I know nothing about adjustable dumbbells but since he's used to having a wide selection here, I thought I might look into the adjustable kind.
PowerBlock
PowerBlock adjustable dumbbells give you ultimate flexibility in your strength training routines by letting you adjust weight quickly. Learn more!
powerblock.com
PowerBlock was the first to develop the adjustable dumbbell. They are a high quality product.
I purchased my PowerBlock Set in 1995. I still have them an use them.
My set goes up to 90 lbs per dumbbell. However, I rarely go that high.
The only time I get up close to 90 lbs is with one are dumbbell Rows
Sports Expandable PowerBlock
PowerBlock adjustable dumbbells give you ultimate flexibility in your strength training routines by letting you adjust weight quickly. Learn more!
powerblock.com
This the most economical set.
It goes from 5 - 50 lbs.
There two extension kits that you can add to take it up to 70 lbs and then 90 lbs per dumbbell.
PowerBlock has a very simplistic method for changing the weight; less to go wrong,.
I purchased some for my son years. I got him the once that go up to 70 lbs; he said he rarely goes that high.
With that said, most individual (myself and son included) don't need an dumbbell that goes up to 90 lbs, 50 lbs or at most 70 lbs is usually more than enough.
Start with the 50 lb set. If you need more, get the 70 Add On Kit. It is unlikely that you/he would need the 90 lb Extension Kit.
"Spendy"
...as Blake put it.
As with any good quality piece of fitness equipment, the initial price is often more than most want spend. I understand that.
However, if you keep them long enough, the cost is relative small.
My annual cost average, since I paid for mine from 1995, is $32 a year.
PowerBlock Owner
The same guy who invented the PowerBlock Dumbbell still owns the company. It amount to being a large family business. Most of the people who work there have been there for years.
Bowflex - the name makes me shudder...
Me Too
Evidently, William has had good luck with his set. Glad to hear that
I sold them when I worked in Retail Fitness Equipment at Busy Body in California.
The Select Dial Up Handle for increasing/decreasing the weight is nice. Years ago, that dial would stop working; which occurred a lot.
The good news was that most of the time, the Handle was under warranty.
However, getting a hold of Bowflex Service to replace was a nightmare to get a new Handle ordered for the customer.
Gear Trends Retail Fitness Equipment Magazine
As I posted, years ago...http://www.ironmagazineforums.com/threads/143815-Bowflex-vs-Marcy-Diamond-Home-Gym-Head-to-Head
This is a consumer retail magazine that reviews the products and services of fitness companies.
In a three year period, Nautilus/Bowflex "walked away with the Worst Service" category.
Nautilus (Bowflex) Today
Nautilus has gone though multiple ownership changes.; new doesn't mean better. In Commercial Sales, I still need to deal with them at times. They continued to have service issues.
Nautilus/Bowflex is a mixed bag. Some of their product are good and usually the once you see on TV are not. They spend more money on the TV ads than the product.
Nautilus/Bowflex goes through people like toilet paper. You never talk or get an email back from the same person you stared the conversation with. The downside of that is if you have an issue or question, you have to start all over and explain it them all over again; which makes it incredibly frustrating.
