I’m looking to buy dumbbells for both my wife and me, but since we don’t have much space, I’m thinking of getting adjustable dumbbells. I’m considering the Bowflex 1090 dumbbells. Are there any drawbacks to these, or should I consider other brands?
One downside of adjustable dumbbells is that the older manual versions are slow to change weights, and while the newer models are faster, they can be expensive, not very durable, and limited in weight capacity.
If you have limited space, you might want to consider loop resistance bands instead. They are lightweight, portable, and much cheaper compared to weights for the same resistance. Scientific studies show they can be as effective as weights: Study.
I’ve been using Weller Powerbands for almost two years and have had great results.
I chose the NordicTrack adjustable dumbbells after evaluating different options, and they work well for me right now. However, since they max out at 50 pounds and I’ve lifted more than that in the past, I expect to outgrow them soon. I needed something to start working out at home given our limited space.
As someone else mentioned, they have PowerBlocks available. While I’m not a huge fan of the block design, I might eventually get those to expand the weight range.
I’ve had PowerBlocks for around 15 years, and they’ve worked really well for me. They’re quite easy to adjust quickly, and you can add expansions if you need to increase the weight. I have the set that ranges from 5-50 lbs., with an expansion that goes up to 90 lbs. I believe they used to offer a model that went up to 120 lbs., but it’s been a while since I checked.
This reviewer has covered everything. Based on his review, it seems that PowerBlocks are the best option. I had the Bowflex 552s for a long time and didn’t like how bulky they were, so I can only imagine how much more cumbersome the 1090s must be.
Here’s the review: YouTube link