Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells (Pair)

Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2023

Pattern Name: Bowflex ST 552 Dumbbell (pair)Verified Purchase

Pros
The product is easy to use and understand. The weights are well balanced. The grip is comfortable. The adjustable knob is extremely smooth and feels well designed. I really like ability to adjust the sides to different weights, it allows for more exercise variations than possible with traditional dumbbells. The wide range of weights available allow me to use this product for all types of muscle building. The total volume of this product is small, making it ideal for storing in small areas. I've had noticable gains within the first month of this product!

Cons
The only thing I don't like about the product is that they are always big, even when they are light. The 5 lbs setting is just as long of a dumbbell as the the 52.5 lbs setting. So, while a large dumbbell being 52.5 lbs isn't really a problem, sometimes it is problematic to have a 5 lbs dumbbell taking up so much space. It could limit your ability to maneuver the dumbbells during certain exercises.

Price
I would say it was priced exactly what it is worth. Although, considering the costs of going to the gym, or the cost of buying individual dumbbells for each weight, the cost of this product is actually pretty low.

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D&CP301

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells... are great!

Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2021

Pattern Name: Bowflex ST 552 Dumbbell (pair)Verified Purchase

Man, I was excited to try out these Bowflex SelectTech 552 dumbbells! So let’s get down to it...

-These dumbbells were packaged well. They are encased in very thick styrofoam blocks which is inside of a very thick cardboard box. The dumbbells themselves have a plastic bag around them and they are fastened to the dumbbell base with a strap. Overall, very pleased with how they are shipped. Nothing was broken so A+ to Bowflex, Amazon, and UPS.

-Easy to operate right out of the box. It’s all fairly self explanatory. There are two knobs, one on each end of the dumbbell. You turn the knobs to the desired weight setting and lift straight up on the dumbbell. That’s it. You don’t need to try to figure out any weight plate combinations in your head. You just turn the knobs on each end to the desired weight. As an added bonus you can do an “offset” dumbbell. You simply set one knob for a specific weight (20lbs for example) and set the opposite knob for a different weight (7.5lbs for example). Using the dumbbells in “offset” mode can be beneficial in certain exercises. Bowflex goes into greater detail about “offset” in the owners manual. This is not something you can do with traditional dumbbells.

-Operation is smooth. The knobs turn very easily and give a distinct/solid “click” when the knob is in the correct position. Lifting the dumbbells out of the base and putting them back in is easy.

-The handles are great! They have a grippy section that makes them feel very secure in your hands. And there is plenty of room to grab the handle. It doesn’t feel cramped (I mention this because some of the pictures I’ve seen make it look like there’s not a lot of room)

-The plates are the only area where I have a couple of very, very small complaints. First, they do shift slightly as you are using them during exercises. I’ve never felt like they were going to disengage from the handle but there is a slight movement of the weight plates during curls/presses/etc. I’m used to using solid, old school dumbbells so the movement of the plates is just something I will need to get used to. The second small complaint is the overall width of the dumbbells. In order to accommodate all of the weight plates the dumbbells have to be wide. I understand that. And I HAVE NOT whacked myself in the head while using these BUT it feels like they get very close to my head on certain exercises (shoulder press, shoulder flies) and on other exercises (upright rows for example) they almost... almost... get in the way of themselves. Again, this is just a small complaint and wouldn’t stop me from recommending them.

-The weight range is phenomenal. I mean, come on. To be able to have the equivalent of 30 dumbbells ranging from 5-52.5 lbs and be able to tuck them neatly away in the corner somewhere?? Yeah. That’s a HUGE advantage of these dumbbells, which leads me to...

-A GREAT VALUE! You are getting the equivalent of 30 dumbbells with this set. $350 divided by 30 dumbbells equals $11.67 per dumbbell. With dumbbell prices currently hovering somewhere near $2 per pound you would have to spend over $1500. Even if prices go back down to $1 per pound these are still an amazing bargain.

-Extra stuff... they come with a 2 year warranty (make sure you keep your proof of purchase), a really nice, well written owners manual that explains the previously mentioned “offsetting” and gives you instructions on several exercises to try. They come with a nice, solid base that has hand holds at each end so they are very easy to move. They’re made by Bowflex so you know you’re going to get a quality product AND quality support should you ever need it.

-Overall I’m very happy with these dumbbells. Would highly recommend. Thanks for reading this review! I hope you found it helpful!

**Edit - I had a dumbbell “freeze” during my second workout. It wouldn’t release from the base. Panicked a bit until I looked it up on YouTube and found out how to fix it. This has only happened once and I’ve removed/replaced them from the base multiple times during the two workouts in which I’ve used them. At this point I’m still very pleased with them and my rating won’t change unless this freezing issue keeps recurring. Also, I added a photo of the dumbbell on a scale to show the accuracy of the weight.

