Are you looking for a way to make your home gym better? If you have lots of space, you can buy dumbbells with fixed weights like the ones at the local gym. That would mean having a rack for storing all your equipment.
For those with minimum space, having an adjustable dumbbell is the best solution to equipping your home gym.
The BowflexSelecttech 552 is a good option for those looking for a relatively affordable adjustable dumbbell. The thing with this adjustable dumbbell is that it makes it possible for you to create up to 15 different dumbbells with one piece of equipment.
In this review, we cover everything about these adjustable dumbbells, their features, pros, and cons.
Bowflex Selecttech 552 Weight Combinations
The beauty of the Bowflex Selecttech 552 is its ability to adjust up to 15 times from 5 to 52.5 pounds. That means that you have fifteen different weight combinations with just one dumbbell set.
Since it has 5-pound weight increments, you can have 5lbs, 7.5lbs, 10lbs, 12.5lbs, 15lbs, 17.5lbs, 20lbs, 22.5lbs, 25lbs, 30lbs, 35lbs, 40lbs, 45lbs, 50lbs, and 52.5lbs.
It is like having an entire fixed weight rack without actually buying one. With that, you will eliminate the clutter that usually happens when you have too many weights lying around.
Weight Adjustment Mechanism
One of the best things about the Bowflex Selecttech 552 is the ease with which you can change from one weight to another. That makes it easier to increase the resistance as you advance in your workouts.
Besides, enables you to mix up exercises for a full-body workout on the cheap. In only a few seconds, the weights will be in place and ready for use.
You can use the dumbbells for workouts involving the leg, abs, shoulders, biceps, chest, and back muscles. Below is an overview of the exercises, which you can do with just one set of these adjustable dumbbells:
- Weighted crunches
- Flat bench presses
- Concentration curls
- Bicep curls
- Dumbbell rows
- Incline dumbbell flies
- Push presses
- Overhead tricep extensions
- Alternated shoulder presses
- Lunges
- Dumbbell squats
- Stiff-legged deadlift
- One-legged toe raise
- Elevated single-led squat
- Dumbbell swing through
BowflexSelecttech 552 Benefits
Apart from the general benefits of adjustable dumbbells, the Bowflex Selecttech 552 stands out in other ways. The following are some of the things you would like about this particular dumbbell set:
Easy Weight Plate Adjustment
You cannot compare these adjustable dumbbells to the usual fixed-weight dumbbells and barbells that take long to screw and unscrew. Changing weights for these dumbbells is as easy as twisting the handle.
In only a few seconds, you will have transitioned from one form of exercise to another. Besides, they provide a firm grip so that you do not let go during those intense workouts.
Convenient Storage
With the Bowflex Selecttech 552, you can declutter your space by eliminating the need for many fixed-weight dumbbells. You can keep it securely behind the sofa, under your bed, or in a corner.
During exercise, you only need to adjust the weights to get what you want. Thanks to its compact size, you can use these dumbbells virtually anywhere within your home.
For Intensive and Less-Intensive Exercises
The adjustable dumbbells are great for both intensive and less intensive workouts. Their adaptable nature makes them useful for both amateur and advanced users.
Besides, they allow you to reduce or increase weight depending on how you feel in your body. Therefore, you can reduce the weight and still do the same workout albeit on a smaller scale.
If you are just starting, the dumbbells are great for helping you attain workout milestones bit by bit.
You won’t have to worry about when to upgrade the weight, thanks to the intuitive weights program.
Having started at a lower weight, you can move on to the next level as you gain strength.
Besides, there is no limit to the number and type of exercises you can do using adjustable dumbbells. So long as you can move with the dumbbells in your hands, you can do it.
Besides, it comes with the BowflexSportsTech App that suggests workouts for arms, abs, legs, back, and chest exercises. It isn’t surprising that such a compact dumbbell can give you full-body workouts.
Great Build Quality
The BowflexSelecttech 552 features plastic-coated steel weight plates that can last for a long time without rusting.
