Ironmaster 120lbs vs Powerblock 125lbs

[MGM711]

I've owned the Powerblock 125lbs set for some years now, and while I like the PBs from 15-90, they're a PITA when going over 90, so I've been thinking about the Ironmaster 120lbs set instead as the heavier weights seem to be more usable. Looks like I could even increase to a 165lbs set as well which is intriguing. Question is, what's a fair price to pay foran Ironmaster 120lbs set on the used market? Do they run BF deals that would make it more intriguing to buy new instead of used? Any info will help make a decision.

[dagdafitness]

I've owned the Powerblock 125lbs set for some years now, and while I like the PBs from 15-90, they're a PITA when going over 90, so I've been thinking about the Ironmaster 120lbs set instead as the heavier weights seem to be more usable. Looks like I could even increase to a 165lbs set as well which is intriguing. Question is, what's a fair price to pay foran Ironmaster 120lbs set on the used market? Do they run BF deals that would make it more intriguing to buy new instead of used? Any info will help make a decision.

I had the 125 urethane PBs and they were something stupid like 21" long.. The 90s are great but like you said anything over that is unwieldy. Wouldnt recommend them. Cant say much about the IM since I only have the 75s

[Bignick31985]

I sold my Ironmaster 120lb set for $500. Purchased them with the IM bench and all accessories for $350 from a guy that had to move out. Lucky I guess.

They just took too long to adjust. Nice product though no doubt. Probably should have kept them for the hell of having them. But oh well.

I've seen them in the $400-600 range depending on condition. But only two sets have popped up since I sold mine.

Also, for reference there is a 45lb set for $250 in FL. Set could be added to.

[jdboyd78]

I have the 120lb set with a stand. Had them for probably 4 years, still love them. The plate changing doesn't matter so much to me with my routines. The stand could be better built. I also have the fat grips on them (they make a set you screw on), if you get IM, get the fat grips for sure.

They usually have a BF sale, I bought during that. It's not huge though, something like 8-10% off. I remember the fedex guy bringing it up, the 22.5 plates were individually shipped in a box the exact size of the plate, he was wondering what the heck it was lol

[dskoo65]

yeah, IM sales are usually pretty meager. IM dumbbells (in many markets) pop up pretty rarely. I see 75 ib sets go for $350-$400 in the chicago market. 120 lb sets ive seen sell at $550 in good condition. depends how often they pop up in your market and how long you are willing to wait. Personally, I dont care for powerblocks even under 90 lbs, but i absolutely loathe them above that.

[Murser]

I have the 120lb set with a stand. Had them for probably 4 years, still love them. The plate changing doesn't matter so much to me with my routines. The stand could be better built. I also have the fat grips on them (they make a set you screw on), if you get IM, get the fat grips for sure

I agree that the plate changing doesn’t bother me a bit, and the stand should be made out of thicker sheet metal. I have the regular blue fat grips and they work just fine for me. I like having the “normal” handles for pressing.

[irongrandpa]

I had a set of 5lb - 120lb IM for a long time and sold them for $600 if that helps. I wouldn't pay more than $600 for used ones. I really liked these and kept them for over a year after I accumulated a set of York roundheads but decide I'm set with the full set so I decided if I got $600 for the IM , I'd sell them, if not I was going to keep in addition to the RH's.

[waynefulano]

Question is, what's a fair price to pay foran Ironmaster 120lbs set on the used market?

FWIW I bought mine off CL about 4 years ago for $350.

[DarthCholo]

I looked for a while. Most people who have iron masters know what they have and don't discount heavy. And you'll have to looked for a long time. In Bay area CA you'll see a single set every 1 or 2 months. Never a steal though.

I'm getting close to maxing out my 75lb set for benching. They're getting pretty long. This is where I imagine having taller skinnier plates would of been good. Probably still get the add on kit since it's more economical than finding 80s 90s and 100s in a better form factor.

[C123C]

In my neck if the woods I don't see then often and never a heavy discount. I'd feel fine buying new from the manufacturer. If you prioritize heavy dumbbell work this is the way to go. And this comes from someone who loves their older Powerblock set that goes to 130. I still consider getting the full IM and expansion sometimes. Won't ever trade the PBs but would be nice to have.

