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Saturday, February 8, 2025

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Evaluation


A flexible choice for residence gyms, the Bowflex SelectTech 552 adjustable dumbbells can add some selection to your strength-training exercises. By merely turning a dial on the finish of the dumbbell, you’ll be able to change the burden to fit your train and health stage. With the selection of 15 totally different weight increments, the dumbbells are a budget-friendlier technique to broaden your private home health club with out the large price and house allotment for a rack of dumbbells.

Since I really like figuring out at residence and attempt to range my strength-training exercises, I used to be excited to check the Bowflex SelectTech 552 dumbbells. Over a interval of 9 months, I used them frequently, performing quite a lot of totally different higher and decrease physique strengthening workout routines with varied masses. Throughout my classes, I evaluated the dumbbells’ high quality, sturdiness, and grip, whereas additionally being attentive to components which can be distinctive to adjustable dumbbells, reminiscent of the convenience of adjustability.

Verywell Match editors and testers additionally spent 16 hours testing this and different adjustable dumbbells in our Lab. After testing 15 of the most well-liked adjustable dumbbells, this one got here out on high as our greatest total decide.

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells

PHOTO: Amazon
What We Like

  • Compact storage

  • Extensive weight vary

  • Adjusts rapidly with the flip of a dial

  • Safe, comfy grip with moist or dry arms

Backside Line

Compact and easy to make use of, the Bowflex SelectTech 552 adjustable dumbbells provide a large weight vary, superior grip, and ease of adjustability with the easy flip of a dial.

Verywell Match / Ashleigh Morley


Who It’s For

The Bowflex SelectTech 552 adjustable dumbbells are perfect for individuals who power practice at residence (good if you happen to use steadiness boards or different comparable tools) and wish simple and handy entry to dumbbells of varied weights. They’re particularly appropriate for many who have restricted house for train tools or don’t wish to buy a big rack of dumbbells. For the reason that weights modify from 5 to 52.5 kilos, the set works for newbie or skilled weightlifters, and can preserve your exercises difficult as you make progress over time.

That being mentioned, the set is costly, and can run you much more than buying a few pairs of dumbbells. So it’s well-suited for many who are dedicated to a house exercise routine and are assured they’ll use a variety of weights.

Setup and Use: Handy and hassle-free

The set comes absolutely assembled, so unboxing them was a cinch. As soon as I used the included Allen wrench to take away the protection strap that holds them in place, they have been able to go.

The dumbbells are a bit longer and barely bulkier than common dumbbells, even on the smaller weight increments, which is usually the case with adjustable dumbbells. Nevertheless, I nonetheless discovered them comparatively simple to maneuver. And, not like another adjustable dumbbells, they preserve the standard dumbbell form, even on the greater finish of the burden capability. Consequently, I may carry out conventional power coaching strikes, utilizing varied masses, with out considerably altering my type.

Verywell Match / Ashleigh Morley


Adjustability: Fast and easy

Every dumbbell will be adjusted to weight increments of 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 17.5, 20, 22.5, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 52.5 kilos. To vary the burden, you merely flip the dial on the finish of the dumbbell, which clicks the proper weight plates into place and leaves the unused ones within the storage tray once you decide up the dumbbell. When you hear the satisfying click on, you realize the plates for that weight are locked into place and also you’re good to go.

A cool function is that the weights modify in increments of two.5 kilos as much as 25 kilos, and 5 kilos from 25 to 50. What meaning is that newbies can regularly improve the burden quantity, reasonably than making an enormous bounce and risking accidents, or plateauing at a sure weight for a very long time.

When re-racking the dumbbells, it’s important to watch out to line them up correctly, however that was additionally fairly easy. The short adjustment course of makes the transition between workout routines very seamless. I like that I may rapidly and simply change the burden on the finish of a set so I didn’t waste time and vitality fumbling with tools. General, the 552s exceeded my expectations for ease of adjustability.

Grip: Comfy and safe

Once I first grasped the dumbbells, I used to be instantly impressed. The grips on the 552s are barely cushioned, which feels extra ergonomic and cozy than common metal dumbbells.

In lots of months of use, I’ve discovered the grip to all the time really feel safe, even when my arms are sweaty or clammy. I haven’t seen any slipping in any respect, whatever the train or load used.

Sturdiness: Deal with with care

The 552s have some plastic components, such because the connector items, which appear to be they may be weak to cracking if dropped. The stand can be made from plastic and, whereas I haven’t seen any put on and tear, I ponder the way it will maintain up over time.

