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Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells (Pair) Review: Is It Worth It?
One pair that replaces 15 — adjust from 5 to 52.5 lbs with a dial, save a wall of dumbbells worth of garage space.
Illustrative image — see Amazon for the actual product.
Our verdict
The Bowflex SelectTech 552 is the home gym purchase with the highest return on investment for most people. One pair replaces a wall of dumbbells, the dial mechanism is fast and reliable, build quality earns the price, and they cover virtually every dumbbell exercise from beginner through intermediate. If you're building a home gym in limited space, these are the first thing to buy.
The short version
The Bowflex SelectTech 552 is the home-gym hack that finally makes 'serious lifting at home' possible without sacrificing a whole room. Each dumbbell adjusts from 5 to 52.5 lbs in 2.5–5 lb increments with a turn of a dial — replacing 15 pairs of fixed dumbbells in the footprint of two. Build quality is excellent (these last a decade-plus with normal use), the dial mechanism is fast and intuitive, and the included stand keeps them at the right height to grab. For most home lifters, they're the only weights you'll ever need to buy.
Pros & cons
Pros
- One pair replaces 15 pairs of fixed dumbbells
- Adjusts 5 to 52.5 lbs with a dial in seconds
- Saves a wall of garage/basement space
- Dial mechanism is fast and intuitive
- Quiet, no metal clanking
- Lasts a decade-plus with normal use
Cons
- Bulkier than fixed dumbbells in the hand
- Stand sold separately on some configurations
- Maxes at 52.5 lbs (heavier lifters need 1090s)
Why people love it
Turn the dial to your weight
Twist the dial at each end to your target weight (5-52.5 lbs in 2.5-5 lb increments) — the mechanism selects the right plates and locks them onto the handle.
Lift the handle out of the cradle
The plates you didn't select stay behind in the cradle, so you only lift the weight you picked — no manual changing of plates.
Set it back, change for the next exercise
Drop it back in the cradle, dial in a new weight, and you're ready for the next set — adjustments take 5-10 seconds vs minutes to swap fixed dumbbells.
Who it's for
- Home gym builders short on space
- Anyone doing dumbbell-based programs
- Apartment dwellers wanting real strength training
- People tired of cluttered fixed-dumbbell racks
Why adjustable dumbbells are the smartest home gym purchase
The math on adjustable dumbbells is hard to argue with. A complete fixed-dumbbell set from 5 to 50 lbs in 5-lb increments costs $800-1500 depending on quality, takes up a full wall, requires a $300-500 rack, and weighs hundreds of pounds — not exactly apartment-friendly. A pair of SelectTech 552s costs about $500, covers the same weight range, takes the footprint of an end table, and weighs around 105 lbs total. The space and money savings are dramatic, and the only meaningful trade-off (you can only have one weight in your hands at a time) doesn't matter for most workouts.
Beyond the math, adjustable dumbbells unlock progressive overload at home in a way single-purchase weights don't. Fixed-weight kettlebells or single dumbbells mean you outgrow them and need to keep buying heavier ones. The SelectTech 552 has 17 different weight increments built in — you start at 5 lbs and progress to 52.5 lbs over months or years of training without buying anything else. For most home lifters this single purchase covers their entire strength training journey from beginner through intermediate, which is exactly why they've been the best-selling adjustable dumbbell for over a decade.
What workouts can you actually do with a pair of SelectTech 552s?
The honest answer is: nearly any dumbbell-based program. The 5-52.5 lb range covers virtually every common dumbbell exercise — bicep curls (15-30 lbs), shoulder presses (20-45 lbs), bench presses (30-50 lbs), rows (30-50 lbs), goblet squats (35-50 lbs), lunges (20-40 lbs), lateral raises (10-20 lbs), tricep extensions (15-30 lbs), and many more. Popular dumbbell-only programs like Jeff Cavaliere's home routines, Built With Science's at-home plans, and most beginner-to-intermediate hypertrophy programs work perfectly with a pair of 552s.
Where they start to limit you is at the intermediate-to-advanced level on a few specific lifts. Heavy chest pressers may quickly outpace 52.5 lbs per hand (and need barbells or the 1090s). Strong back work like dumbbell rows can use heavier weights for shrugs and high-pull movements. Lower-body work like Bulgarian split squats and Romanian deadlifts can easily exceed 52.5 lbs per hand for serious lifters. For most users this is years of progression away — and when you get there, you can either upgrade to the 1090s or supplement with a barbell setup. For the first 6 months to 2+ years of training, the 552s do everything.
