BowFlex Results Series 552 review: is the new SelectTech pair worth the space?

The BowFlex Results Series 552 makes a familiar home-gym pitch: replace a rack of weights with one pair, then make the next set with a quick turn of a dial. That pitch is easy to understand. The harder question is whether the range and convenience will get used often enough to justify the purchase.

This is a research-based review, not a hands-on test. The current Amazon listing showed Amazon’s Choice and 3K+ bought in the past month when checked. It listed a 5-to-52.5-pound range per dumbbell, storage trays, and a 2-month JRNY trial. Those are useful demand and feature signals, but the seller, price, variation, and terms should be checked again before ordering.

The range is the reason to consider it

The important distinction is per-hand capacity. The listing describes up to 52.5 pounds for each dumbbell, which gives the pair a much longer runway than a low-cost 20- or 30-pound starter set. That makes the 552 more relevant for presses, rows, split squats, and other movements where a beginner set can become limiting quickly.

The range is not automatically the same as a full rack. A rack makes it easy to grab multiple loads, share equipment, and work without returning weights to a tray. The 552 is better understood as a compact compromise: broad enough for a lot of home training, but still one selectorized system with its own handling rules.

Faster changes, with a storage tradeoff

The dials are designed to reduce the interruption between exercises. That matters in a circuit, a full-body session, or any workout that moves between pressing, rowing, and lighter accessory work. The listing also describes metal plates and a locking system, plus non-slip handles.

The trays are part of the system rather than disposable packaging. They keep the dumbbells organized and give the selector mechanism a defined place to change loads. In a small room, that is still a footprint to measure. A pair that is technically compact can become annoying if it lives in a walkway or has to be moved before every session.

What the price is buying

The value case is not “these are cheap.” It is “these can prevent several future purchases.” If the buyer is already committed to home strength training, the range, recognizable brand, storage trays, and faster changes can make the premium easier to understand. If the buyer is still deciding whether a routine will stick, a manual set or resistance bands are safer first experiments.

The 3% Sports & Outdoors Amazon rate is not a percentage leader. It is worth including because the product has higher order value, a clear home-gym search intent, and natural links into benches, bands, workout shoes, and adjustable-dumbbell comparisons. That is a conversion and order-value thesis, not a claim that the commission is unusually generous.

Buying checks that matter

• Confirm that the listing is the pair and that the selected variation reaches the advertised per-dumbbell range.
• Measure the trays and the space needed to lift the dumbbells out without hitting a wall, bench, or ceiling.
• Change settings only in the intended tray and stop if a selector does not engage cleanly.
• Compare the live price with the PowerBlock Elite EXP and NordicTrack Select-A-Weight before choosing a format.
• Read the current return, warranty, and JRNY terms rather than relying on an older offer.

Final verdict

The BowFlex Results Series 552 is a high-range home-gym pick for someone who wants a broad loading range without giving a room to a full rack. It is less compelling as a first-ever fitness purchase, and the system earns its place only when the buyer will use the range and keep the trays accessible.

The current Amazon listing is the place to verify price, seller, variation, and return terms. Well Worth It Lab may earn from qualifying purchases, and the current Amazon commission table should be checked before forecasting earnings.