I’m offering my honest review of the insanely popular Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells. In short, these Bowflex adjustable dumbbells are an incredible value! They are easy to use, a huge space-saver, and offer an excellent workout at home.
The best thing about them is how fast you can switch between weights, and how they save a ton of space. It’s 15 sets of dumbbells in one!
The weight range you get with this pair of adjustable dumbbells ranges from 5 pounds to 52.5 pounds. Keep in mind, these are not for powerlifters since they max out at 105 pounds when used together. Still, these are the best adjustable dumbbells to use for presses, rows, squats, snatches and more in your home gym.
With so many people building home gyms, the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells tend to go out of stock. If you can find them, snag them while you can! They really are perfect for an at-home gym. Here is my in-depth Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells review.
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My Favorite Things About the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells:
- Great value at $399
- Replaces 15 pairs of dumbbells
- Huge space-saver
- Excellent range in weight from 5 pounds to 52.5 pounds
- Can quickly adjust the weight
What You Should Know Before You Buy Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells:
- They’re wider than standard dumbbells
- They are not meant to be dropped
- They are not for powerlifters
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells Information & Review
If you’re thinking of spending a few hundred dollars on exercise equipment, you want to be sure it’s the right choice for you. Let’s take a deeper dive into the great things about the Bowflex SelectTech 552 adjustable dumbbells. Plus, I’ll share a few things you should know before you buy. Overall, I’m thrilled with this purchase!
Who Should Use These Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells?
- People looking for the best value
- Anyone who lifts less than 52.5 pounds per dumbbell
- Someone looking to save space
How Do The Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells Work?
Changing the weight is as simple as turning a dial. As you can see, each adjustable dumbbell sits in a storage tray which holds the weighted plates and dumbbell. All you have to do is turn the dials on each end of the dumbbells to change the weight. It’s really easy!
You’ll hear a sound and feel the weight change at each increment. When you have selected your desired weight, simply lift up the dumbbell and the plates that are not in use will stay in the tray. It’s simple, smooth, and fast.
You can see how easy it is the adjust the weight in my Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells Unboxing video on my YouTube channel.
Jump to the 4-minute mark to see me adjust the weight.
Important note: I’ve tried cheaper adjustable dumbbells, and the plates have actually fallen off the bar when they are not supposed to! That has not happened to me with the Bowflex SelectTech 552s.
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Review: Weight Increments
What’s special about these adjustable dumbbells is that they allow you to increase the weight in 2.5 pound increments. This refinement is a great feature. It gives you more control over your workout. This allows you to subtly increase your load as you progress with your strength training.
The lowest weight is 5 pounds, then it increases by 2.5 pounds up to 25 pounds. From there, the increments go up by 5 pounds until you reach 50 pounds. Then, it increases an additional 2.5 pounds to max out at 52.5 pounds per dumbbell.
In other words, these are the weight options: 5 lbs, 7.5 lbs, 10 lbs, 12.5 lbs, 15 lbs, 17.5 lbs, 20 lbs, 22.5 lbs, 25 lbs, 30 lbs, 35 lbs, 40 lbs, 45 lbs, 50 lbs, and 52.5 lbs.
Personally, I think this weight range offers great versatility. They can be shared between someone who lifts lighter and another person who lift a bit heavier. Some cheaper adjustable dumbbells max out at 25 pounds, and I’ve found that weight to be limiting. However, 52.5 pounds per dumbbell is plenty for us.
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Review: Speed
The ability to quickly change weights is one of the best things about the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells. The Bowflex SelectTech system is much faster than loading weight on the bar, or even setting down and finding another set of dumbbells. It’s really awesome! For example, if you’re doing something like a HIIT routine, you can quickly change between exercises without your heart rate dropping.
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Review: Price and Value
The standard price for the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells is $399. That’s an excellent price point considering it’s 15 dumbbell sets in one. It’d be more expensive to buy each weight set as standard dumbbells, plus it’d take up a ton of space.
