What to do when 52.5 pound dumbbells aren't enough weight?

[snorkelman]

I work out at home. I have the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells. These are the dumbbells that allow you to quickly adjust them from 5 to 52.5 pounds. http://www.amazon.com/Bowflex-Select.../dp/B000BGKC4C

I am very happy with these, especially because they save space. My problem is that I need heavier weight. For instance, doing bench press with 52.5 pounds in each hand is not enough weight for me. Obviously other exercises with even larger muscles such as legs (squats) need more weight too.

I have a Weider home gym, on which I can do much heavier weight. However, that is in my garage and I was trying to stay in one room when I work out. Some days I will do all my exercises in the garage, but others I like to stay in the a/c (I live in south Florida).

I am aware that Bowflex makes some selectTech dumbbells that contain heavier weights (SelectTech 1090 Dumbbells go up to 90 pounds each) but they cost $600. I already spent $400 for the 52.5 pound dumbbells, so I am not keen on spending more money on another pair of dumbbells.

I read about some magnetic weights that sound like they can be attached to dumbbells, but I don't really know much about that. Anyone else have the problem that I am encountering? I guess I am seeking any practical advice about how I can increase my current dumbbells so I am using more weight, but I hope the consensus is not that I have to buy new dumbbells...

[jdmalm123]

Originally Posted by snorkelman

I work out at home. I have the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells. These are the dumbbells that allow you to quickly adjust them from 5 to 52.5 pounds. http://www.amazon.com/Bowflex-Select.../dp/B000BGKC4C

I am very happy with these, especially because they save space. My problem is that I need heavier weight. For instance, doing bench press with 52.5 pounds in each hand is not enough weight for me. Obviously other exercises with even larger muscles such as legs (squats) need more weight too.

I have a Weider home gym, on which I can do much heavier weight. However, that is in my garage and I was trying to stay in one room when I work out. Some days I will do all my exercises in the garage, but others I like to stay in the a/c (I live in south Florida).

I am aware that Bowflex makes some selectTech dumbbells that contain heavier weights (SelectTech 1090 Dumbbells go up to 90 pounds each) but they cost $600. I already spent $400 for the 52.5 pound dumbbells, so I am not keen on spending more money on another pair of dumbbells.

I read about some magnetic weights that sound like they can be attached to dumbbells, but I don't really know much about that. Anyone else have the problem that I am encountering? I guess I am seeking any practical advice about how I can increase my current dumbbells so I am using more weight, but I hope the consensus is not that I have to buy new dumbbells...

You could buy chains from Home Depot, etc. or resistance bands.
That might be a cheaper route.
West Side BB uses those kind of equipment mods.

[Blue Blazer]

Originally Posted by snorkelman

I work out at home. I have the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells. These are the dumbbells that allow you to quickly adjust them from 5 to 52.5 pounds. http://www.amazon.com/Bowflex-Select.../dp/B000BGKC4C

I am very happy with these, especially because they save space. My problem is that I need heavier weight. For instance, doing bench press with 52.5 pounds in each hand is not enough weight for me. Obviously other exercises with even larger muscles such as legs (squats) need more weight too.

I have a Weider home gym, on which I can do much heavier weight. However, that is in my garage and I was trying to stay in one room when I work out. Some days I will do all my exercises in the garage, but others I like to stay in the a/c (I live in south Florida).

I am aware that Bowflex makes some selectTech dumbbells that contain heavier weights (SelectTech 1090 Dumbbells go up to 90 pounds each) but they cost $600. I already spent $400 for the 52.5 pound dumbbells, so I am not keen on spending more money on another pair of dumbbells.

I read about some magnetic weights that sound like they can be attached to dumbbells, but I don't really know much about that. Anyone else have the problem that I am encountering? I guess I am seeking any practical advice about how I can increase my current dumbbells so I am using more weight, but I hope the consensus is not that I have to buy new dumbbells...

Ok I am not going to read all this, but here's what you do:

Sell em, everyone who doesn't workout loves bowflex crap because they think by using it 1x a week for 2 minutes they get ripped lol...sell em on craigslist

Then buy yourself some powerblocks or ironmasters lol

[V.H.9.8.4.]

Originally Posted by Joey Mo

Ok I am not going to read all this, but here's what you do:

Sell em, everyone who doesn't workout loves bowflex crap because they think by using it 1x a week for 2 minutes they get ripped lol...sell em on craigslist

Then buy yourself some powerblocks or ironmasters lol

or sell them, now you have an extra 300-400 bucks, as if you never bought them. then byt the bowflexs 1090's and its like your only spending 200-300 dollars instead of 600

-VH

[FaceThePain]

Originally Posted by vanhalen984

or sell them, now you have an extra 300-400 bucks, as if you never bought them. then byt the bowflexs 1090's and its like your only spending 200-300 dollars instead of 600

-VH

That's what I would suggest, sell the one's you have now, and upgrade.
Or, you could always sell those, and hit craigslist in the Sporting Goods section, alot of deals on there.

