My dwelling gymnasium has by no means been something elaborate. Exercise tools is relegated to a slim strip of ground house in my dwelling workplace with an train mat, drugs ball, heavy sandbag, resistance bands, two kettlebells, and a single 35-pound dumbbell. Sure, only one dumbbell. Not even a pair. Attributable to house limitations, getting a whole set was by no means one thing I thought of. I’ve at all times had a gymnasium membership, so I figured I did not want a set of adjustable dumbbells. That’s till I obtained my palms on the Bowflex SelectTech 552.
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The Bowflex SelectTech 552 adjustable dumbbells simply match into my tiny exercise house and have made at-home exercises have change into rather more frequent.
“I’m an enormous fan of adjustable dumbbells,” says Jim Ryno, a private coach with over 30 years expertise and proprietor of dwelling gymnasium design agency Iron Home. “I take advantage of them at dwelling, in addition to in my gymnasium. You’ll be able to’t beat the worth level, they save a ton of house, they usually look cool, too.”
When you think about how a lot use you’ll get out of them, no single piece of at-home exercise tools affords a greater worth than adjustable dumbbells. And Bowflex SelectTech 552 is a class chief within the house, delivering 15 totally different dumbbell weights.
Within the beneath overview, you’ll get a whole breakdown of each key function of Bowflex SelectTech 552 that can assist you determine if that is the product you need to take your own home gymnasium to the following stage.
Total Impressions
Straightforward to Use Proper Out of the Field
First impressions are essential, and Bowflex SelectTech 552 handed the take a look at. The dumbbells are already put collectively, so no meeting required. Simply take them out of the packing containers (every packaged individually), take away the security straps with the included Allen wrench, and get proper right into a exercise if you need. The adjustability is self-explanatory, with dials on both aspect that checklist the load increments clearly.
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The dumbbells are solidly constructed and have a pleasant, high-quality really feel to them whereas figuring out. The person weight plates are spaced a number of millimeters aside, however you don’t get the annoying clanging you usually do with cheaper adjustable dumbbells. These are strong via and thru.
Worth Is Aggressive With Different Comparable Adjustable Dumbbells
Bowflex SelectTech 552 affords a terrific worth at an inventory worth on Amazon of $549, and are at present marked all the way down to $429. To the uninitiated, $400 to $500 could sound costly, however for the standard Bowflex tools supplies and the very fact you may have a full set of dumbbells starting from 5 to 52.5 kilos, the worth is correct—particularly when you think about that even an affordable gymnasium membership nowadays will run you $500 a yr ($40 a month), and pricier boutiques and practical health amenities are simply into 4 figures ($100+ month-to-month).
Bowflex SelectTech 552 is priced competitively with different comparable adjustable dumbbells:
NordicTrack 55-Pound Choose-a-Weight Dumbbells: $399Ativafit 66-Pound Adjustable Dumbbells: $360 (was $500)PowerBlock EXP 50-Pound Adjustable Dumbbells: $370 (was $395)Core Health Adjustable Dumbbell Weight Set (50 lbs.): $370
Joe Wuebben
Adjusting Weight Is Fast, Straightforward, and Conducive to Quick-Paced Exercises
As beforehand talked about, weight modifications are so simple as turning the dials on the dumbbells. When doing so, you get a reassuring (even satisfying) audible and tactile click on at every increment.
One barely awkward factor about “re-racking” the dumbbells after a set or to vary weights is that they must be positioned completely into the trays so the plates match into their assigned slots. The plates aren’t at all times symmetrical on both aspect, so you could must flip the dumbbell to suit accordingly.
That is the case for the opposite adjustable dumbbells listed above as effectively, so it’s not a knock on the Bowflex set specifically. Simply one thing to remember should you’ve by no means used any such adjustable dumbbell.
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The method of placing the dumbbells again within the trays, altering the load, and choosing the dumbbells up once more can take anyplace from 5 to fifteen seconds. In the event you’re doing supersets in a exercise, the place the purpose is to eradicate relaxation intervals to maintain depth excessive, this quantity of down time to vary weights is appropriate. Maybe you might do it faster with a full rack of mounted dumbbells all sitting subsequent to one another, however that’s nitpicking.
