Core Fitness vs. Bowflex Dumbbells: Clash of The Titans

The Bowflex 552 Dumbbells have been around for nearly two decades. They were the first pair of adjustable dumbbells I owned, and at the time, they were the very first selectable dumbbells that boasted fast adjustment times. These things replaced 15 sets of fixed weight bells, saving tons of space, and were half the price of the cheapest rack of fixed weight dumbells; they were a no-brainer at the time.

Core Fitness Dumbbells – Bowflex’s Closest Rivals

Bowflex’s closest rivals are the Core Fitness dumbbells, the Powerblock Elites, and  NordicTrack 55lb dumbbells. The Core Fitness dumbbells are my favorite out of all the Bowflex rivals, which is why I wanted to make the comparison and write a  Core Fitness Vs. Bowflex Dumbells guide. So Without Further ado, let’s see how they match up and who will come out on top.

Core Fitness vs Bowflex Dumbbells –  Quick Look

Long Handles Are Awkard To Lift With

Many selectable dumbbell sets, including the Bowflex 552s, use a fixed-length handle. The problem with fixed-length handles is no matter how much weight you’re lifting, whether it’s 5lb or 50lb, the length of the handle stays the same. Long handles can be awkward to lift with, especially when curling, and they don’t have that natural feel about them.

I’ve used and reviewed many sets of adjustable dumbbells with fixed-length handles, and I wouldn’t say they are a deal killer because you can adapt to them over time. Still, they feel strange at first, and setting up for certain exercises with the Bowflex dumbbells is a headache. Using a 17″ handle when you’re only curling 20lb isn’t good.

Core Fitness Dumbbells More Compact Natural To Lift With

The Core Fitness Dumbbells are more compact, and this is something I love about this set of bells. The handle of the Core Fitness dumbbells only increases in length when more weight is added. This makes for a much more compact dumbbell. They feel natural to lift with and much closer to the feel of a fixed weight dumbbell which is what we want.

Thanks to HomeGymReviews for a couple of the images

Also, I prefer the Core Fitness dumbbell when setting up for presses because the ends of the dumbbells are flat. The Bowflex dumbbells have a dial on the end, so when you’re setting up for presses, the dials dig into your thighs which isn’t good.

Adjustment Systems – Which is Easiest To Use?

The Core Fitness Dumbbells use a twist-lock adjustment system, and the Bowflex 552 uses a weight selection dial. Both are easy to use and foolproof. The twist-lock system of the Core dumbells is faster as all it requires is a twist of your wrist takes a second.

The Bowflex Dumbbells have a dial on either end of the dumbbell. Each dial takes a couple of seconds to change at most. Both sets of dumbbells are easily fast enough to perform any advanced or basic bodybuilding techniques. Even drop sets that require speedy weight changes can be performed with the Bowflex and Core fitness dumbbells.

I prefer the Core Fitness dumbbells’ twist-lock system because it’s so easy to use. You almost feel like you’re lifting with a pair of fixed-weight dumbbells. You can go over to your dumbbells, twist your wrists change the weight and take the dumbbells in a second. It’s an excellent adjustment system and the most impressive of any adjustment system I’ve used.

Weight Increments

Small weight increases are one of the keys to progress, no matter what exercises you are performing or what apparatus you are using. And ideally, for dumbbells, we want weight increments of 2.5lb or 5lb at the highest.

This is where the Bowflex 552 dumbbells shine as they adjust in 2.5lb increments up to 25lb and 5lb after that. The Core Fitness Fitness Dumbbells adjust in 5lb increments.

Bowflex Best For Beginners

The 2.5lb increments of the Bowflex 552 will make them a better choice for beginners and its another reason why this set is so popular. Smaller weight increases will allow you to progress faster, especially for isolation exercises.

Because the Bowflex 552s adjust in the 2.5lb increments, they replace 15 sets of fixed weight dumbbells which is impressive. The Core Fitness dumbbells replace just 10.

Bowflex is the clear winner when it comes to weight increments. Still the 5lb increments of the Core fitness dumbbells is a huge improvement over many 50lb sets that adjust in increments of 10lb. And remember, the Core Fitness set is $100 cheaper.

Plastic – How Much is Too Much?

Plastic is something that’s plagued the fast-to-adjust sets for years. Pretty much every selectable dumbbell has some plastic in its design. And sadly, the Bowflex and the Core Fitness sets have more plastic than most.

Both the Bowflex and Corte Fitness dumbbells have plastic in their adjustment systems and handles, and they have the plastic casing surrounding the iron-weight plates.

Because drops aren’t covered in the warranty, you’ll need to be careful not to drop either of these dumbbells from height, which means no training to failure and dropping them on that last killer rep.

You need to be most careful of the plastic surrounding the weight plates, as this is usually the first thing to break on sets like this. Once the plastic casing is cracked or chipped, the dumbbells become unusable.

Plastic is not a deal killer; just remember to be careful. Both Bowflex and Core Fitness dumbbells will survive drops of 6″ or so, but I wouldn’t risk anything higher.

There are selectable dumbbells out there with all-metal designs like the Snode AD-50s super tough and use the twist-lock system, except they cost nearly $600!

Anything Else Worth Mentioning?

One last thing worth mentioning is that both the Bowflex and Core Fitness Dumbbells come with their own storage cradles. However, the storage trays are not just for storing your dumbbells. They’re also used to change the weight.

Many people have had issues adjusting their dumbbells because they didn’t push the dumbbell fully into the tray before trying to change weight. Always make sure to sit the dumbbell fully in the storage tray before changing weight. Ensure the dumbbell handle is pushed down into the tray for smooth fast weight changes.

To Sum Up

The Bowflex 552 dumbbells have always been impressive. These guys introduced super fast weight changes and a dumbbell set that can replace a ton of fixed-weight dumbbells. They were a superb bit of kit when they first came out, and they still are today nearly 20 years later.

I still feel the Bowflex 552s are an excellent choice for beginners because of the small weight increases, the build quality, and ease of use. There aren’t any major negatives here.

Overall, Im happy to recommend the Bowflex dumbbells. I used them for many years when I first started lifting and never had any issues with them apart from finding handles awkward to lift with. The long handles are a drawback, but you can adapt to them, so it’s not a deal killer.

The Core Fitness Dumbbells, I feel, are on another level. This set of dumbbells feels compact, which is what you really want from an adjustable dumbbell. They feel natural to lift with because the handle only increases in length with the more weight you add.

Also, I love the adjustment system of the Core Fitness Dumbbells. It’s so easy to use and fast.

However, the quality isn’t any higher than the Bowflex 552s, and the Core Fitness dumbells like the Bowflex use too much plastic. But overall, they are a much more comfortable dumbbell to lift with which can make a big difference.