[MGM711]

I had a set of 5lb - 120lb IM for a long time and sold them for $600 if that helps. I wouldn't pay more than $600 for used ones. I really liked these and kept them for over a year after I accumulated a set of York roundheads but decide I'm set with the full set so I decided if I got $600 for the IM , I'd sell them, if not I was going to keep in addition to the RH's.

$600 with the stand or without? $600 was about what I pegged them for used but was unsure since they come up so infrequently in the Bay Area where we see more Powerblock and Bowflex adjustable dumbbells.

[MGM711]

I have the 120lb set with a stand. Had them for probably 4 years, still love them. The plate changing doesn't matter so much to me with my routines. The stand could be better built. I also have the fat grips on them (they make a set you screw on), if you get IM, get the fat grips for sure.

Good to know about the fat grip option, I do like fatter grips for dumbbell work.

[MGM711]

In my neck if the woods I don't see then often and never a heavy discount. I'd feel fine buying new from the manufacturer. If you prioritize heavy dumbbell work this is the way to go. And this comes from someone who loves their older Powerblock set that goes to 130. I still consider getting the full IM and expansion sometimes. Won't ever trade the PBs but would be nice to have.

If I get these, they wouldn’t be replacing my PBs, I’d certainly find plenty of good use for them, and like I said, I have no issues with them up to 90, in fact, I love how quick they adjust. I would probably envision getting the IM set and having it start at 100 basically, I guess that would be with two of those bigger block weights on there, correct?

[MGM711]

I looked for a while. Most people who have iron masters know what they have and don't discount heavy. And you'll have to looked for a long time. In Bay area CA you'll see a single set every 1 or 2 months. Never a steal though.

I'm getting close to maxing out my 75lb set for benching. They're getting pretty long. This is where I imagine having taller skinnier plates would of been good. Probably still get the add on kit since it's more economical than finding 80s 90s and 100s in a better form factor.

I’m in Bay Area as well and very rarely see them come up used, but like you said, I see some of the lighter weight sets come up every so often.

The heavier fixed DBs are always better to use than the adjustable, but in a garage where you’re tight with space, fixed DBs from 100-150 take up a pretty large portion of a garage.

[RestoringTally]

If I get these, they wouldn’t be replacing my PBs, I’d certainly find plenty of good use for them, and like I said, I have no issues with them up to 90, in fact, I love how quick they adjust. I would probably envision getting the IM set and having it start at 100 basically, I guess that would be with two of those bigger block weights on there, correct?

I have 90 lb PBs and two pair of 75 lb IMs. My next purchase is the 120 kit for one of my IMs. I paid $220 and $300 for my two pairs of IM, both with stands. It is extremely rare in my area to see 120 IMs. In fact, I had to drive 5 hours round trip to get one of my IM sets (the one for $220).

With three sets, I keep each of the IMs at a fixed weight. I use the PB for quick changes because I change the lighter weights more often and it is easy.

I want the 120 IM because it can go up with smaller increments.

[Murser]

Sale:

It's almost time for the Ironmaster Summer Sale Spectacular!
We keep our factory direct prices as low as possible all year long and only have a few special sales a year so don't miss out! You are receiving exclusive advanced notice for this sale that starts on the 4th of July. This year we are keeping it simple with a one day special. We are well stocked this summer and decided to set off the big boy fireworks for this sale! This is going to be our best summer sale ever so now is the time to get all the Ironmaster gear you have been dreaming about.

15% off any size order: use code SUMMERBODY19

Valid Thursday Only, 7/4/19, for 24 hours only. Our sales offices will be closed for the holiday so this offer is for online purchases only.

[jdforsy]

…^ I don’t ever remember them doing 15% off. I seem to r3call their bf deals as like 7% off. Probably won’t be cheaper to buy new than during this sale.

[dskoo65]

Hmmm. that would make the new superbench $313.65. so tempted.

[irongrandpa]

$600 with the stand or without? $600 was about what I pegged them for used but was unsure since they come up so infrequently in the Bay Area where we see more Powerblock and Bowflex adjustable dumbbells.

My set had the stand with it.

[jdboyd78]

…^ I don’t ever remember them doing 15% off. I seem to r3call their bf deals as like 7% off. Probably won’t be cheaper to buy new than during this sale.