The Dumbbells Really feel Nice In-Hand
The grips on Bowflex SelectTech 552 are very comfy. They’ve an identical contour as many different dumbbells (mounted and adjustable) together with a rubber sheath within the center to successfully eradicate slippage. Some lifting purists could favor a non-contoured, knurled grip with no rubber (like what you get with an Olympic barbell). Personally, I like the texture of the rubber and curvature.
The thickness of the handles is within the “center” vary—a little bit thicker than my 10-pound dumbbells, not fairly as thick because the heavy-duty kettlebells I personal, and just about the very same thickness of my 35-pound mounted dumbbell.
Andreas Endregaard
15 Totally different Weights Have You Coated for Huge Majority of Workouts
The load goes up by 2.5-pound increments till 25 kilos; after that, the increments go up by 5 kilos aside from one final micro-jump to 52.5 kilos. In different phrases, you may have each weight alternative you’ll ever want should you don’t plan on going tremendous heavy.
That stated, a possible destructive is {that a} max weight of 52.5 kilos is limiting for superior lifters who need to go heavy on workouts like dumbbell bench presses for the chest and lunges and farmer’s carries for the legs. For these cases, an adjustable set that goes as much as 80 or 90 kilos (like NUOBELL 80-Pound Adjustable Dumbbells and PowerBlock Elite USA 90-Pound Adjustable Dumbbells) could also be desired. Simply be mindful these heavier units run $700+.
“Adjustable dumbbells that high out at 50-ish kilos symbolize a candy spot wherein full, well-rounded exercises might be achieved,” says Ryno, whereas additionally noting that with the ability to broaden the set as much as 80 or 100 kilos (which this Bowflex set doesn’t supply) could be very best. “I desire to have the choice to go heavier, if wanted.”
Backside line: A overwhelming majority of individuals will have the ability to do a overwhelming majority (if not all) of their most well-liked dumbbell workouts with Bowflex SelectTech 552.
All-in-One Design With Sensible Plastic Trays
The space-saving nature of adjustable dumbbells can’t be overstated. When sitting subsequent to one another, the pair of dumbbells take up roughly 16”x16” of sq. footage (at round 9” excessive), making them simply stowable within the nook of a spare bed room, dwelling workplace, lounge, or storage gymnasium.
The plastic trays the dumbbells sit in come normal and serve two main functions: (1) to accommodate unused weight plates when the dumbbells are in use at any weight beneath 52.5 kilos; and (2) to assist preserve your own home exercise house trying tidy and arranged moderately than having dumbbells scattered round.
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The trays additionally come in useful for maintaining the dumbbells stationary and permitting them to double as makeshift pushup handles; you don’t get the identical rotating motion as with devoted instruments just like the Excellent Pushup, however holding onto the dumbbell handles helps cut back wrist flexion versus doing pushups on the ground.
Not as Compact as Mounted Dumbbells, however Not a Critical Subject
Though measurement is the inherent advantage of adjustable dumbbells, these weights are awkwardly lengthy the lighter you go. To be honest, this would be the case with many adjustable dumbbells; it’s the character of the beast, you would possibly say.
No matter weight, every Bowflex SelectTech 552 dumbbell is roughly 16.5 inches lengthy. On the heavier settings (e.g. 50 or 52.5 kilos), this isn’t far off from a set dumbbell and appears fairly pure. However at decrease poundages, it’s a reasonably dramatic measurement distinction.
As an example this, I did side-by-side comparisons between Bowflex SelectTech 552 and two totally different mounted dumbbells I’ve at dwelling (a 35- and 10-pounder). The 35-pound mounted dumbbell is a little bit over 13 inches—over three inches shorter than the Bowflex, and it’s fairly noticeable.
