PowerBlock Elite USA 90 Review: The Best Value in the Lineup

The PowerBlock Elite USA 90 is the set I point people to when they ask which PowerBlock gives them the most for their money.

It’s the only PowerBlock with American-made weight plates, it ships with knurled stainless steel grips, and its welded all-steel build has fewer parts that can wear out than any urethane model. This PowerBlock Elite USA 90 review covers exactly which parts are made in the US, what a complete setup costs, the one feature I’d change, and how it stacks up against its lookalike sister model and the more premium Pro 100 EXP.

Model	Pros & Cons	Rating
PowerBlock Elite USA 90 Use code KING20 for $20 off	Pros: Only PowerBlock with American-made weight plates Knurled stainless steel grips included as standard Complete knurled setup with a stand for under $1,000 Welded all-steel plates with no coating to wear over time Compact at 16 inches, over 3 inches shorter than a Pro 100 EXP 2.5 lb increments with micro weights Expandable across three stages at no extra total cost Works with its own bars and rotating kettlebell handle Pairs with the only US-made PowerBlock stand Cons: No auto-lock, so you must remember the manual lever Louder and less comfortable on the thighs than urethane Strip indicators sit on one side only and can shift Closed handle can feel restrictive for larger hands	Rated 4.5 out of 5 View product page

What’s Made in the USA

The weight plates are made in Owatonna, Minnesota, where PowerBlock is headquartered. The handle is made in China. Every other PowerBlock model is fully imported.

So “the American-made PowerBlock” is close, but not literally true because of the handle’s origin. But the plates make up nearly all of the dumbbell’s weight, and no other PowerBlock has any domestic production at all. PowerBlock’s domestic plate production likely means a bit better quality control, too.

If buying American factors into your decision, this is the PowerBlock to buy. If it doesn’t, the rest of the case for it stands on its own.

PowerBlock Elite USA 90 Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight range	5 to 90 lbs per hand
Increments	2.5 lbs (skips one step roughly every 10 lbs)
Stages	50 lb base plus two expansion kits: 70, 90 lbs
Adjustment	Selector pin plus micro weights, manual 3-position lever
Grip	32 mm knurled stainless steel
Handle	Squared-off, closed, padded wrist supports
Plates	Welded all-steel, black powder coat
Weight indicators	Colored strips, one side
Dimensions (L×W×H)	16″ × 6″ × 6″ at 90 lbs
Origin	Plates made in Owatonna, MN; handle imported
Stand	Sold separately
Warranty	5 years residential
Price	$469 (50 lbs), $668 (70 lbs), $867 (90 lbs)

Why It’s the Best Value

Value isn’t the same as cheapest. The Sport 24 and Pro 32 cost less, but neither goes heavy enough for most serious lifters.

The PowerBlock Elite USA 90 earns the label because of what $867 buys you: 90 lbs per hand, knurled steel grips with no upgrade purchase, 2.5 lb increments, US-made plates, and a welded steel build. It also expands, so you can buy in at $469 and grow into it.

The clearest way to see the value is the cost of a complete setup, grips and stand included:

Complete heavy setup with knurled grips	Approximate total
Elite USA 90 + Large Compact Stand	$976
Elite USA 90 + Home Rack Stand	$1,146
Elite EXP + third-party knurled grips + Large Compact Stand	$1,029 to $1,094
Pro 100 EXP + PowerMax 2.0	$1,395

At list prices, the Elite USA is the only one of these you can set up for under $1,000 with knurled grips and a stand. Use code KING20 and it drops to about $956.

The Pro 100 EXP costs $329 more for the dumbbells alone. That buys 10 extra pounds, urethane plates, a thicker grip, and auto-lock. Those are legit upgrades, and I recommend the Pro 100 EXP to most serious lifters. But if 90 lbs covers you, the Elite USA gets you most of the way for a lot less.

Welded Steel Built for the Long Haul

The PowerBlock Elite USA 90 uses steel-only plates with welded rails. There’s no urethane coating, just solid square blocks in a black powder coat.

Some lifters choose an Elite over a Pro for this reason alone, and I think it’s a sound one.

