AdjustableBench
What makes a good adjustable bench?[edit | edit source]
- Solid. No wobble in pads/hinges/ladder/pop pins.
- Not too heavy to move around (11 gauge steel, < 100lbs, wheels)
- No wobble on uneven floors. Tripod frame. (see Cybex 16001 example below)
- Easy, fast, accessible and durable adjustment mechanism (bad: broken pop pins on cheaper benches)
- Pop-Pins: easy to grasp? (sweaty hands? see "grip handle" picture below)
- Pop-Pins: are they all the way in? Some pop-pin arcs wobble or the pop-pins don't line up with the holes (see below)
- Ladder/Pop-Pin Arc: Will paint scrape off over time? Stainless?
- No (or very small) pad gap! - Gaps can be uncomfortable and shouldn't be necessary (shouldn't need a separate flat bench)
- Example: Cybex 5435 and Rogue AB 2.0 have a high hinge and firm pads; PowerLift dumbbell bench has gap eliminating linkage system
- Height should be ~17" (or less) to the top of the pad when flat so your feet can be easily planted on the ground
- Competition bench height is 16.5”-17.5” (42-45cm)
- Covered feet (rubber/uhmw) to prevent movement while in use & scratching/damaging home gym flooring
- The height of the bench should be low (~17" or less) WITH the rubber feet attached
- If a taller bench is desired, thicker feet could be an option
- Durable and firm but comfortable pad (not slippery), ~11.5" wide
- Competition pad width is 29-32cm
- Easy to read adjustment angles (label the angles of incline)
- Narrow/tapered seat so legs aren't forced to splay (uncomfortable during some dumbbell exercises)
- No obstructions around your feet (leg holders, frame tubing, handles)
- Back pad should overhang wheels so it fits in racks with a crossbeam (see frame overhang below)
- Frame should fully support the back pad plywood to the edges so it doesn't crack (see frame support below)
- Back pad screws should be anchored in the pad's plywood so they don't spin freely or pull out (like on some cheaper benches)
- Upright storage option (rear support foot) so it doesn't take up much floor space in a home gym
- Prefer the handle to be accessible
- Comfortably reachable and centered under the seat (see:Rogue AB-2 but not free swinging causing paint to chip)
- Not on the ground where you must bend way over to grab it (see:Elite bench)
- Not off center where your legs can rub/hit it (see:RC bench)
- Removable wheels? (& wheel attachments) - see bench being impeded by rack crossbeam below, or example2 (foot reversed so wheels don't hinder bench positioning)
- Some benches are reported to have hard plastic squeaky wheels (Rogue AB 2.0), while others have soft yet sturdy quiet wheels (Rogue AB-3)
Cybex 5435[edit | edit source]
The popular Cybex 5435 has many of these features but unfortunately is not manufactured anymore
- well designed, solid, easy & fast adjustments, height to top of pad: 16.5"
- unfortunately the successor bench, the Cybex 16000 & 16001 has a much larger pad gap and wobble and hole alignment problems
Frame design[edit | edit source]
- Compact design, minimal pad gap, easy to maneuver, and sexy
- Sturdy frame transfers load directly down to the ground under the high stress areas
- Bench shouldn't tip when performing exercises that put weight on one side of the bench, ex: barbell hip thrusts
- Bench legs shouldn't impede dumbbell exercises, ex: chest incline dumbbell rows
- 3 points of contact so the bench doesn't rock on slightly uneven floors
- Noteworthy example: The Cybex 16001 corrected the flat floor level tube of the 16000: "Contact with the floor is by a footpad and all floor level tubes are well above the floor to insure that a high point in an uneven floor cannot cause the bench to rock." and "All of the benches have been redesigned so that there are no end caps. "
