BowFlex 552 vs. NordicTrack Select-A-Weight: which adjustable dumbbells fit your home gym?

The BowFlex Results Series 552 and NordicTrack Select-A-Weight are solving the same room-sized problem: you want more than one dumbbell pair, but you do not want a full rack taking over the house.

This is a side-by-side call on which one is actually worth it. We checked BowFlex’s current product information and the identified retail listings, then compared the two systems by range, adjustment behavior, storage, and who is most likely to keep using them. Prices, sellers, included offers, and product variations can change.

Quick answer

• Choose BowFlex 552 if you want the more familiar dumbbell shape, a current Results Series system, and up to 52.5 pounds per hand. Start with our BowFlex Results Series 552 review.
• Choose NordicTrack Select-A-Weight if the listed 55-pound ceiling and 2.5-pound steps are more important than having the newest system. Read our NordicTrack Select-A-Weight review.
• Choose neither yet if you are still testing whether a strength routine will stick. The Amazon Basics adjustable set or a resistance-band set is a lower-commitment first step.

At-a-glance comparison

BowFlex 552: the familiar selectorized option

The BowFlex Results Series 552 is the easier recommendation for a buyer who wants a conventional dumbbell silhouette and does not want to think too hard about the format. The identified listing describes a 5-to-52.5-pound range per dumbbell, storage trays, and a system designed to replace multiple fixed weights.

That range covers a lot of home training: presses, rows, split squats, lunges, goblet squats, carries, and many accessory movements. The dial also reduces the plate handling that makes a manual set feel slow when a workout moves between light and heavy exercises.

The important caveat is that the 552 is still a selectorized system. Change the load in the tray, check that the selector is fully engaged, and keep the trays somewhere accessible. “Replaces a rack” does not mean “takes no room.”

Check the current BowFlex 552 Amazon listing or read the full BowFlex 552 review for the storage, JRNY, and buying checks.

NordicTrack Select-A-Weight: the range-first option

The identified NordicTrack pair is listed from 10 to 55 pounds per dumbbell, with 2.5-, 5-, and 10-pound increments. That gives it a small numerical edge over BowFlex and makes it attractive to a buyer who cares about squeezing a little more life out of the system.

The smaller steps are most useful when a workout benefits from gradual progression. They are less meaningful if your room, grip, or exercise selection makes the entire range difficult to use. A dumbbell that reaches 55 pounds but lives in a closet is not a better purchase than one that gets picked up several times a week.

The listing also separates the dumbbells from the iFIT ecosystem: membership is sold separately and is not required for basic use. That is good news for buyers who want equipment rather than another subscription. It is also a reminder to verify any trial, seller, warranty, or package details before checkout.

Check the current NordicTrack Amazon listing or read the full NordicTrack review for the adjustment and storage tradeoffs.

Which one is easier to live with?

The BowFlex is the more natural fit for a buyer who dislikes the block-like feel of some adjustable systems and wants the product to behave like a normal dumbbell as much as possible. The NordicTrack is the better fit for someone who values the listed 55-pound ceiling and a broader set of smaller increments.

Neither one is ideal for a shared training space where several people need to change weights rapidly. Fixed dumbbells still win on instant access. Both selectorized systems also deserve a safer handling routine than a cast-iron bell: change the setting in the tray, do not force a selector, and do not treat the equipment as something to drop after a set.

What should you buy first?

If you have no external load yet, a cheaper manual set or resistance bands can prove that the habit is real. If you already train consistently and your current weights are holding you back, the selectorized jump makes more sense.

Choose BowFlex when the product feel and current Results Series format are the priority. Choose NordicTrack when the extra 2.5 pounds per hand and smaller listed steps justify buying a system whose exact retail availability needs closer checking. If you need supported pressing and rowing positions next, add a foldable FLYBIRD bench only after the load source is being used.

Buying checks that matter

• Confirm that the listing is the pair and that the stated capacity is per dumbbell, not total.
• Verify the exact variation, seller, shipping, returns, and warranty before checkout.
• Measure the tray footprint and the space needed to lift the dumbbells out safely.
• Change selector settings only in the intended tray and stop if the plates do not engage cleanly.
• Compare the purchase with the current adjustable-dumbbell guide instead of assuming the newest or heaviest set is automatically the best value.

Final verdict

BowFlex 552 is the better familiar-format pick; NordicTrack Select-A-Weight is the better range-first pick. The difference is not large enough to ignore price, availability, storage, or the way you actually train.

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