A welded steel joint is permanent. There’s no coating to scuff, peel, or crack, and no polymer part carrying load. If you plan to own this set for decades, that’s fewer things that can wear out.

The Pro and Commercial models take a different approach. Their rails pass through urethane tabs in a flex frame, so each end of the block flexes slightly and absorbs impact. It works well, but those tabs flex on every rep for the life of the dumbbell, and urethane ages over time. Welded steel doesn’t have that wear point.

The tradeoffs run the other way. Bare steel is louder when you rack it and definitely less comfortable when you drop the dumbbells on your thighs, and there’s no shock absorption at the ends. If you value comfort and prefer a quieter setup, factor that in.

The weight indicators are long colored strips along the rails, the classic PowerBlock look. They only appear on one side of the blocks, so you have to keep the blocks facing the same way to read your weight. And unlike the embedded rings on the Pro models, the strips can slide out of position over time.

Knurled Grips Come Standard

For years, serious lifters criticized PowerBlock for putting rubber grips on everything, and the Elite USA used to ship with a straight TPR grip. It now comes with knurled stainless steel grips as standard.

The knurl is a medium-intensity volcano pattern, the same one used on PowerBlock’s other knurled models. It holds well under load without tearing up your hands on high-rep sets.

At 32 mm, it’s a standard dumbbell grip thickness, and noticeably thinner than the 38 mm grip on the Pro 100 models. I prefer the thicker grip. To be fair, though, a thicker grip would make the Elite’s closed handle feel more cramped, so 32 mm suits this design.

Standard knurling is also a big part of why the Elite USA beats its sister model on value. The Elite EXP only comes with contoured TPR grips, with knurled grips available for it, but only from a third-party fabricators that will cost you extra.

If you own an older Elite USA model with the straight TPR grips, PowerBlock sells knurled grip handles for the Elite USA that bring it up to the current spec. They fit the Elite USA only, not the Elite EXP. My PowerBlock knurled handles review covers the upgrade in detail.

The Manual Lock Lever

This is my one real complaint in this PowerBlock Elite USA 90 review. Every other expandable residential PowerBlock has auto-lock while the PowerBlock Elite USA 90 uses an older manual lever instead.

The micro weights, 2.5 lb steel cylinders, sit in a slot in the bottom of the handle. That slot should be locked closed before you lift, or the cylinders can rattle around and fall out when you pull the handle from the stack.

On auto-lock models, dropping the handle back into the blocks closes the lever for you. On the Elite USA, you do it yourself. The lever has three positions. The middle one is open and marked in red as a warning, and flipping it either direction locks it. If you can see red, the slot is open.

It works fine, and it takes about a second. The problem is remembering. Auto-lock removes a step you can forget, and this lever doesn’t.

It helps to know when the lever comes into play. It only needs to be locked when micro weights are loaded in the handle. If you’re lifting a block weight with the cylinders stored on your stand, an open slot has nothing in it to drop.

Size: Compact for 90 lbs

At a full 90 lbs, the PowerBlock Elite USA 90 measures 16″ long, 6″ wide, and 6″ tall.

A maxed-out Pro 100 EXP is 19.21 inches long, so the Elite is 3.21 inches shorter. Almost all of that comes from skipping the urethane coating, not from the 10 lb difference in capacity. Along with the Elite EXP, it’s the most compact heavy set in PowerBlock’s lineup.

Length is what you feel on pressing movements, because it decides how close the dumbbells can come together at lockout. On a heavy bench press, the Elite USA lets you bring them closer than the Pro 100 models do.

Handle and Balance

The PowerBlock Elite USA 90 uses a squared-off, closed handle with padded wrist supports near the top.

Some lifters like the design. The supports give you something to brace your wrist against on curls and lateral raises, which adds stability.

Others find it restrictive. Lifters with larger hands or thicker forearms often find the enclosure limits how much the wrist can move side to side, and it’s a preference you can’t change after you buy.

Overall, I personally prefer the open wedge handle on the Pro models most of the time, but admittedly it can be nice to leverage the stability of the wrist supports on curls. Ultimately, this one comes down to personal feel.

