Skip to content
Rep & Recovery

Strength · Home Gym

Bowflex alternatives worth buying instead

The SelectTech 552 set the template: 5 to 52.5 lb a hand, 2.5 lb steps, fifteen pairs in one footprint. Five alternatives ranked on which part of that they actually reproduce.

By Stephen V.Updated How we review
#ad

We earn a commission when you buy through our Amazon links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes a verdict, and we say so when the cheaper product is the better buy. How this works.

The Bowflex alternative to buy is the PowerBlock Elite EXP.It does the SelectTech's job — one pair replacing a rack — in roughly half the shelf space, covers 5 to 50 lb per hand in Stage 1, and is the only system here that expands to 70 or 90 lb on the same handles. It is the right pick for anyone short on floor space or planning to get stronger. The budget pick is the FEIERDUN 45 lb convertible pair — the cheapest thing here that genuinely replaces a rack of dumbbells, for a fraction of a SelectTech, as long as you accept slower changes and composite plates.

Start with what Bowflex actually gives you, because an honest alternatives list has to name it. The SelectTech 552 covers 5 to 52.5 lb per hand in 2.5 lb increments up to 25 lb, replaces what Bowflex counts as fifteen pairs of dumbbells, and changes weight with a dial — lift the handle out of the cradle and the plates you did not select stay behind. The 2.5 lb step is the feature people underrate: for pressing and curling, a 5 lb jump is a wall and a 2.5 lb jump is a progression. Nothing on this page matches that increment at that load.

What the alternatives do beat it on, individually: footprint, where a PowerBlock block is markedly shorter than a cradle-and-dial dumbbell; top-end load, where two picks here go well past 52.5 lb per hand; expandability, which the 552 does not offer at all; and price, where the value pick costs a fraction of it. Ranked below on how much of the SelectTech experience each one reproduces, and what it charges for the swap.

If you want the shelf ranked without the brand framing, that is best adjustable dumbbells. If price is the binding constraint rather than the brand, go to best adjustable dumbbells under $200.

The short answer

Quick picks

#ProductBest forScorePrice
01
PowerBlock PowerBlock Elite EXP Adjustable Dumbbells (Stage 1, 5-50 lb)
PowerBlock Elite EXP Adjustable Dumbbells (Stage 1, 5-50 lb)

The alternative to buy if you want the SelectTech's job done in less space. Stage 1 covers 5-50 lb per hand in a 12.5 x 7 x 7.25 in block that takes roughly half the shelf, and expansion kits take the same handles to 70 or 90 lb - something no dial-and-cradle dumbbell can do at any price.

Best overall alternative
7.7
$399.00Amazon
02
NÜOBELL Nuobell 580 Adjustable Dumbbells (5-80 lb)
Nuobell 580 Adjustable Dumbbells (5-80 lb)

The dial system for people who have out-lifted the Bowflex. A twist of the knurled aluminum handle steps you from 5 to 80 lb per hand in 5 lb increments, replacing 16 pairs, in a shell no bigger than a fixed 80 lb dumbbell. The best-feeling adjustable dumbbell here — and by a distance the most expensive.

Best if you will outgrow 52.5 lb
7.8
$729.00Amazon
03
PowerBlock PowerBlock Sport 24 Adjustable Dumbbells (3-24 lb)
PowerBlock Sport 24 Adjustable Dumbbells (3-24 lb)

The lightest starting weight of any serious adjustable dumbbell — 3 lb — in the smallest footprint on this page, from the brand with the longest warranty. Eight settings in 3 lb steps to 24 lb. The ceiling is the trade.

Best cheaper PowerBlock
7.5
$219.00Amazon
04
TELK TELK Adjustable Dumbbell Set 200 (100 lb x 2)
TELK Adjustable Dumbbell Set 200 (100 lb x 2)

The most iron for your money, full stop. Two handles plus a pile of baked-enamel cast-iron plates that load to a full 100 lb per dumbbell, in 5 lb steps. Tanky, dense, and it feels like a real dumbbell — you just do the loading yourself.

Best load per dollar
7.2
$375.99Amazon
05
FEIERDUN FEIERDUN Adjustable Dumbbells (45 lb)
FEIERDUN Adjustable Dumbbells (45 lb)

The budget convertible. A load-the-plates set that tops out around 45 lb and converts into a barbell, kettlebell and push-up stand — a lot of function for very little money, as long as you do not mind swapping plates by hand.

Cheapest that does the job
6.8
$89.99Amazon

#ad · Live prices from the Amazon Product API, as of November 7, 2026. Where we have no verified live price, we show none — a gap beats a number that has rotted.

