Bowflex SelectTech Dumbells, Worth The Money ?m

A few months ago I purchased the Bowflex SelectTech Dumbells, series 552. I purchased them with the intent of creating a very portable home gym.

As you probably know, these dumbellsare very expensive so I'll give you some candid information to help you make a better decision if you're considering purchasing them.

My wife and I currently live in relatively small two bedroom apartment, we have a large dog, and a beautiful 4 month old daughter.

Due to my lifestyle and need to be home as much as possible I decided to ditch the gym and create a home gym even though we have limited space.

I decided to give the BeachBody Body Beast program a try. It's a program for people looking to bulk up and gain muscle, so obviously I needed dumbellsbut have limited space.

I was reluctant to buy the bowflexselecttech dumbells knowing how much they cost, but figured cancelling my gym membership would help defray the cost of the dumbells and eventually make more financial sense in the long term.

There are two products available in the SelectTech Dumbell series: the 552 and 1090.

Differences Between Bowflex SelectTech Dumbells 552 and 1090

The Bowflex 552 series of dumbellsbegins at 5 lbs. and goes up to 52.5 lbs.

The Bowflex 1090 series of dumbellsbegins at 10 lbs. and goes up to 90 lbs.

552 series sells for $349 through Bowflex, $299 through Amazon.

1090 series sells for $599 through Bowflex, $589 through Amazon.

A dumbell stand that is compatible with both sets sells for $139 through both Bowflex and Amazon.

Advantages of Bowflex SelectTechDumbells

Portable

Obviously the major selling point of these dumbells is there convienence and portability. You don't need a lot of space to hold what amounts to over 10 different weights.

If you don't have enough room in your house, condo, or apartment these are perfect.

Here's my current storage spot for these dumbells, our pantry...

Large variety of dumbells at a cheap price

I'm not sure why, but dumbells are expensive. Frustratingly expensive. If you wanted all the weights available with the 552 series, you would probably spend close to $1000. Yes, $300 is a steep price too, but its much better than $1000.

Grip

The grip on these dumbells is surprisingly good. Not a feature I typically look for in dumbells, but its a rubber material that gives you extra support, strength, and comfort when you are going through a tough workout. Its similar to wearing weightlifting gloves with a "sticky" grip. I would even go so far to say that its the best, most "sticky" grip I have ever encountered in a dumbell.

Range of Motion Some select-the-weight based dumbellsalmost enclose your hand within a box, giving you limited range of motion. A nice feature of these dumbells is that there is no box to restrict your hand and wrists. This allows for a more natural feel, typical of a real dumbell.

Disadvantages of Bowflex SelectTechDumbells

Fragile

One major disadvantage of these dumbells is that they are not solid iron and cant be tossed on the ground after a tough set.

I suppose if you're working out at home you may not be inclined to iron weights on your floors anyway, but you especially don't want to do that with these.

They are made for a specific purpose and are too fragileto be tossed on the ground or carelessly put in their holder. If you are too rough with them...they'll break.

Expensive Warranty I purchased my selecttechs at a Sports Authority and they were trying to sell me on an extended warranty for an extra $100. Normally I laugh at such warranties but I figured these dumbellsmight need to be repaired at some point, so its worth considering.

If they break and you have a warranty you're much better off. If not, you might be SOL.

I choose to take the risk and NOT get the warranty and told myself to treat those dumbells with as much care as my 4 month old daughter.

Could Interfere With The Pace Of Your Workout

With the BeachBody Body Beast program that I'm doing now, they incorporate a LOT of quick drop sets into the workouts.

There is a lot of weight adjustments that need to be made fast, and I have trouble keeping up with the workoutsbecause I have to carefully place the dumbells back into their holder, carefully adjust the weight setting so itdoesnt jam, and carefully lift them out of the holder and back to my workout.

This process takes takes probably20-30 seconds at most, but if you've ever done drop sets or need to change weights quickly to keep the intensity high, 20-30 seconds can hinder your workout.

Hidden Costs

There are hidden costs to these dumbells. The first I stated earlier with regards to a warranty or repair costs.The second is the dumbell stand.

The dumbell stand will take up more room, but it's also another expense $139. In hindsight I regret not getting the dumbell stand because its a pain in the butt to bend over while I'm fatigued, adjust the weight, and lift it up.

I know that sounds lazy or strange, but trust me, if the weights are at waist level my life would be easier.

Again, I choose the cheap way out and decided against the $139 extra expense. On one hand I regret the decision, but on the other, realized its hard to spend even more money these dumbells.

Final Answer On The Bowflex SelectTech DumbellsThese dumbells are great. They will save space in your homegym and over the long term save money that you would've spent at the gym.

The limiting factor in your decsion is price.

In an ideal situation I would purchase the 1090's, with a dumbell stand, and an extended warranty. However, this would probably cost you close to $900.

I can't justify spending that money on dumbells, so I bought the 552's without a stand, no warranty, and am happy with my decision.

These dumbells, although expensive, are well worththe price.

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