Last Updated on November 15, 2022 by Patrick
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The Bowflex SelectTech 552 adjustable dumbbells are simple to use and super compact for a true home gym win! This adjustable dumbbell set is swimming in great reviews and for good reason. Look no further for a space saving home gym solution, provided you don’t plan to go heavier than about 50lb per hand, in which case you’re going to have to upgrade to something a little beefier.
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Looking for dumbbell set?
Of course you are! dumbbells are a staple of any workout routine and when you’re setting up a space at home to get a good pump going, a good adjustable dumbbell set is just what the doctor ordered.
Bowflex has more or less set the standard when it comes to adjustable dumbbells with their SelectTech line and the Bowflex Selecttech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells are the most popular and most practical set on offer.
The reasons for this are simple:
The Weight Range is Just Right
This adjustable dumbbell set is, as the name implies, adjustable. With a weight range of 5-52.5lb per hand, you have a huge variety of exercises available to you. From lightweight shoulder flys to bicep shredding curls, the Bowflex 552 gives you the ability to do a staggering number of different workouts. Sure, you might want something a little (or a lot) heavier to really get a good bench press or squat done, but for the sheer variety on offer, the weight range on the 552 is amazing.
The fact that the weight can be incremented by 2.5lb at a time when under 25 lbs is fantastic as well, allowing for incremental weight increases rather than arbitrarily jumping 5 or 10 pounds at a time just because that’s all you have available. At 25lb+ the increment increases to 5lb.
The Method of Adjustment is Simple and Easy
A good pair of adjustable dumbbells can really expand what exercises you’re able to do in your home gym, but if the adjustment itself is a pain, I think most people would rather not go through the hassle. Thankfully, Bowflex has come up with a really painless solution. There’s dial on each dumbbell that determines how much weight is lifted. It’s really as simple as that!
Small Form Factor (At Least Compared to a Full Rack of Weights)
Part of the reason we’re looking at adjustable dumbbells is because we’re trying to set ourselves up a nice workout space in our home right? I don’t know about you, but my home gym space isn’t exactly the Taj Mahal and a full rack of dumbbells would seriously cut into the space available for other gear.
There are some things that are going to take up space and there’s no getting around it. You probably need a bench for example, and many people want to get some sort of power tower or squat rack into their home gym as well. These items take up space, even when they’re designed to be collapsible or wall mounted or whatever else.
Dumbbells do not have to be a big space hog. These adjustable dumbbells are super compact and effectively replace a huge rack of dumbbells. Although the 552s are larger than traditional dumbbells individually, they more than make up for it by saving floorspace. If you are just getting started on building your home gym, or if you don’t have a big space to dedicate to working out, the Bowflex 552 is a GREAT way to get started. They’re super storable, which makes them a great option even if you don’t have a dedicated gym space. A decent bench and a pair of these is all you need to start getting fairly serious workout done.
The Price is Right
Can you get a rack of dumbbells for around the same price as the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells?
You can probably get a rack FOR dumbbells for around the same price as the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells.
Seriously, a decent rack by itself, with NO actual weights included can very easily cost a few hundred dollars.
Rack AND dumbbells? That’s a whole other story. You can easily spend $250 – $300 on ONE PAIR of 50lb weights. Yea.
As of the time of writing this article, the Bowflex 552s are selling on Amazon for around $330. I mean, it’s hard to beat that with traditional dumbbells.
The Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells Come in a Pair
You can buy a set and be ready for a huge variety of workout routines right away! Many other adjustable dumbbells have to be purchased individually, and although there are plenty of exercises to be done with a single weight, sometimes you just need a weight in each hand and that’s all there is to it.
Negatives
The Bowflex 552 is a great set of dumbbells. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I am definitely a fan. But nothing is perfect and these adjustable dumbbells do have some downsides.
- The size of the individual dumbbells is slightly larger than traditional dumbbells due to their adjustable nature.
- Also due to their adjustable nature, there is a little bit of play in between the plates, meaning you might get a little bit of wiggle. They are not welded into place like a traditional dumbbell would be.
- You will need bigger weights if you want to perform heavy compound movements. There’s no way around this. Using both dumbbells at the same time will get you a total of 105lbs. If you want to lift 150lb you’re going to need 150lbs of weight.
Final Thoughts
I strongly recommend checking out the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells if you are in need of dumbbells for your home gym, especially if you have a shortage of space available for your workouts. If you are starting from scratch, this is a great first purchase. As I stated above, a decent bench and a pair of 552 is really all you need to perform an extremely wide variety of free-weight exercises.
Getting Started on Your Home Gym?
Check out my roundup of the best all in one home gyms here!
If you love the Bowflex Selecttech Adjustable Dumbbells, check out the Bowflex 5.1s Adjustable Bench as well!
Hey I’m Patrick!
I built my first home gym in 2012, when I decided I was tired of waiting in line for the squat rack and I started GGC in 2020 to help people find the info they need to improve their fitness and their lives.
I’m passionate about fitness, especially when it comes to working out at home. I’ve learned a lot over the years about what to do and what not to do, and my mission is to share that knowledge with the world!
