NordicTrack iSelect Adjustable Dumbbells Review

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Last Updated: January 5, 2023

We test a variety of workout equipment. From NordicTrack alone, we’ve tested treadmills, exercise bikes, ellipticals, rowing machines, fitness mirrors, and now adjustable dumbbells. The NordicTrack iSelect Voice-Controlled Dumbbells are an impressive piece of strength equipment that has a lot of technology built-in. Throughout this review, I’ll guide you through all the components of these weights and how our team liked them.

We are taken with how compact, easy to use, and high-tech these dumbbells are.

They adjust digitally either with the dial or with your voice by using Alexa (you know, the one from Amazon). They pack up to 50 lbs in each dumbbell so most users are sure to get in a great strength workout using them. They’re also compatible with iFit, which comes free for the first month if you want some guidance when using them.

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Why You Should Trust Our Review Of The NordicTrack iSelect Voice-Controlled Dumbbells

Even though we’re called Treadmill Review Guru, we test all kinds of equipment beyond treadmills. Strength equipment is among them. Plus, as I mentioned we’ve tested a lot of NordicTrack’s products. We know probably too much about iFit’s workouts because we take them regularly. Our reviewers are also personal trainers and fitness enthusiasts who have used all kinds of strength equipment.

To get a better idea of how the iSelect Dumbbells perform, we compared them to popular models on the market, such as the BowFlex SelectTech 552s, and the PowerBlock Pro Series, among others, all of which made our list of the Best Adjustable Dumbbells.

In-depth Review of the NordicTrack iSelect Voice-Controlled Dumbbells

Technology

A big component of the iSelect Dumbbells is all the added technology within them. One of the ways that they can be adjusted is by syncing them with Alexa and using your voice. So, you can say, “Alexa, change my weights to 45 lbs”, and the weights will adjust to 45 lbs. Of course, to use this feature you need an Alexa-compatible device.

You also need to download the free iSelect App to connect the weights to Alexa and wifi. Something to be aware of is that you have to have a good internet connection to use Alexa with the weights, and the device must be near the weights to use the voice-control technology. The iSelect App is cool because you can preset weight to correspond with specific exercises in the app. The iSelect App includes a list of popular exercises like squats and bicep curls, where you can input a certain amount of weight. This way, you can tell Alexa, “Alexa, set my weights for deadlifts”, and the dumbbells will change to whichever weight you have inputted for deadlifts.

This is pretty cool and has its moments for coming in clutch. For instance, if you’re in an exercise just using your body weight, and the next movement coming up is weighted squats, you could tell Alexa to change the dumbbells for squats. That way, they are ready to go with the appropriate weight when you’re ready to start your first squat. It’s also nice to use if you’re resting and have time between exercises. Alexa can lag a little bit and take extra time adjusting the weights though. Sometimes she can’t hear me if I don’t speak loud enough or can’t connect to the weights as well. These are all things that can happen with Alexa in general though. Personally, I find it to be much faster and easier to turn the dial and change the weights myself. I’ll get into this more below.

Whether you’re adjusting them using the knob or Alexa, the LCD display shows what the weights are adjusted at. The number flashes when the weight is adjusted.

The iSelect App is handy, but the dumbbells don’t always stay connected in the app and to wifi. This is where we would like to see some improvements within the app and this technology to be improved with time. Hopefully, they will continue to be updated to help resolve some of these issues.

iFit

The NordicTrack iSelect Voice-Controlled Dumbbells come with a 30-day free trial of iFit. iFit is a connected fitness platform that provides guided workouts with instructors. There are over 16,000 classes in their library, with more added regularly. iFit comes enabled on equipment like treadmills and exercise bikes, as well as an app for your phone, tablet, and TV.

When using iFit with the iSelect Dumbbells, you’ll need your own device. A tablet holder is attached to the storage tray where you adjust the dumbbells, so you can place your device there to stream workouts from. However, if you have them on the floor it can be harder to see iFit’s content, especially if you’re using a small device like a phone. It’s easier to see if the dumbbells are placed on a stand. I recommend using iFit on your TV if you’re able. iFit’s content is impressive and a TV will keep you from having to look down to follow along with the trainer.

My iPhone is small and hard to see iFit’s classes.

