NordicTrack Select-A-Weight 55 vs PowerBlock Elite EXP Stage 1
Choose by the adjustment routine you prefer and the base range you need. The NordicTrack NAMSDB20 manual describes setting the selectors while the dumbbell rests in its tray; PowerBlock Stage 1 uses a selector pin and micro-weights. NordicTrack lists a 55 lb maximum per dumbbell, while PowerBlock Stage 1 is listed at 50 lb per hand with later expansion stages sold separately.
Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-17
Source checked 2026-10-17 22:15 UTC
Products compared
Product A · ASIN B08BDD6GPC
NordicTrack Select-A-Weight 55 lb Dumbbell Pair (NAMSDB20)
Last observed offer
$399.00
Per listed package.
Offer eligibility must be confirmed on Amazon.
Checked 2026-10-19 19:31 UTC. Price and availability may change.
Product B · ASIN B00A21NRNO
PowerBlock Elite EXP Stage 1 Dumbbell Pair (501-00096-01)
Last observed offer
$358.80 List Price: $399.99
Per listed package.
Offer eligibility must be confirmed on Amazon.
Checked 2026-10-19 19:18 UTC. Price and availability may change.
Pickoryx may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through the paid Amazon links on this page, at no added cost to you.
The buying question
Does the NordicTrack NAMSDB20's listed 55 lb maximum and tray-based plate-selector routine fit better than PowerBlock Stage 1's pin-selected block format and documented separate expansion path?
A 55 lb listed base maximum and tray-based plate-selection routine versus PowerBlock's pin-selected block design and separately purchased higher stages.
Quick verdict
Choose NordicTrack Select-A-Weight 55 lb Dumbbell Pair (NAMSDB20) if
- You want the listed 55 lb maximum per NordicTrack dumbbell in the base pair.
- You prefer choosing plates by lowering the NordicTrack dumbbell into its tray and sliding its selectors to the selected plates.
Choose PowerBlock Elite EXP Stage 1 Dumbbell Pair (501-00096-01) if
- You prefer PowerBlock's selector-pin and open-handle block format.
- You are comfortable starting at 50 lb per hand and buying a compatible expansion stage separately if your needs grow.
When the recommendation changes
- A verified official source establishes whether NordicTrack offers a compatible expansion path.
- The buyer's required load exceeds the PowerBlock Stage 1 base range and the cost or availability of a compatible later stage changes the choice.
The differences that matter
Adjustment And Hand Position Preference
NordicTrack Select-A-Weight 55 lb Dumbbell Pair (NAMSDB20)
For the NAMSDB20, the manual says to seat the dumbbell in its tray, lift and slide the selectors to align the chosen outer and inner plates, lower the selectors fully, check both sides, then lift the dumbbell straight out. It describes a setup routine, not its relative speed or comfort.[4]
What this changes: NordicTrack's documented routine selects plates with the dumbbell seated in a tray; PowerBlock selects a weight with a pin on a block-style dumbbell. A buyer can choose the routine and form they prefer, but these sources do not establish which is faster, easier or more comfortable.[4, 2, 3]
Progression Range And Expansion Path
NordicTrack Select-A-Weight 55 lb Dumbbell Pair (NAMSDB20)
The NordicTrack US product page identifies this Select-A-Weight set as 55 lb.[1]
What this changes: NordicTrack lists a 55 lb maximum per dumbbell, compared with PowerBlock Stage 1 at 50 lb per hand. PowerBlock separately documents higher expansion stages. Whether NordicTrack has a compatible expansion option remains unverified here.[1, 2, 3]
Value and trade-offs
One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.
Compare the current delivered offer for each exact pair and include any compatible PowerBlock expansion stage in a separate future-cost calculation if you expect to need more than Stage 1.
Price history is not sufficient here for a buy-now or wait recommendation; compare current offers for the exact models and configurations.
Limitations
- No hands-on comparison was performed, so comfort, adjustment speed, durability and exercise performance are not rated.
- The NAMSDB20 manual describes how to set the selectors in the tray, but no source here compares the real-world time or ease of adjustment between the two pairs.
- The sources consulted do not establish a NordicTrack expansion path. That remains unknown; it is not proof that no compatible option exists.
- PowerBlock expansion stages are separate configurations. Confirm the exact compatible stage and included contents for the offer you choose.
Questions shoppers ask
Does PowerBlock Elite EXP Stage 1 include the 90 lb setting?
No. The selected Stage 1 model is 501-00096-01 and is listed at 5–50 lb per hand. PowerBlock lists higher Stage 2 and Stage 3 configurations separately, so the '90' in the Elite EXP family name should not be read as the included Stage 1 range.
Which pair reaches the higher listed maximum without an expansion stage?
NordicTrack lists 55 lb per dumbbell for this Select-A-Weight set; PowerBlock Stage 1 is listed at 50 lb per hand. Treat those as the base configurations and verify the exact settings and offer contents before purchasing.
How does the NordicTrack NAMSDB20 weight selection work?
Its manual says to seat the dumbbell in the tray, slide the selectors to align the desired plates on both sides, lower the selectors fully, and lift the dumbbell straight out. This describes the setup steps; it does not show whether adjustment is faster or easier than PowerBlock's pin method.
Methodology and sources
Compared the US NAMSDB20 listing and its linked ICON manual's tray-based selector instructions with PowerBlock's exact Stage 1 SKU and official pin/micro-weight documentation, then compared the listed base maximums and separately documented expansion stages. This was a source-based feature comparison; no adjustment-speed, comfort or exercise-performance testing was performed.
AI assistance was used to organize sources and draft this comparison; no physical testing was performed.
View 4 sources
- 1.55 Lb. Select-A-Weight DumbbellsNordicTrack · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-17 22:15 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Page title and product heading: The official US product description identifies the 55 lb Select-A-Weight dumbbell set; it does not specify individual selection steps.
- 2.Elite EXP Adjustable DumbbellsPowerBlock · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-17 22:15 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Elite EXP model description and variant list, including Stage 1 SKU 501-00096-01: The official variant listing identifies Stage 1 SKU 501-00096-01 and lists the Elite EXP adjustment design and separate higher-stage configurations. The page was set to Uruguay; regional price, stock and warranty details are excluded.
- 3.Elite EXP Weight Range GuidePowerBlock · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-17 22:15 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Micro Weight Conversion chart and steps 1–4: The manufacturer guide describes the Elite EXP handle, removable micro weights, Auto-Lock and selector-pin procedure, with selectable weights shown in pounds and kilograms.
- 4.Adjustable Dumbbell Set User's ManualICON Health & Fitness · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-17 22:15 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Page 2, How to Use the Dumbbells; selectors D/E and return-to-tray steps. This manual is linked from the US product listing that identifies model NAMSDB20; the manual itself does not print the model number.: The two-page ICON manual linked from the exact NAMSDB20 US product listing explains how to place the dumbbell in its tray, slide and align the outer/inner plate selectors on both sides, lower them fully, and lift the selected dumbbell out. It documents the adjustment process, not comparative speed or ease.