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Unless you’re Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Mark Wahlberg, or somebody who has an unlimited budget to spend and square footage to explore, building a home gym is a strategic, long-term process. Getting some resistance bands, a yoga mat, and an exercise ball is the easy part; maybe you even found a good place to install a pull-up bar. While picking the best dumbbells for your gym can be tricky, right now, the PowerBlock Elite EXP Adjustable Dumbbells are on sale for $285, down from $449, during the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2023, making them one of the most valuable fitness deals you can find during the October Prime Day sale.
Adjustable dumbbells and their small footprint are a logical decision for many home gyms. For the October Prime Day, Men’s Journal combed through hundreds of sets and the PowerBlock Elite EXP Adjustable Dumbbells stood out in terms of usability (they go up to 50 pounds per dumbbell, whereas others topped out at 25 or even 15 pounds) and discount (a generous 37% off the original price). Holding down an impressive 4.7-star rating from nearly 1,800 shoppers, this set offers a full range of weights from 5 to 50 pounds for less than $300; if you wanted that same assortment of traditional dumbbells, you’d be approaching a four-figure price tag.
PowerBlock Elite EXP Adjustable Dumbbells, $285 (was $449) on Amazon
[$285; amazon.com]
The PowerBlock Elite EXP Adjustable Dumbbells are as practical as they are beefy, which is exactly what you want in an at-home dumbbell set. They adjust in five-pound increments through a magnetic pin system that’s time-tested (since the 1990s) and easy to use. The padded handles are comfortable and slip-resistant for a firm grip during all exercises.
The adjustable dumbbell market has come a long way in the last few decades. Early iterations were akin to traditional barbell sets—a short, empty steel bar with small plates that could be added or subtracted and secured with collars on either side of each dumbbell. This worked fine for the most part, except for the fact that changing weights was sort of a pain.
Modern adjustable dumbbells, like the PowerBlock Elite EXP, are not only sleeker than the aforementioned dinosaur sets but also more practical for quick weight changes when using training techniques like drop sets (where the weight needs to be decreased quickly to keep intensity high). Simply twisting a dial or, in this case, moving a pin on each dumbbell, makes resistance changes in either direction (heavier or lighter) a lightning-fast process. PowerBlock—inventor of the pin system—makes it even easier with color codes to identify the exact poundage.
One thing you’ll notice about the PowerBlock adjustable dumbbell set is the distinct square shape (hence the name) that’s closed on three sides so that you’re essentially putting your hand inside the dumbbell. This takes some getting used to for those accustomed to standard dumbbells, but it also creates a nice solid feel with the weights wrapped around the hands. The weight plates on either side are snug with each other to eliminate the annoying clanging you get from lower-end adjustable dumbbell sets.
The PowerBlock Elite EXP boasts an average of 86% of all reviews coming in as five stars. One customer said that the PowerBlock adjustable dumbbells were of “unfathomable quality and design,” adding that the dumbbells are “very durable feeling and looking.”
Another customer noted the comfort of the unique grip style, saying, “I really like the way they feel when gripping them in my hands, they feel very secure the way the grip is designed, which is especially important for heavier weights.”
PowerBlock has been around for a long time, and they’re not going away anytime soon. But a 37% discount on this particular set will be gone after October 11, when Amazon Prime Big Deal Days is over. Add these to your home gym and you’ll be squared away on dumbbells for many years to come.