In the start, regular dumbbells were the ones that were most popular and used by everyone but suddenly due to some pandemic, they became short in the market. And at that time adjustable dumbbells by Bowflex dumbbells were introduced. People started to buy it to check it out, but after some time it became trendy and everyone started to buy it leaving the regular dumbbells.
It happened just because people considered it easy to store and manage as you can easily switch the weight on one dumbbell other than buying a rack and a bunch of dumbbells. Now, people are confused in the war between Bowflex dumbbells vs regular dumbbells as both of them serve the same purpose. So here are some differences which can help you choose between these two.
Table Of Contents
Regular Dumbbells
Regular dumbbells are simple types of dumbbells consisting of a handle and two lumps of weight on each end. They are available in many materials such as solid rubber, plastic, etc. We would recommend you never buy dumbbells made of plastic because they are not durable and can break easily.
Bowflex Dumbbells
Bowflex dumbbells are adjustable dumbbells that allow you to easily adjust the weights without much effort. It consists of a handle and plates installed on each side, the design of Bowflex dumbbells is very stylish and comfortable. It does not take much space as it allows you to change weights without adding weight plates. Moreover, it also provides a rack for storing it.
Bowflex Dumbbells Vs Regular Dumbbells
Weight Spread
If you are into serious weight lifting and want to build heavy arms then you will need a heavyweight, and in heavyweights, nothing can replace regular dumbbells. We did not mean that Bowflex dumbbells cannot be used for making muscular arms but it would be better to use regular dumbbells for serious weightlifters as it does not break even after throwing them.
A Bowflex dumbbell is available from 2.5 kg to 22.7 kg which is enough for working out for a normal person, but it is not enough for serious weightlifters. It is because they require more heavyweights such as 50 kg or more which is available in regular dumbbells.
So, if you are a normal bodybuilder who works out at home then we would recommend you buy Bowflex dumbbells but if you are a serious bodybuilder then we would recommend you buy regular dumbbells.
Design
There is a huge difference between the design of Bowflex dumbbells and regular dumbbells. It is because the Bowflex dumbbells are designed to replace almost 15 pairs of dumbbells due to which they are considered versatile pieces of equipment. If you have a Bowflex dumbbell in your house then you will not need any other equipment for completing your workout.
The design of Bowflex dumbbells is very stylish and gives a vibe of the future, while the design of regular dumbbells is very simple consisting of a simple metal handle and metal weight plates on each side.
Weight Adjustment
The weight adjustment system is also very different in both Bowflex dumbbells and regular dumbbells. The Bowflex dumbbells consist of a built-in dial for adjusting the weights, this built-in dial works very smoothly and is very easy to understand. You just need to spin the dial to adjust your desired amount of weight.
Moreover, Bowflex dumbbells also consist of an automatic locking mechanism. In this mechanism, the weights selected by you are locked with the handle while the others are left by the dumbbell in the tray.
On the other hand, the weight adjustment system of regular dumbbells is also quite simple but it consumes a lot of time. For changing the weights on a regular dumbbell you need to take more weights and add them to the handle from each side.
It may look simple and easy but consumes a lot of time as you need to stop working out, take the weight plates from the rack, and then add them to the handle from each side.
Material
There are many materials by which dumbbells are made such as plastic, metal, solid rubber, etc. but the materials mostly used in the Bowflex dumbbells are solid rubber and plastic. Solid rubber is used at the handle and many other places, while plastic is used in its frame. The plastic is used by Bowflex in their frame to reduce any kind of noise.
Bowflex dumbbells are best if you are working out in your home. Moreover, Bowflex dumbbells use a soft and comfortable material on the handle to provide a comfortable and secure grip. Although Bowflex is very comfortable and stylish you will need to make sure that they never fall, because they can break after falling due to their plastic frame.
On the other hand, the most common material used for making regular dumbbells is metal, they are completely made up of metal. Because of their metal body, they are highly durable and cannot break even after falling.
There are many advantages of their metal body but the bad thing is that they are not so comfortable as they are full metal and do not contain a comfortable grip. If you are a professional bodybuilder then you may not feel it but it can be a big problem for the starters.
Performance
Well, there is not so much performance difference in the rivalry between Bowflex dumbbells vs regular dumbbells. It is because there are many things in which Bowflex dumbbells are better but regular dumbbells aren’t. And there are also many things in which regular dumbbells are better but Bowflex dumbbells are not.
When you consider moving the dumbbells from one place to another, then we would say that regular dumbbells have won because it is very easy to move them around. On the other hand, Bowflex dumbbells are a bit difficult to move around because of their heavy weight.
When it comes to different types of exercises then regular dumbbells also win because of their metal frame. Moreover, with Bowflex dumbbells, you can not do many exercises because they are quite bulky. But still, you can do multiple exercises with Bowflex dumbbells by having a selectorized set, because the plates can be fiddly.
Pros Of Regular Dumbbells
- It is inexpensive
- You can easily get it at any retail store or in an online store
- You can choose the weight which you want
- Foolproof to use
Cons Of Regular Dumbbells
- Takes more space
- Multiple sets can increase its cost
- You will need to buy a weight rack
- You will need to buy heavier weights for progress
Pros of Bowflex Dumbbells
- It comes with a rack for easy storage
- Offers weights up to 50 pounds
- Easy to Adjust
- It saves space as multiple dumbbells and weights are replaced by one set
Cons Of Bowflex Dumbbells
- Heavy to move
- Expensive
- May be bulky for some exercises
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
This product is offered and manufactured by the well-known company of adjustable dumbbells known as Bowflex. This product includes a warranty of 1 year and also comes with a rack for easy storage. Dials are used for adjusting the weights, the dials are very smooth and easy to use. The weights offered by this dumbbell are 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 17.5, 20, 22.5, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 52.5 lb.
This product is available in multiple colors and can be used for full-body strength, back, chest, abs, legs, and arms. The dimensions of this product are 43 x 21.2 x 22.8 cm. Moreover, full body strength classes are also given on your demand.
Bowflex SelectTech 1090 Adjustable Dumbbell
This adjustable dumbbell is also offered and manufactured by a company named Bowflex. The warranty for the frame and parts of this dumbbell is 3 years but the warranty for labor is 90 days. It consists of a selection dial for selecting the weight, it works very smoothly and easily.
The weight selection offered by this product is 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, and 90 lbs. You can use this product for functional, full-body strength for your abs, legs, shoulders, back, and arms. Its dimensions are 44.4 x 24.2 x 25.3 cm.
Core Fitness® Adjustable Dumbbell
This product is manufactured and offered by a well-known company named Core Fitness. It is an adjustable dumbbell that comes with a rack for easy storage. The warranty offered by Core Fitness for this product is 2 years. And the dimensions of this product are 14.5’’L x 7.9’’ W x 7.2’’ H.
The twist lock technology is used by this dumbbell for adjusting the weights, the adjustment of weight is so easy that it can be done with only one hand. The handle of this product is very soft and comfortable and provides a secure grip.
Conclusion
The Bowflex dumbbells and the regular dumbbells are the most popular dumbbells due to which it has become very difficult for people to choose between these two. This guide is written for those people who can’t choose which dumbbell to buy. I hope this guide helped you in any way.