- Also see the back of the frame of: Nautilus style benches, Powerlift dumbbell bench, EliteFTS 0-90/WS Signature bench
- Flat steel plate feet & no wide fat back beam to trip over! (many benches have an unnecessarily wide protruding flat back beam/foot)
Pad gap examples (Cybex 5435/Rogue AB-2/3/Sorinex NP/Rogue AB2)
Frame overhang[edit | edit source]
- Unlike many benches the Cybex 5435's back pad extends past the rear frame so it is still usable if the wheels hit a rack's crossbeam
Powerblock bench wheels extend past pad
Frame back pad support[edit | edit source]
- Frame should fully support the back pad or the unsupported plywood could split requiring ugly repairs
- Especially important when leaning on one side of the bench (one arm rows) or when performing step-ups
Omni Fitness Frame full steel pad support
Reflex bench back pad supported by frame
Adjustments & Decline option[edit | edit source]
- Life Fitness used to make a bench with a frame similar to the 5435, but with an arc adjustment mechanism and pop-pins. It had a large pad gap and did not have a true tripod frame but the front foot was small and didn't get in the way. It was originally made by HighTech before Life Fitness bought them in 1995
- Hoist used to make a bench with a similar frame but it also had a large pad gap and did not have a true tripod frame, while the Quantum QWT-130 did have the tripod frame
- The Yukon 0-90 bench also has a similar frame but is otherwise a very poor imitation of the original ($420)
- The Nebula/Rae Crowther Awesome bench has a smart detachable leg holder (the seat remains narrow and the bench offers decline! unfortunately it has large pad gap)
- The Rogue AB-2 is a re-brand of the Awesome bench but doesn't offer the decline attachment while the Rogue AB-3 offers rollers for leg support
- The Cybex tripod frame still seems to be the superior design: stability without an obtrusive frame, and minimal pad gap!
- If looking for a pop-pin style bench see the Life Fitness arc design below -- the pop-pin barrel looks to be well supported by both sides of a support tube, the arc is centered and can't be mistakenly welded in the incorrect location nor can the pop-pin be unaligned, and the frame is protected from being scraped by the chromed arc.
Nebula/RC bench with decline attachment $1100
Nebula/RC Awesome leg holder (notice the properly angled tightening knob to prevent rattle, which is not on the AB-3)
RC (blue) / Nebula (white) / Rogue (black) arc & pop-pin support
Legend Bench arc / RC bench arc (zinc coated)
- Notice the thickness of the Awesome bench's adjustment arc compared to the thin steel of cheaper benches
- (see video of the RC bench: youtube) Hear the confidence instilling sound when the pop-pin locks into place, and notice the complete lack of wobble or slack when the bench is lifted
- Should the pin go all the way through the arc/spine? Rogue response: " ... there is some minor fluctuation between parts ... as long as there is >50% of the spine hitting the pin it isn't an issue"
- Prefer the adjustment mechanism (arc or ladder) not to be painted to prevent future chipping, see Legend arc above (but not covered in cheap flaky chrome!)
- Solid frame integration of the pop-pin since all weight is on that one pin! (not like the cheap & dangerous ones that easily break off!)
- The Life Fitness bench also appears to have plastic frame protection to prevent the arc from rubbing against the metal frame
Compare other bench styles[edit | edit source]
Ladder benches[edit | edit source]
Barbarian Warrior Wide $499 AUD (tripod frame)
Pendulum Utility Bench $850, 148lbs
Dynamic Ultra Pro (20" height, 3x3, 140lbs)
Dynamic Accell (19" height, 100lbs)
GopherSport IronRange $469 (2x3, 18", 60 lbs)
MaxWOD bench $439 (Dynamic) (Height: 19")
EliteFTS Collegiate $675 TSS WS 0-90 $699("shortest pad gap"?)