In detail

The picks, in full

01
PowerBlock PowerBlock Elite EXP Adjustable Dumbbells (Stage 1, 5-50 lb)

Best overall alternative

PowerBlock Elite EXP Adjustable Dumbbells (Stage 1, 5-50 lb)

5-50 lb each (Stage 1)To 70 or 90 lb via kits12.5 x 7 x 7.25 inMagnetic selector pin
7.7/10

The alternative to buy if you want the SelectTech's job done in less space. Stage 1 covers 5-50 lb per hand in a 12.5 x 7 x 7.25 in block that takes roughly half the shelf, and expansion kits take the same handles to 70 or 90 lb - something no dial-and-cradle dumbbell can do at any price.

Weight range
8
Increments
8
Build
7
Footprint
10
Value
7
Feel
6

Pros

  • The only design here with an upgrade path — Stage 2 and 3 kits take it to 70 or 90 lb a hand
  • Smallest footprint on the page at 12.5 x 7 x 7.25 inches per dumbbell
  • Replaces 16 pairs, equivalent to roughly 825 lb of fixed free weights
  • A 2.5 lb adder weight gives you finer steps than the 5 lb block increments alone
  • Five-year residential warranty and a magnetic polypropylene selector pin with nothing to spin

Cons

  • The rectangular cage shape is the most polarizing feel here — it is not a bar in your palm
  • Changing weight means pulling and reseating a pin, which is slower than a twist
  • Expansion kits are a separate purchase, so 90 lb a hand costs a great deal more than the entry price
  • The handle sits inside the cage, which limits some wrist angles

Don't buy this if…

…the feel of the weight in your hand matters to you — the block encloses your hand, and no amount of engineering makes that feel like the Nuobell or a plate-loaded handle.

$399.00View on Amazon

Price as of November 7, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's at checkout is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to PowerBlock Elite EXP Adjustable Dumbbells (Stage 1, 5-50 lb)

02
NÜOBELL Nuobell 580 Adjustable Dumbbells (5-80 lb)

Best if you will outgrow 52.5 lb

Nuobell 580 Adjustable Dumbbells (5-80 lb)

5-80 lb each5 lb incrementsReplaces 16 pairsKnurled aluminum handle
7.8/10

The dial system for people who have out-lifted the Bowflex. A twist of the knurled aluminum handle steps you from 5 to 80 lb per hand in 5 lb increments, replacing 16 pairs, in a shell no bigger than a fixed 80 lb dumbbell. The best-feeling adjustable dumbbell here — and by a distance the most expensive.

Weight range
10
Increments
7
Build
9
Footprint
9
Value
3
Feel
9

Pros

  • 80 lb a hand is 27.5 lb past the Bowflex ceiling — enough for heavy rows and RDLs
  • Twist-the-handle adjustment is the fastest change of any mechanism here
  • A 32 mm knurled aluminum handle feels like a gym dumbbell, not a plastic cradle
  • One pair replaces 16 pairs and the trays are included
  • Compact 485 x 185 x 193 mm body — no wider than the fixed dumbbell it replaces

Cons

  • Roughly double the Bowflex on price for 27.5 lb more per hand — the worst cost-per-pound here
  • 5 lb increments throughout, so no 2.5 lb steps for smaller lifts
  • Two-year warranty (extendable to four) that explicitly excludes drops and slams
  • The twist mechanism has more moving parts than a plate and a collar

Don't buy this if…

…you will never press or row more than 50 lb in one hand — you are paying a large premium for a ceiling you will not reach, and the Bowflex covers you for half the money.

$729.00View on Amazon

Price as of November 7, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's at checkout is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to Nuobell 580 Adjustable Dumbbells (5-80 lb)

03
PowerBlock PowerBlock Sport 24 Adjustable Dumbbells (3-24 lb)

Best cheaper PowerBlock

PowerBlock Sport 24 Adjustable Dumbbells (3-24 lb)

3-24 lb each3 lb steps10 x 5.5 x 5.5 in5-year warranty
7.5/10

The lightest starting weight of any serious adjustable dumbbell — 3 lb — in the smallest footprint on this page, from the brand with the longest warranty. Eight settings in 3 lb steps to 24 lb. The ceiling is the trade.

