Adjustable Dumbbells and Kettlebells
REP QuickDraw Adjustable Dumbbells Review: Steel Switches Beat the Bowflex Dial
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Every product tested at homeNo paid rankings
IronnookSource: repfitness.com
For everyday home lifting the QuickDraw is the better buy than the Bowflex 552. It is mostly steel, the switches lock with a click, the knurled 32 mm handle feels like a real dumbbell, and the lifetime warranty beats Bowflex. It is slower to change than a dial, longer when loaded, and needs add-on plates past 30 lb. A strong value for most lifters.
Best for: Home lifters who want adjustable dumbbells that feel like real iron
REP's QuickDraw dumbbells start at $335.99 for the 30 lb pair, change weight with steel switches and carry a lifetime warranty. We compare them with the Bowflex 552 for everyday lifting.
The question we get most about adjustable dumbbells is a simple one: do I buy the Bowflex everyone has heard of, or something that feels like iron? REP's QuickDraw is the answer for people who picked the second. It is steel, it changes weight with a flip of a red switch, and it starts at $335.99 for a pair.
The QuickDraw comes in four pair sizes: 30, 40, 50 and 60 lb. The $335.99 on REP's page is the 30 lb pair, and the heavier pairs cost more, so check the size selector before you budget. A launch review by Garage Gym Reviews listed the 60 lb pair at $499.
Weight moves in 5 lb steps, with 2.5 lb microplates for in-between jumps. Per REP, the base pair covers 5 to 30 lb and you can add plates to reach 60 lb. Every pair ships free and leaves REP's warehouse within a day or two.
Who is this for? The 30 lb pair covers curls, lateral raises, rows and most press work for a lot of people, and it replaces about a dozen fixed pairs. A strong lifter who bench presses 70 lb in each hand will outgrow it, and for them REP's fixed hex dumbbells are cheaper per pound. Everyone else gets a month of progress before they need the add-on plates.
Each end has a red switch. Set the plates you want, flip the switches and lift. Testers noted a satisfying click when locked and said the mechanism is quicker than competitors at this price. REP quotes a cycle test of 100,000 flips, which we cannot verify. Owners and testers alike describe the steel switches as more solid than a plastic dial.
The handle is 32 mm, fully knurled, nickel-plated steel with a medium volcano pattern. Reviewers found it a little passive compared with a premium dumbbell, which suits high-rep and dynamic work and is kind to your hands.
Our Bowflex SelectTech 552 review covers that dial in detail. Here is the comparison that matters.
The 552 is still the quickest dial dumbbell to use and the cheapest way to replace 15 pairs, but it asks for trust the brand has not fully earned. The recalled models dropped plates on people, the redesigned Results Series adds metal locking tabs, and the dial housing is still plastic. Buy it on sale, treat it kindly, and never drop it. If you lift heavy or rough, buy a PowerBlock or Nuobell instead.
The S 5100 is the adjustable dumbbell for lifters who miss the feel of a real one. Twist the handle and both ends change in a second, the shape stays compact enough for flyes, and 100 lb a hand covers serious pressing. It costs $999 a pair, the dumbbells are not meant to be dropped and the stand is fussy. Buy it if you lift heavy and have money. Otherwise PowerBlock or Bowflex do the job for less.
These are the adjustable dumbbells for people who outgrew Bowflex. The all-steel build, the 34 mm knurled handle and the 125 lb ceiling feel like fixed dumbbells, and the lifetime warranty backs that up. They cost $899.99 for the 65 lb pair and $1,499.99 for the full 125 lb set, and the pop-pin changeover is slower than a dial. Heavy lifters should buy them. Anyone who stops at 50 lb should save about $700.
Garage Gym Reviews dropped units from 18 inches to over four feet and reported no failures, which is a rare result for adjustable dumbbells.
The dumbbells sit in a plastic cradle, so where you park them matters. REP sells a stand at $299.99 and a storage cart at $349.99. Buying the stand with the dumbbells takes $50 off the price.
That puts a 30 lb pair on a proper stand at roughly $586 after the discount. That is not a bargain, and a cheaper option is to set them on a plain bench or rack shelf.
An adjustable pair takes about the floor area of two shoe boxes plus the stand. That is the real argument for the category: a full rack of fixed dumbbells from 5 to 60 lb needs a wall, and the QuickDraw needs a corner. If your garage has the room for a rack, a stack of fixed pairs is faster. In a flat or a spare bedroom, the stand wins.
REP shows a 4.9 star average across 356 reviews, with 99 percent saying they would recommend the product. Praise centers on the solid feel and the click of the switches. The recurring complaints are small: the weight numbers are printed in black on a dark base, which makes them hard to read, and one owner mentions some clatter from the plates during use.
For most home lifters the QuickDraw is the better buy than the 552. It feels like real dumbbells, it is built from steel, and the warranty is stronger. The Bowflex wins only on weight range per pair and on speed. If you need to go past 60 lb, look at REP's heavier FAST series or a fixed rack. For everything below that, buy the QuickDraw and buy the stand later.