Yea, I haven't tracked their prices, but that's the biggest % off they have done.

[Mitcho7]

i know you said you are looking at the used market but I just saw this on reddit about a 15% off sale for ironmaster

We keep our factory direct prices as low as possible all year long and only have a few special sales a year so don't miss out! You are receiving exclusive advanced notice for this sale that starts on the 4th of July. This year we are keeping it simple with a one day special. We are well stocked this summer and decided to set off the big boy fireworks for this sale! This is going to be our best summer sale ever so now is the time to get all the Ironmaster gear you have been dreaming about.

15% off any size order: use code SUMMERBODY19

Valid Thursday Only, 7/4/19, for 24 hours only. Our sales offices will be closed for the holiday so this offer is for online purchases only.

Hurry, this offer is for a limited time only and will expire at midnight PST on dates listed above. (These discounts are valid only for new orders and are not retroactive and will not be extended. Discounts do not apply to any previous transactions.) Sale only valid in the USA and Canada.

[DarthCholo]

i know you said you are looking at the used market but I just saw this on reddit about a 15% off sale for ironmaster

We keep our factory direct prices as low as possible all year long and only have a few special sales a year so don't miss out! You are receiving exclusive advanced notice for this sale that starts on the 4th of July. This year we are keeping it simple with a one day special. We are well stocked this summer and decided to set off the big boy fireworks for this sale! This is going to be our best summer sale ever so now is the time to get all the Ironmaster gear you have been dreaming about.

15% off any size order: use code SUMMERBODY19

Valid Thursday Only, 7/4/19, for 24 hours only. Our sales offices will be closed for the holiday so this offer is for online purchases only.

Hurry, this offer is for a limited time only and will expire at midnight PST on dates listed above. (These discounts are valid only for new orders and are not retroactive and will not be extended. Discounts do not apply to any previous transactions.) Sale only valid in the USA and Canada.

Might have to pickup kettlebell and expansion kits!

[Muzen]

Hey all. First time poster. But I've lurked on here for roughly 2 years - long enough to get setup with a rack, bench, barbells, and (I went with) Iron Master dumbbells, and not ask any questions about Bowflex... I'm pretty happy with all those decisions...

The thing is, I still end up working out with my wife a good portion of the time doing various Beach body (on demand) videos in our gym (Lyft4 currently). Odd given all my equipment, and I'd be surprised if I don't get some flack over that. The point is, Iron Master really sucks in terms of quickly changing weights. Most of these routines move more rapidly than my typical weight training rhythm. So it's been decidedly inconvenient taking the 1-2 minutes inbetween sets. This has me somewhat regretful about not going Powerblock initially...

Long story short, I've been watching Craigslist just to see what comes along... A 5-50 set would probably serve my quick-change needs into the distant future. I would probably pull the trigger on a Pro EXP set if I saw one pop up for in the $200-$300 range. But so far, I'm only really seeing the (I believe) older style Elite stuff (Portland, OR area). My question is, are there advancements enough in the new models to warrant targeting my search on Pro EXP rather than the earlier versions. Any optimizations in how quickly the weight can be changed? My expectation / assumption is this is a quick tab pull, and takes like 10 seconds... Is it the same on older models? [Side note, the Pro Exp shows up on sale for $439 from Powerblock currently.]

Anyway, happy 4th for the Americans on here.

[Muzen]

Anyone ever heard of or used the Core Fitness adjustable dumbbells? Forum searched yielded nothing. I'm not familiar with the brand. But the design looks pretty slick. For my purposes (where 5-50 lbs is fine), I might have to research these more....

[Duplicitous]

Hey all. First time poster. But I've lurked on here for roughly 2 years - long enough to get setup with a rack, bench, barbells, and (I went with) Iron Master dumbbells, and not ask any questions about Bowflex... I'm pretty happy with all those decisions...

The thing is, I still end up working out with my wife a good portion of the time doing various Beach body (on demand) videos in our gym (Lyft4 currently). Odd given all my equipment, and I'd be surprised if I don't get some flack over that. The point is, Iron Master really sucks in terms of quickly changing weights. Most of these routines move more rapidly than my typical weight training rhythm. So it's been decidedly inconvenient taking the 1-2 minutes inbetween sets. This has me somewhat regretful about not going Powerblock initially...

