Customer Reviews:
 Solid product, great space saver October 3, 2008
I have only had them a few months but they seem to be well built and should last for years. They do feel bulky if you are using a lower weight exercise. You have a tendency to bump them together. The included video is a nice review. Saved about $100 getting them from Amazon (thanks for the free shipping). I'd buy them again.
 Best Dumbells out there September 30, 2008
These are the Best Dumbbells out there...I had a a reebok before this and the weights would keep on falling making it very dangerous...These are awesome...I can use them without and fear or hurting myself...and they grip extremely well and look really cool...They hardly occupy any space...Love Em!
552 Dumbbells September 24, 2008
No compliants as of yet. Have read that they break easy if you drop them.
Great product September 15, 2008
Great product. Cheaper online ($50) than in 3-4 different stores I checked. Free stand came with it. When purchsing at a store you have to purchase a tall stand for approx. 100 - 199. Also, the shipping was free and the delivery was on time.
Information filled review. August 29, 2008
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
I've been an Amazon shopper for a long time now, and when I decided to buy a set of these, I was very disappointed in the reviews. Not the scores, but the lack of information about these dumbbells. So, I did my homework from going to sports stores and trying them out to reading professional reviews, which weren't any better than the member reviews here, and now I've had these for a month or so and feel comfortable enough with them to review them completely and hopefully, informative enough to help you decide.
The design is very nice, these were originally known as the Nautilus Select Tech Dumbbells. Nautilus to me is a better known name than Bowflex is for quality, so take that into consideration when looking at these. Though the Bowflex name is on these, they are still made by Nautilus. These are high enough quality to be found in a professional level gym.
Some things that I questioned and couldn't find answers to, that I now know.
These dumbbells come in stands. The stands are not really enough, and I do recommend the 552 stand for them. But what these stands that come with the dumbbells are used for is to make it much easier to change the weight of the dumbbells. You sit the dumbbell in the stand, turn the knob on each side of the dumbbell to the desired weight, and the plates that you are not using, STAY in the stand. You finish that set and want to add 10 pounds, sit the dumbbell back in the stand, turn the dial to the higher weight and lift it back out. It is that simple.
I had read reviews that talked about changing 4 dials each time. This is true if you are using both dumbbells at a time. Two dials per dumbbell. Not four on one dumbbell.
I had read reviews that said the plates are plastic. Not true. There is a coating over the plates, but that does not mean the plates are plastic. The coating does cut down on clanking, especially when changing the weight.
Next up, the range of motion and bulkiness of these dumbbells, I do not have any problems with these. Here are a few exact measurements to let you see the difference.
I have a regular dumbbell, with the spin off collars that hold the weights on. With 50 pounds, 2x10 and 1x5 cast iron plates on each side, from end to end it measures 14 1/2 inches long, the weights are 7 inches high.
The Bowflex with all plates on it 52.5 pounds, is 15 1/2 inches long, the weights are 7 1/4 inches high.
The 1 inch difference in length is the 1/2 inch on each side for the dial. The difference is not the least bit noticeable.
Next, the amount of available weight. While I do agree that the price seems steep for a dumbbell that maxes out at 52.5 pounds, I don't think it is that much different than other sets. Here is what I mean.
I was sold on the idea that I should get the Powerblocks because I can use more than 52.5 per arm on several movements I do, but the Powerblocks, at the same price, actually a little higher priced for the Elites 50 pounds max, have to be upgraded for 239 more to give you 90 pounds per dumbbell. Which makes that set around 700 total or the same as the Bowflex 1090 which is also 700 dollars.
I include that to hopefully help anyone out that was stuck like me for well over a month, trying to figure out which would be better.
While it is true that these are not upgradeable, I'm finding that 52.5 pounds is more than enough for what I'm looking for. I'm no beginner by any stretch of the imagination, having lifted since the 80s. But, for a home gym that doesn't take up much space, these are perfect.
Last, in what I considered a strange practice, Amazon shipped these free through ABF. ABF is an excellent freight company, BUT I live in a community of condominiums. The guy called me and was laughing because he didn't think he could get his truck into the community. He was driving a small tractor trailer, not a delivery truck. He did get in though, but thought I would mention it if you order and see ABF as your deliverer that you might have some problems getting them delivered to your door if you live in a tightly packed area. He did offer to wait on me to come get them and said he would load them into my car and even ride to my condo with me and bring them in, if his truck couldn't make the turn.
All in all, I am very happy with these dumbbells. The supposed risks of using them are no more than any dumbbell has. When you turn the dial, you hear a clear click to let you know the locking mechanism has the weights secured. Once secured, these plates are not falling off unless by way of something very rare happening, which also is a risk with any weight training product. Do watch the price, it seems to be changing weekly, these were 20 dollars cheaper when I ordered them, but were 75 dollars higher when I checked them out months ago.
Hope this helps someone.
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