Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbells Review
Nautilus/Bowflex's new SelectTech dumbbells are free weight dumbbells that allow you a whole range of options from 5 pounds to 52.5 pounds per dumbbell. Basically, there are two dumbbells that rest on a stand and there's a series of disks inside the dumbbell. You twist the dial and just lift the amount of weight you want off the stand.
Review:
I'd seen all the Bowflex commercials but being more of a free weight guy I never was that interested. I had recently moved from a house to an apartment when I happened to see the Bowflex SelectTech infomercial. Because I'd moved into a smaller spot I couldn't take all my benches, bars, weights, and workout gear with me. So it was a pretty easy choice for me.
Shipping was on the slow side. It took about 3 weeks for them to come but once they got here it was very easy to set up the little stand and get started. SelectTech comes with an instructional video and directions/pictures for 30 exercises both lower and upper body but you need to buy their bench to do them all as that is not included with the basic dumbbell set.
After 3 months of use I am quite satisfied with my purchase. The Selectech dumbbells are sturdy and I can tell they're going to last for years. I was a little worried they would feel kind of awkward compared to traditional dumbbells. I had tried the similar PowerBlock adjustable dumbbells a couple years back and thought them kind of clunky feeling. The Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells have a streamlined look and feel that is comfortable to use in all the different exercises.
SelectTech Good Points:
Space efficient--great for an apartment or if you just have a small area set aside for a home gym.
Dumbbells lock in place on the selected weight so you don't need to worry about clamps.
Sturdy plastic weight disks that don't bang against each other so using the SelectTech Dumbbells is quiet.
From 2.5 to 25 you can raise the weight of the dumbbells in 2.5 pound increments. That's really nice for women or even for guys doing exercises like shoulder raises where it can be hard to go up in 5 pound chunks and keep good form.
SelectTech Bad points:
The cost of Select Tech if fairly high for some dumbells though if you look at it in terms of providing a whole gym's worth of equipment, it's not too bad.
The shipping is wicked relative to the price. You're looking at over $100. If there's any possibility of buying them locally I recommend you look into it.
The plastic stand isn't so hot. It doesn't feel as sturdy as the dumbbells themselves. Also it's kind of awkward facing the dumbbell just right to get it to slide back in. Definitely get the chrome metal stand if you can afford it.
Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbell Set
Review by Cole Mason
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