I don't remember when I first saw the infomercial for the Bowflex 552 SelectTech dumbbells, but what I do remember is that I was simply blown away. I figured that if they worked just like they claimed it did on tv, this set of dumbbells was a new generation in fitness and would be a big hit. For me personally, I could see that they were the closest thing to what I needed to work out in my small apartment.

As I got into my research I found that while there were reports of clips breaking, Bowflex SelectTech 552 dumbbells still had a solid base of raving fans.

With such a passionate fan base I decided that I'd investigate a bit further and weigh the positives against the negatives.

A huge benefit of using these dumbbells is that you can change the weights within seconds. Put down the dumbbell (it's better if you use the stand) then you can make adjustments to the weight in 2.5 lb increments very quickly just by turning a knob on the side of the dumbbell.

That means that you no longer need to have several pairs of weights to complete your workouts.

It's a significant benefit for those of us with small spaces - less room has to be dedicated to fitness equipment. You have the equivalent of a full set of weights with a much more compact footprint.

Let's talk about aesthetics. After all, the more enjoyment you get out of exercise the better. They resemble some type of high tech toy - the sleek fun design just reeks of modern electronic gadgetry.

Now, the hand grips. They feel sturdy and really comfortable in your hands even without gloves. They are made of rubber, not the textured metal so I'd be surprised if you had any issues with blisters or callouses.

I think the biggest hurdle is the price, but then I rationalized - it's not too bad if you compare getting a twelve different dumbbells instead. To me I like the benefits of the space you save, the fact that they're easily portable and the time you don't waste repeatedly putting a dozen dumbbells neatly away.

Something else to consider is that precisely because of the design, the dumbbells are always bulky even when you're lifting light weights. Basically the 'spaces' for the heavier weights are still on the rod, even though you don't need certain plates. Not a huge deal, but something to get accustomed to as the length might get in the way for some exercises.

My final verdict is that these dumbbells appear to be an excellent choice all the way round. What could make them even better? Let's hope that Nautilus/Bowflex finds a way to make the footprint of the dumbbell even smaller (slimmer, denser plates?) - now that would take an already exceptional product to an even higher level.