Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells - Adjustable Dumbbells Can Transform Your Workouts

I soon came to realize that there are a few important things to keep in mind when buying a set of adjustable dumbbells. These include:

* The ease of adjust-ability
* The range of weight for each dumbbell
* The safety of the dumbbell set
* How space efficient the set is

If you simply choose a set of dumbbells based on price alone, you are probably going to be less than satisfied - particularly if you use the set on a regular basis. So hang with me and I'll examine how the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbell set measures up in each of these areas.

One of the most important things to consider with any set of adjustable dumbbells is just how easy are they to adjust. can you move quickly from exercise to exercise and change to amount of weight without a hitch? Can you select just the right amount of weight resistance for each particular exercise?

Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbells were designed to be easy to adjust. By simply turning a dial on the end of each dumbbell, you will be able to quickly and easily 'dial-in' just the amount of resistance you need for any dumbbell exercise.

Since you'll never have to waist time adding or subtracting weight plates and securing the dumbbell collars, you can get through your workouts in less time - and with much less aggravation.

With the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells you can choose to lift from as little as 5 lbs. to as much as 52.5 lbs. with each dumbbell. The weights go from 5 to 25 pounds in 2 and 1/2 pound increments. Then they go up to 50 lbs. in five pound increments.

So you can choose from 15 different weight settings. Here's a list of the weight settings in pounds:
5,7.5,10,12.5,15,17.5,20,22.5,25,30,35,40,45,50,52.5

This range of weights is ideal for many people who are interested in building strength and lean muscle. I like the fact that the lower weights are graduated in 2.5 lb. increments. These lower weights are good for work on areas like the deltoids and forearms.

Safety is an important consideration when you are working out with any weights. In order to keep your workouts safe from injury it is important to warm up and stretch before you exercise as well as observe some basic safety practices. (The video in the next module offers you some safety pointers.)

There is a safety concern with these dumbbells. The 2009 model of the Bowflex SelectTech 552 dumbbells 9 which is the latest version) uses metal tabs on the weight plates. These tabs lock the plates in place and prevent the weights from moving.

However, the earlier 2008 version had plastic parts securing the weight plates. Some users reported that these parts would break if you 'dropped' the dumbbells back into their stands. One user reported a 5 lb. weight falling off.

There is a solution. Make sure you get the 2009 version where this has been corrected. You can order the latest model through Amazon or directly from Bowflex .

You won't need much space at all for your dumbbell sets. While the 15 sets of dumbbells that this one unit replaces would take up a wall or more in your exercise space, the SelectTech 552s only take up a 16inch by 8 inch area each.

And they store in a handy stand so you can always keep your weights organized and never have to worry about stubbing your toes on a misplaced weight plate. That smarts...trust me.

The Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells are available at the Bowflex website for just under $400 but you shouldn't have to pay nearly that much. They are offered at Amazon for quite a bit less.

They are in stock ( as of this posting) and Amazon currently offers free shipping. Be sure to check out Amazon for the latest details but from what I can tell, they offer you the best deal. Buy from Amazon

These dumbbells received high ratings from the men and women that submitted reviews both at the Bowflex home site and the Amazon customer review page . Overall, the Bowflex SelectTech 552s garnered a 4 out of 5 star rating.

Here is a sampling of some of the comments to date...

* "...These weights are better than the competitors because they don't lock your wrists inside a box...." Jeremy W.

* "I purchase my 552 SelectTech 552 Dumbbells set with the stand, bench and mat about two years ago and i have no regrets. I'm 61 years young and these things are great. You get results in a few weeks. I'm very satisfied. Thank you Bowflex. " Jhamal R.

* "...I decided to spend the few extra dollars on these 2009 model Select Techs (assuming any prior issues they may have had were corrected) and boy am I glad I did, they are AWESOME! The dials, in my opinion, are ten times easier than the magnetic pins of PowerBlocks, and these Bowflex dumbells look ten times more fashionable (our gym equipment is on our loft, so yes my wife and I have a style standard)...." Steve

* "...used the 552 dumbells with my P90X workout and I have to say they made life a heck of a lot easier. It couldn't be easier to select the appropriate weight with these things, and with limited time between excersizes, these were golden...." Ronald

Are there any complaints?

Out of the nearly 200 customer reviews submitted to Bowflex and Amazon we found very few negative comments. The main concern we uncovered was with the earlier weight plate fasteners in an earlier model. This has since been fixed on the current model. You can read more customer reviews here.

Bowflex SelectTech 552 / 1090 Dumbbell Stand


With this innovative design, the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbell Stand keeps your weights where you need them.

Now you can concentrate on building up your arms and upper body without worrying about putting stress and strain on you back by constantly bending over to retrieve your dumbbells.

And the Bowflex Dumbbell Stand is a great place to store your weights when they are not in use!