Bowflex · Adjustable Dumbbell Review
Bowflex SelectTech 552i Review 2026
The 552i are the adjustable dumbbells most people picture when they think of the category, and for good reason. They run from 2.3 to 24kg on the same fast dial as their bigger sibling, but add the finer steps down low and the more comfortable rubberised grip that make them the easier pair to live with day to day.
Bowflex SelectTech 552i
Dial adjustable dumbbell, 2.3-24kg
The verdict
The Bowflex SelectTech 552i are the best-selling adjustable dumbbells of their kind, and my most-popular pick reflects that. Each dumbbell dials from 2.3 to 24kg across 15 settings, with one thing the heavier 1090i cannot do, small jumps of around a kilo at the lighter end. That fine progression, plus the comfortable rubberised handle, makes them the easiest pair to get on with for general strength, accessory work and steady overload.
The compromises are the usual Bowflex ones. The housing that holds the dial is moulded plastic, so these are not drop-proof, the 24kg ceiling will not satisfy heavier lifters, and the warranty is two years rather than the three on the 1090i. But if you do not need 41kg and you want the smoothest, best-supported dial pair at a sensible price, the 552i are still the benchmark.
Strengths
- Fine steps of around a kilo down low, ideal for steady progression
- Fast one-handed dial changes in a couple of seconds
- Rubberised handle, kinder on sweaty hands than the 1090i
- 15 settings in a compact footprint
- Best-selling, heavily proven design with strong owner reliability
- Bowflex spares support and UK availability
Watch-outs
- 24kg ceiling will not suit heavier pressing or leg work
- Moulded plastic housing, so no dropping
- Two-year warranty, a year shorter than the 1090i
- Stand sold separately
- Often sold as a single, so a pair costs roughly double
- No app or device holder
What you actually get
These give you Bowflex’s dial in the lighter, more popular weight bracket. Each dumbbell runs 2.3 to 24kg across 15 settings, replacing up to 15 pairs of fixed weights, and the dial at each end changes weight one-handed in a couple of seconds. The plates are metal with a quiet coating, and the handle is rubberised, the detail a lot of owners prefer over the bare metal on the 1090i.
One buying note, the 552i are often listed as a single dumbbell rather than a pair, so read the listing carefully. Want two? You will pay roughly double, which matters when you weigh them against pairs like the Echelon that are priced for two with a stand.
How the dial works
Same dial-and-bracket mechanism as the 1090i, and it is the quickest adjuster here. A twist sets the weight, an audible click confirms it, and the brackets pick up only the plates you have chosen. Changes take a couple of seconds one-handed, which keeps circuits flowing.
Their edge over the 1090i is fineness. Down at the lighter end they step in jumps of around a kilo before widening higher up, and those small jumps are genuinely handy for accessory and isolation work where a bigger leap is too much. It is a big part of why the 552i suit beginners and steady progression so well.
Build and materials
Build follows the familiar Bowflex pattern, metal weight plates in a moulded plastic housing that holds the dial. That housing is the durability catch for every set of this type, and it is why the cardinal rule is not to drop them or take an impact on them, like resting them hard on the floor between push-ups. Used sensibly, owners regularly report years of trouble-free use.
The handle is the 552i’s quiet ace, and the part owners bring up most. Where the heavier 1090i use bare knurled metal, the 552i have a rubberised grip, and owners often say it stays planted in the hand through curls, presses and rows even when their palms are sweaty, with none of the cold, slippery feel a metal bar can take on mid-session. It is comfortable enough for long workouts without gloves, and the textured rubber holds firm without digging in. If you train in a warm room or sweat easily, that grip is one of the strongest reasons to pick these over their bigger sibling. The coated plates also keep the noise down, handy in a shared home.
How heavy they go, and who that suits
At up to 24kg a dumbbell the 552i cover most home training, curls, presses, rows, raises, lunges and most accessory work, with enough for high-rep and muscle-building sessions. For the typical home trainer that is plenty, and the fine steps make them especially good for building up gradually.
