Bowflex SelectTech 552
The 1090 goes to 90 pounds a hand
Illustration of the product
▶ From a video review of this product
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- Range
- 5 to 52.5 lb a hand, 2.5 lb steps
- Adjustment
- Dial; not for dropping
Why it ranks here. The SelectTech 552 is the adjustable dumbbell most people own and the one every other gets compared to: 5 to 52.5 pounds a hand in a dial, for $300 to $430, with owners at sixteen years of use. It ranks first on that record, with a recall and a rule attached: never drop it.
The longest report is the best one: 'I've owned mine for 16 years having bought it back in 2005'↗, 'my main and only source of weight lifting'↗, used four to seven days a week with 'literally no issues'↗. Another pair 'have been going strong for ~7 years'↗ and their owner would have paid 'more than double for a full set'↗. The rules are strict: 'You just have to be gentle with them (no dropping)'↗. Owners who were not report that 'they always lock up if you don't treat them gingerly'↗, plates that drop, and after twelve years 'plastic plates are falling and one of the dials at the end of dumbbell cracked'↗. The shape annoys too: the same 16 inches at 5 pounds, and ends that 'kind of dig into you'↗ on the thighs before a press. A 2024 recall covers plates detaching, so check the serial number on a used pair.
What owners like
“You keep saying "over time." I've owned mine for 16 years having bought it back in 2005. It's my main and only source of weight lifting, I use it 4 - 7 days a week and have had literally no issues and till today am so glad that I purchased it. It saves on over all price and space.” — YouTube comment · JDemen82 · 2021-06-08
5 positive · 6 mixed · 2 negative · 13 voices · ✓ all 13 linked to source
Read all 13 quotes (13 voices)
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You keep saying "over time." I've owned mine for 16 years having bought it back in 2005. It's my main and only source of weight lifting, I use it 4 - 7 days a week and have had literally no issues and till today am so glad that I purchased it. It saves on over all price and space.
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I have had these for several weeks and I have been really happy with them so far. I love being able to do a variety of workouts at home when I don't have time to make it to the gym. When paired with a basic bench, there are tons of different exercises and you can hit pretty much all major muscle groups. It is easy to adjust to your desired weight with the dials on each side. They slide in and out of the cradle smoothly. The only downside to this design vs the newer version, is that these are pretty wide. This does limit your range of motion with certain hand positions on certain exercises. Straight dumbbell press would be an example of this. I have to turn my hands slightly in order to bring them close enough together. Not a huge deal to me though. Really happy with this purchase and would definitely recommend.
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One issue Coop didn't cover is that the ends aren't very comfortable when you're setting up for a press with them on your legs. They're not totally flat and aren't wide, so they kind of dig into you. They also don't feel great when you have them resting on your shoulders (for leg exercises) due to how the plates aren't uniform. All things you can get used to, so probably not a dealbreaker for most people.
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I've had these for ~10 years. At the time, there weren't many options. I've since upgraded to a full dumbbell rack. But, these guys are now in the office for a quick set during meetings. I don't regret the purchase, but there is so much more on the market these days.
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Got the original Bowflex for 12 +yrs now... plastic plates are falling and one of the dials at the end of dumbbell cracked. I think it's about time to invest in a metal plate adjustable dumbbells with more weight.(so it will last longer). Nice video pal
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I received the 60 pound Bowflex weights as a Father’s Day gift a few years back and I swear by them. I have limited space, so a whole rack of dumbbells isn’t practical. I use them. My girlfriend uses them. They’re great!
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I’ve been rockin my bowflex 552s for many years now. Never had any issues with them. No plates fall off (like the current recall). They have been solid. I just pick up heavier pairs of if I need more than 52.5lbs, but the 552s cover most of what I need. I use them almost daily.
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I have the (now recalled) bowflex 552s and I like them but I do find them to be cumbersome and clunky at lower weights. They remain the same length even at their lowest weights and I find for some exercises they are just tricky to work with due to their size.
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I have a Bowflex set. I think I paid around $300 and deal at the time was free adjustable bench with purchase. No ragrets, would have cost more than double for a full set with the same range and used much more space. You just have to be gentle with them (no dropping) but mine have been going strong for ~7 years now with regular use.
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I’ve had the Bowflex Select tech forever. But they always lock up if you don’t treat them gingerly. I’ve had them drip plates too. Got tired of that so when i could finally afford it, i went old school
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I sold my Bowflex dumbells for $700 during Covid and bought new Ironmaster dumbbells. I was worried plastic adjustable Bowflex would eventually fail.
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I have the bowflex 1090s which cost $900 plus the cost of the stand. I do like the bowflex 1090s, my only gripe being that they are a a few inches longer than a standard dumbbell which makes some movements a little awkward
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I've had these for years, the rubber on the handles is still nice. The dial isn't as smooth anymore and now takes some finesse to change sometimes.