Long story short, I've been watching Craigslist just to see what comes along... A 5-50 set would probably serve my quick-change needs into the distant future. I would probably pull the trigger on a Pro EXP set if I saw one pop up for in the $200-$300 range. But so far, I'm only really seeing the (I believe) older style Elite stuff (Portland, OR area). My question is, are there advancements enough in the new models to warrant targeting my search on Pro EXP rather than the earlier versions. Any optimizations in how quickly the weight can be changed? My expectation / assumption is this is a quick tab pull, and takes like 10 seconds... Is it the same on older models? [Side note, the Pro Exp shows up on sale for $439 from Powerblock currently.]

Anyway, happy 4th for the Americans on here.

I've got a set of Pro EXP 5-90s ($350 on FB Marketplace) and they're very nice, but they use adder weights. In your case, I think the Powerblock Classics would be the way to go. They go from 10-50 in 5-lb increments with just a pin change (no adder weights).

[Muzen]

Wow, sounds like you got a steal! Yeah, I hadn't been familiar with the Adder Weight mechanism. That would definitely have been a slight disappointment I think.

Appreciate the tip on the classics. I'll look into those as well.

[DarthCholo]

Used iron master coupon today. Kettlebell and 120 expansion. If I ever fall in hard times or different circumstances my barebones home fitness is these dumbells and an flat/incline/decline bench.

[supramax]

Anyone ever heard of or used the Core Fitness adjustable dumbbells? Forum searched yielded nothing. I'm not familiar with the brand. But the design looks pretty slick. For my purposes (where 5-50 lbs is fine), I might have to research these more....

I've seen them. They look like a quality product and very similar to a lot of European brands. A bit pricey, though.

[dskoo65]

Hey all. First time poster. But I've lurked on here for roughly 2 years - long enough to get setup with a rack, bench, barbells, and (I went with) Iron Master dumbbells, and not ask any questions about Bowflex... I'm pretty happy with all those decisions...

The thing is, I still end up working out with my wife a good portion of the time doing various Beach body (on demand) videos in our gym (Lyft4 currently). Odd given all my equipment, and I'd be surprised if I don't get some flack over that. The point is, Iron Master really sucks in terms of quickly changing weights. Most of these routines move more rapidly than my typical weight training rhythm. So it's been decidedly inconvenient taking the 1-2 minutes inbetween sets. This has me somewhat regretful about not going Powerblock initially...

Long story short, I've been watching Craigslist just to see what comes along... A 5-50 set would probably serve my quick-change needs into the distant future. I would probably pull the trigger on a Pro EXP set if I saw one pop up for in the $200-$300 range. But so far, I'm only really seeing the (I believe) older style Elite stuff (Portland, OR area). My question is, are there advancements enough in the new models to warrant targeting my search on Pro EXP rather than the earlier versions. Any optimizations in how quickly the weight can be changed? My expectation / assumption is this is a quick tab pull, and takes like 10 seconds... Is it the same on older models? [Side note, the Pro Exp shows up on sale for $439 from Powerblock currently.]

Anyway, happy 4th for the Americans on here.

if i was going to own powerblock now (and ive owned or used most of the models ever made) id go for the urethane models simply because they are quieter and feel less sloppy. Here is a pair of U90's with stand. stage 1 but expandable to 70 or 90. price isnt great, but if you want the stand its fair. (and of course, trying to get him to take less is always in play)

https://www.********.com/marketplace...4648184357517/

[matrix563]

I've owned the Powerblock 125lbs set for some years now, and while I like the PBs from 15-90, they're a PITA when going over 90, so I've been thinking about the Ironmaster 120lbs set instead as the heavier weights seem to be more usable. Looks like I could even increase to a 165lbs set as well which is intriguing. Question is, what's a fair price to pay foran Ironmaster 120lbs set on the used market? Do they run BF deals that would make it more intriguing to buy new instead of used? Any info will help make a decision.

i had ims to 165 and pb to 130. sold pbs cause i got a 0.5 to 100 roundhead set. maybe one day i will rebuy pbs.