One of our team’s favorite aspects of iFit is the outdoor classes. They are filmed all over the world in beautiful locations. There are strength classes that specifically use dumbbells and even some that use the iSelect Dumbbells that are filmed in-studio locations as well as outside. If you haven’t used iFit, I recommend taking advantage of the free trial and testing it out for yourself.

iFit is completely optional with these dumbbells, though. On a lot of equipment with attached touch screens, much of the functionality is in the screen and subscription, so without a subscription, you have limited access to the content and sometimes even the performance of the equipment. You can still use the iSelect Dumbbells on their own without iFit.

You can also stream workout content from other apps like Peloton if you choose. We love that the NordicTrack iSelect Dumbbells can be used with iFit, but we’re glad that they’re fully functional on their own. After all, workout videos aren’t for everyone.

Construction Quality / Durability

Overall, these dumbbells feel really nice.

All the components feel of high quality and we’re impressed with the construction.

They let you train with 5-50 lbs of weight in each dumbbell. The weight is also adjusted by 5 lb increments. So, in total, they’re saving you the space that 20 dumbbells would take up. That’s an entire weight rack!

Tray

In order to adjust the iSelect Dumbbells, they need to be properly placed in the storage tray.

The tray keeps all of the weight plates and dumbbells aligned.

The silver dial and small LCD screen are where you adjust the dumbbells yourself. The screen displays the weight amount. When you turn the center dial, the number on the screen changes to the adjusted weight. The numbers on the screen flash when the weights are being adjusted. A metal piece slides and locks into place in order to change the weight of each dumbbell. You can hear this happening when the dial is turned and the numbers on the screen change.

This metal piece is like a pin that adjusts the weight plates.

It takes all of a second (maybe two) to adjust the weight this way. We’re blown away by how fast you can adjust these dumbbells. Unlike other comparable models like the BowFlex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells or the PowerBlock Pro Series that are adjusted manually, the iSelect Dumbbells adjust digitally.

Weight

There are 36 2.5 lb individual weight plates in addition to the two 5 lb handles that the weight plates clip onto.

When adjusted at 5 lbs, the weights are the shortest length. They get larger the more weight plates that are added. Although at just 5 lbs they are larger and bulkier than a typical 5 lb pair of dumbbells. However, they are significantly smaller than the BowFlex SelectTech 552 which remains the same length no matter how much weight they’re loaded with.

The iSelect Dumbbells from NordicTrack are square-shaped instead of round. This keeps them from rolling if you were to set them down on the floor. The weights are slim and stack neatly in place when you’re using them and while they’re stored in the tray. They remain securely locked in place during use, too.

Handle

The handle on each dumbbell make them feel like dumbbells you’d find in the gym. The handles are knurled steel, so it’s easy to get a grip on. It’s also a straight bar, instead of rounded like the 552s from BowFlex. Both of these components make them feel like traditional dumbbells. The handle doesn’t have a cage around your hand like the PowerBlocks, so your range of motion isn’t limited in certain exercises.

The knurling feels nice and isn’t too sharp.

Functionality & Performance

Overall, our team really likes the NordicTrack iSelect Voice-Controlled Dumbbells. We definitely prefer adjusting them with the dial, rather than by our voice with Alexa. It’s faster and more efficient, especially when you need to adjust the weight quickly between sets.

Although they do change really fast, (well when you’re turning the dial) if you try to pick up the weights before the number on the screen stops flashing it could keep the weights from being properly locked into place. If this happens and all the weight plates don’t clip in then you have to manually realign all of the weights and the metal mechanism built into the tray. It’s annoying to do this, especially if you’re in the middle of a workout, but the manual walks you through how to do this.

I’m a fan of the handles and how nice these dumbbells feel overall.

They’re definitely not your old pair of rusted dumbbells that look like they’ve taken a beating. That said, we don’t recommend dropping them. These aren’t the kind of weights that you can throw around in a gym. Dropping them could damage the dumbbells and potentially make them unusable.

Something to be aware of is that although these dumbbells have a lot of technology built-in, there aren’t sensors or AI technology to track positioning and reps. This would be a nice addition. Workout mirrors like the Tonal and Tempo Studio have this technology.

Warranty

NordicTrack includes 1-year parts and labor warranty for the iSelect Dumbbells. This is on the lower end of warranties that we’ve seen for adjustable dumbbells.