Bowflex Selecttech 552 Dumbbells Review

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Adjustable Dumbbells

A good set of dumbbells are essential for your home gym. Adjustable dumbbells are a long-standing classic and have been around since the 1930s. Original adjustable dumbbells consisted of a short bar with a plastic sleeve that allowed you to load weight plates on either end and then secure them with weight collars. These proved to be cumbersome and unreliable as collars were likely to come loose.

The modern version of the adjustable dumbbells is a dumbbell handle which has removable plates on each end. The unit sits on a plastic base and features a dial mechanism that allows you to select the amount of poundage that you want on the dumbbell. Once clicked, the plates to make up that amount click into the handle and you are able to lift off that exact weight. 

Adjustable dumbbells proved to be a real breakthrough for the home gym trainer. No longer did you have to pay out thousands of dollars for a complete rack of dumbbells – and have the space to store them. Now, for a fraction of the price, you could get an all-in-one dumbbell that was quickly adjustable and functional to use.

The most popular adjustable dumbbell is the Bowflex SelectTech 552, which gives you a resistance range of between 5 and 52.5 pounds.

• Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells
• Weight Range
• Weight Adjustment
• Comfort Level
• Takeaways

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells

The SelectTech 552 was a game changer for those looking for the best workout equipment for at-home use. Before its introduction, the only way to adjust the weight on an adjustable dumbbell was to unscrew a pin, manually put an extra plate on and then screw the pin back on. Suddenly, with the dial adjustment system all you now had to do was make a dial change and you were good to go. Minutes to make the change turned into just a second or two—it was a genuine breakthrough. 

Over the years, the Bowflex adjustable dumbbell system has been refined and improved, securing its spot as the dumbbell of choice despite the coming on board of a number of imitation competitors. 

Here are the key specifications of the Bowflex Selecttech 552 Dumbbell:

• Weight Range: 5-52.5 pounds per dumbbell
• Adjustable in increments of 2.5 pounds for first 25 pounds
• Adjustable in increments of 5 pounds after 25 pounds
• 15 weight settings as follows: 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 17.5, 20, 22.5, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 52.5 pounds
• Bonus workout DVD included with purchase
• 6-week fitness results guarantee
• 2-year warranty
• Dimensions: 8 inches (W) x 9 inches (H) x 15.75 (L)

Weight Range

The 552 provides the ability to lift dumbbells up to a limit of 52.5 pounds (23.81 kg). This will be sufficient for most trainers, with the possible exception of the dumbbell press and one arm rowing. You get small weight increments with this dumbbell which is fantastic for finding that sweet spot in weight. For the first 25 pounds you can increase by just 2.5 pounds. This sets it apart from the majority of other adjustable dumbbells out there, which limit the increment to 5 or 10 pounds. The lower weight increment is crucial as it allows you to make gradual progressive strength increases over time. For many of us, making a weight jump of 5 or 10 pounds is too demanding, whereas 2.5 pounds is manageable. 

Unfortunately, the 552 is not an expandable dumbbell set. So, once you have outgrown the strength potential of 52.5 pounds, you will have to either buy a heavier conventional pair of dumbbells or invest in the next level up from the 552, the 1090, which goes all the way up to 90 pounds per dumbbell. 

Weight Adjustment

Years after its introduction, the Bowflex SelectTech dial adjustment system is still the best in the industry. A dial on the end of each dumbbell handle provides you with numbered weight settings. You simply spin the dial to select the weight on each end. Just make sure that each end has the same setting or they will not be evenly balanced. Inside each handle there are brackets that attach to the weight plates. 

The dial mechanism allows the handle to grab onto the required plates. This allows you to change the plates in 2-3 seconds. This makes the SelectTech system great for quick on-the-go workouts that require you to move from one move to another with virtually no rest.

If you want to up your dumbbell and training game, make sure to check out the benefits of TRX training. 

Comfort Level

The handle width and spacing on the 552 is comparable to what you would find on conventional fixed weight dumbbells. You do get a generous amount of rubber padding on the handle which adds to your grip comfort. 

Unlike Powerblock, Bowflex has maintained the rounded look of the conventional dumbbell. This helps to transition between conventional and adjustable dumbbells. 

The one issue that you may find in terms of comfort with the 552 (and the 1090 for that matter), has to do with the overall length of the dumbbell. Each dumbbell is around 16 inches in length. Obviously this length is the same whether you are using 5 pounds or 50 pounds. This makes the dumbbell considerably wider than a conventional dumbbell. This will not be an issue on most exercises, however, it can affect your range of motion (and just feel uncomfortable) on moves such as seated dumbbell curls and side lateral raises. 

Takeaways

When it comes to guarantees and warranties, Bowflex has got you covered. Firstly, you get a 6-week fitness results guarantee, which covers you in the event that you just don’t like the feel of using adjustable dumbbells when you are using conventional fixed dumbbells. If, for any reason, you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, they will refund your money. On top of that you get a 2-year warranty on all parts and labour.