This is an exact duplicate of a review I wrote on March 6, 2005. It and the other reviews were deleted for some reason.

Select Tech Dumbbells are the same things whether they are credited to Nautilus or Bowflex or both. The reason I really wanted these: space. Space is premium: not because I don't have room but because I like things as small as possible as a matter of policy (which is probably why I have room).

More Good: 1) They are well made: a) good quality plastic covered metal; b) the locking mechanism is sturdy and seems like it will last. [Another review, which was removed, covered this: that person was concerned if the locking mechanism could take being dropped. I hadn't thought of it since I've never dropped a dumbbell in my life but that's just me. I'll offer a guess that if you dropped it two feet onto a semi-padded floor, the mechanism should be fine. If you drop it six feet onto a concrete floor... you are on your own.] 2) The only wear-and-tear issue I see is the plastic coating itself. You *will* eventually get slide marks from constantly sliding the unit in and out of the base. I predict these will be cosmetic only. 3) The weight increment is 2.5 pounds through the lower half and 5 pounds through the upper half.

The Bad: 1) Cost, but a full set of dumbbells to cover the entire range these offer and a rack to hold them wouldn't be cheap either. 2) If you workout to muscle failure, guiding the dumbbells back into the rack can be troublesome. 3) (Why I returned mine:) The dumbbells are long enough to prevent *me* from ideal form during exercises using both dumbbells in close proximity: upright rows, bicep curls, etc. Depending on your build, YMMV. 4 stars

I have owned these dumbbells for almost a year. They are convenient, nice looking, easy to use; perhaps, a little too bulky for some excersices, so they in the way. Now about an accident that happened to me last week. As I was doing chest flys, weight from one of the dumbbells came loose and almost killed my dog, who has a habbit of lying next to the bench while I am working out. Obviously, it came completely unexpected, especially, since, I have never dropped or abused in any way. I called customer service, they didn't even appologized, however, they promised to ship me a new handle. Over a week has passed and hasn't even been shipped. I called them up today, they told its on a backorder, the same is for 5.1 bench seat replacement that I have been waiting for over a month. I own a number of their products and I have to say for the most part they are pretty good, buy their customer service is poor. I was thinking about buying Revolution, but now I don't think so. 4 stars

I've been keeping my eyes on this product for the last few years thinking it would be the perfect solution for me in my cramped workout area in my home. Finally this Christmas I bought them. Here's what I found:

Pluses:
- Eliminates the need to have many dumbbells.
- The stand was free on a promotion.
- The handle is fairly comfortable.
- Nice variety of weights to choose from.

Minuses:
- Bulky for a dumbbell.
- The weights shift as you are lifting them, making balance an issue.
- Have to adjust not one, but two dials to dial in the correct weight for each dumbbell and you dial them in opposite directions.
- The weights feel like they are about to come off. They didn't for me, but they just didn't feel solid.

Conclusion:
Bottom line on this one is try them before you buy them. They may be great for you, but for me they are awkward and that's why I returned them. I tried out a pair of PowerBlocks the other day and am going to go that route. They are more solid, easier to change weights, and smaller. Plus, the 5-45lb set is way cheaper than the SelectTech's at around $267 with free shipping. 3 stars

Like everything else Bowflex makes, the Select Tech's are a terrible value and poorly made. Give them credit though, they continue to brainwash us all into thinking they actually make a decent fitness product. If you're in the market for adjustable dumbbells try the Powerblocks or Ironmasters. Both are FAR better constructed and a MUCH better value. For $349, you can purchase a 5-50lb set of powerblocks that can later be upgraded to 90lbs or 130lbs per hand. The Select Tech's, at $400, will take you to a MAXIMUM weight of 52.5lbs per hand with no option of upgrading!! Come on Bowflex, at least understand what your competition is doing. After the adjusting mechanism broke on mine causing some of the plates to come flying off, I promptly returned them for Powerblocks and couldn't be happier. Weights are much easier to change, it's constructed from steel vs. plastic, and they are far more evenly balanced than the Select Tech's. Oh yeah, Powerblocks also have a 10 year warranty vs. the 1 year for Select Tech. 1 star

Select Tech Dumbbells are the same things whether they are credited to Nautilus or Bowflex or both. The reason I really wanted these: space. Space is premium: not because I don't have room but because I like things as small as possible as a matter of policy (which is probably why I have room).

More Good: 1) They are well made: a) good quality plastic covered metal; b) the locking mechanism is sturdy and seems like it will last. 2) The only wear-and-tear issue I see is the plastic coating itself. You *will* eventually get slide marks from constantly sliding the unit in and out of the base. I predict these will be cosmetic only. 3) The weight increment is 2.5 pounds through the lower half and 5 pounds through the upper half.

The Bad: 1) Cost, but a full set of dumbbells to cover the entire range these offer and a rack to hold them wouldn't be cheap either. 2) If you workout to muscle failure, guiding the dumbbells back into the rack can be troublesome. 3) (Why I returned mine:) The dumbbells are long enough to prevent *me* from ideal form during exercises using both dumbbells in close proximity: upright rows, bicep curls, etc. Depending on your build, YMMV. 4 stars