Bowflex SelectTech 552

The Bowflex SelectTech 552 adjustable dumbbells let you dial from 5 to 52.5 pounds per hand in 2.5-pound increments up to the first 25 pounds, then 5-pound increments after that. They're the gold standard for home gym owners who want a full dumbbell rack without dedicating an entire wall to storage. Setting them up correctly and understanding their strengths and limitations will help you get the most from your investment.

What ships with the SelectTech 552

You receive two adjustable dumbbells, each sitting in its own molded plastic cradle/tray. The cradles are essential — they hold the unselected weight plates in place and allow the dial mechanism to function properly. There is no stand, no workout poster, and no carrying case included. The total shipping weight is approximately 118 pounds, so make sure someone is available to help you carry the box inside. Each dumbbell measures roughly 16.9 inches long by 8 inches wide by 9 inches tall when fully loaded at 52.5 lbs.

Storage and stand options

The official Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbell Stand with Media Rack (model 100584) retails for around $149–$179 and is purpose-built for these dumbbells, placing them at a comfortable pickup height of about 26 inches. Third-party stands from brands like XMARK or Fitness Reality work as well and can cost $60–$100, but measure your cradle dimensions (roughly 15.75" x 8" each) to ensure compatibility. Keeping the dumbbells on the floor works fine but repeatedly bending to pick up 52.5 pounds from ground level increases lower back strain over time. Store them in their cradles at all times — never leave loose weight plates outside the tray, as this can misalign the internal selection mechanism. Avoid placing them in a garage that experiences extreme temperature swings, as the plastic dial components can become brittle in freezing conditions.

Exercises you can do

The SelectTech 552 handles virtually any standard dumbbell exercise: bicep curls, shoulder presses, chest flyes, bent-over rows, goblet squats, lunges, lateral raises, tricep extensions, and Romanian deadlifts. The 2.5-pound increments from 5 to 25 lbs make them especially good for progressive overload on smaller muscle group exercises like lateral raises and front raises, where even small jumps matter. They work well on flat, incline, and decline benches — pair them with an adjustable bench like the Bowflex 5.1S ($349) or the more affordable Flybird adjustable bench ($139) for maximum exercise variety. Farmer's walks and renegade rows are possible but require extra care since the dumbbells are longer than traditional fixed dumbbells and the end plates can contact your legs or the floor.

What the dumbbells can't replace

At 52.5 pounds per hand, advanced lifters will outgrow them for compound movements like heavy dumbbell bench press, rows, and shrugs relatively quickly — consider the SelectTech 1090 ($599, adjusts to 90 lbs) if you're already strong. They should never be dropped, slammed, or used for any exercise where you might release them suddenly, which rules out aggressive drop sets or failure-to-drop training common with fixed dumbbells. The elongated shape makes them awkward for exercises where the dumbbell needs to sit on your thigh, like the starting position for heavy dumbbell bench press. They also cannot replace a barbell for exercises like deadlifts, squats, or bench press once you exceed their weight limit, so plan your home gym around their ceiling.

Care and maintenance

Always return the dumbbells to their cradles after each set and ensure the dial clicks firmly into a numbered position before lifting — a half-clicked dial can cause plates to slide off mid-exercise. Wipe the handles down with a dry cloth after sweaty sessions; avoid spraying cleaning solution directly onto the mechanism, as moisture can corrode the internal metal selector pins over time. Periodically check that all 15 weight plates per dumbbell are seated properly in the cradle and that none are cracked or chipped. If the dial becomes stiff, apply a tiny amount of silicone-based lubricant (not WD-40) to the selector mechanism. Bowflex offers a 2-year warranty on parts, so register your purchase online at Bowflex.com within 30 days to ensure coverage.

◈   Frequently asked questions

◈   Pro tip

Before every single set, give each dial a quick visual check to confirm the number displayed matches on both ends of the dumbbell — mismatched dials mean uneven weight, which can cause injury and plate slippage. This two-second habit will protect both you and the internal mechanism for the life of the product.