NordicTrack · Adjustable Dumbbell Review
NordicTrack 25kg Select-A-Weight Review 2026
The NordicTrack Select-A-Weight is the fine-increment specialist of our 25kg sets. A twin-pin selector lets you make smaller jumps than almost any rival at this ceiling, the steel knurled handle feels closer to a gym dumbbell than most, and a 30-day iFIT trial comes in the box. It costs more than the budget sets, and earns most of it.
NordicTrack 25kg Select-A-Weight
Pin-select set, 5-25kg, with iFIT app
The verdict
The NordicTrack 25kg Select-A-Weight is our best mid-range pick, and its calling card is granularity. Each dumbbell runs from about 5kg to 25kg using a twin-pin selector system, with an outer pin for the larger jumps and an inner slide that adds small amounts on top. The upshot is finer progression than you get from almost any other set at this 25kg ceiling, which makes it a quiet favourite for steady, progressive training. The steel knurled handle is another highlight, giving a grip much closer to a traditional gym dumbbell than the plastic-shelled budget sets manage.
It is not perfect. At around £399 it sits well above the Half Human 25kg for the same top weight, the selector mechanism is fiddlier than a single dial or twist and takes a moment to learn, and the plates and tray use hardened plastic in places, so they need the usual no-drop care. The included extras amount to an iFIT app trial rather than a stand. But for a buyer who values small, precise weight steps and a proper knurled grip, it is the most refined set in our range short of the heavier Bowflex.
Strengths
- Finer weight increments than almost any rival at 25kg
- Steel knurled handle, close to a traditional gym dumbbell feel
- Flat-bottomed, anti-roll plates that rest neatly on the floor or thigh
- 30-day iFIT trial with thousands of guided workouts
- Accurate, consistent weights reported by independent reviewers
- Backed by an established brand with UK availability
Watch-outs
- Pricier than the Half Human 25kg for the same ceiling
- Twin-pin mechanism is fiddlier than a single dial or twist
- Hardened plastic selector parts and tray, so no dropping
- Bulky at lighter weights
- Stand not included
- iFIT’s full library needs a paid membership after the trial
What you are getting
The NordicTrack Select-A-Weight is sold as a pair, each dumbbell adjusting from roughly 5kg to 25kg, with custom-moulded storage trays clearly marked with the weights. The defining feature is the twin-pin selector: an outer pin sets the larger weight steps, while an inner slide adds smaller amounts on top, which together give you a long list of settings and unusually fine control for this weight class.
NordicTrack redesigned this set with steel knurled handles in place of older plastic ones, and rounded, flat-bottomed plates that rest neatly without rolling. A 30-day iFIT membership trial is included, giving access to a large library of guided strength and cardio sessions, though you do not need it to use the dumbbells.
How the pin-select adjuster works
Adjustment uses two selectors on each head. The outer pin moves through the bigger weight increments, and the inner slide lets you add a small amount on top, so you can fine-tune the load in steps far smaller than the 5kg jumps of a budget set. Independent reviewers single this out as the system’s biggest strength: NordicTrack is one of very few sets that lets you make these small additions, which is ideal for gradual progressive overload.
The flip side is that two selectors are inherently fiddlier than a single dial or twist. Reviewers describe the mechanism as a little fiddly and something you get used to rather than instantly intuitive, so weight changes are precise rather than lightning-fast. For most home training that is a fair trade for the control it gives.
Build and materials
The Select-A-Weight is built from a combination of steel and hardened plastic. The steel knurled handle is the standout, giving a grip that independent reviewers compare favourably to a traditional gym dumbbell, and the rounded plates have a flat section so they sit still on the floor or rest on your thigh between reps. Reviewers also note the weights are accurate, running close to or slightly over their stated figures rather than under.
On grip feel, owners are mostly won over: the moderate knurl is praised as grippy without being harsh and comfortable enough for longer sessions, and several reviewers single it out as a genuine surprise at this price. The one caveat that comes up is that the steel can feel a touch slippery once the hands are really sweaty, which a quick chalk-up sorts. Combined with the flat-bottomed plates that rest neatly on the thigh between reps, it is one of the most natural-handling sets in our range.
The hardened-plastic elements, the selector tabs and the storage tray, are the parts to respect: they would not survive a drop from height, and a few owners note the plates can feel slightly loose between settings. As with every adjustable, control the weights and return them to the tray.
Weight range and who it covers
Five to 25kg per dumbbell covers the vast majority of home training, and the fine increments make it especially good for anyone progressing in small steps or doing precise accessory and rehab-style work. The 25kg ceiling matches the Half Human and sits above the Bowflex 552i and Echelon, so it is competitive on top weight while leading the group on granularity.
