Bowflex · Adjustable Dumbbell Review
Bowflex SelectTech 1090i Review 2026
The 1090i are the heavyweight Bowflex, taking each dumbbell from 4.5 all the way to 41kg on the same one-handed dial that made the brand famous. If you have outgrown 24kg pairs, or you know you will, these are the set in this guide built to keep up, and they come with the longest warranty here.
Bowflex SelectTech 1090i
Dial adjustable pair, 4.5-41kg
Sold as a pair or a single dumbbell
The verdict
The Bowflex SelectTech 1090i are my premium pick, and they earn it on the two things the budget pairs cannot touch, top-end weight and pedigree. Each dumbbell dials from 4.5 to 41kg across 17 settings, using Bowflex’s proven dial that changes weight in a couple of seconds with one hand. For anyone pressing, rowing or doing heavier leg work at home, that 41kg ceiling is the headline, and very few adjustable pairs reach it.
Where they give ground is price and features rather than ability. At £499 they are the dearest set here, the stand is a separate buy, and there is no app or holder in the box. The handle is bare knurled metal rather than the rubberised grip on the smaller 552i, which some people find less friendly once their hands are sweaty and the weight is up. None of that dents the core case though. If you need the weight, these deliver it with the most reassuring warranty on the page.
Strengths
- Reach 41kg a dumbbell, the highest here
- Proven dial, one-handed changes in a couple of seconds
- 17 settings across the full range
- Three-year parts warranty, the longest of any set here
- Metal plates with quiet, coated edges
- Established brand with UK support and spare parts
Watch-outs
- The dearest set here at £499
- Stand is a separate purchase
- Steps of a bit over 2kg, with no finer loading
- Bare knurled metal handle, less comfy than the 552i when sweaty
- Long and bulky at the lighter settings
- No app or device holder in the box
What you actually get
They come as a pair with trays, and the pitch is simple, the widest weight range of any set here on Bowflex’s dial. Each dumbbell replaces up to 17 pairs of fixed weights, running 4.5 to 41kg, so one pair stands in for a decent rack. The dial sits on each end. Twist to the number, lift, and the internal brackets pick up only the plates you have selected.
You can buy them as a full pair or as a single dumbbell, which is handy if you want to start with one or add to what you already own. What is not included is the stand that lifts the trays to a back-friendly height, that is a separate Bowflex buy, and there is no holder or app either. You are paying for weight and mechanism here, not extras.
How the dial works
Bowflex’s dial is the original quick-change adjuster and still one of the best. A twist at each end sets the weight and the change takes a couple of seconds one-handed, quicker and smoother than the pin systems on the Echelon and NordicTrack. For circuit work where you drop the weight between moves, that speed genuinely helps.
The one limitation is step size. The 1090i move in jumps of a bit over 2kg with no finer loading anywhere. Once you are lifting heavy that is rarely an issue, but if you want the smallest possible progressions on lighter accessory work, the 552i and the NordicTrack step down finer.
Build and materials
Metal weight plates sit in a tough moulded housing that holds the dial, and the plates carry a coating that keeps them quiet and easy to draw out of the tray. Bowflex’s track record shows here, owners routinely report years of reliable use, and the company stocks spares like plates, trays and dials if anything goes wrong.
The handle is where people split, and it is worth knowing before you buy. The 1090i use a bare knurled metal grip rather than the rubberised one on the 552i, and while the knurl holds well, owners often say the metal feels cold and a bit harsh, and that it can turn slippery once the hands are sweaty at the heavier settings. Some go as far as adding a rubber spray coating, others just train in gloves. It is secure rather than genuinely uncomfortable, but if grip feel matters and you do not need the 41kg, the 552i’s rubberised handle is the friendlier hold.
Same rule as ever, do not drop them, and seat them in the tray before you turn the dial so the plates engage cleanly.
How heavy they go, and who that suits
This is the whole point of the 1090i. At up to 41kg a dumbbell they cover heavy dumbbell bench, rows, split squats, Romanian deadlifts and proper progressive overload that a 24kg pair simply cannot. For a strong or improving lifter at home, that headroom is the difference between a set you grow out of and one you keep.