Edit (9-8-2021): These continue to be my go to dumbbells after several months of use. It’s just very convenient to twist a knob and have a weight range from 5-52.5 lbs. They are still a little tricky to remove from the base occasionally but it’s something I’ve gotten used to. No major problems at all. I’ve been using them 5 days a week for several months now and would still recommend them to anyone looking for a solid set of adjustable dumbbells.

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R. L. Sun

Great Design

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2024

Pattern Name: Bowflex ST 552 Dumbbell (pair)Verified Purchase

These weights are great for a home gym. They adjust easily with the turn of a dial (actually 2), and the small weight adjustments are very useful for gradual improvements in strength. The mechanism has a nice click that seems well made...metal gears, not plastic; the weights are well balanced; and the grips are comfortable. The ease and the speed of weight adjustments, eliminates the need for any other weights. I wish I had bought these years ago instead of being cheap and buying an inexpensive set of plates. So... I advise spending the money upfront for these weights.

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Samuel Gemoets

Great, ergonomical

Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2024

Pattern Name: Bowflex ST 552 Dumbbell (pair)Verified Purchase

These weights are great for an at home gym. They are durable and ergonomic and steady. there is no assembly required just use them straight out of the box. The only bad thing is they come in a set of 2 and when they ship it, it comes in 1 box so the box is 105 pounds plus the box and foam. The boxes are super heavy if you aren't careful you can hurt yourself just getting it inside your house. I use them every day. Highly recommend. Great product for the price.

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StrykEagle

Space saving and easy to use

Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2024

Pattern Name: Bowflex ST 552 Dumbbell (pair)Verified Purchase

Simply put, I love these dumbbells. Easy to adjust, easy to read dials, and replaces 15 sets of dumbbells. The grips are good, but I would prefer knurled over a rubber cover. Yes, I know that there are replacement handles for them and I might just order some in the future. But for now, I am satisfied with how the handles feel.

Now I know these cannot be dropped like ordinary dumbbells, but I am at an age where heavy is no longer my main theme, but rather controlled conditioning for maintenance and improved overall strength. Alongside my 1090s, they replace 27 pairs of dumbbells, saving a ton of space in my home gym. I am sure they will last a long time with proper care and handling.

At first glance they might seem pricey, but once I priced out 27 pairs of dumbbells, I say money well spent.

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Jacopo

Excellent solution for P90X or those that don't want a house full of weights

Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2010

Pattern Name: Bowflex ST 552 Dumbbell (pair)Verified Purchase

After a lot of consideration, I ended up purchasing these weights to use with P90X Extreme Home Fitness Workout Program - 13 DVDs, Nutrition Guide, Exercise Planner . The program calls for a lot of different weights, and I was tired of leaving 8 different dumbbells lying around on the floor of my den. After using these for roughly three months, I am very pleased with them, and with a few exceptions, they work great for P90X.

CONSTRUCTION/DESIGN- As of 2/16/10, the model being sold on Amazon is the 2009 model, which came out in September 2008 and is the most current model available. There is no 2010 model, despite what many third party sellers claim (I have confirmed this with Nautilus). I have uploaded pictures of the version Amazon is selling, which comes with a black base plate. Amazon has lumped the reviews from the 2008 model in with this 2009 model, so read the reviews carefully. The 2009 model eliminates many of the complaints of the 2008, most specifically, it uses metal tabs on the weight plates to lock them in place. Construction is solid and it is very unlikely these will break. Although unlike traditional dumbbells, you can't drop these on the ground after a set. They are fairly sturdy, but I would be very nervous about dropping these from any height over about 5". The handle is ergonomic to fit the palm of your hand and the grip feels good and natural during lifting. The handle is thicker than a dumbbell and I prefer it to the thinner dumbbell handles.

The weights have a dial on the end of them that you turn to select the desired weight. If you select 10lbs, it will then lock in the two weight plates to make 10 lbs, and release everything else; so when you pick up the weights, you get 10 lbs and all the other weights are left in the base plate. When done, you put the weights back in the base plate. This works very well, with the exception of it "catching" occasionally if the weight plates shift a little bit. This happens maybe 1/100 times or so though and isn't a big problem. You just jiggle the weights a bit until it locks. The nice thing about this design, is that the two ends of the dumbbell don't have to be the same weight. You can set the dial to 10lbs on one end and 30 lbs on the other. This will effectively put 5lbs on one end of the bar and 15lbs on the other. I don't do this often, but it can lead to more variation in exercises, and I occasionally do it for tricep workouts or hammer curls. When lifting, the weights feel very sturdy. The plates are firmly locked onto the handle. There is no shaking or movement of the plates at all, and they don't feel much different than dumbbells.

