PowerBlock vs Bowflex: Price, Warranty, What Breaks

Written by Chris Pruitt, WorkoutHealthy.

We do not sell Bowflex. Bowflex's specifications, pricing, and warranty terms below come from the manufacturer's own product pages, used here for comparison purposes only.

Affiliate disclosure: WorkoutHealthy may earn a commission if you purchase through links in this article, at no extra cost to you.

Direct answer: PowerBlock is the stronger long term buy for most home gyms, mainly because of its longer standard warranty on the core components and its more expandable Pro 100 EXP line. Bowflex is still worth choosing if your budget is closer to $400 and you want the widest brand availability at big box and sporting goods retailers.

This comparison uses WorkoutHealthy's own current PowerBlock pricing alongside Bowflex's published pricing and warranty terms.

PowerBlock vs Bowflex: The Quick Verdict

PowerBlock wins on warranty length and expandability; Bowflex is a reasonable budget entry point if you specifically want its dial mechanism or its wider retail availability.

• Best overall value: PowerBlock Elite EXP 90. Costs about the same as Bowflex's SelectTech 1090 with a longer standard warranty on the core components.
• Best budget entry point: PowerBlock Elite EXP 50 or Bowflex SelectTech 552, both in a similar price range.
• Best if you want dumbbell, kettlebell, and barbell in one purchase: PowerBlock PRO 100 Full Kit Bundle.
• Best for widest retail availability: Bowflex, sold through major sporting goods and big box retailers in addition to bowflex.com.
• Skip both if: you need more than 100 lbs per hand; neither brand's lineup here reaches that on its own.

PowerBlock vs Bowflex: Key Differences at a Glance

How PowerBlock and Bowflex's Adjustment Mechanisms Actually Differ

PowerBlock uses a selector pin over a nested stack of plates in a tray. Set the pin, lift, and only the plates below your chosen line come with the handle.

Bowflex uses a rotating dial at each end of the handle. Turning the dial aligns pins with the selected plates in the dumbbell's storage cradle, then lifting the handle out of the cradle picks up only those plates.

Both are designed to change weight in seconds without loose plates. The mechanical difference matters more for long term durability than for day to day speed, which is covered below.

Which Locking Mechanism Is More Likely to Need Repair First?

Neither brand publishes independent long term failure rate data, so this is WorkoutHealthy's mechanical assessment rather than a measured statistic.

PowerBlock's magnetic pin and selector has fewer moving parts than Bowflex's rotating dial and cradle assembly. Fewer moving parts generally means fewer points where wear or misalignment can cause a failure.

Bowflex's own support documentation and user reports most commonly point to the dial and cradle assembly, not the plates themselves, as the component that eventually needs attention.

This is a reason PowerBlock's plates and handle carry a longer standard warranty, 5 years versus Bowflex's 2 to 3 years on parts. A manufacturer's own warranty length is a reasonable, if imperfect, signal of how confident they are in a component's durability.

Which Has the Stronger Warranty?

PowerBlock covers the handle assembly and weight plates for 5 years, with the selector pin and adder weights covered for 1 year.

Bowflex covers parts for 2 years on the SelectTech 552 and 3 years on the SelectTech 1090, both standard. Bowflex also sells optional extended protection plans for an additional fee.

PowerBlock's standard coverage on its core components runs longer than Bowflex's standard coverage on either model.

Which Costs Less for the Weight You Get?

The PowerBlock Elite EXP 90 typically runs $760 to $840 and reaches 90 lbs per hand. Bowflex's SelectTech 1090 typically runs $700 to $800 and reaches 90 lbs per hand as well, though its usable range starts at 10 lbs instead of 5.

At the budget end, the PowerBlock Elite EXP 50 and Bowflex SelectTech 552 land in a similar $400 to $480 range, with PowerBlock reaching a 50 lb ceiling against Bowflex's 52.5 lbs.

Price alone is close between the two brands at each tier. The bigger practical difference shows up in warranty length and expandability, not sticker price.

Which Is More Expandable Over Time?

PowerBlock's Pro 100 EXP is sold in four weight capacity configurations, from a 40 lb starting point up to the full 100 lb configuration, and the PRO 100 Full Kit Bundle adds a kettlebell handle and straight bar to the same plate system.