For this PowerBlock Elite USA 90 review, I compared its balance directly against the Pro 100 EXP. Even though the Pro 100 EXP is over three inches longer, I found it slightly better balanced than the Elites. The difference is small. No PowerBlock dumbbell feels exactly like a fixed one, since some of the weight sits out in the side rails, and micro weights shift the center of gravity a little depending on how many you’ve loaded.

Expansion Stages and Increments

The PowerBlock Elite USA 90 comes in three stages:

Stage	Max per hand	Total price
Base set	50 lbs	$469
Stage 2	70 lbs	$668
Stage 3	90 lbs	$867

Each expansion kit costs $199, and the totals come out the same either way. Start at $469, add both kits, and you’ve spent $867, the price of the maxed set.

My rule for every expandable PowerBlock applies here. If you can afford it and know you’ll use 90 lbs, buy it maxed from the start. Stage it only if money is tight or you’re not sure you’ll need the top end weight.

Like every expandable PowerBlock with micro weights, the Elite USA skips a 2.5 lb step roughly every 10 lbs. You can’t select 12.5, 22.5, 32.5, 42.5, 52.5, 62.5, 72.5, or 82.5 lbs, so now and then you’ll make a 5 lb jump where you wanted 2.5. It’s not a big deal, but it’s good to know about it before you buy.

Elite USA vs Elite EXP

The two Elites are sister models. They look nearly identical, share the same welded steel build and closed handle, and both top out at 90 lbs. People mix them up constantly, and the differences are worth knowing so you can make an informed decision between the two.

	Elite USA 90	Elite EXP
Grips	Knurled stainless, 32 mm	Contoured TPR, 38 mm
Micro weight lock	Manual 3-position lever	Auto-lock
Plate origin	Owatonna, MN	Imported
Where to buy	PowerBlock.com	Amazon, Dick’s, other retailers
Maxed price	$867	Around $800
KING20 coupon	Yes	No

The EXP has the lower sticker price and auto-lock. But once you add third-party knurled grips, it costs more than the Elite USA, and you can’t use my PowerBlock coupon code on it. So the EXP makes sense if you want auto-lock, you’re happy with TPR, or you find it on a good sale.

The mistake that costs Elite owners real money is messing up the expansion kits. They aren’t interchangeable. An Elite EXP kit will physically go onto an Elite USA base, but the added blocks sit above the rest of the stack with a visible gap, and the dumbbell feels loose during a set. An Elite USA kit won’t fit an Elite EXP at all.

Buy the kit that matches your model. If you’re not sure which one you own, PowerBlock’s customer service will tell you. My full Elite USA vs Elite EXP comparison goes deeper.

Attachments

The Elite USA has its own attachment family, which fits the Elite USA and nothing else.

Attachment	Price	Notes
Kettlebell handle	$149 each	Rotates 90 degrees
Straight bar	$199	Loads to about 195 lbs
EZ curl bar	$199	Loads to about 195 lbs

The kettlebell handle is the one I’d buy. PowerBlock released it for the Elites recently, and it rotates 90 degrees so you can turn the blocks to clear your legs on swings.

I’d skip the bars unless you’re staying fully inside the PowerBlock system and don’t have room for an Olympic bar and plates. I own the older Pro Series versions. With large oblong blocks hanging off each end, the balance is off, and you can feel the bar trying to rotate on anything that isn’t a straight vertical path.

Keep in mind that there are different attachment versions for the Elite USA and Elite EXP dumbbell models, so make sure you buy the right ones since, like the expansion kits, they aren’t interchangeable.

Which Stand to Get

No stand is included. Four PowerBlock stands fit the PowerBlock Elite USA 90:

• Home Rack Stand ($279): my pick. It’s the tallest and most comfortable, with a lower storage shelf.
• Large Compact Stand ($109): the budget option. Bare bones, and it folds flat.
• PowerMax 2.0 ($199): step-in design, no lower shelf.
• Column Stand ($199): the only PowerBlock stand made in the USA.

The Column Stand deserves a note. If you bought the Elite USA because it’s (mostly) made in America, the Column Stand completes the setup. It looks dated and has no lower shelf, but it’s a solid functional option.