PRICE - I definitely do not think these are worth the suggested retail price, but then again, I have never seen them sold for anything close to that. While they may seem expensive, if you calculate the cost of a large range of dumbbells (which typically sell for $1 per pound), these are a very favorable comparison. Just two 35lb dumbbells are going to cost you at least $50 (closer to $70 if new).

USE WITH P90X - I originally did P90X with dumbbells. I had three different dumbbells, which just isn't enough for the variety of exercises used in that program. If money and space is no object, I would recommend a full dumbbell set over these, as dumbbells are better for the exercises. But for most people that just isn't practical. I hate pulling out and storing even three sets of dumbbells every other day to workout. The SelectTechs look so good that I just leave them in my den year round.

The main advantages the SelectTechs have with P90X is the ability to select smaller weight increment, and being able to make weight changes quickly. Before these I owned a set of 10s, 15s, and 25s, which isn't enough variety. Going up from 15 to 25 on bicep curls is a very big jump for me was too light, 25 was too heavy, and my form was terrible because I was struggling with the weight. With the SelectTechs, I could go to 17.5, then 20, then 22.5, then finally to 25. being able to go from 10lbs to 12.5 on tricep exercises, rather than 10lbs to 15 helps significantly. The other advantage is to quickly change weight increments. With P90X, you have about 15-30 seconds to set up for the next exercise. 5-10 seconds is all the time I needed to change the four dials on the SelectTechs and get a new weight.

CONS - The real problem with these weights is the length. I had no real problem with the width, which is very manageable, but the dumbbells are 16" long. This can cause a problem with some of the P90X exercises. There are maybe 7-8 exercises during the entire program that are awkward to do because of the length of the dumbbells. There are about 2-3 exercises that are very awkward to do (to the point that I actually switch to my dumbbells for these). Congdon Curls and Flip Grip Twist Kickback (tricep exercise) are two that I can think of off-hand that are difficult to do. You can ultimately make it work, but it's going to feel a little funny as you try to hold the weights out far enough to clear each other or your chest. This isn't enough of an issue that it would discourage me from buying them again.

I originally debated between getting these and the Bowflex SelectTech 1090 Single Dumbbell , since I was worried 52.5 pounds wouldn't be enough. Even though there are a few exercises where you could eventually need more than 52.5 pounds (heavy pants and lawnmowers come to mind), I really think this is enough weight for 90% of the people who will be doing P90X. And as Tony says, if you don't have heavy enough weight, you can always add reps. I would not buy the 1090s (which go up to 90 lbs) for P90X because I think the length of those, which is even bigger than the 552s), would just be too unwieldy for many of the exercises.

The SelectTechs did come with a short DVD that shows you some workouts specifically designed for these dumbbells and how to use them. I did find this beneficial since it gave me some tips that I didn't know about lifting. Optionally, I bought the Bowflex SelectTech 552 / 1090 Dumbbell Stand to use with these. It looks great, but I'm not sure I would buy it again. If you don't care about looks, the box the SelectTechs are shipped in makes a great stand on it's own and is very sturdy.

UPDATE June 2012 - I've put these weights through an estimated 200+ hours of heavy use since I've had them and they still look brand new and work just the same as when I got them. There are times when I want heavier weights and would have liked some dumbbells that go up to 90 lbs, but I don't want to sacrifice the smaller profile of these for the larger model. Still very satisfied.

UPDATE November 2013 - I'm still using the SelectTechs almost daily. They are in almost identical condition to when I received them with no signs of wear or problems. I have not found a better solution for adjustable dumbbells yet and will continue to use them (although I do wish they were slightly smaller).

UPDATE November 2016 - Still using the SelectTechs, albeit about bi-weekly since I have switched my fitness regimen. I would say they have close to 1000 hours of use and are still in almost brand new condition, and still working great. I have recently switched to the Selecttech 560s though and will be finally retiring the 552s.