Bowflex's SelectTech line is sold as fixed maximum weight units. The 552 stops at 52.5 lbs and the 1090 stops at 90 lbs, with no published path to add weight capacity to a unit you already own.

If you expect your strength needs to grow, PowerBlock's tiered configurations give you more room within the same product family.

Who Should Choose PowerBlock, and Who Should Choose Bowflex?

Choose PowerBlock if:

• You want the longest standard warranty on the core components between these two brands.
• You want a plate system with a clearer path to more weight capacity later.
• You want to buy from and get support through an authorized WorkoutHealthy dealer relationship.

Choose Bowflex if:

• You want the widest retail availability, including in person at big box and sporting goods stores.
• You specifically prefer a rotating dial mechanism over a selector pin.
• Your top working weight fits within the 552 or 1090's fixed ceiling and you don't plan to expand later.

PowerBlock: Pros and Cons

• Pro: 5 year standard warranty on the handle assembly and weight plates.
• Pro: Pro 100 EXP offers four weight capacity tiers within one product family.
• Con: Fewer retail locations to try the grip in person compared to Bowflex.
• Con: The box shaped grip has a learning curve for lifters used to a traditional dumbbell profile.

Bowflex: Pros and Cons

• Pro: Widely available at major retailers for in person comparison before buying.
• Pro: Rotating dial keeps a shape closer to a traditional dumbbell than PowerBlock's block design.
• Con: Standard parts warranty is shorter than PowerBlock's, 2 to 3 years versus 5.
• Con: No published way to add weight capacity to a SelectTech unit you already own.

Setup and Ownership Considerations

• Flooring: Both brands recommend rubber flooring under the tray or cradle to protect the mechanism and your floor from a dropped dumbbell.
• Storage trays: Bowflex ships with storage trays for the dial mechanism; PowerBlock's tray is built into the unit itself.
• Learning curve: Give either mechanism a session or two before judging it. Both take some getting used to.
• Weight checks: Confirm the pin or dial is fully engaged before a heavy lift on either brand. A partially engaged mechanism can drop plates mid-rep.

Alternatives to Consider Before You Buy

• PowerBlock vs Nuobell. If you prefer a twist handle over a rotating dial or selector pin, see how Nuobell compares.
• PowerBlock vs Ironmaster. If you expect to eventually train past 100 lbs per hand, Ironmaster's plate loaded system expands further than either brand here.
• How to clean and maintain adjustable dumbbells. Basic care tips that apply to any adjustable dumbbell system, not just PowerBlock.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are PowerBlocks better than Bowflex dumbbells?

For most home gyms, PowerBlock's longer standard warranty and more expandable Pro 100 EXP line make it the stronger overall pick. Bowflex remains a reasonable choice if you want wider retail availability or specifically prefer its dial mechanism.

Which locking mechanism is more durable, the pin or the dial?

Neither brand publishes independent long term failure data. PowerBlock's pin and selector has fewer moving parts than Bowflex's rotating dial and cradle assembly, and its longer standard warranty reflects that.

Can I do curls and presses with either brand?

Yes. Both PowerBlock and Bowflex support standard dumbbell exercises including curls, presses, rows, and lunges within their respective weight ranges.

Which is cheaper at the entry level?

They land in a similar range. The PowerBlock Elite EXP 50 and Bowflex SelectTech 552 both typically run $400 to $480, with PowerBlock reaching 50 lbs and Bowflex reaching 52.5 lbs per hand.

Final Verdict: Buy PowerBlock for Warranty and Room to Grow, Choose Bowflex for Retail Availability

Buy PowerBlock if you want the longer standard warranty on the core components and a plate system with a clearer path to more weight later.

Choose Bowflex instead if you want to try the dumbbell in person at a retail store first, or if your top working weight comfortably fits the 552 or 1090's fixed ceiling.

For most buyers prioritizing long term value and support, PowerBlock is the stronger pick between these two brands.

Affiliate disclosure: WorkoutHealthy may earn a commission if you purchase through links in this article, at no extra cost to you.

See Bowflex SelectTech Options →