It also has an aluminum handle with a solid rubber coating for a firm grip during those rigorous workouts. There is no way the dumbbells will slip through your hands or break up just because you banged them hard.
As you pump your muscles using these dumbbells, they remain silent. That makes them suitable for use in your home gym since they won’t cause disturbance to your family members.
As a testament to the work that went into building these dumbbells, the manufacturers are offering a two-year warranty.
They Provide Quiet Operations
If you have got used to hearing clanging noise from your adjustable dumbbells, you can say goodbye to that with the BowflexSelecttech 552. It has weight plates that securely stay in place, making minimum or no movements during your workouts.
Despite allowing a wide range of motion, the plates don’t knock against each other, eliminating the annoying noise.
However, that’s mainly because of the plastic-coated weight plates that hardly produce noise when knocked against each other.
The Grip Is Great
As we have already seen, the dumbbells have an aluminum handle with a thick rubber coating.
Once you get hold of them, the dumbbells won’t slip out of your hands until you have finished your workout.
Besides, you can use them to do various types of exercises without feeling pain in your hands. Even better, increasing the weight does not affect how comfortable the dumbbells feel in your hands.
Areas the Manufacturers Can Improve
Even though the BowflexSelecttech 552 is a great set of adjustable dumbbells, not everything about them is alright.
In a way, they are a great replacement for traditional fixed-weight dumbbells but not everything about them is okay. The following are the things that aren’t so great about these specific dumbbells:
They Are Larger Than Fixed-Weight Dumbbells
Compared to fixed-weight dumbbells, the BowflexSelecttech 552 appears a little bit larger than usual. The inclusion of the mechanism frame tends to make the dumbbells larger than usual.
It can, therefore, be a problem for seasoned users of fixed-weight dumbbells to get used to this set. Essentially, you have to do some practice to be able to move the dumbbells around your body.
While men may get started with these dumbbells in a flash, ladies have some work cut out for them.
Costlier Than Others
The nearly 300-dollar price tag makes the BowflexSelecttech 552 one of the costlier adjustable dumbbells on the market.
Perhaps you might be happy that getting just one of these dumbbells replaces a whole set of fixed-weight dumbbells.
And, once you have bought a pair of BowflexSelecttech 552 Adjustable dumbbells, you can be sure of having them with you for a long time. However, there is more affordable equipment on the market.
They Have Too Much Plastic
Some of the BowflexSelecttech 552 parts, including the dial system, are plastic.
While some past users have replaced these parts with new ones after only a year, the dumbbells are generally durable. But that depends on how you handle the whole set of equipment.
Who Should Buy The BowflexSelecttech552 Dumbbells?
Everyone. The BowflexSelecttech 552 is a versatile dumbbell set meant for both beginners and advanced users. If you fall in any of the following categories, then chances are high that you need it:
Relatively New Users
With this Dumbbell set, we are talking about a 52.5-pound weight limit. That may work well for beginners and moderate lifters.
If you are a beginner, it can get you off to a good start, helping you gain muscle strength bit by bit.
Also, advanced users who want to do dumbbell-assisted aerobic exercises can use this set of equipment.
Those with Limited Space
Have you run short of space for establishing a home gym? If yes, then you need a set of adjustable dumbbells since they occupy little or no space.
You won’t require a large room to store a rack of fixed-weight dumbbells. Instead, just one adjustable dumbbell is great for keeping under a sofa, chair, or bed.
It comes with a tray for each dumbbell in the pair, making storage extremely easy.
Men and Women
The BowflexSelecttech 552 isn’t a gender-specific dumbbell and is great for both men and women looking to build their body strength.
Therefore, just one pair of dumbbells is sharable among your family members, helping everyone in your household maintain a good shape.
BowflexSelecttech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells Review- Bottom Line
If you are looking for an easy and convenient way to exercise at home, the Bowflex Selecttech 552 is a perfect choice. It is easy to use and with a comfortable grip.
Besides, the range of exercises it allows is wide enough, helping you get a full-body workout without any stress. You should consider making it part of your home gym.