape. PowerBlock sells the Pro 50 as a fixed-range set that cannot be expanded past 50 lb per hand, so a lifter who expects to outgrow it should look at the expandable Pro 100 EXP instead. Utilitarian looks, 5-year residential warranty.
10-90 lb adjustable single dumbbell — the widest range in the consumer-tier dial category, and the only 90 lb dumbbell we rank. This is the Results Series 1090, BowFlex's 2025 redesign: the original SelectTech 552 and 1090 were recalled in June 2025 (CPSC; plates could come loose from the handle), and the Results Series models were the replacement. Same dial idea, heavier internals and a larger handle. The Amazon listing is a single dumbbell (BowFlex.com sells the 1090 as a pair). 3.9 from 13 ratings since the 2025 relaunch, too few to score; re-checked 2026-11-21.
The premium pick. All-metal construction, compact like a real dumbbell, twist-and-lift adjustment in 1 second. Feels like training, not operating a machine. Sold by a third-party seller at or under the maker's price (checked 2026-10-21); the link opens on the 5-80 lb pair.
The Results Series 552 is BowFlex's 2025 redesign of the dial dumbbell that defined the category; the original SelectTech 552 and 1090 were recalled in June 2025 (CPSC; plates could come loose from the handle) and these were the replacement. 5-52.5 lb in 2.5 lb steps above 10 lb, dial-adjust, sold by Amazon. The listing sells a single dumbbell, so a pair means buying two. Only 32 ratings so far on the relaunched listing — thin, re-checked next pass.
Solid mid-range dial-adjust dumbbell, sold as a single. The linked version adjusts from 11 to 66 lb in 12 steps of 5 lb, with a double safety lock and an anti-slip steel handle, and is sold by ATIVAFIT itself. Other weight ranges are listed separately. Better build than budget competitors at a fair price. Checked 2026-10-21: the link opens on the Single, 66LBS-Red option, which is the 11-66 lb dumbbell this review describes, even though the listing's headline names the whole 5-88 lb range.