[Blue Blazer]

Originally Posted by vanhalen984

or sell them, now you have an extra 300-400 bucks, as if you never bought them. then byt the bowflexs 1090's and its like your only spending 200-300 dollars instead of 600

-VH

As far as quality and price goes, powerblocks and ironmasters are better, but eh that's just me

[Squeebo]

Well you already know the answer. You have to face the fact that those dumbbells are too light for benching and you shouldn't have bought them in the first place. But there are always people with no lifting experience looking for 5-50 lb dumbbells on Craig's List, so if you're in such an area you ought to be able to get half your money back easy, if not more.

Magnets are available but none that I know of will add more than a few pounds, and anything stuck on the ends of these dumbbells may get knocked off as you heave them up onto your thighs (and hurt your thighs).

If you want heavier dumbbells you have a few options:
- Hex or pro-style dumbbells if you have the space
- Adjustable standard or olympic dumbbell handles with weight plates (very awkward at high weights for getting into bench position)
- A better dumbbell than the Bowflex such as Ironmaster Quick-Lock or the PowerBlock, which go to 120-130 lbs.

[PuddleMonkey]

You can sell them and get something like Powerblocks, or you can sell them and buy something like spinlock handles and just enough weight plate where you can make any weight dumbbell you want but not take up too much room. A small plate tree will consume about the same amount of room as the bowflex dumbbells.

[RoaringMad Mac]

Sell the select tech dumbbells. They are good but like you said they are too light.

GoTO
http://www.powerblock.com/

I have the 135's and the stand. It is well worth the price.

[johnderriLLL]

get a 300 pound barbell set?

[mindgarden]

Another possibility is to just get a set of spin-lock dumbbells for your heavier needs and keep the adjustables too. I started out with a set of spin-locks that can go up to 100 lbs each, but I got frustrated with changing them for different routines. I ended up buying hex's for 10 - 50 and keeping the spin-locks loaded for whatever I'm benching (or whatever the heaviest use is.) It looks like I'll slowly collect more and heavier hex's though.

[hvit]

Originally Posted by RoaringMad Mac

Sell the select tech dumbbells. They are good but like you said they are too light.

GoTO
http://www.powerblock.com/

I have the 135's and the stand. It is well worth the price.

x2

I also have some old adjustable standard DB handles for doing things like 1 arm snatches.

[buffbrown21]

Originally Posted by Joey Mo

Ok I am not going to read all this, but here's what you do:

Sell em, everyone who doesn't workout loves bowflex crap because they think by using it 1x a week for 2 minutes they get ripped lol...sell em on craigslist

Then buy yourself some powerblocks or ironmasters lol

I 2nd this. I have powerblocks and they are great and weigh more (I have the 85 lb version).
Buy some used to save cost.

[Earl H]

Originally Posted by mindgarden

Another possibility is to just get a set of spin-lock dumbbells for your heavier needs and keep the adjustables too. I started out with a set of spin-locks that can go up to 100 lbs each, but I got frustrated with changing them for different routines. I ended up buying hex's for 10 - 50 and keeping the spin-locks loaded for whatever I'm benching (or whatever the heaviest use is.) It looks like I'll slowly collect more and heavier hex's though.

X2...

Selectech's are great for curls or light shoulder exercises...you can't beath the ability to change quickly...great for stepdown sets. Get 18" spinlocks to really load the weight on (s/b good to 140lbs per db...well I mean 7 10 lbs plates on each side).

[crupiea]

To invest in another set would be very expensive. You could sell the ones you currently have or invest in an olympic set and some dumbell handles. The spinlocks are nice but the size 25lb plates might be prohibitive. The heavier weight are always expensive. How bad do you really need them. Would you be able to acheive most of your goals with a barbell? Maybe, maybe not.

[Halos2thorns]

get a gym membership.

[johnderriLLL]

make the lifts harder

[ASFx]

Your best option would be to sell the 52.5lb dumbbells and upgrade to the ironmaster set:

http://www.ironmaster.com/store/Quic...Rack-pr-2.html

It starts off at 75lb and you can get the upgrade to make them go up to 120lb each later when you need it.

I would stay away from powerblocks because they limit your wrist movement too much and dont work well with certain exercises.

[spartan063]

Kettlebells man, a 72lbs'er is a badass motherf*ucker. Check out kettlebells thier crazy.

[PopeyeFAFL]

Originally Posted by ASFx

It starts off at 75lb and you can get the upgrade to make them go up to 120lb each later when you need it.

I would stay away from powerblocks because they limit your wrist movement too much and dont work well with certain exercises.

Apparently there is an Add-on kit, bringing it to 160 lb/dumbbell:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...7&postcount=23

I bought the IronMaster dumbbell (I don't have any add-on kit), I tried the PowerBlock, and like you, I didn't like having my fist/wrist trapped in a box (didn't feel natural to me).

[Sn33k]

to be honest, i'd buy a barbell set if you havent already got one, its alot cheaper even though it takes up more space.

[deathx]

really man all bowflex have pretty high resale value, check out craigs list in your area, i bought mine for 500 and sold them for 400, so look into resale.