NordicTrack Adjustable Dumbbell Review — 2023

In-depth Review of the NordicTrack Adjustable Dumbbells

Construction Quality / Durability

The NordicTrack 55 lb Select-A-Weight Adjustable Dumbbells are pretty simple dumbbells with some nice features. They have a classic dumbbell design with rounded weights and metal handles.

They come as a pair and each dumbbell goes from 10 lbs up to 55 lbs to replace up to 15 pairs of dumbbells in one pretty compact size.

Storage Trays

Each dumbbell fits into a plastic storage tray. The storage trays keep all of the weight plates and the dumbbells together. The storage trays are required to adjust the weights of the dumbbells. On both sides of each storage tray are numbered stickers to indicate how much weight you have loaded. When fully loaded with the dumbbell and weight plates on the storage tray, each dumbbell weighs 55 lbs.

The weight plates fit seamlessly into the trays, with individual slots for each weight.

It’s here that the orange pin locks can be pulled to adjust the weight manually on each dumbbell. Overall, this is a simple design and it’s typical for adjustable dumbbells to have to be adjusted when they’re in their storage trays or weight cradles.

Weights

The weights are rounded.

One thing to keep in mind with this design is that they can roll when you set them on the floor. I like the rounded shape though, it makes them feel similar to regular dumbbells. They’re also a little more compact than ones like the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells. The more weight you have loaded the longer the NordicTrack Adjustable Dumbbells get, but they’re more compact the lower the weight you have on them. The Bowflex, on the other hand, remains the same length no matter how much weight you load.

Instead of twisting the handles to adjust the weight that’s loaded, like the Core Home Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells, the NordicTracks have 4 orange pins that look like tabs on the top of the weights.

You have to pull each of these up to adjust the weight.

The 2 outer pins adjust the 5 outer weight plates, while the 2 inner pins let you choose between adjusting the weight from 5 lb increments and 2.5 lb increments.

This isn’t as seamless as you would think though, (I’ll get into this more below). The NordicTrack Select-A-Weights adjust in different increments that include 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 22.5, 25, 30, 32.5, 35, 40, 42.5, 45, 50, 52.5, and 55 lbs. So, you can adjust each dumbbell to these specific weight increments.

Handles

I really like these handles. They’re metal and lightly knurled, like regular dumbbells. This makes these budget-friendly NordicTrack Adjustable Dumbbells feel really high-end and of great quality. It also makes them feel like using regular dumbbells. The knurling isn’t very sharp or pronounced, so it works for beginners and more advanced lifters, alike.

The metal handles are also easy to hold onto so you don’t have to worry about them slipping.

I prefer them over the rubber plastic handles that the Core Home Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells have. The lack of plastic is what I really prefer on the NordicTrack Select-A-Weights. The metal is a nice touch overall. The handles have a good diameter and length that I think should make them work for people of most sizes. I have pretty small hands and I can comfortably wrap my handles around them. They didn’t feel too small for our larger reviewers, either.

iFIT

A subscription to iFIT is completely optional to use with the NordicTrack Adjustable Dumbbells. They come with a 30-day free trial, but you don’t have to subscribe if you don’t want to. If you do want to stream iFIT, here’s an overview of what a subscription includes.

iFIT is an interactive training platform available to use with all equipment from NordicTrack. It comes integrated into their machines with touchscreens like their treadmills and exercise bikes. iFIT has over 17,000 trainer-led on-demand workouts and counting. These workouts are filmed in professional studios featuring an instructor who leads the workout and in locations all over the world.

The outdoor locations are especially engaging because you get to explore beautiful areas literally on every continent.

The camera follows an instructor who leads you through trails and cities, as well as guides you through workouts on beaches and mountainsides. iFIT has a large consistency of cardio-based workouts, as well as mat classes for yoga and strength training, so you get a well-rounded workout experience using the training platform.

The mat classes feature workouts using free weights and strength machines from NordicTrack. The number of these classes isn’t as great as the treadmill and exercise bike workouts, but there’s enough to get guidance and structure in your training. You can participate in different challenges and workout series to work on progressing your fitness over a period of time through specific workout classes, too.

If you already have a piece of fitness equipment from NordicTrack or ProForm that you use with a subscription to iFIT, you can use the iFIT App with your membership to follow along to workouts while exercising with the NordicTrack Adjustable Dumbbells. The app is available to stream from your phone and/or smart TV. We recommend checking out iFIT if you want to follow along with an instructor while lifting with the 55 lb Select-A-Weight Dumbbells.

Functionality & Performance

Overall, we’re really impressed with the NordicTrack Adjustable Dumbbells. They’re well-priced, easy to use, and have great construction that’s functional. Some adjustable dumbbells are bulky and large, but these are fairly compact, compared to some. They’re also similar to use as regular dumbbells. The handles don’t have cages, like PowerBlocks, so you don’t feel constricted during certain exercises.

I was able to perform all kinds of lifts without my hands or wrists feeling constricted. I think the only exercise you’ll want to use caution when doing is dumbbell pushups. The rounded weights can make them roll, so they might not stay in place and as stable during pushups as regular hex dumbbells.

I like being able to do goblet squats with adjustable dumbbells.

Compared to the NordicTrack iSelect Voice-Controlled Dumbbells, I’m glad NordicTrack stuck with a simpler design, here. The iSelect Dumbbells have a dial and can adjust when synced with Amazon Alexa. This sounds great, but it is the kind of technology that can break. I also like when adjustable dumbbells are “dumb” and uncomplicated, like the Select-A-Weight Dumbbells. The pin system is easy and rather intuitive to use. Sometimes the pins can get a little sticky to move, but overall this is a pretty nice adjustment system.

The only aspect that can be a little confusing is the increments that the NordicTrack Adjustable Dumbbells adjust to. The outer orange tabs that adjust the large weights are clearly labeled with stickers on the storage trays. The inner orange tabs that adjust the small horseshoe-shaped inner weights aren’t clearly labeled as to when you’re adjusting the weights by 5 lbs or 2.5 lbs. If you want to adjust the weights by every weight increment from 10 lbs up to 55 lbs, it can be a little confusing.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the starting 10 lbs of weight for each dumbbell might be too much for some people and the max 55 lbs of each might not be enough for others. You can’t purchase additional weight to add to the 55 lb limit as you can with other adjustable dumbbells.

You also want to use care to not drop the NordicTrack Adjustable Dumbbells. Like other adjustable dumbbells, these aren’t meant to be dropped because this could break the weights, especially the pin-locking adjustment system. Also, considering the storage trays are plastic, they could break if you drop the weights in them.

For people looking for a great, affordable adjustable dumbbell set that goes up to 55 lbs, these would make a great addition to any home or garage gym.

Warranty

The NordicTrack Adjustable Dumbbell Set comes with a 90-day parts warranty.