As with the other 25kg sets, strong lifters who already work above 25kg per hand on the main compounds will top it out, and there is no expansion path, so heavy trainers should look to the 41kg Bowflex 1090i instead.
Everyday use and iFIT
In use the NordicTrack rewards a little patience: once you have the twin-pin routine, the fine control and the proper knurled grip make it a pleasure for steady, considered training. The flat-bottomed plates are a genuinely nice touch for resting between sets, and the marked trays keep things tidy. The iFIT trial adds guided sessions if you want structure, with a large on-demand library, though it auto-renews into a paid plan you can cancel if you do not want it.
The everyday watch-outs are the fiddlier adjustment, the bulk at lighter weights common to all adjustables, and the hardened-plastic parts that ask for careful handling.
Price and value
At around £399 the NordicTrack is priced above the Half Human 25kg despite sharing the 25kg ceiling, and the value question is whether the finer increments, steel handle and brand backing are worth the premium for you. For a trainer who genuinely uses small progressions, they often are. For someone who would be happy with 5kg jumps, the budget set delivers most of the practical benefit for considerably less.
We score Value at 3.6 to reflect a well-made, well-supported set that is fairly rather than cheaply priced, with the iFIT trial a bonus rather than a core reason to buy.
How it compares
Against the Half Human 25kg, the NordicTrack wins clearly on increment fineness, handle feel and brand support, while the Half Human wins just as clearly on price. Against the Bowflex 552i, the two are close on fine increments and ceiling, but the Bowflex dial is faster to change while the NordicTrack handle feels more like gym iron. The Echelon bundles a stand and app for less, but with coarser top-end steps.
See the whole range in our best adjustable dumbbells guide.
Who it is for
The NordicTrack 25kg Select-A-Weight is for the home trainer who prizes fine, precise weight progression and a proper knurled-steel grip, and is willing to pay a mid-range price and tolerate a fiddlier adjuster to get them. It suits steady progressive overload, accessory work and anyone who wants the closest feel to a traditional gym dumbbell in this group.
Skip it if budget is the priority, in which case the Half Human 25kg is the value call, or if you want the fastest possible weight changes, where a dial set has the edge, or if you need to train above 25kg per hand.
Specifications
| Type | Adjustable dumbbell set (pair) |
|---|---|
| Weight range | Approx 5kg to 25kg per dumbbell |
| Adjustment | Twin-pin selector (outer pin plus inner slide) |
| Increments | Fine, with small steps available across the range |
| Handle | Steel, knurled |
| Plates | Steel and hardened plastic, flat-bottomed anti-roll |
| Included | Custom storage trays, 30-day iFIT trial |
| App | iFIT (membership for full library after trial) |
| Replaces | Multiple pairs of fixed dumbbells |
| Warranty | 2-year (confirm UK terms at purchase) |
| Best for | Fine progressive overload and a gym-dumbbell grip feel |
| Usage class | Home |
Warranty and support
The Select-A-Weight typically carries a two-year warranty, in line with the mid-range bracket, and NordicTrack offers replacement parts such as selector pins through its support channels, with UK availability through Sweatband. As ever, confirm the exact warranty term and what it covers at the point of purchase, since cover can vary by retailer and region.
Care is the usual: change weight with the dumbbell seated in its tray, avoid dropping the hardened-plastic parts, and keep your receipt. If you take the iFIT trial, note it auto-renews into a paid plan unless cancelled.
FitRank breakdown
Performance 3.8
Fine increments and accurate, consistent weights make it excellent for precise progression, with the fiddlier twin-pin adjuster the main thing keeping it from a higher mark.
Build quality 3.8
A steel knurled handle and accurate steel plates give a near-gym feel, tempered by hardened-plastic selector parts and trays that need careful handling.
Value 3.6
Fairly priced for a well-made, well-supported mid-range set, but notably dearer than the Half Human for the same 25kg ceiling, so the premium only pays off if you use the fine increments.
Features 3.5
The fine-increment selector and iFIT trial are genuine pluses, but there is no included stand and the app’s full library needs a paid plan.
Frequently asked questions
What makes the NordicTrack Select-A-Weight different?
How heavy does it go?
Is the iFIT membership required?
Is the adjustment mechanism easy to use?
How does it compare to the Half Human 25kg on value?
Chris writes the home fitness reviews across our sites, including our sister site HomeTreadmill.co.uk. He compares every machine against its rivals on UK pricing and specs, and scores each one with FitRank.
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