Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbells - Favorite Gear

As mentioned in a previous post about the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym, I decided to stop going to the gym and instead build out a workout room in my house. The room is only 10x10' so there was very limited space to work with. After a lot of research and deliberation, I decided on the Bowflex Xtreme 2 as my main piece of exercise equipment. I am extremely pleased with the home gym (you can read about it with the link above), but I have to admit that I missed the feeling of lifting free weights. Most of my strength training in the past was done with barbells, dumbbells and various benches, so I wanted to add another piece of equipment that would allow some free weight exercises. With very limited space remaining, I needed something that would provide me with a range of weights without occupying too much space.

In the past I had used various dumbbell and barbell systems where you add and remove plates and secure them with thread-on or locking type systems. While this works, it can get a bit disorganized, unwieldy and it takes more time to switch weights than I would like. So I started looking for something more intelligent and innovative and I found it in the Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells. There are two models of the Bowflex SelectTech weights, the 552 and the 1090. The Bowflex 552 SelectTech has a weight range from 5 lbs to 52.5 lbs, while the SelectTech 1090 goes from 10 lbs to 90 lbs.

I ordered the Bowflex 552 SelectTech Dumbbells along with the Bowflex dumbbell stand and one of their adjustable benches as a package (I will talk about the bench in a separate post). There was no assembly required at all for the weights and a simple 10 minute assembly for the Bowflex dumbbell stand. So I was literally lifting weights about 15 minutes after the UPS driver dropped off the package.

Obviously the very first thing I did was started using the SelectTech system to try different weights. The movement of the weight selector has a very solid feel to it and locks in securely at each weight increment with an audible click. It turns easily, but when it locks in you know there is now way it will turn on its own. In fact, once you lift the weights out of the stand the selector will not turn and the selected plates are locked into place. It is not until you put the weights back into their custom holders that you can once again turn the weight selector. This is a great safety feature and it still works perfectly years later.

Typically you will use the weights with both sides balanced. However this is not mandatory. If you wish to use unbalanced weights to target different muscles during exercises, you can select different weights on either side of the SelectTech dumbbell. I do not use this much, but it is a nice feature to have and can create some interesting exercises.

The Bowflex SelectTech 552 weights give you a full range of weight from 5 lbs to 52.5 lbs. There are 15 different weights you can choose with 2.5 lb increments from 5 lbs to 25 lbs, then 5 lb increments from 25 lbs to 50 lbs. There is also the final option of 52.5 lbs with all of the plates engaged. You can also use them unbalanced for even more weight options. The Bowflex SelectTech 1090 dumbbells offer 17 weight settings in 5 lbs increments from 10 lbs to 90 lbs.

Overall, the weights are very sturdily built. While there are some moving parts and a bit of weight involved, everything stays in place during exercises and there is very little shifting during movement. The Bowflex Dumbbells have a contoured shape and rubberized grip on the handle that make them fit the hand comfortably, even with the full weight selected. The weight selectors are also rubber coated, so when the two dumbbells knock together during exercises, they bounce back from each other and do not damage each other.

The Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbell Stand is also very well made and can support either the 552 or the 1090 dumbbells. It has a platform for the dumbbell holders and uses a strap to buckle down the holders to make sure they do not move. The stand also has a support bar that doubles as a towel holder.

I have had the Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbells for about 3 years now and I am extremely pleased with them. They quickly give me a wide range of weights to choose from quickly and easily. The SelectTech dumbbells and the stand take up very little space, so they can fit into just about any workout room. After 3 years of pretty regular use, the dumbbells perform and feel almost exactly like they did the day I took them out of the box. So while they are not the least expensive piece of equipment out there, they are extremely well made and I expect will last a lifetime. With the combination of the Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells and the Bowflex Xtreme 2, I feel like I have a complete gym in my small 10x10 room and I rarely miss my old 24 Hour Fitness gym.

-BeeHawk-