Joe Wuebben; Unsplash
The ten-pound mounted dumbbell is a little bit beneath 10 inches (a 6.5-inch distinction), and the side-by-side with the Bowflex Choose 552 seems to be pretty comical.
Joe Wuebben; Unsplash
In each circumstances, the Bowflex dumbbells are additionally wider—round 8 inches huge versus 6 inches and three.5 inches, respectively, for the 35- and 10-pounders.
Awkward, sure, however it’s not a dealbreaker. Functionally, it’s not an issue. Some individuals would possibly complain the extreme size doesn’t help you deliver your palms shut collectively on chest or shoulder presses (except you flip your palms in towards one another in a impartial place), however that’s a minor gripe.
It’s value noting, nonetheless, that the dumbbells are a bit restricted in terms of squats. You are able to do squats the place the dumbbells are held at your shoulders, however goblet squats undoubtedly work higher with a set dumbbell or kettlebell. Once more, I’m nitpicking.
Whereas There’s Loads of Plastic, These Ought to Final for Years
Lifting diehards could scoff on the truth the one seen metallic on Bowflex SelectTech 552 is on the outer edges of the handles in distinction to the aforementioned PowerBlock and NUOBELL merchandise and even less-expensive forged iron units like Yes4All Adjustable Dumbbell Set. Granted, Bowflex is delivering a “softer” look right here, with nearly each half both coated in or fabricated from plastic (together with the trays).
Will this have an effect on the long-term sturdiness of the dumbbells? I can’t say for certain from private expertise, as my testing interval was weeks, not years, lengthy. However supplied you’re not repeatedly dropping them on the ground and banging them collectively on the high of your dumbbell bench presses, you may really feel assured these can take a few years of normal use with out cracking. Within the occasion the plastic does crack beneath regular use, Bowflex affords a 2-year components guarantee with the choice to buy three or 5 years of further safety.
Does the plastic damage the aesthetics? That is subjective, after all, however for my part, no. These dumbbells look good. They’re modern, with rounded contours as a substitute of laborious edges and 90-degree angles, and the contact of purple seems to be good towards the black. Perhaps seems to be shouldn’t matter in terms of exercise tools, however contemplating your dumbbells will possible be out within the open in your house, it’s higher in the event that they’re not an eyesore.
Courtesy Picture
Bowflex’s JRNY App Affords Coach-Led Exercises
These dumbbells can plug and play into any current free-weight coaching routine, however you even have the choice of getting your exercises immediately from Bowflex. The JRNY app is ideal for newcomers or anybody who desires to comply with pre-programmed video exercises demonstrated by an skilled coach (just like Peloton).
At an affordable worth (subscriptions begin at $11.99 per thirty days or $99 per yr), the JRNY platform lets you choose exercises relying on how a lot time you need to train (from “beneath 11 minutes” as much as an hour-plus), what areas of the physique you need to goal (complete physique, decrease physique, core & legs, arms, and so forth.), and what tools you need to use (adjustable dumbbells or body weight solely). JRNY accommodates some fairly cool tech options, together with movement monitoring to verify your type and depend your reps.
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I did a number of totally different JRNY exercises utilizing Bowflex SelectTech 552 and located them straightforward to comply with. I particularly preferred with the ability to decide the muscle teams I needed to focus on and for a way lengthy. The exercises aren’t simply light-weight “sculpting” routines; for instance, I did a power session with comparatively low rep counts (8 per set) the place I used to be capable of do ground chest presses with the complete 52.5 kilos, and it wasn’t straightforward. The movement monitoring was useful and simple to make use of. I’ve been lifting weights for over 30 years, so I do know what I’m doing, however it was nonetheless good to get the occasional mid-set teaching cue that I wasn’t bending sufficient on the hips on my dumbbell bentover rows. I additionally used the app for a number of quick stretching routines post-workout.
For anybody needing exercises designed and demonstrated for them, whether or not you get the Bowflex dumbbells or not, the JRNY app is effectively well worth the modest funding of round $100 per yr.