Reflex bench $871 (6 positions,110lbs, full frame backpad support, narrow gap, narrow seat, wide backpad)
Powerlift bench $1000 (tripod frame, Height: 19 3/16")
Panatta bench (14 positions)
Sorinex NP $899 (6 positions, 120lbs, 18" height, low handle)
Torque XFIB $795 (105 lb)
Body Solid SFID325 ~$400 (big pad gap)
TAG Power bench (17.5"H, 12"W Pad, 8,10 gauge, 85lbs)
Edge Fitness Bench $500 (12"W Pad, 11 gauge)
Tuff Stuff CLB-325 (66lbs)
Powerblock SportBench $180 (pad gap, rear frame projects past back pad)
Raptor Adjustable Bench $400 (H: 21", Pad W: 11.5")
Esport Iron Bull 90 $395 CAD (17.5" H, 11.5" pad width, rubber feet, large pad gap when flat)
Fringe Sport Pro-Lift $399 (18.5", Pad: 11", 60 lbs)
Rep AB-3100 v3 $199 (17.5" height, 11.75" pad width) (v1 pic) (v2 pic)
AgileFit SFIB $379 (2x3 11g, 17.5"H, Pad: 12"W)
PR Lifting B2 $279 (18" Height, 80lbs, Pad: 11"W)
Tydax Bench $295 CAD (18" Height, 12"W Pad)
Lifeline Bench $300 (Height: 16.75", Pad: 12", 2x3 11gauge, 61 lbs)
Ladder benches with decline[edit | edit source]
- Benches with decline have a wider seat and add obstructions for your legs
- Some have bare metal on the ladder to prevent chipping of paint
Titan FID $190 (H: 18.25", Pad: 11.75", 88lbs)
Body Solid SFID425 $495
Vision ST780 11 gauge, 101lbs, 19" height
Barbells4Me $130 Wide seat but removable leg holder
Nautilus style ladder benches[edit | edit source]
- Adjustment ladder paint may eventually scrape/wear away
Get RX bench ~$300 (frame could be more compact/less protruding in the front/back pad doesn't extend past back wheels)
Hammer Strength style benches[edit | edit source]
Matrix MG-A82 (low profile - 17.8")
SportsArt A991 (104 lbs)
Technogym bench 130lbs
Telescoping/Other benches[edit | edit source]
Powerlift lever bench (no pad gap)
ProStar PS701 (225 lb)
Matrix MG-A695 (140 lb)
UCS bench $1150 (150+ lb)
PB Extreme Adjustable $399 (hydraulic piston assist, Back pad: 5 positions, seat: 5 positions)
Ironmaster $279 (20" height, Pad: 10.5"W)
Ironmaster Pro $369 (17.2" height, Pad: 10.5"W)
Promaxima FW-150 (100 lb)
Northern Lights Stealth $399 CAD $280 USD (Height: 17.5", Back Pad: 9.5" wide, < 90 lb)
Pop-pin benches[edit | edit source]
- Some have chrome on the adjustment arc or replaceable metal protection strips to prevent scraping of paint
RC Awesome $945 (10" pad, $150 optional foot holder)
RC Awesome 2017 $795 (optional foot holder)
Rogue AB-3 $935 (removable foot catch, 6" Pad Gap, Back Pad: 12" W)
Titan Decline bench $450 (Pad: 11"W, 92lbs)
Rep AB-5000 $499 (17.5"H, 12" Pad, 112lbs, Zero Pad Gap)
Rep AB-5100 $399 (17.5"H, 12" Pad)
Precor DBR0119 $1100 (106 lb, 18" Height)
Star Trac IP-B7506 (Height 20")
Precor bench (see worn/scraped paint on arc)
Esport T1039 $495 CAD (see replaceable metal protection on arcs)
Rep Polaris COM-1039 $399 (17.25" height)
Vulcan VR-75 $650 (17"H, 96lbs)
Omni Northstar $620 (Pad: 12")
Matrix G3-FW80 (frame: 3 points of contact, but unnecessarily long frame?)
Legend 3103 ~$560 (Height: 18" Pad: 10" (12" pad = +$25))
Rugged Y001 $279 (2x3 11g, 83lbs)
ATX Monster £945 (12 position, arc labels: youtube)
Strengthshop bench $275 (obtrusive front foot)
Again Faster bench $480 (wide front foot)
Tuff Stuff CDM-400 (82lbs)
Titan Fitness bench (~$115) (wide front foot)
Pop-pin benches with decline[edit | edit source]
- Wide seat forces leg to splay on some exercises
- Have leg support that can get in the way of your feet (some are easily detachable)
Legend 3164 $630 (detachable decline leg holder, but wide seat)