We did assess the dumbbells’ sturdiness in The Verywell Testing Lab by performing some drop assessments. They weren’t broken when dropped on health club flooring, however they did get a bit scratched from a drop on concrete. Nevertheless, it didn’t have an effect on the dumbbell’s use or efficiency.   

On the whole, it appears that evidently these dumbbells weren’t made to be dropped or slammed, so if that’s your lifting model, you might have considered trying a extra sturdy choice.

Verywell Match / Ashleigh Morley


Portability and Storage: Compact and straightforward to retailer

One of many set’s most interesting advantages is its small footprint, which takes up considerably much less house than a rack of the 15 pairs of dumbbells that it replaces. If your private home health club dimension may be very restricted, or as an example your elliptical machine takes up many of the house, they’re a compact choice.

The plastic storage trays, though not essentially the most enticing choice, work effectively for storing the dumbbells when not in use. The trays additionally preserve the metallic plates from banging collectively, serving to to attenuate noise. With that mentioned, it will be good if the trays had rubber or silicone ft on the underside to guard the ground. Thus far I haven’t seen any marks on my hardwood flooring, however I ponder if the trays may scuff them over time.

How We Examined

I used the dumbbells for about 9 months in my residence health club, performing quite a lot of dumbbell-based strength-training workout routines with totally different resistance ranges. Earlier than I began my residence exercises, I unboxed the dumbbells and took notice of their look and portability, in addition to ease of setup.

I usually do three to 4 power coaching classes per week and have used the dumbbells for quite a few higher and decrease physique workout routines, together with lunges, deadlifts, squats, hip thrusts, chest press, chest flyes, tricep presses, tricep extensions, tricep kickbacks, rows, bicep curls, overhead press, Russian twists, and extra.

Throughout my classes, I evaluated the dumbbell’s ease of use whereas performing every train, paying attention to any modifications I needed to make. I additionally assessed how simply and rapidly I may change the burden increments in between workout routines. All through my exercises, I paid consideration to how every dumbbell felt in my arms and if the burden felt evenly distributed. In fact, my arms inevitably get sweaty throughout exercises, and I famous whether or not my grip felt safe after they have been moist.

In The Verywell Testing Lab, our testing staff additionally put the dumbbells by a drop take a look at to guage their sturdiness. We dropped the dumbbells from hip top as soon as on foam health club flooring and as soon as on concrete slabs to see how they might maintain up.

Verywell Match / Ashleigh Morley


Value: Reasonably priced and nice worth

Though the worth ($429) could appear excessive, the set is unquestionably cheaper than shopping for 15 pairs of dumbbells and it’s really priced very competitively for adjustable dumbbells. For individuals who have residence health club house constraints and wish to broaden their exercise choices, they’re a wonderful funding.

The Competitors

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells

PHOTO: Amazon

Whereas there are some cheaper adjustable dumbbells accessible, the 552s are a wonderful worth for his or her superior grip, ergonomics, and ease of use they usually stack up properly in opposition to the competitors.   

Core Dwelling Health Adjustable Dumbbells: These dumbbells have comparable specs to the 552s, boasting a weight vary of 5 to 50 kilos and straightforward, fast adjustability. Nevertheless, they require some meeting they usually modify in 5-pound weight increments, so they might not work for newbies.

Powerblock Elite Dumbbells: For superior weightlifters who desire a greater weight vary, this set, which maxes out at 70 kilos with the enlargement package, is a pleasant choice. They’re fast to regulate and have a snug grip, however the distinctive sq. design might take somewhat getting used to.

FLYBIRD Adjustable Dumbbell: When you’re trying to spend much less, this dumbbell is extra reasonably priced than the 552s and really comparable in performance and efficiency, though it does have a smaller weight vary of 5 to 25 kilos. A sensible choice for newbies, it comes assembled and is simple to regulate.  

Verywell Match / Ashleigh Morley


Ultimate Verdict

Sure, purchase the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells if you wish to spend money on a well-made set that’s an amazing worth and supplies a whole lot of health choices in a compact package deal.

When you like the flexibility and space-saving advantage of adjustable dumbbells, the 552s are a stable alternative. They’re simple to arrange, easy to make use of, and a very good worth to your cash, in comparison with what you’d spend on 15 pairs of dumbbells. And the short adjustment course of lets you simply transition from one train to the following. With a variety of weight choices, the dumbbells work for newbies in addition to skilled weightlifters, and can be utilized by a number of members of a family.

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