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Prasad

Fair Deal for Adjustable Dumbbells

Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2023

Pattern Name: Bowflex ST 552 Dumbbell (pair)Verified Purchase

Four stars! My dad purchased the Bowflex SelectTech Adjustable Dumbells as a Christmas for me in 2022. The dumbbells are a pretty good set of weights that I recommend for their convenience and design, but slightly don’t because of the cost of the dumbbells.
To begin, the Bowflex is very convenient. The product is very easy to use. The dial on the side of the dumbbell makes adjusting your lateral raise weight to your bicep curl weight very quick and effortless. Also, a lot of adjustable dumbbells have dials that get stuck and jammed very easily, but this is not the case with the Bowflex. The Bowflex hasn’t gotten stuck ever since I got it, and I use it almost every day. Also, if you wanted to work out while traveling, that is very easy to do too. The Bowflex includes a belt for each dumbbell that secures all the weights to the platform so that the weight plates don’t go flying around in your suitcase. The set up process of the Bowflex is also very convenient, it only takes minutes to set up. All you have to do is unload the product in whichever room you want it in, and it’s ready to go. Also, while unloading the weights, you’ll find a manual. This manual will have a bunch of workouts that you can use during your workout.
Second, the design of the Bowlex is clean and sleek. The all-black with red accents fit the look of any setting. It isn’t like those neon dumbbells, which look unaesthetic in natural light. These look natural in a room and don’t give off an unfitting vibe. The black and red color combination fits the vibe of virtually any area. I am also impressed with the design of the grips on the dumbbells. The black, ergonomic grips make your hands feel soft, even after holding heavy weights for a long time. Many dumbbells don’t have proper grips, which causes scaly and rough hands. However, this type of dumbbell has perfect grips for avoiding these types of rough hands.
However, I feel the price of the Bowflex is a bit much. Four-hundred and thirty dollars for a pair of dumbbells is a lot. The dumbbells are good, but not worth two-hundred-fifteen a piece. There are other dumbbells on the market, even on Amazon that go up to the fifty-pound weight range that you can get for a lot cheaper. I’ve been using this pair of dumbbells for a while now, and even though the quality feels great, it feels more like a three-hundred-fifty dollar kind of purchase, not one that exceeds that by more than fifty dollars.
Finally, the purchase of the Bowflex made me work out more, if that’s what you’re looking for. I recommend this product, but only if you’re willing to spend a bit of money.

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Denis Keohane

Fantastic adjustable weight set

Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2024

Pattern Name: Bowflex ST 552 Dumbbell (pair)Verified Purchase

The Bowflex adjustable weights are solidly built, easy to adjust and easy to store in a small NYC apartment. I love these weights and they are worth every penny you will spend on them!

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Victor Hugo C.

Grea Value. Been using if for a year. Highly recommend it!

Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2024

Pattern Name: Bowflex ST 552 Dumbbell (pair)Verified Purchase

Love these things. They have come in very handy (pun intended). They work great, quality is good although it has some plastic parts. Regular use has had no big noticeable effect on them in about a year. The dumbbells COULD be a little more compact, my only real critique. They are a bit bulky, so it is a bit hard to keep them close to your body and/or other things around you during certain workouts. But I'll still give them 5 Stars for high quality and durability!

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Iv

You will absolutely want two of these.

Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2023

Pattern Name: Bowflex ST 552 Dumbbell (pair)Verified Purchase

WOW. I’ve been considering buying these dumbbells for a while and waited until I got a good deal on them. You will definitely want two of these fantastically engineered babies in your home—if not for the convenience, then at least to marvel at them. I’ve already done several workouts, all of which could technically be unilateral, but it’s so convenient to have two DBs. Whenever I’m exercising and only doing unilateral training, I keep one on a “low” weight, and the other on a heavier weight. Absolutely fantastic.

This tool is an absolute feat of engineering. If you’re at ALL interested in product design... I recommend buying one of these just to witness the design thinking. I could go on and on about the plates, the adjustable knob (which locks once you pick the dumbbells up, absolutely NO chance of loosening that thing), and the mathematics that went into calibrating each side.

What really gets to me is that the top of the dumbbell also acts as a safety so that a plate doesn’t accidentally fall on you. So for instance, if you’re doing chest presses, you’ll naturally pick it up where the red plastic is. Once you invert the dumbbells upside down, the plates are now sustained by the rod, and not just by the locking mechanism.

Not that the plates would fall—they’re pretty secure—but if one of them somehow loosens up, they won’t just fall directly on your face.

These dumbbells are, of course, bigger than the typical ones at the gym. It takes some getting used to, but not so much that it’s disruptive.

Bonus: The plates you leave behind can also be used as free weights. I’ve already used them as “medicine balls,” only they’re not ball-shaped.

My one true gripe has to do with the packaging. It’s tough to protect such a heavy item, so I understand using the white foam material, but that poses a problem if you have children or pets. When unpacking the dumbbells, you’ll have white particles and white foam EVERYWHERE, which can pose a risk for an overly curious toddler or a dog. I recommend unpacking in a closed garage where you can easily sweep and where the wind won’t blow the foam everywhere. I think cardboard padding would have been ideal.

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