If you are nowhere near 24kg a hand and do not expect to be, the extra range is weight and money you may never use, and the 552i or a 24 to 25kg pair will be lighter to handle and easier to store. Buy these for the ceiling, not in spite of it.
Living with them
They feel like what they are, a serious, weighty pair with a fast, dependable dial. The action is positive, the trays keep things tidy, and the coated plates keep the noise down for shared homes. The trade-offs are physical. At light weights they are long, which takes adjusting on some close movements, and the full set is heavy to shift, so plan a permanent home for the trays or budget for the separate stand.
One for safety, always seat the dumbbell fully in its tray before you turn the dial, so the mechanism picks up and drops plates cleanly. Adjusting mid-air is how people end up with a partial load.
Price and value
At £499 they are the most expensive set here, and whether that is good value comes down entirely to whether you need the weight. If you do, it is fair money for 41kg a hand from an established brand with a three-year warranty and real spare-parts backup. If you do not, you are paying for headroom you will not touch, and the Echelon or a 24 to 25kg pair gives you more usable value for less.
Factor in the separate stand if you want the trays raised, since that adds to the real total. I have scored value at a solid but premium level rather than a bargain.
How they compare
The obvious in-house comparison is the Bowflex 552i, same dial and brand, but the 552i top out at 24kg, add finer steps down low, use a comfier rubberised grip and cost far less. Take the 1090i only if you need above 24kg. Against the Echelon Strength they win on weight, step feel and warranty but lose on price and on the stand-and-app kit Echelon offer. The NordicTrack 25kg steps finer but gives up a lot of top weight.
See how they stack up in our best adjustable dumbbells guide.
Who they are for
The 1090i are for the home lifter who needs real weight, anyone pressing, rowing or squatting with more than 24kg a hand, or anyone on a serious overload plan who wants room to grow. The dial speed suits circuits, and the three-year warranty suits a heavy-use buy.
They are overkill for beginners, for toning and light circuits, or for anyone tight on space and budget, who will be happier with the 552i, the Echelon, or a 24 to 25kg pair.
Specifications
| Type | Adjustable dumbbell, sold as a pair or single |
|---|---|
| Weight range | 4.5kg to 41kg per dumbbell |
| Weight settings | 17 |
| Adjustment | Dial, one-handed |
| Increments | A bit over 2kg per step |
| Handle | Knurled metal |
| Plates | Metal, coated for quieter handling |
| In the box | Storage trays (stand sold separately) |
| Replaces | Up to 17 pairs of fixed dumbbells |
| Warranty | 3-year parts (confirm UK terms at purchase) |
| Best for | Heavier home lifting and progressive overload |
| Usage class | Home |
Warranty and support
The 1090i carry a three-year parts warranty, the longest of any set here and real reassurance on a heavier, higher-stress buy. Bowflex are established in the UK through Sweatband and stock spares including plates, trays and dials, so one failed part need not mean a new set. Check the exact term and what it covers when you buy, since it varies by retailer and region.
Standard care applies. Seat the dumbbell in its tray before you turn the dial, do not drop them, and hang on to your receipt.
FitRank breakdown
Performance 4.4
The strongest performer here. A 41kg ceiling across 17 settings and a fast one-handed dial make these the most capable set for heavier and progressive training, with only the coarser steps holding them back.
Build quality 4.4
Coated metal plates, a proven dial, a three-year warranty and genuine spares support put them top of the group for confidence, with the moulded housing the only reminder they are still adjustables rather than fixed iron.
Value 3.8
Fair rather than cheap. The £499 price and separate stand make them a premium buy that only fully justifies itself if you actually use the top end.
Features 3.6
Focused on the core job. The dial is excellent, but there is no included stand, no app and no holder, so they sit below the more kit-laden Echelon.
Frequently asked questions
How heavy do the Bowflex 1090i go?
What is the difference between the 1090i and the 552i?
Can you buy a single 1090i?
Were the Bowflex 1090s ever recalled?
Can you make fine weight jumps?
Chris writes the home fitness reviews across our sites, including our sister site HomeTreadmill.co.uk. He compares every machine against its rivals on UK pricing and specs, and scores each one with FitRank.
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