This is the first adjustable dumbbell system review I have been able to do so far. I have decided to start with Bowflex SelectTech which I was able to try out the other day.
The SelectTech dumbbells come in two different types: The Bowflex SelectTech 552 and the 1090.
552 Vs 1090- What is the difference? Which one should you buy?
The difference between both the 552 and the 1090 is only in the maximum weight which the dumbbell can be adjusted to. The 552 goes from 5lbs to 52.5lbs and the 1090 goes from 5lbs to 90lbs. For me personally I would choose the 1090 because with it I can increase my muscle mass and at the same time increase my strength by doing effective leg and back workouts, something which I just couldn’t do with a dumbbell that only reaches 52.5lbs. However, if you just want to tone up and you are not very serious about strength and mass building, then there is really no point in you going out and spending more money on a heavier dumbbell, the 552 would be fine.
What is so special about the Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells?
When I used both the 552 and the 1090 three things stood out in making these adjustable dumbbells quite special.
1. Small incremental increases- Most adjustable dumbbells only can be increased by 5lbs at a time. Now to me personally this doesn’t matter too much, but for many people this can be quite annoying, because they want to make incremental gains. With the Bowflex SelectTech this is no problem because you can make increases as small as 2.5lbs
2. They look awesome and you get a stand- I can’t deny that the Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells look really cool and the fact that you get a stand is pretty enticing.
3. The Pending lock Mechanism- This is a weight plate changing mechanism which Bowflex has invented and patented. Basically It allows you to change the plates on your dumbbells very fast, much faster than most adjustable dumbbells which use pin devices or screw mechanisms. You might not think the speed it takes to change an dumbbell matters, but it does. Just think about when you have to superset an exercise and you need to use a smaller weight straight away experience the full potential of the exercise. Well the pending lock mechanism makes adjustments a lot faster.
However, there has been a lot of complaints from people who say that the plates of the dumbbell have been coming loose or have dropped while they were doing exercises. Many have even said that they were scared of doing any overhead exercises with them because they thought the dumbbells just didn’t feel secure. Now when I used them I didn’t actually experience any problems myself, but maybe this only comes with long-term use. Anyway this is definitely something you should think about before purchasing them.
Would I buy them?
The Bowflex SelectTech adjustable dumbbells look fantastic, they come with a stand, they have a fast plate changing mechanism and they can be changed in small increments, but I still wouldn’t buy them! For me weight lifting is serious and if I am going to purchase a serious piece of home equipment for some serious training then I have to know that it is going to be up to the task. The fact that many people are saying that there is a problem with the weights coming loose does not bode well for serious and long-term weight training with them. I am also not rich and so if I am going to purchase some equipment I have to be 100% sure it is good.
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