Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells – The Facts
Manufacturer: Bowflex
List Price: $549.00
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Availability: Click here for availability
When I used to work out at the gym near my house one essential part of my workout routine was using the free weights that were placed on the racks. These weights range from 5 pounds all the way up to 100 although I never really touched anything beyond 50 pounds. I used these dumbbells to get a great workout but there was just one small problem.
You see, when you go to a local gym not everyone is courteous enough to put back their weights so it was often the case where I could not find the weight I was looking for. As you can imagine this was quite frustrating for obvious reasons. So I set out to look for the best adjustable dumbbells and one that repeatedly stood out is the Bowflex SelectTech 552 dumbbells.
I was already quite familiar with this brand as I have heard nothing but good things about it but I still wanted to make sure that I was buying a quality product. This led me to do extensive research on these dumbbells to see if they live up to being the best dumbbells.
Replace your entire dumbbell set
The most innovative feature of the Bowflex SelectTech 552 dumbbells is that it makes use of a dial mechanism which allows you to change the weight. So if you like to start your routine with light exercises then you start off with 5 pounds. Then you simply turn the dial to increase the weight by 2.5 increments all the way up to 52.5 pounds of weight.
This is tremendously beneficial as it means that now you can rely on a pair of dumbbells to give you exactly what you want. The best part too is that you do not have to deal with the hassle of changing between dumbbells on a weight rack. What this means is that your exercises will be much more efficient as you easily change between weight settings in an instant.
Space efficient design
The problem with having individual dumbbells that range from 5 to 50 pounds is that these can take up a lot of space. As you can imagine this is the perfect solution if you do not have much space at home for strength training equipment. Even if space is not much of a concern you would still then have to pick up the dumbbells, walk over the weight rack, put it back in its place and choose a new one.
This is very tedious and the process is completely eliminated by using the Bowflex SelectTech 552. Now you can be more efficient with your workout space or even take advantage of the extra room to invest in additional home gym systems. Compared to similar products this one simply beats them all with its unique and effective design that makes it very easy to use.
Wider weight range for flexibility
Changing the weights is very simple to do so that you can efficiently do your exercises. With a wide range of weights available you can change the intensity of your workout to exactly how you want it. The design itself of the weights also ensures a quiet workout without metal plates banging against each other as these are wrapped in durable molding.
Huge variety of exercises you can perform
You might be thinking that dumbbells may be limiting as to what you can actually do but you would be surprised. For your reference, here are a list of the different types of exercises that you can carry out with the Bowflex SelectTech 552 right in your home:
Arm exercises:
- Standing curls
- Concentration curls
- Incline bench curls
- Scott curls
- Overhead triceps extension
- Triceps kickback
- Lying triceps extension
- Hammer curls
Leg exercises:
- Wide squats
- Calf raises
- Stationary lunges
- Stiff leg dead lift
- Reverse lunge
- Side lunge
Abdominal exercises:
- Ab crunch
- Reverse crunch
- Lying trunk rotation
- Twisting side crunch
- Lying leg raise
Chest exercises:
- Flat chest press
- Incline chest press
- Flat fly
- Incline fly
- Decline chest press
Shoulder exercises:
- Standing shoulder press
- Lateral raise
- Seated overhead press
- Front raise
- Rear delt row
- Shrugs
Back exercises:
- Alternating rows
- Wide row
- Dead lift
As you can see you can do a wide range of different types of exercises with the Bowflex SelectTech 552 dumbbells whether you want to shape your arms, build sick pack abs or work on your shoulder and back muscles. For maximum effectiveness, I suggest that you also purchase a workout bench so that you can have an even more thorough workout.
Workout DVD included
The above exercises may be a little confusing at first glance which is why the Bowflex SelectTech 552 comes with a workout DVD that covers most of these exercises along with their variations. This bonus essentially helps to get you jumpstarted in your routine in case you might feel overwhelmed. Of course, consistency is extremely important if you want to start seeing results from your hard work.
Any negative reviews of the Bowflex SelectTech 552?
To start with, these dumbbells have received four out of five stars on the Amazon website and four and a half stars on the main Bowflex site so this certainly shows that a majority of the owners are satisfied with their purchase.
One complaint that several users had were the overall length of these dumbbells as they are about 16 inches long as they could potentially interfere with your workouts. One example is that a user had a hard time doing some of the P90X exercises. However, there were also other users who have said that it works perfectly with P90X so it may just be a matter of personal preference.
Another concern was that the disks lock in via metal tabs which could rattle a little but be rest assured that they are locked in properly. In addition, it may also be a good idea to invest in some home gym flooring so that you do not damage your floors. Other then these complaints, the Bowflex SelectTech 552 has been extremely well received.
Real customer reviews
Just so you have a better idea of what others have said about these dumbbells, here are some short snippets of real user comments:
The good bits
- No need for multiple dumbbell sets
- Unique dial system for quick transitions
- Increments of 2.5 pounds for up to 52.5 pounds
- Great build quality
- Very easy to use
- Comfortable grip
- Wide range of exercises
The not-so-good bits
- May be a bit pricey for some
- The length is quite long at 16 inches
- Metal tab tends to wobble
- Bowflex stand has to be purchased separately
Technical information
- Weight range from 5 to 52.5 pounds for each dumbbell
- Number of weight settings: 15
- Weight settings in pounds: 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 17.5, 20, 22.5, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 52.5
- Dimensions of each: 15.75 inches long by 8 inches wide by 9 inches tall
Warranty information
- Six week fitness guarantee – If you are not satisfied then Bowflex will issue a full refund for up to six weeks
- Two year warranty on all parts
- Five year warranty on weight plates
Should you buy the Bowflex SelectTech 552?
Imagine for a second what this kind of versatility offered by the Bowflex 552 can do for you and you really start to see why this is simply a must buy. This is perfect as an addition to your home fitness gym whether you are looking for a way to stay in shape or simply want to build muscle mass. The 552 is designed to be extremely easy to use while also offering functionality.
With a quality gym workout right in the convenience of your home, there really is no need to pay for monthly memberships to get the results you want. The Bowflex SelectTech 552 is really an ideal solution for those looking to get tight abs, firm legs, a strong chest and sculpted arms. This is truly a versatile set of dumbbells that I would strongly recommend.
How to get the best price
You can actually buy the Bowflex SelectTech 552 directly from the manufacturer website but I have found that the best way to get the lowest price is by shopping online. This product is available through Amazon at a much lower price that you would expect directly from the manufacturer. Keep in mind that you are still getting a quality product but for much lower.
If you are still on the fence about getting the best adjustable dumbbells then just think for a second as to how much a full rack of weights would cost you. The Bowflex SelectTech 552 is truly a perfect solution for completely eliminating this inefficiency while allowing you to get the exercise you need.
But you definitely have to try these dumbbells so you can see for yourself why others give such rave reviews about them. The price you pay for them includes a pair for an even more comprehensive workout
