Most of the dial-a-weight systems I researched were also negatively reviewed. The PowerBlocks on the other hand seemed to be well reviewed except by those who initially were not using them correctly (they have to be on a flat, fairly firm service for the two sides to align while adjusting).
Once I got used to them, I’ve had no problems. I do exercises lifting and tossing them about in all directions and have never been concerned about them coming apart.
You’re paying a premium for the space saving, but I needed that.
You have to figure out what to do with your legs. From a dead hang, I bend my knees so that they’re not touching the ground, and then swing them forward on the way up. It’s not as graceful as it would be on a pull-up bar at the gym, but it works.
This is the true goal, being able to get the hand and forearm strength required to do climber’s pull ups or chin ups will stick with you for a very long time.
It’s more of a (re)start point for me. Before I had kids I could go to the climbing gym about three times a week, and got to the point where I could do about 20 finger-pull-ups in one go.
These days I can manage about five (up from three!), so I guess that strength didn’t last. But I made sure the house had a solid wood wall to screw in those finger holds! I might get back up to 10 reps eventually…
I have one of these – this never happened to me, but damn if it didn’t mark up the door frame. I went back to something more like what @jlw posted. Now I don’t do anything at all, except walk…
