15% of 108 verified PowerBlock Eliteowners don't recommend it — based on real owner comments from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.
For balance: 72% recommend it. This page collects the complaints so you know what you're signing up for — read the full owner report for both sides. How we score
“they are really awkward and uncomfortable for a wide range of movements”— @graham1034 on YouTube
“Don't underestimate the discomfort of the Powerblock cages!”— @Handl3sAreStupid on YouTube
“I just didn’t like the boxy feel of the PB”— @tstoke7877 on YouTube
“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.”— Thart53 on Reddit
“Powerblocks are 100% not worth it. They sent me half of the wrong kit and are refusing to give me the correct ones.”— @burdleyq on YouTube
“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”— BetterBenBureau on Reddit
“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.”— delitescentjourney on Reddit
“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.”— Engine98 on Reddit
“For anyone who ordered the Powerblock Elite EXPs from Amazon, is there a significant gap between some of the plates? One of my dumbbells has a pretty big gap that's bothering the hell out of me.”— anthonyscry on Reddit
“Just bought a powerblock elite dumbbell 'new' and it came with scuffed paint on practically every edge where the parts nest within each other.”— whydoievendraw on Reddit
“I actually prefer them to the [Powerblock Elite dumbbells](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G7RHGNY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) that I bought and returned, and they're less than half the price.”— Syradil on Reddit
“I have the powerblock elites and their clips break if you drop the weights. I've had to replace two clips so far. Very annoying.”— hendlefe on Reddit
Not complaints — practical notes from owners that didn't affect the score.
“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.”— YouGottaEarnIt on Reddit
“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.”— Yobogoya on Reddit
“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.”— mmagicmomo on Reddit
“I have the powerblock and drop them from a foot height no problem. You may not like them though for size.”— BeginningCitron467 on Reddit