Starting weight
9
Increments
8
Headroom
5
Grip fit
7
Footprint
10
Value
6

Pros

  • Starts at 3 lb, two pounds under the Bowflex — the lightest real setting here that is not a neoprene hand weight
  • 10 x 5.5 x 5.5 in per dumbbell is the smallest footprint on the list, and the pair lives on a shelf
  • Welded steel plates with a powder-coat finish and a five-year residential warranty
  • PowerBlock publishes the grip: 32 mm diameter, 4.88 in long, contoured TPR
  • Selector pin has nothing to spin and nothing to seat

Cons

  • 24 lb ceiling — squats, deadlifts and rows outgrow it within months of consistent training
  • 3 lb steps, not 2.5, and no half-step adder on this model
  • The rectangular cage around your hand is the most divisive feel of any mechanism
  • Only eight settings, so it replaces eight pairs where the Bowflex replaces fifteen

Don't buy this if…

…you plan to train legs and back with dumbbells — 24 lb a hand will be the limit before your strength is, and you will be buying again.

$219.00View on Amazon

Price as of November 7, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's at checkout is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to PowerBlock Sport 24 Adjustable Dumbbells (3-24 lb)

04
TELK TELK Adjustable Dumbbell Set 200 (100 lb x 2)

Best load per dollar

TELK Adjustable Dumbbell Set 200 (100 lb x 2)

5-100 lb per hand200 lb total5 lb incrementsBaked-enamel cast iron
7.2/10

The most iron for your money, full stop. Two handles plus a pile of baked-enamel cast-iron plates that load to a full 100 lb per dumbbell, in 5 lb steps. Tanky, dense, and it feels like a real dumbbell — you just do the loading yourself.

Weight range
10
Increments
5
Build
9
Footprint
4
Value
8
Feel
7

Pros

  • Loads to 100 lb per dumbbell — nearly double the dial winner's ceiling
  • Roughly half the cost per pound of the Bowflex for the same money
  • Baked-enamel cast iron resists rust and chipping, with nothing to break
  • 1.15in plates and handles are heavier-duty than thin 1in budget sets

Cons

  • Changing weight means loosening collars and swapping plates every time
  • A stack of 200 lb of loose plates takes real floor space and stays messy
  • 1.15in plates are not the standard 1in size, so generic plates will not fit
  • No barbell conversion rod — this is a dumbbell-only set

Don't buy this if…

…you want to change weight in seconds or keep a tidy, single-piece setup — the loading and the loose plates will wear on you.

$375.99View on Amazon

Price as of November 7, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's at checkout is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to TELK Adjustable Dumbbell Set 200 (100 lb x 2)

05
FEIERDUN FEIERDUN Adjustable Dumbbells (45 lb)

Cheapest that does the job

FEIERDUN Adjustable Dumbbells (45 lb)

Up to ~45 lb4-in-1 convertibleIron-sand PE platesABS handle
6.8/10

The budget convertible. A load-the-plates set that tops out around 45 lb and converts into a barbell, kettlebell and push-up stand — a lot of function for very little money, as long as you do not mind swapping plates by hand.

Weight range
6
Increments
6
Build
6
Footprint
8
Value
9
Feel
6

Pros

  • One of the cheapest ways to own a real adjustable load
  • Converts between dumbbell, barbell, kettlebell and push-up stand
  • PE-shelled plates filled with iron sand are quiet and floor-friendly
  • Compact enough to stash in a closet or under a bed

Cons

  • You change weight by unscrewing and swapping plates — slow between sets
  • Plastic-shelled plates and an ABS handle do not feel like solid iron
  • Confirm the configuration on the listing — this is a load-set, not a matched heavy pair

Don't buy this if…

…you want fast between-set weight changes or a premium, all-metal feel — the Bowflex dial is the upgrade.

$89.99View on Amazon

Price as of November 7, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's at checkout is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to FEIERDUN Adjustable Dumbbells (45 lb)

What you give up by not buying a SelectTech

Three things. The 2.5 lb increment. Bowflex steps in 2.5 lb to 25 lb; the PowerBlock Elite EXP and the Nuobell step in 5 lb, and the plate-loaded sets step in whatever plates you own. For a bench press or a lateral raise that difference is real, and the usual workaround — micro-plates or magnetic add-ons — is a kludge. The handle feel. A SelectTech has a conventional round handle and the weight hangs below it, which is what a dumbbell normally does; a PowerBlock puts your hand inside a cage, which some people never like and should try before buying. Resale and support. A used SelectTech sells quickly.

What you do not give up: one-second weight changes (the Nuobell and both PowerBlocks have them), a single footprint replacing a rack (all five), or durability — PowerBlock's published five-year warranty on the Sport 24 is longer cover than most of this category offers.