They do run deals on the 552s. You can check the official Bowflex Website to see their current sales. (You’ll also notice more than 6,000 positive reviews!)
At the time of writing this, you can get free shipping and a 1-year membership to the JRNY app. The app typically costs $149 for the year, so that’s a nice savings. JRNY is a fitness app that will lead you in workouts with your Bowflex dumbbells and other home workouts.
You might also want to think of this as an investment that's much more convenient and affordable than buying a monthly gym membership. The convenience of working out at home and the time you save is invaluable!
I’ll talk about quality more in the next section. I will say, these dumbbells are competitively priced. They are solidly built and allow you to get an excellent workout at home without the ongoing price of a gym membership.
Personally, I went cheap at first and bought the Flybird adjustable dumbbells. The value of the Bowflex dumbbells are much better! My suggestion is to buy once and buy right. I learned that the hard way.
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Review: Quality & Durability
The dumbbells are made with steel and plastic. They are great quality. I bought the Flybird adjustable dumbbells first, and those feel quite flimsy compared to the better quality of the Bowflex SelectTech 552 adjustable dumbbells.
There is a rubberized grip on the handle as well. This allows you to get a comfortable grip during your workout.
These are reliable dumbbells. The weights have never fallen off during one of my workouts. Believe it or not, the Flybird adjustable dumbbells occasionally fall off as I am removing them from the storage plate. That hasn’t happened with the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells. I feel much safer and confident using the Bowflex SelectTech 552s because they are great quality.
Adjustable dumbbells should not be dropped. Dropping the dumbbells could result in damage, even though these are well made.
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Review: Size
The dumbbells are significantly longer than your standard dumbbell. This is to allow for the different weighted plates. The size doesn’t bother me, but some people may find it awkward when doing certain exercises like the overhead press. It may take a little getting used to. They are over 16 inches in length. Here is a photo next to a smaller adjustable dumbbell for reference.
Conclusion: I Highly Recommend Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells
In conclusion, these adjustable dumbbells are an excellent addition to your home gym. One of the most incredible things about them is how they save a ton of space! 15 quality dumbbells in one is an awesome deal. They are easy to use and feel sturdy while working out. If you want the convenience of working out at home and a great price point, these adjustable dumbbells are a great purchase!
I hope my review of the Bowflex Dumbbells are helpful to you. It's not just me who loves them. These are highly rated adjustable dumbbells! You can read more than 6,000 positive reviews on their website.
Where to Buy the Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells
The best place to buy the Bowflex SelectTech 552 dumbbells is directly on the Bowflex website. They run deals on their website and have the latest on inventory. The adjustable dumbbells are in high demand, so if they are in stock, don’t sleep on buying them! I ordered when the dumbbells were in stock and they were shipped to my house within a week!
Frequently Ask Questions
- What is the size of the handle grips on the Bowflex SelectTech 552?
- The grips are 4.5 inches long and 1.5 inches wide
- Do they come as a pair?
- Yes, they come as a pair.
- Are the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells worth it?
- Yes! These are awesome for home works, a huge space saver, easy to use, and an excellent price!
- Does it come with a warranty?
- There is a two-year warranty.
- Do the weights fall off?
- I have never had the plates come off when they weren't supposed to.
- Do they require assembly?
- No, they arrive fully assembled. You do need to remove a safety strap with the provided hexagon wrench. Check out my youtube video unboxing the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells.
I hope this Bowflex SelectTech 552 adjustable dumbbells review answered all of your questions! This is my third time purchasing from Bowflex. If you are considering the Bowflex C6 Exercise Bike, I do an in-depth review. Check out: "I tested the Bowflex C6 and Peloton: Here's why the Bowflex Bike is Better. "
You might also check out my blog post about "How I lost 20 pounds and kept it off." Thanks for stopping by and good luck with your at-home workouts!
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