How to maintain the SelectTech 552 and avoid the common failure modes
The two failure modes that kill SelectTech dumbbells prematurely are both avoidable. First, don't drop them — the selection mechanism uses precise rods that hold the plates together, and impacts from being dropped or banged can bend those rods. Set them down carefully, especially when fatigued at the end of a set; train near the cradle so you can return them in control. If you train to absolute failure with heavy weights and may need to bail, switch to fixed dumbbells for that lift or use safer positions (like dumbbell bench press inside a power rack).
Second, store them properly between workouts. Keep the dumbbells in their cradles (not stacked on shelves or under furniture) and at the lowest weight setting (5 lbs) — this releases pressure on the internal mechanism and prevents long-term wear. Periodically check the dial action: if it gets stiff or sluggish, the mechanism may have collected dust or sweat residue. Clean by wiping down the handles with a damp cloth after sweaty sessions, and apply a light silicone lubricant to the dial mechanism if it starts to feel rough (consult the Bowflex support docs for the specific procedure). Treated this way, a pair of 552s lasts 10+ years of regular home use.
See Bowflex SelectTech 552 on Amazon
Check the latest price, photos and buyer reviews on Amazon.
Check Price on Amazon →Sold and shipped by AmazonFrequently asked questions
Bowflex SelectTech 552 vs PowerBlocks vs NÜOBELL: which adjustable dumbbells should I buy?
The three big players in adjustable dumbbells each have a personality. Bowflex SelectTech 552 is the most popular and has the most intuitive dial mechanism — twist and lift. PowerBlocks have a pin-based system that feels more like industrial gym equipment, are more compact in shape (less round, more squared off), and adjust in finer increments. NÜOBELL (and similar premium brands like Bowflex 1090) look and feel most like real fixed dumbbells with a twist-handle selection that's faster than either. For most home users, the SelectTech 552 hits the best balance of price, ease and reliability; PowerBlocks if you want the most compact shape; NÜOBELL if you want the most premium feel and don't mind paying significantly more.
Are the SelectTech 552 dumbbells durable enough for serious use?
Yes, with one caveat: they're not designed for drops. Dropping them from chest height onto a hard floor can damage the adjustment mechanism, since the plates are held together by a precise selection rod that doesn't appreciate impact. For normal lifts, sets and lowering them carefully to the floor, they last a decade-plus with no issues — Bowflex backs them with a 2-year warranty and plenty of users report 10+ years of regular use. If you do CrossFit-style training where dumbbells get thrown around, get traditional fixed dumbbells or hex dumbbells designed to be dropped. For typical strength training and bodybuilding, the SelectTech 552 is plenty durable.
Do I need the Bowflex stand?
Strongly recommended. The dumbbells need to sit in their cradles when you adjust the weight — without a stand, that means setting them on the floor and bending over for every weight change, which is annoying and risky for your back. The official Bowflex stand keeps them at the right height (mid-thigh or hip), making weight changes quick and the dumbbells easy to grab. If you're on a budget, third-party stands work fine; just make sure it matches the SelectTech 552 cradle dimensions. Some bundle deals include the stand — usually the best value.
What's the difference between the SelectTech 552 and 1090?
The 1090 is the heavy-duty version: each dumbbell adjusts from 10 to 90 lbs in 5-lb increments, vs the 552's 5-52.5 lbs. The 1090 is significantly larger, heavier and more expensive — most home lifters don't need it. The 552 covers virtually every dumbbell-based exercise for the vast majority of users: lateral raises, curls, presses, rows, lunges, goblet squats. Only intermediate-to-advanced lifters doing heavy chest presses, rows or shrugs will routinely need over 52.5 lbs. Start with the 552; you can always upgrade later or supplement with fixed dumbbells in the 60-90 lb range for specific lifts.
How fast can you actually change weights mid-workout?
5-10 seconds per dumbbell, so 10-20 seconds total to switch both — fast enough to do drop sets, supersets and circuit training without significant breaks. It's slower than just grabbing the next fixed dumbbell off a rack (2 seconds) but dramatically faster than changing weight plates on a barbell. For straight-set strength training, the time is negligible; for high-intensity circuit work, fixed dumbbells are faster. Most home users prefer the SelectTech regardless because of the space savings and the ability to do half-pound increments (try finding a 32.5lb fixed dumbbell).
Will the SelectTech 552 fit in an apartment or small space?
Yes — that's a major reason to buy them. Each dumbbell is about 15 inches long with a base footprint of roughly 10x15 inches, so the pair plus stand fits in a 3x2-foot space — about the size of an end table. Compare that to 15 pairs of fixed dumbbells, which need a full wall and a heavy-duty rack. Apartment-friendly, but be mindful of dropping them on hardwood or downstairs neighbors — a thick rubber mat underneath is recommended for both noise and floor protection.
As an Amazon Associate, TopCrate earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. The image above is illustrative; price, availability and current ratings are shown on Amazon and are subject to change. Consult a doctor before starting a new exercise program.