The ceiling is also the limit. Strong lifters already working above 24kg a hand on the bigger compounds will top them out, and there is no way to add plates, so no upgrade path within the dumbbell. Those buyers want the 1090i.
Living with them
The 552i are the easiest set here to just pick up and use. The dial is fast and positive, the rubberised grip is comfortable, the footprint is compact, and the fine low-end steps are forgiving for newcomers. The watch-outs are the format’s usual ones, they are longer than a fixed dumbbell of the same weight at the lighter settings, and the plastic housing means a bit of care.
Seat them in the tray before you turn the dial so the plates engage cleanly, a two-second habit that protects the mechanism.
Price and value
As a single the 552i look keenly priced around £219, but the honest picture depends on whether you need one or two. A full pair lands close to £440, at which point pairs like the Echelon, priced for two with a stand thrown in, become real competition on total cost.
Where the 552i justify themselves is the dial speed, the fine steps and the rubberised comfort, still best in class. I have scored value with that single-versus-pair reality in mind, excellent hardware, but price up the actual pair you need before you decide.
How they compare
Within Bowflex, the call against the 1090i comes down to weight, take the 552i unless you need above 24kg, because they are cheaper, lighter, finer in the steps and comfier in the hand. Against the Echelon Strength the 552i have the faster, finer adjuster but are usually sold per dumbbell, so a pair costs more and arrives without a stand or app. The NordicTrack 25kg match them on small steps at a similar ceiling with a different pin-style adjuster.
For the full field, see our best adjustable dumbbells guide.
Who they are for
Get the 552i if you want the smoothest, most proven adjustable dumbbells for general strength and steady progression, and you do not need to go above 24kg a hand. The fine steps make them a cracking first adjustable set and a strong pick for anyone focused on accessory and isolation work.
Skip them if you need heavier weight, where the 1090i is the shout, or if buying two singles pushes you past the price of a complete pair-and-stand set you would rather have.
Specifications
| Type | Adjustable dumbbell (often sold singly) |
|---|---|
| Weight range | 2.3kg to 24kg per dumbbell |
| Weight settings | 15 |
| Adjustment | Dial, one-handed |
| Increments | Around a kilo down low, widening higher up |
| Handle | Rubberised, non-slip |
| Plates | Metal, coated for quieter handling |
| In the box | Storage tray (stand sold separately) |
| Replaces | Up to 15 pairs of fixed dumbbells |
| Warranty | 2-year parts (confirm UK terms at purchase) |
| Best for | General strength and steady progression up to 24kg |
| Usage class | Home |
Warranty and support
The 552i carry a two-year parts warranty, a year shorter than the 1090i but standard for the bracket, and Bowflex offer the same spares support and UK availability through Sweatband. Check the exact term and cover when you buy, since it varies by retailer and region, and note that some third-party sellers carry shorter, more limited cover.
Care is the usual story. Seat the dumbbell in the tray before adjusting, do not drop them, and keep your receipt.
FitRank breakdown
Performance 4.2
A fast, fine-stepping dial and a sensible 24kg ceiling make them excellent for general and progressive training, with only the lack of higher top-end weight keeping them just behind the 1090i.
Build quality 4.3
A proven, best-selling design with coated metal plates and a comfortable rubberised grip, held a fraction below the 1090i by the two-year warranty and the usual moulded-housing caveat.
Value 3.6
Strong hardware, but often sold as a single, so a full pair nears the cost of complete pair-and-stand sets. Price up what you actually need before judging.
Features 3.7
The fine steps and rubberised handle are real, everyday-useful features, but there is no stand, app or holder in the box.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Bowflex 552i sold as a pair or a single?
What weight do the 552i go up to?
Do the 552i have finer steps than the 1090i?
Can you drop the 552i?
Are the 552i good for beginners?
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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