Professionals and Cons
Nice worth contemplating you’re getting 15 dumbbells, as much as 52.5 kilos, for a similar worth you’d pay for just a few pairs of fixed-weight dumbbells.
They high out at 52.5 kilos per dumbbell, which is probably not enough for lifting heavy and coaching for 1-rep max private information (PRs).
Comfy grip with non-slip rubber coating.
When going gentle (5-20 kilos), the dumbbells appear means longer than they must be; fixed-weight dumbbells are extra compact and simpler to maneuver.
Solidly constructed—they really feel similar to mounted dumbbells, particularly at heavier weights.
All of the plastic on these dumbbells won’t attraction to those that desire the look of metallic.
Person-friendly dials make it straightforward to vary weights on the fly; the satisfying “click on” assures you the brand new weight is chosen.
They appear good—a premium search for your own home gymnasium setup.
Ultimate Verdict
For anybody searching for a whole set of moderately priced dumbbells to make use of at dwelling, assuming you don’t plan to go super-heavy in your exercises, Bowflex SelectTech 552 is a transparent winner. They appear good, really feel good, take up minimal ground house, and are infinitely helpful for any model of coaching—hypertrophy (muscle constructing), power, HIIT, you identify it. In the event you’re aware to not drop them on the ground or bang them round unnecessarily, you’ll get a few years of use out of them. Even at checklist worth ($549), these are a terrific funding; once they go on sale for sub-$400, the worth is off the charts.
Are these for everybody? No. If doing dumbbell workouts with upwards of 80 kilos is a big side of your coaching—and also you’d like to coach this fashion at dwelling—you’ll most likely need to spend a number of hundred further {dollars} for a heavier set. Likewise, in case your exercises by no means name for greater than 25 kilos per dumbbell for any train, go forward and save a little bit cash and go for a 5- to 25-pound set like Lifepro Adjustable Dumbbell Set or Keppi Adjustable Dumbbells.
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Why You Ought to Belief Me
I’ve greater than 20 years expertise as a well being and health journalist overlaying health traits, writing exercise articles, and getting hands-on expertise with gymnasium tools for lots of the greatest manufacturers in print and digital publishing. Exterior of my profession, I’ve been a constant gym-goer for over 30 years, so I do know what I like and don’t like in terms of dumbbells and all different forms of free weights.
I’ve at all times frequented industrial gyms, however within the final a number of years—attributable to being dwelling with younger children, a busy work schedule, and/or gymnasium closures throughout the pandemic—I’ve spent lots of of hours figuring out at dwelling with naked bones tools. Previous to testing Bowflex Selecttech 552, I had solely owned one different set of adjustable dumbbells: a pair of PowerBlocks I lent out to a good friend and by no means obtained again. That is all to say that at-home exercise tools is an space I’ve private expertise in and that I plan on increasing sooner or later.
To supply an much more thorough perspective, I enlisted an unquestioned skilled on coaching and at-home health gear: Jim Ryno, a licensed private coach and proprietor/founding father of Iron Home, a New Jersey-based agency that designs customized dwelling gyms incorporating strength-training, cardio, yoga, and spa tools. Ryno has been designing gyms since 2005, so he’s a professional at selecting the right tools for varied budgets and residential setups.
“When working with purchasers on their dwelling gyms, we regularly find yourself recommending adjustable dumbbells for his or her versatility and space-saving qualities,” he says. “For purchasers aiming for a complete exercise with minimal tools, adjustable dumbbells are a wonderful choice.”
Joe Wuebben
What We Search for in Adjustable Dumbbells
The important thing issues to think about when searching for adjustable dumbbells are proper in step with the options I’ve highlighted above for Bowflex SelectTech 552. Nonetheless, I requested Ryno what he seems to be for in a set, whatever the model. Listed here are his principal {qualifications}:
Worth
One cause to decide on adjustable dumbbells over a rack of mounted weights (aside from lack of house) is the big worth financial savings. However that doesn’t imply the cheaper, the higher.
