Looking to buy a versatile high quality dumbell set. Does anyone have experience with the Bowflex Selectech system. It looks like a well thought out system. Costco is selling it for $400.
Thx for your help
Great Product! Little space needed for entire weight stack. Make sure you get the movable stand with the weights–make it easy to get to and store.
I have one of the ‘Block’ sets and it is great. AND, it is much less than the Bowflex. It goes 5-45lb in 5 lb increments. I think it is less than $200. Yes, they have some lighter ones and also much pricier ones that go in 2.5lb increments, but for my purposes, these are great. It I want to do dumbell bench presses with more weight, I use my older dumbells with the slide off weights. With a swiss ball (AKA Yoga ball) I can do a huge varriety of exercises including a lot of core stuff.
Reddog,
It is so funny when people post here about expensive custom bikes that cost 2-3 times what a stock bike would cost and they are told that their custom bikes are overpriced and this company’s or that company’s stock bike would be more than adequate.
Now you want to know how good Bowflex dumbells are at $400 when a good set of dumbells retails for $40 and can be had at discount for $20 - $30.
They are the Cadillacs of dumbells and you will search long and hard to find more expensive ones.
You must have too much money. I wish I had that problem.
Ben,
That’s one way of looking at it. I have been racing triathlons for over 20+ years. I spent most of my teens and twenties on cheaper bikes with 105 etc. and still did ok. Now that I am in my 40’s I can afford the better stuff and have no problems doing so. One thing I have learned, is that usually (up to a point) it makes sense to buy the best professional equipment you can afford. I spent far more hrs on my bike than in my car and do appreciate the nice, reliable ride. As far as the weights are concerned, a good set of individual dumbells from 5-50pds plus rack will cost you probably the same if not more. Unless you want to change the plates all the time. If you are just an occasional weekend warrior you probably get away with cheaper stuff.
Axel Redemann
EBAY $300
I giggled when I saw the add. I have not seen that much beefcake in a long time. Where did they get those pics? It says in the ad that I can look like those guys in just a few weeks…yea right. The dumbells and the clear. 
No to be cynical here, but please show me where you can find a set of dumbbells, 5 lbs to 52.5 lbs in 2.5 lb increments, that I can get for anything less than a few hundred dollars. Add to the fact the storage issue, and I think you’ll find that it’s a no brainer to get these. We got 'em and we love 'em. Easy to use, easy to store and you don’t have to dedicate an entire wall to store the 20 sets of dumbbells.
Also, like someone said, be sure to get the movable storage rack - it makes life so much easier.
Thanks for the input. Costco still seems to have the best price $400 incl the stand. With Ebay you also have to pay for shipping
Axel Redemann
That’s tru, but the Block series are less than either.
Docfuel,
how easy is it to change weights with the Block. It seems a bit more cumbersome?
Axel
Slide out the little steel rod (< 1second) and insert in into another slot (1.5 seconds) for the one I use.
I have the 5-45lb ones
The block series is very very cumbersome-- you have to put your hand inside the block and that can also block your range of motion.
the Bowflex system is very good–the increase in weights is small which is good too.