One Elite-specific quirk: the bottom rail sits low on both Elite models, so a stand’s tray lip can make it awkward to pull the selector pin at the heaviest setting. The fix is to simply slide the dumbbell toward the outer edge of the tray so the pin overhangs the lip.

Warranty

The PowerBlock Elite USA 90 carries a 5 year limited residential warranty, covering materials and workmanship defects. It excludes misuse, including drops from above 6 to 12 inches depending on the model.

For reference, NÜOBELL offers 2 years and REP x Pépin offers a limited lifetime warranty on structural integrity, so PowerBlock sits in the middle.

PowerBlock Elite USA 90 Pros and Cons

Here’s the condensed version of this PowerBlock Elite USA 90 review.

Pros:

• The only PowerBlock with American-made weight plates
• Knurled stainless steel grips included as standard
• Complete knurled setup with a stand for under $1,000
• Welded all-steel plates with no coating to wear, a durability edge over urethane
• Among the most compact heavy PowerBlocks at 16 inches
• 2.5 lb increments with micro weights
• Expandable across three stages at no extra total cost
• Works with its own bars and rotating kettlebell handle
• Pairs with the only US-made PowerBlock stand

Cons:

• No auto-lock, so you have to remember the manual lever
• Louder and less comfortable on the thighs than urethane models
• Strip indicators sit on one side only and can shift
• Closed handle can feel restrictive for larger hands

PowerBlock Elite USA 90 vs Pro 100 EXP

For most buyers, the real decision is between these two, so here’s how I’d make it.

The Pro 100 EXP costs $329 more at $1,196 maxed. For that you get 10 extra pounds, urethane-coated plates, a thicker 38 mm grip, ring indicators on both sides of the blocks, an open wedge handle, auto-lock, and slightly better balance.

The Elite USA gives you a dumbbell that’s 3.21 inches shorter, US-made plates, a welded steel build with fewer wear points, and $329 back in your pocket.

Pick the Pro 100 EXP if you’ll lift above 90 lbs, you want a quieter set, or you have big hands and want the open handle. Pick the PowerBlock Elite USA 90 if 90 lbs covers you, space is tight, or you’d rather spend the difference elsewhere in your gym.

My Pro vs Elite comparison breaks this down further.

Who Should Buy the PowerBlock Elite USA 90

Buy the PowerBlock Elite USA 90 if:

• 90 lbs per hand covers your training now and for the foreseeable future
• You want knurled steel grips without paying for a premium model
• Domestic manufacturing factors into your buying decisions
• You prefer welded steel over urethane for long-term durability
• Your gym space is tight and a compact dumbbell helps

Look elsewhere if:

• You’ll need more than 90 lbs, in which case get the Pro 100 EXP
• Auto-lock is a must, in which case look at the Elite EXP or a Pro model
• Noise is a concern, since urethane models are quieter
• You have large hands and dislike closed handles

PowerBlock Elite USA 90 FAQ

My Rating

PowerBlock Elite USA 90 Review: Final Verdict

The Elite USA 90 covers what most lifters need and costs less than any other heavy PowerBlock with knurled grips. You get 90 lbs per hand, 2.5 lb increments, knurled steel grips, a compact footprint, and welded steel plates made in Minnesota, all for $867.

The manual lock lever is where it shows its age. It’s a one-second step the other models automate, and if you tend to forget things mid-workout, factor that in.

If you want the best PowerBlock experience and budget isn’t a concern, buy the Commercial Pro 100. If you need more than 90 lbs, buy the Pro 100 EXP. For everyone else, the PowerBlock Elite USA 90 is the smartest money in the lineup.

Check the current price on PowerBlock and don’t forget that code KING20 saves you $20 off any order of $200+.

Related PowerBlock Reviews

• PowerBlock Dumbbells: The Complete Buying Guide
• PowerBlock Dumbbells Review: Pros & Cons
• PowerBlock Elite USA vs Elite EXP
• PowerBlock Pro vs Elite
• PowerBlock Elite vs Sport
• PowerBlock Knurled Handles Review
• Best Adjustable Dumbbells (All Brands)