“When searching for dumbbells, price is certainly one thing to be skeptical of,” says Ryno. “In the event that they’re cheap, there’s normally a cause. Adjustable dumbbells are priced in line with weight vary. You’ll be able to sometimes keep beneath $200 for a pair, however they might solely high out at 25 kilos, if that.”
Sturdiness
“Will they final? Are they primarily constructed of plastic and rubber, or metal?” Ryno asks. Whereas adjustable dumbbells present a very good worth, they’re not low cost. If you wish to get your cash’s value, they should maintain as much as a number of years of great exercises. It’s value noting that materials shouldn’t be the one standards; plastic and rubber can show sturdy should you’re not too laborious in your tools. The inner components you don’t see are simply as essential to the longevity of your dumbbells.
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Really feel
Apart from offering the practical advantage of isolateral coaching (the place every arm lifts an unbiased weight, versus a barbell that’s held in each palms), guys typically like the best way conventional dumbbells really feel throughout a set. You ought to be searching for the identical expertise with adjustable dumbbells. “They need to really feel identical to mounted dumbbells while you’re utilizing them,” Ryno says.
Ease of Use
Adjustable dumbbells aren’t very sensible if weight modifications are sophisticated and/or time consuming. Ryno at all times seems to be for a pair which might be straightforward to make use of and alter shortly. That is particularly essential for guys who do fast-paced exercises that require quite a few weight modifications—notably supersets, the place you commute between two workouts that always name for various resistances. Circuit coaching is one other instance; right here, you’re doing workouts one after one other for each giant (legs, chest, again) and small (biceps, triceps) muscle teams, so your weights might be all around the map.
The target for each supersets and circuits is to attenuate relaxation time between workouts in order to maintain coaching depth excessive to maximise outcomes. If it takes a full minute to vary the load (and even 30 seconds), it undermines the exercise stimulus.
Consolation
Handles are an essential component of dumbbells. “How are they constructed, and how much grip are they offering?” Ryno says. The handles ought to really feel strong and comfy throughout your set, with a grippy sufficient floor, via both knurling or rubber, to attenuate slippage.
Most Load
Ryno prefers adjustable dumbbells that go as much as 80+ kilos or a 50-pound set with the choice so as to add on further plates. How a lot top-end weight to get is determined by your coaching wants; you probably have no plans (or want) to go above 50 kilos on any train, a set of adjustable dumbbells that goes as much as 80 or 100 kilos is overkill.
Additionally, take into account what different tools you may have at dwelling. If you have already got an influence rack with a barbell and lots of of kilos of weight plates, you will get your heavy work in through barbells and save the dumbbells for moderate-weight and high-rep units.
Size of Dumbbell
“The longer the dumbbells are, the much less compact and subsequently the extra ‘clunky’ they’ll be,” Ryno says. This is without doubt one of the principal drawbacks of adjustable dumbbells versus mounted. The latter are usually extra ergonomic and higher proportioned, which makes them higher for Olympic-style actions like dumbbell cleans and snatches, in addition to totally different squat variations. That is the sacrifice with adjustable dumbbells, however for most individuals the budget- and space-saving advantages outweigh the clunky draw back.
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Testing Course of: How I Reviewed Bowflex SelectTech 552
Whereas penning this overview, I used Bowflex SelectTech 552 adjustable dumbbells for 2 weeks value of exercises (eight exercises complete). Many of the exercises had been a part of my current routine, with a number of handpicked from the JRNY app.
My exercises deal with main compound actions for big muscle teams, the place each train is supersetted with no less than one different transfer (for instance, legs and core, chest and again). I discovered the load providing (52.5 kilos max) enough for all of the workouts I do, and the short dial weight modifications saved each superset seamless.
The primary workouts I did utilizing the dumbbells had been: goblet squats (one dumbbell), two-dumbbell squats (held on the shoulders), break up squats, reverse lunges, Romanian deadlifts, bent-over rows, one-arm rows, ground chest press, standing shoulder press, standing alternating curls, and mendacity triceps extensions (aka “cranium crushers”).
