The Nautilus Universal Power Pak are one of the best adjustable dumbbells for beginners or anyone looking to create a home gym. You can easily adjust the weights from 4 pounds up to 45 pounds per dumbbell. These units are average size and each one has 9 different settings so you can get a full range of weight while lifting. They come with a sleek looking stand for storing the dumbbells. This is a great feature as you will not need to move around your equipment or store it in between workouts. While lifting, we found the handle to feel very comfortable and stand up to heavy abuse without slipping during heavy lifts. Since they came out in late 2010, this set of adjustable dumbbells has been one of our favorites and retails for a few hundred dollars which we think is a great price for what you are getting.
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Quick rundown of features
- Set of 2 dumbbells
- Each dumbbell has 9 different weight settings that go from 4 to 45 pounds each
- Comes with a great stand for storage
- Rubber handles for no slip grip
- Easily adjustable in between sets
- Replaces 18 different individual dumbbells
What we like
I think this set is perfect for anyone who is new to lifting weights. Each dumbbell has 9 different weight settings and each dumbbell goes up in increments of 5 pounds. When you have 4 pounds to 45 pounds to work with, you can really have a big span of workouts available to you to get into shape. They are also incredible easy to use. There is a single dial that you just turn to pick which weight you want on each end. When you use these, you will be saving a lot of space and money by not needing to buy individual weight units or taking up space in your home gym. When working out, you can switch the weight on the fly which allows less of a rest period and more gains towards your fitness. When you purchase these units, you get a 1 year warranty that covers both the weight, and the stand it comes with. You also get a guide which will go over some exercises to get you started on the right path!
I have found that when it comes to adjustable dumbbells, some companies try to make their product cheaper by using less sturdy materials. This is not the case with the power pak. These are durable and do not have plastic parts. I found that they were easily put together and when I was done putting them together, I had a piece of equipment that could replace 9 different sets of dumbbells (which I could now sell!).
The handle is great! It is very comfortable but when I was lifting heavy I wanted to see if it was going to slip at all. It did not, and I was really impressed by its performance. Finally, the stand it comes with looks great in the corner of my home gym. Not only does it give me easy access, but it keeps them off the floor or my closet so I do not need to move them after each and every workout!
What they could improve
I think these are a very solid adjustable dumbbell for your first set. That being said, some people have said that when they use them, the weight can move around a tiny bit on the bar. They have also said that sometimes they make a noise when they move and this does not give the confidence they are looking for when they lift. Some people also do not like some of the plastic parts. This does have a lot of metal on it, but sometimes plastic parts can break if you drop the weights on the floor. I would suggest that you just take care of your equipment. The plastic parts are there simply to make the unit more affordable to you. If you take the time to take care of the Universal Power Pak, it should last you a lifetime.
Adjustable dumbbells tend to be a tad bit bigger than traditional style dumbbells. Some people do not like this, but I always recommend giving it a few weeks and seeing how you adapt with practice.
Reviews have mentioned that some do not like the look. This really comes down to preference because I think they are great. To each their own I guess!
Wrapping It Up
If you are a beginner, you really do need to check out the Universal Power Pak Adjustable Dumbbells! Reviewers have said they have had a bit of problems with the weight moving around while they lift but this is not something you should really worry about. When you start lifting, you really just want to be looking at how much weight the dumbbells come with, the increments you can change the weight at, how they feel in your hands, and how they perform. While doing exercises, if you use the proper form and take care of your equipment without dropping it, you will not have any issue with these dumbbells and they will last without breaking. Just in case, they do come with a 1 year warranty so if anything does break, you can get it fixed!
All this being said, you should know that if you spend just a few dollars more, you can get the Bowflex 552 adjustable dumbbells which i think look better and have a higher rating on Amazon. This pair of dumbbells goes up with small increments which i think is better than the 5 pound increments of the power pak and goes all the way up to 52.5 pounds. Whichever you decide though, the Power Pak is a great purchase, has a few issues, but if you take care of them, you will see a lot of progress in your fitness!
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