Bowflex SelectTech Stand with Media Rack Review

Adjustable dumbbells solve storage by packing a whole rack into one pair, but they leave one problem: the pair, plus its trays, still sits on the floor, so every set and every weight change means bending down to 24kg (552i) or up to 41kg (1090i). This stand fixes that by raising the dumbbells and trays to waist height, and adds a media rack for your phone or tablet.

It is a single-purpose accessory: it only fits SelectTech dumbbells, and at around £229 it is a significant add-on. But for the back-saving alone, many owners find it worth it, especially on the heavy 1090i. If you have a fixed or hex set instead, you want a multi-tier rack, not this.

The whole case for this stand is your back. A SelectTech pair lives in its trays, and those trays sit on the floor. Every time you start a set or dial a new weight, you are bending down and lifting a heavy, awkward unit from ground level, which over a session, and over months, is a lot of loaded bending.

Raising everything to waist height means you lift from a standing position, with the dumbbell already near hip level. On the 552i it is a nice convenience; on the 41kg 1090i it is a genuine safety and comfort upgrade. The stand also keeps the trays aligned so the dial mechanism seats cleanly, which matters because mis-seating is a common cause of jams.

The built-in rack holds a phone or tablet at eye level, which is handy if you follow along with workout videos or an app between sets. It is a small addition rather than the main reason to buy, but it means you are not propping a device against a wall or looking down at the floor.

It is worth being clear about what the stand does not do: it holds the single adjustable pair and nothing else. There is no space for extra weights, bands or accessories. It is a dedicated home for your SelectTech dumbbells, not a storage solution for a wider kit.

At around £229 the stand is a serious add-on, often more than half the cost of the dumbbells it serves when they are discounted. That is the honest sticking point, and if you only ever train with the 552i at lighter settings, you may not feel you need it.

The calculation changes with weight and use. If you own the heavy 1090i, train often, or have any back sensitivity, the daily back-saving and the tidy waist-height setup justify the spend for a lot of owners. Buy it for the ergonomics, treat the media rack as a bonus, and skip it if you are happy lifting the trays off the floor.

Great for

• Bowflex SelectTech 552i or especially 1090i owners
• Anyone who trains often and wants to stop bending to the floor
• People with back sensitivity lifting heavy adjustables
• Those who follow along with workout videos and want a tablet holder

Not for

• Owners of any non-SelectTech dumbbells (it will not fit)
• Anyone storing a fixed or hex set (buy a multi-tier rack)
• Budget-focused buyers who are happy lifting trays off the floor
• People wanting storage for a wider range of kit

The Bowflex SelectTech Stand is a single-purpose accessory that does its one job well: it lifts your 552i or 1090i dumbbells to waist height, saving your back every set, and holds a tablet while it is at it. The catch is that it only fits SelectTech and costs around £229 on top of the dumbbells. For heavy 1090i owners and anyone who trains often, it is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade worth the money. For a fixed or hex set, the Northern 3-tier rack is the storage you want instead.