Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells Review – SelectTech 552
I’ve been searching for a quality set of best adjustable dumbbells for some time now—I like to work out at home, and don’t really have space for a full set of hex weights.
That’s why I’m giving this Bowflex adjustable dumbbell review—they’re not a bad pair of adjustable dumbbells, not at all, but those of you who know me, know that I like to try out things before I settle. Previously already I have reviewed brands, such as ironmaster, Powerblock, Bayou..etc. It’s time for some Bowflex.
They certainly have more than their fair share of positives, of course. First of all, I love how fine you can adjust these. They adjust on 2.5-pound increments at first, and all you have to do is twist a dial.
My previous pair of adjustable dumbbells used a clunky and awkward pin-removal system to adjust, it only went up in five-pound slots, and they were often unbalanced if I tried to go to, say, 15 or 25 pounds. These adjust to a much finer granularity, so I can use as much weight as I want without having to compromise. That’s really the most important thing when it comes to adjustable dumbbells—the whole adjusting thing. At that, I think this Bowflex model is the best I’ve used so far.
However, after using them for about a year, problems started to develop. Once or twice, a section of weights has actually fallen out. These use a plastic connector piece to attach the weights to the dumbbell itself, and that’s not the most sturdy thing ever created. Mine have chipped some, presumably when they were dropped.
More recent Bowflex models apparently use metal connector pieces, and that has reportedly solved the problems, but I’m always a little hesitant when doing any sort of overhead lifting at this point. I’d hate for one of those weights to slip off and hit me in the head! Ouch!
As long as you’re careful—or if you get the metal-connected version—then these are actually fairly good. Like I said, they’re easy to adjust, so they can replace an entire set of hex weights, which is important if you have limited space or just don’t want your workout equipment to constantly take over a significant section of your floor.
They’re a good price, too, and, frankly, they look neat. That really shouldn’t count for much, but if they’re going to be sitting on my floor every day, that’s important.
CHECK Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells PRICE – HERE on Amazon.com
The plastic connectors, however, are something of a dealbreaker. You can replace a dumbbell, but you can’t replace your skull!
If you’re going to get the Bowflex SelectTech 552, just make sure you’re getting one of the more recently made models with the metal connecting pieces. If it wasn’t for the plastic bits, I’d say this was the best adjustable dumbbell on the market, but that’s a major strike against it.
Pros:
- Convenient; with just one dumbbell, you can do a whole range of exercises
- High-adjustability; with 2.5-pound increments, you can get close to getting exactly the weight you want, no matter the exercise.
- Easy to change the weights; the dial makes switching things very fast, compared to some other more complex systems.
- Allows for a full range of exercises with just one piece of equipment.
Cons:
- Cheap plastic connectors! It makes it more likely that the weights will break and stop working or, in the worst-case scenario, actively hurt you.
- The weights sometimes get stuck when trying to adjust; that might be a side-effect of the broken connectors, but it can be frustrating at times.
- A little pricey; there are cheaper options out there
By the way, you might be interested in this review of Bowflex SelectTech 552.
About the Author Dumbbellsgeek
Hey! My name is Paul Sheldon. I live in Nashville, TN and I love all things related to sports. Naturally I love workking out and I do it every day. If you want to talk feel freee to hit me a message or if you happen to be in Nashville we can get a coffee, I know a great place. Peace!