Why footprint beats weight range for most buyers

The specification people shop on is maximum load. The specification that decides whether the dumbbells stay in the room is length. A dial-and-cradle dumbbell is long, because the unselected plates sit on the bar; the cradles then add a footprint of their own that you cannot stack or slide under anything. A PowerBlock is a short, square block you can put on a shelf, in a cupboard or under a bench — the Elite EXP measures 12.5 x 7 x 7.25 in and the Sport 24 is smaller again.

This matters most in the exact situation that drives people to adjustable dumbbells in the first place: a spare room, a corner of a bedroom, an apartment. If that is you, the footprint argument is in home gym for small spaces.

The honest case for going heavier instead of cheaper

52.5 lb per hand is a lot for pressing and nowhere near enough for rowing or split squats if you train consistently for a couple of years. Two picks here solve that: Nuobell reaches 80 lb a hand with the same one-second dial, and TELK reaches 100 lb a hand with loose plates and collars. If you are already lifting and your reason for replacing a Bowflex is the ceiling rather than the price, buy the ceiling. The time cost of a plate change is annoying; outgrowing a $400 purchase in eighteen months is worse.

Before you replace it: do you need a dumbbell at all?

Two cheaper answers deserve a mention. If you only ever use two weights, fixed hex dumbbells cost less, change instantly and never break — best dumbbell sets ranks those. And a single adjustable kettlebell covers swings, goblet squats and carries that a dumbbell does worse; we rank that shelf in best kettlebells and settle the format question in kettlebell vs dumbbell.

Whatever you buy, buy a mat under it. Composite and cast plates both mark a floor, and a dropped adjustable dumbbell is the commonest way these sets die — best exercise mats.

How we picked

We did not lab-test this gear

Everyone in this category says they tested twenty products. We have not lab-tested any of these, and we say so. What we did instead: compiled the published specifications, pulled the numbers from the manufacturer manuals, ran the cost-to-run and cost-per-unit math where there was math to run, and scored each product against a published rubric. The scores are judgments from documented research — not measurements we took, because we do not have a lab and we will not pretend we do. Where a number came from someone else's work, we name them in Sources.

Questions

Frequently asked

What is the best alternative to Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells?
The PowerBlock Elite EXP, for most people. It replaces a rack in roughly half the footprint of a dial-and-cradle dumbbell, covers 5-50 lb per hand in Stage 1, and is the only system here whose handles expand to 70 or 90 lb with kits. The trade is a 5 lb increment rather than Bowflex's 2.5 lb, and a cage-style handle you should try before you commit.
Is there a cheap Bowflex alternative?
Yes — a convertible plate-loaded pair like the FEIERDUN 45 lb set costs a fraction of a SelectTech and still replaces a rack of fixed dumbbells. What you give up is change speed (clip-on plates rather than a dial) and cast iron, since the plates are iron-sand composite in plastic shells. For a first year of training that is a survivable compromise.
What goes heavier than a Bowflex 552?
Two picks here. The Nuobell 580 reaches 80 lb per hand while keeping a one-second dial change. The TELK 200 set reaches 100 lb per hand using loose cast-iron plates and collars, which is slow to change but gives the highest ceiling for the money. If your reason for replacing a 552 is the top end rather than the price, buy one of those rather than a lateral move.
Are PowerBlocks better than Bowflex SelectTech?
Better on footprint and expandability, worse on increment size and handle feel. A PowerBlock is a short block you can shelve; a SelectTech is a long dumbbell with cradles. Bowflex steps in 2.5 lb to 25 lb and PowerBlock steps in 5 lb (3 lb on the Sport 24). Which matters more depends on whether your constraint is space or precision.
Why do adjustable dumbbells fail?
Almost always the selection mechanism, and almost always after a drop. Dials, pins and clip locks are moving parts carrying load; dropping a loaded dumbbell on a hard floor is what bends or cracks them. Lower them rather than dropping them, put a mat down, and check the lock before any overhead press.
Do I need 2.5 lb increments?
For pressing and small-muscle work, they genuinely help — a 5 lb jump on a lateral raise or an overhead press is a large relative increase. For squats, rows and hinges, 5 lb steps are fine and nobody notices. If your training is mostly upper-body isolation, the 2.5 lb step is the Bowflex feature worth paying for.

Keep reading

Related

Receipts

Sources

We do not run a testing lab, and we do not pretend to. Where a measured number came from someone else's work, we name them and link them. Where we could not verify something, we say so on the page rather than quietly leaving it out. Read our full method.