Scored on 108 verified owner verdicts, from 1,177 comments read across 4 communities
TL;DR
Owners overwhelmingly love these for being compact, quick to adjust, and expandable up to 90lbs as your strength grows, and most call them great value. The big tradeoff is the boxy, non-traditional shape, which gets in the way of moves like pullovers and feels bulky at max weight, plus a closed handle that can cramp larger hands. A fair number also report out-of-box quality issues like warped or bent plates and scuffed paint, but for most people the gripes are minor next to how much daily use they get out of them.
72% of 108 verified owners recommend the PowerBlock Elite, based on real owner verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.
1,177 comments reviewed · scored on the 108 clearest verdicts
72%
Recommend
78 owners
13%
Neutral
14 owners
15%
Don't recommend
16 owners
Last 6 months:76% recommend(29 recent verdicts)→ holding steady vs older reviews
Source
Breakdown
Score
N
Counted in the score
Reddit
72%
75
YouTubeiOrdinary owner comments (not the reviewer). They line up with what owners say on Reddit and forums — within a few points — so we count them here. When YouTube comments skew too far from other trusted sources, we leave them out.owner comments
72%
32
Other forums
100%
1
Reviewed, but not counted — and why
Affiliate blogsiThese blogs earn a commission when you buy. Across our data they rate products ~35 points more positively than actual owners — shown for transparency, never counted in the score.paid commission
100%
1
No clear verdictiGood-to-know notes — setup, tips, and things to watch for. We use them for the pros, cons, and who it's for, but they don't reflect a definitive opinion on the product, so they're never counted in the score. See the 'Good to know' section below the quotes.Setup, tips & quirks
—
4
Affiliate blogs here say 100% recommend, while the owner-based score is 72%. They earn a commission on every sale — so we show them for transparency but never let them move the score.
The headline score reflects owners (Reddit, enthusiast forums), independent lab tests, blogs with no affiliate links, and YouTube owner-comments when they line up with owners. Affiliate blogs is shown for perspective but kept out here — hover the i for why.
What owners like
Expandable weight range up to 90lbs · 9 · 8%
Fast, easy weight changes in a few seconds · 6 · 6%
Great value for the price · 5 · 5%
Compact and space-saving for a home gym · 4 · 4%
Sturdy build backed by a solid warranty · 4 · 4%
What owners flag
Boxy, non-traditional shape limits some exercises and takes getting used to · 7 · 6%
Quality issues out of the box (warped or bent plates, scuffed paint) · 6 · 6%
Fiddly to add the small 2.5lb adder weights · 4 · 4%
Closed wrist-cage handle cramps big hands and thick wrists · 3 · 3%
Locking clips and selector pin can break if dropped · 3 · 3%
Who it's for
A great fit if
Home-gym owners short on space wanting one adjustable set
Lifters who want to swap weights in seconds, not fiddle with plates
People training presses, curls, and lunges up to 50-90 lbs
Buyers who value the multi-year warranty and expandable weight kits
Look elsewhere if
Anyone who drops or throws dumbbells (clips and plates break)
Lifters with very large hands or thick wrists (cage feels restrictive)
People who need traditional dumbbell shape for moves like pullovers
Synthesized from what PowerBlock Elite owners say — not a spec sheet.
Retailers' own star averages, for comparison — separate from our vetted owner-verdict score above.
Top quotes, sourced
1,177 reviewed · 109 shown
Sentiment
Community
Sort
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“they are really awkward and uncomfortable for a wide range of movements”
YouTube▲ recommend
“It's one of the best investments I have ever bought”
YouTube— neutral
“I love the durability of my powerblocks but one thing not mentioned people should be aware of is that the weights are connected via those outside tubes, not the central handle”
YouTube— neutral
“Powerblocks are just a backup for whoever comes over to workout. Nuobells a lot better.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“the power blocks are the best option as it doesn’t require an additional casing to adjust the weights”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“Don't underestimate the discomfort of the Powerblock cages!”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“I just didn’t like the boxy feel of the PB”
Reddit— neutral
“Fussing with the 2.5 lb adder weights is kind of annoying.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“I have absolutely used and abused them for getting close to 30 years now”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“In my opinion the pros are 100% worth the extra cost. The urethane plates and not having the wrist cage makes a huge difference. The quality of the pros is also much much better than the elites. No flaking paint or spotty welds.”
Reddit— neutral
“I feel like I’m in a weird minority that doesn’t hate the powerblock elite wrist guards. I have 8.25-8.5” wrists.”
Reddit▲ recommend
“Sold my iron masters and got powerblock elites. I hated fiddling with the plates and screw mechanism and thinking through the increments. The powerblocks only take a few seconds to dial in.”
YouTube— neutral
“Only exercises I've really struggled with are the goblet squats and dumbbell tricep extensions.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“No dumbbells are perfect but they’re a brilliant , sturdy design . Hard to beat .”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“Powerblocks are 100% not worth it. They sent me half of the wrong kit and are refusing to give me the correct ones.”
Reddit▲ recommend
“I’ve used the elites the past few weeks. They’re a solid adjustable dumbbell, especially priced at $428. They have a flat, yet grippy rubber handle. Compared to the pro, they have a slightly smaller footprint. I think this may be due to the urethane coating on the pros. The smaller footprint is more forgiving if you decide to go with 90lb PBs, but I haven’t”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“the elite exp powerblocks are made in china according to a lil gold sticker, maybe thats why they arent compatible with powerblock elite series. Kinda scummy if you ask me”
Reddit— neutral
“I had the powerblock elites and the 90 lb extensions. I guess they were loud but honestly I wouldn’t buy a more expensive set just because they weren’t as loud.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“Powerblocks are amazing! Very happy with my investment in the 90lb add on.”
YouTube— neutral
“The only thing I don't like is I can't put them on a normal dumbbell rack with my other dumbbells”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“I have a pair of busted PowerBlock Elite EXP - both blocks have badly warped plates; one block is functional but doesn't fit the expansions (I've tried) the other is completely useless.”
YouTube— neutral
“I don’t like them for goblet squats”
YouTube▲ recommend
“I’ve always kept my trusty powerblocks”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“However, I just noticed how some of the plates are really warped or angled outward. I can’t tell if this is supposed to be normal, or if it was damaged during the shipping/manufacturing process.”
Practical notes owners raise — setup, quirks, and issues to watch for. They don't say whether the person likes the product, so they're not counted in the score, but they inform the pros, cons, and who it's for.
Redditⓘ good to know
“I have the PowerBlock Elite set. Got it on Amazon a couple years ago. I got the 5-50 set, but you can buy the add-ons to go up to 90lbs per hand. It takes a little time to do the 2.5 and 5lb adjustments (inserting the weights requires taking off all the big "plates"), but I was able to manage it for several Beachbody workouts.”
Redditⓘ good to know
“I have the 2020 Elite EXP. One pair fits perfectly but the other is a little off so there are gaps between the weights and it sticks when swapping weights.”
Redditⓘ good to know
“how should you adjust the PowerBlock Elite selector pin when first unboxing? The tethering cord is too short to allow it to select a rail, so either the knot connecting the pin to the top rail should be undone or you have to stretch out the tether cord whenever selecting a weight.”
Redditⓘ good to know
“I have the powerblock and drop them from a foot height no problem. You may not like them though for size.”
