PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP

Dumbbells are a staple in a gym. They unlock a ton of movements, and might be one of the most versatile pieces of equipment. But a full set takes up a TON of room. That is where adjustable dumbbells come into the picture. And very few sets of adjustables have stood the test of time like the PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP. The question is, with so many new competitors in the space, are they still a viable option in 2026?

The PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP Adjustable Dumbbells are now on the Review Pipeline.

Transparency Note

The PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP were sent to me, free of charge, for sake of review, alongside their basic stand.

Powerblock has also provided an affiliate link. Using this link gives me a small kick-back and costs you nothing. The funds help manage this website, my YouTube, and the various things I do in the home gym community. I appreciate your support.

PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP Overview

When I first started my home gym, if you wanted adjustable dumbbells, you could pick the PowerBlocks or the Ironmasters. That was it. The world has definitely changed, but amazingly enough, both of those are still viable options. The PowerBlocks have stayed fairly similar in their design, but have made quite a few tweaks to improve their overall offerings, as well as expanded their options into fully commercial rated options. The PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP are one of their flagship models that allows you to start at a 40lb set and upgrade up to 100lbs per dumbbell.

PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP Specs

• Brand: PowerBlock
• Made In USA: No
• Weight Range: 5 – 100 lbs.
• Pairs of Dumbbells Replaced: 30
• Warranty: 5 year limited warranty – residential use only
• Dimensions (Length x Width x Height): 19.21 in x 7.63 in x 7.72 in
• Finish: Black Urethane
• Grip Length: 4.88″
• Grip Material: Knurled Stainless Steel Grip
• Grip Diameter: 38mm
• Pin: Magnetic Selector Pin
• Adjustable Dumbbell Weight Increments: 2.5 or 5 lbs
• Selectable Weights (lbs):5, 10, 15, 17.5, 20, 25, 27.5, 30, 35, 37.5, 40, 45, 47.5, 50, 55, 57.5, 60, 65, 67.5, 70, 75, 77.5, 80, 85, 87.5, 90, 95, 97.5, 100

Shipping & Assembly

The PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP Adjustable Dumbbells get delivered in several boxes, based on the upgrade kits you order. You get the 40lb set delivered in two different boxes, one per handle. Then each upgrade kit (60lb, 80lb, and 100lb) gets delivered in an additional box. If you get a stand, you’ve got one more. These are packed with foam inserts, and I don’t think you are likely to have anything damaged.

PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP Features

The PowerBlock’s have one of the simplest adjustment mechanisms of any adjustable dumbbell on the market. It is honestly concerning at first glance. Nothing really “locks in”, screws on, or otherwise secures the weights in place like I’m accustomed to with most gym equipment.

They use these plastic pieces that remind me of chopsticks, they slide into place, and then you are rocking. Yes, some plastic pieces hold the dumbbells together. I don’t get it either, but it seems to work. The adjustments take literal seconds. This might actually be faster than grabbing a different set of dumbbells.

On top of the basic 10lb adjustments, you also have micro plates included in the handles themselves. These allow you to get down to 5lb handles, and then jump up 2.5 lbs and 5lbs at a time. You’ll notice with the specs above that we are missing some increments. Because we go from 10lb, to 20lb with everything installed, we can only take out 1 or 2 of the micro plates to get to 17.5 and 15. There is no way to jump from 10 to 12.5. So you are missing the 12.5, 22.5, 32.5, 42.5, 52.5, 62.5, 72.5, 82.5, and 92.5 jumps. So a very cool concept, but not quite perfect.

There is a bit of wiggle and jiggle when in use. Not anything terrifying, but it is definitely there compared to a fixed dumbbell. The other thing we already noticed, compared to a fixed set of dumbbells, is the size comparison. When we are at the lower end, they are pretty close. The 10lb dumbbells are basically the same size. The PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP Adjustable Dumbbells get BIG, pretty quick though. The 80lb dumbbells as seen below, are multiple inches longer than their fixed counterpart. This can be troublesome for certain exercises.

The handles are an interesting choice. They come in a stainless steel finish, which is fantastic. This means you’ll never have any problems with oxidization, you won’t have coating chipping off, and you’ll have full access to the nice knurling provided for grip.

But what I noticed immediately, and I already got feedback from my wife on, is that the handles are thick. Take a look at the above comparisons again, and see the difference between a regular dumbbell handle and these bad boys.

As a 6ft tall, 250lb dude, I’m all for it. The thicker handles sit happily in my hands and provide a little more comfort compared to the thinner handles. We aren’t exactly at a fat grip, but we are definitely somewhere in between a fat grip and a normal grip.

For my wife, a much more normal 5’6″ female, the handles are pretty thick in her hands. Honestly, probably too thick. It’ll be interesting to see if my daughter is able to do rows with these, due to the handle thickness. Again, I’m on board, but this is likely a scenario where this choice was made for guys, by guys, and might negatively impact the average lady lifters out there.

Storage & Mobility

PowerBlock sent me one of their stands by request. Very happy that this came with the PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP Adjustable Dumbbells, otherwise I’m not sure how you’d make these work. The 100lb dumbbells adjust on the top end of the rack, and they include four spots for the micro plates when not in use. You have an additional tray at the bottom, which I’m not sure what I’ll use that for, but additional storage is never frowned upon.

One thing I thought was interesting, is that it didn’t come default with wheels. Having this be static in a corner somewhere would limit its abilities in most home gyms. We hit up Harbor Freight and snagged a pair of caster wheels. If these end up making it long term in my gym, I’ll probably run a 2×4 underneath the stand, paint em black, and grab some more robust wheels with a locking mechanism. This would make it roll around easier, and give us the peace of mind that they won’t go anywhere when reracking. For now, good enough.

What I’m Looking For In The PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP

I want to see how these fit into a home gym with multiple athletes. Does anyone grab these instead of the fixed dumbbells? When I’ve got 6 other sets of adjustables, do these stand out in any way? Or do they collect dust?

Being that we have plastic pieces as a main function of the dumbbell, do we run into problems over the course of months of use? Especially with kids and multiple adults? Can they handle my beefy frame but still do what they need to for my wife and daughter?

We know that the PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP Adjustable Dumbbells adjust fast, but will that be enough to compete in 2026 for the best adjustable dumbbell on the market?

Other Options On The Market

I will be getting in a number of adjustable dumbbells very soon, including the Ironmasters, REP x Peppins, NUOBells, and more, pitting them against each other, and deciding which is the BEST option for each home gym. If you have a request for me to add any set for comparison, make sure to contact me.

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✅ I’ll have a full review on the PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP Adjustable Dumbbells here and over on my YouTube channel. If you have something specific you’d like answered, let me know.

Want to snag the PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP Adjustable Dumbbells? Check this link.