BowFlex 552 SelectTech review: the home-gym benchmark adjustable dumbbell

The BowFlex Results Series 552 is the dumbbell most people picture when they think "adjustable," and it remains the easiest starting point for a home gym that has to fit in a corner. This review covers exactly what you get, the spec details buyers get wrong, and where it wins or loses against the alternatives. For the full field, see our best adjustable dumbbells guide.

Who it is for

This dumbbell fits one buyer especially well: someone building a home gym in limited space who wants to change load in a second and a half between sets. The dual end-dials turn while the dumbbell sits in its tray, so you can drop from a heavy press to a light lateral raise without unracking, swapping plates, or storing a wall of fixed weights. The low 5 lb floor is the underrated part, because it makes the same pair usable for shoulder rehab, mobility work, and a beginner's first month, not just heavy compound lifts.

It is less ideal if you are an intermediate or advanced lifter who leans on the lower body. The 52.5 lb per-hand ceiling is plenty for presses and rows but runs out fast on goblet squats, walking lunges, and Romanian deadlifts. If your training already pushes past 50 lb per hand on those movements, size up to a higher-capacity set or pair these with a barbell. For planning a full setup around them, our how to build a home gym on a budget guide covers where dumbbells fit in the priority order.

Full specifications

Spec	Detail
Kit Score	7.6 / 10 (researched, not lab-tested)
Weight range	5 to 52.5 lb per dumbbell
Increments	2.5 lb up to 25 lb, then 5 lb steps
Adjustment mechanism	Dual end-dials with metal locking tabs (post-recall redesign)
Replaces	15 pairs of fixed dumbbells
Footprint	Integrated storage trays included
Warranty	2 years
Price	$379 – $399 per pair

The single spec people get wrong: the increments are not uniform. You get 2.5 lb jumps only up to 25 lb, then the steps widen to 5 lb. That fine resolution at the bottom is great for progressive overload on small muscles, but the wider jumps near the top can feel coarse if you are chasing tight progressions on heavier presses.

Pros and cons

What it does well:

• Fastest adjustment of any dial system: a weight change takes under 3 seconds and never requires lifting the dumbbell out of the tray.
• Low 5 lb floor makes the pair genuinely useful for shoulder rehab, mobility work, and true beginners, not only heavy lifts.
• Post-recall redesign adds metal retention tabs alongside the dials, resolving the plate-dislodge failure mode of the original Nautilus-built version.
• One pair plus the included trays replaces about 15 sets of fixed dumbbells, which is the whole reason a small home gym works at all.

Where it falls short:

• The 52.5 lb ceiling limits utility for intermediate and advanced lifters on squats, lunges, and Romanian deadlifts.
• The dumbbells are physically long even at light loads, so close-grip and tight-clearance movements can feel awkward compared to a compact block.
• The plastic dial housing remains a long-term durability question under daily high-rep use, even with the metal tabs added.

How it compares

Against the PowerBlock Pro 50, the trade is convenience versus shape and durability. The PowerBlock uses a compact block design that stays short at every weight, so it clears your body better on presses and is built with far less plastic, which is why owners report it lasting 15 to 20 years. It also costs more and uses a selector-pin system that some people find slower than a dial. The BowFlex 552 gives up the compact silhouette and some long-term toughness but wins on dial speed and a friendlier price, which is what makes it the easy first dumbbell for most home gyms.

Against the NordicTrack Select-a-Weight, the BowFlex is the more refined dial but not the obvious value. The NordicTrack typically lands at a lower price and reaches a comparable range, so it is the budget-conscious pick if dial feel and the BowFlex name matter less to you. The 552 earns its best-overall slot on the strength of the fastest changes, the lowest usable floor, and the security of the post-recall fix, rather than on price alone.

For the full field, including the higher-capacity and budget sets scored the same way, see our best adjustable dumbbells guide. If you are sketching out the rest of the room around them, the home gym on a budget guide goes deeper on what to buy first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the weight range of the BowFlex 552 SelectTech?

Each dumbbell adjusts from 5 to 52.5 lb. The increments are 2.5 lb up to 25 lb, then 5 lb steps after that. A single pair replaces about 15 pairs of fixed dumbbells, which is the main reason it works for small home gyms.

Is the BowFlex 552 worth it?

For most home gym users, yes. It earns a Kit Score of 7.6 because it combines the fastest dial adjustment of any system, a low 5 lb starting floor, and a post-recall redesign that fixed the plate-security issue. The main reasons to look elsewhere are if you regularly train past 50 lb per hand on lower-body work, or if you want the more compact, more durable block design of a PowerBlock.

Was the BowFlex 552 recalled, and is the new one safe?

The original dial-adjust SelectTech 552, built by Nautilus, was recalled in 2025 over plates that could dislodge during use. The redesigned Results Series version adds metal locking tabs alongside the twist dials for secondary plate retention. Post-recall reviews trend positive on security and dial feel, so the current Results Series model addresses the failure mode of the older unit.

Are the BowFlex 552 dumbbells too long for some exercises?

They can be. Because the plates sit on a fixed-length handle, the dumbbells stay physically long even at light loads, which makes close-grip presses and tight-clearance movements feel awkward. If a short profile at every weight matters to you, a compact block design like the PowerBlock Pro 50 is the better fit.

BowFlex 552 vs PowerBlock Pro 50: which is better?

The BowFlex 552 is faster to adjust, costs less, and starts at a usable 5 lb, which makes it the easier first dumbbell for most home gyms. The PowerBlock Pro 50 stays compact at every weight, uses much less plastic, and lasts far longer, which makes it the better long-term and space-conscious pick if you are willing to spend more. Choose the 552 for value and dial speed, the PowerBlock for durability and shape.

For the full field, including budget and higher-capacity alternatives scored the same way, see our best adjustable dumbbells guide.