Okay, let’s talk about this PowerBlock Elite EXP barbell thing. I’d been using their dumbbells for ages, you know, the blocky ones? Saved a ton of space. So, when I heard they had a barbell version using the same plates, I thought, “Alright, maybe this is the ticket.” My home gym setup is tight, always looking for ways to cram more stuff in without tripping over it.
Getting Started with It
So, I pulled the trigger and ordered one. The box arrived, pretty heavy as you’d expect. Getting it out wasn’t too bad. The bar itself felt solid, decent knurling, not too aggressive but enough to get a grip. The main thing is those cradles on the ends where the PowerBlock weights slot in. That’s the whole system, right?
Putting it together was basically just getting familiar with how the plates slide onto the ends. If you’ve used their dumbbells, it’s pretty much the same idea. You have the core handle/bar, and then you slot in the weight stacks. The selector pin goes in to pick how much weight you want. Simple enough, I guess.
Trying It Out – The Real Test
First thing was loading it up. I grabbed my existing Elite EXP dumbbell plates. Sliding them into the barbell cradles felt a bit different than the dumbbell handles, took a minute to get the hang of lining them up just right. You gotta make sure they’re seated properly before you put the pin in.
Adjusting the weight:
- Slide the weight stack into the end cradle.
- Pick your weight using that magnetic selector pin.
- Make sure the pin is fully seated through the plates you want.
- Double-check everything before lifting, seriously. Don’t want plates falling off.
Okay, loaded up for some bench presses. Felt… different. Not bad, just different from a standard Olympic bar. The weight feels centered, but the whole thing is obviously shorter. It’s compact. Did some reps. The balance was okay, maybe takes a little getting used to because the plates are blocky, not round. Didn’t feel unstable though.
Then I tried some bent-over rows. Grip felt fine on the bar. Pulling the weight up worked alright. Changing weights between sets was pretty quick, just pop the pin, slide it somewhere else. Faster than unscrewing collars and swapping plates on a traditional bar, for sure. That’s the main selling point, I figure.
Did some curls too, just to see. Felt a bit awkward because of the width and the blocky ends, maybe not ideal compared to dumbbells or an EZ curl bar, but doable. Overhead presses felt okay too, similar feel to the bench press.
My Take on It
So, what do I think after messing with it? It definitely saves space, that’s huge. If you already have the PowerBlock Elite EXP dumbbell weights, it makes sense financially too, you don’t need a whole new set of plates. Adjusting weight is fast, which is nice for drop sets or moving between exercises quickly.
Stuff I liked:
- Space saving, big time.
- Uses the same plates as my dumbbells.
- Quick weight changes.
- Feels sturdy enough for decent weight.
Stuff I wasn’t crazy about:
- Feels different than a standard barbell, takes adjustment.
- The blocky ends can sometimes get in the way or feel awkward depending on the exercise.
- Not sure I’d want to be dropping this thing heavily.
- Max weight is limited by your PowerBlock set.
Overall, it does what it says on the tin. It’s a space-saving barbell solution using the PowerBlock system. It works. Is it a perfect replacement for a traditional barbell setup? Nah, probably not if you have the space and budget for that. But for a compact home gym where space is gold? Yeah, it’s a pretty clever bit of kit. I’m keeping it in my rotation, especially for accessory work or when I need quick changes. It fills a specific niche, and it does it reasonably well.
