Bowflex Selecttech 552 Adjustable Dumbbell Review

This is the Bowflex Selecttech 552 Adjustable Dumbbell Review.

The Bowflex Selecttech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells are super expensive but well made.

The grips on the Bowflex Selecttech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells cause cancer. Nice.

If you are thinking about buying adjustable dumbbells the Bowflex Selecttech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells are the best but I would still recommend getting a set of non-adjustable ones if you have the space.

Adjustable dumbbells like the Bowflex Selecttech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells suck when you're trying to curl 15 or 20 lbs because you have this giant clunky thing in your way.

[AverageJoeInnovationsLLC]

If I may make an unsolicited recommendation. Definitely do not drop SelectTechs. This applies to many/most of the adjustable dumbbells on the market, but especially designs such as the SelectTech. Accidents happen, so a drop may be unavoidable at some point. But avoid intentionally dropping them, or using them as pushup handles for bodyweight exercises such as renegade rows and devil's press. I know in this video your point was to just test them out and see what happens, but I can tell you from experience that there are many thousands of pairs that have been damaged due to being dropped.

Also, if a SelectTech is dropped from any height to any surface, I recommend thoroughly inspecting the dumbbell. A quick visual inspection is rarely enough to determine if a SelectTech is damaged. Place the dumbbell back into its base, set it to 5lbs (or 10 if you own the 1090). Pull the empty handle and closely inspect each disc for cracks/fractures. Inspect the dials and locking pins to make sure the dials do not turn when the dumbbell is not in its base. And inspect the weight plate tab on each of the plates that were on the dumbbell at the time of the drop. Make sure none of them have fractured or become damaged in a way that might cause them to slip from the dumbbell during a workout.

And for your viewers who are already extra careful with their equipment, I recommend a thorough inspection of both dumbbells at least once every 1-2 months. It's usually less important when the dumbbells are brand new, but as the plastics age it can become an issue. You're definitely very fortunate to have had no issues with yours, especially with those 552 Series 1s given their age. In my case, the discs and dials on my older 552 Series 1 became more brittle over time and began to fail despite the dumbbells being well maintained. I suspect environmentals may play a role, but I do not know for sure.

One more quick observation. The rattle and play you feel in the dumbbells is basically by design. As I discovered, if the tolerances become too tight and the assembly too rigid, SelectTechs become difficult to use if not downright impossible. The design itself relies on that play (the loose tolerances) to enable the handles to easily slide into and out of the weights. So we can tighten the tolerances slightly, and take out some of the play, but not eliminate it completely. It's another one of those compromises we must accept when choosing adjustables over fixed weight rack dumbbells.

It's always a pleasure to watch a review by everyday people with whom we can relate. Thanks for sharing.

[MrsBee-uolc]

Thank you for mentioning the cancer warning!!! That is such a pet peeve of mine, I have had to return so much equipment I bought offline because when I got the box it had the cancer warning on it. I just don't understand why they think people who are using equipment to get healthier would then want to expose themselves to something that could possibly cause cancer!! Why can't we do better? It's just utterly ridiculous and I appreciate you mentioning that because a lot of people don't even think about it.

[mzjd]

Awesomeeee, this is so helpful! Keep doing what you do! Thank you sooo much for the review!!! :)

[Doomstacked_peasant]

Just what i needed. Totally looking for dumbells and a curl bar. And i trust this doode

[VirtousStoic]

Good review bro, my buddy had these and ya i didnt feel natural lifting them at the max weight. Handle sucks indeed ruins the motion

[tarantulatina]

Cancer?! OMFG why?! Do you have to eat them?

[ginochavez]

Would you still put tape on the, after hearing this video titled “ What do California health warning stickers mean?” It seems the health warnings are on food too 😅 . Supposedly online it says not to worry about it? Should i sell mine 😢

[sorrysirmygunisoneba]

Any risks of these plates coming off on chest press etc?

[JBell]

that is definately the worst case scenario for dropping your weights

[Doomstacked_peasant]

Stoopid youtube forgot my notification