Sunday, 1 December 2024

Weights Bench

10 Best Weight Bench Reviews 2024 | Ultimate Buyer Guide

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A high quality weight bench supports exercises that increase muscle size, strength, and endurance. But how do you find the best weight bench for your home gym?

The best part is that hundreds of designs are now available, suitable for anyone starting their first fitness program, through to seasoned strength athletes and serious lifters training for professional competitions.

This much variety means the barrier for entry is low, with benches available from as little as $40 for an ab bench (Confidence Fitness Pro) or $60 for a Flat/Incline/Decline bench (FID).

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to find the perfect weight bench for your home, complete with in-depth reviews of heavy duty benches that can support over 1000 lbs.

Discover the top 10 weight benches for 2022.

What Weight Capacity Should I Look For?

This is obviously one of the most important things to consider before buying any new weight bench, but you’ll also need to balance this with how much you plan to be lifting in the future.

Budget will also be a factor, as in the long term if you’re training for strength, it’s more cost-efficient to buy a high quality bench with a high capacity right from the start.

In most cases, the exercise you’ll be lifting the most weight in is the bench press, specifically the flat bench press or decline variation.

For the most affordable benches, the weight capacity could be as low as 200 lbs, whereas many of the high quality models from XMark Fitness are capable of supporting closer to 1000 lbs, yet still priced under $300.

Something worth bearing in mind is that unless it specifically states otherwise, the capacity is the combination of user weight and weights used. So if you buy a bench with a 500 lb capacity and you weigh 200 lbs, the most you could bench press within the limit would be 300 lbs.

Load capacity varies less by type and more by the manufacturer. For example, the Best Fitness Folding Bench from Body Solid features a folding design for around $150, yet still supports up to 500lbs. In contrast, the Reebok Deluxe Utility bench also supports up to 500 lbs, yet costs nearly twice the price and features a fixed frame design.

Best Weight Bench by Price

PRICE RANGE: $50-$200:

PRICE RANGE: $200-$300:

PRICE RANGE: $500+:

Top 10 Best Weight Benches For Home Gyms

ImageFeaturesRatingMore info
Capacity: 1000 lbs
1. Ironmaster Super Bench

1. Ironmaster Super Bench

  • Super heavy duty
  • 11 angles from decline to upright
  • Optional attachments
  • Perfect for dumbbell, Smith machine, cage or rack use
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Capacity: 550 lbs
2. Powerblock Sport Bench

2. Powerblock Sport Bench

  • Separate seat and back pad adjustment
  • 5 position back pad adjustment
  • Optional dip attachment available
  • 550 LB weight capacity
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Capacity: 1000 lbs
3. Body Solid SFID325 Pro Club-Line Bench

3. Body Solid SFID325 Pro Club-Line Bench

  • 2″x3″, eleven-gauge steel frame
  • Independent back pad and seat pad adjustments
  • Back pad adjusts flat, incline and decline
  • Seat pad adjusts flat, 10, and 18 degrees
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Capacity: 1000 lbs
4. Rogue Monster Utility Bench 2.0

4. Rogue Monster Utility Bench 2.0

  • 3 Pad options
  • 2 Bench height options
  • 3×3” 11 gauge steel
  • Front handle & built-in transport wheels
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Capacity: 1500 lbs
5. XMark XM-7604 Commercial FID Bench

5. XMark XM-7604 Commercial FID Bench

  • 11-gauge 2″ x 3″ rectangular steel frame
  • Ultra thick 3″ Duracraft cushions offer firm support
  • 7-position adjustment from full decline to military press
  • 3-position ergonomic seat
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Capacity: 300 lbs
6. Bowflex SelectTech 5.1 Series Adjustable Bench

6. Bowflex SelectTech 5.1 Series Adjustable Bench

  • 6 different positions
  • 17-degree decline to 90-degree incline
  • Comes with a removable leg hold-down
  • Corrects posture and stabilizes positioning
  • 30-Year warranty on frame
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Capacity: 430 lbs
7. Universal Five-Position Weight Bench

7. Universal Five-Position Weight Bench

  • 5 positions
  • Dozens of exercise options
  • Challenges your entire core and upper body
  • Contoured shape for a comfortable workout
  • Stabilizer levellers
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8. Marcy Diamond MD 857 Olympic Surge Bench

8. Marcy Diamond MD 857 Olympic Surge Bench

  • Adjustable seat and back pad
  • Adjustable preacher curl
  • Reverse walk-in squat station
  • Dual-function leg developer
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Capacity: 500 lbs
9. CAP Barbell FM-CB804DX Deluxe Utility Bench

9. CAP Barbell FM-CB804DX Deluxe Utility Bench

  • Full size utility bench
  • Seven-position back pad with chromed adjustment crescent
  • Three-position back pad with chromed adjustment crescent
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Capacity: 500 lbs
10. XMark XM-4414 Flat Weight Bench

10. XMark XM-4414 Flat Weight Bench

  • 500 lb. weight capacity
  • 36″ dumbbell storage rack for your most commonly used dumbbells
  • LIFETIME in-home warranty
  • Double stitched, tear-resistant Dura guard vinyl
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What’s the Best Weight Bench For Your Budget?

With dozens of brands producing hundreds of variations of weight bench, it can be difficult to decide on the best option for your home gym.

Even if you have a budget in mind, it can be easy to make a selection only to discover there was a better option that you didn’t find during your initial research.

That’s why we put together a quick guide to some of the best weight benches in each price category.

This is a selection of what we believe to be the best bench in each price range, but will also highlight several different options for different situations. e.g. The Powerblock Sport is the best overall under $200, but the Body Solid PFID125X would be the best foldable design in this price range.

Best Weight Bench Under $200 – Powerblock Sport Bench

The PowerBlock Sport Bench is the best weight bench under $200

Usually priced at around $199, the Powerblock Sport just makes it into our $200 category. It’s also one of the best adjustable benches on Amazon.

There were a few other benches that came close, including the XMark XM-4440 and the Body Solid PFID125X. But we chose the Powerblock for several important reasons.

Firstly, it’s capable of supporting the most weight. The 550 lb capacity is 100 lb more than the XMark, and 50 lb more than the PFID125X.

The back support also has a tapered design that provides greater support for your lower back. Narrowing at the shoulders means you retain the freedom of motion needed around the shoulders.

Attachment options was another big benefit. The Powerblock can be fitted with a SportBench dip attachment, with no attachments for the XMark and Body Solid.

Back support positions

One negative feature in these comparisons was the range of back support positions. The PowerBlock gives you 5 settings to choose from, while the other benches give you 7.

On balance, this wasn’t a big deal for us, because you still have the flat bench, incline, and upright options. The higher load capacity, transport wheels, improved lower back support, and a wider range of exercise options were the deciding factors.

If you need a decline setting or want a more compact weight bench, we recommend the Body Solid PFID125X. Its 500 lb capacity is similar to the PowerBlock, and the leg brace means decline exercises are now an option.

Best Weight Bench Under $300 – Ironmaster Super Bench

The Ironmaster Super Bench is our top choice of weight bench under $300

We made the first two price categories so close together because most benches are priced between $200 and $300.

It’s a competitive price range, featuring big-name brands, such as Bowflex, Valor Fitness, XMark, Nautilus, and Body Solid. The Ironmaster Super Bench is also a popular bestseller.

The Bowflex 5.1 is an adjustable weight bench with hundreds of reviews on Amazon. But the 300 lb capacity isn’t high enough for us to recommend this as the best option.

Likewise, the Valor Fitness DD-4 FID bench has some excellent attachment options, high quality padding, and a full range of positions. But its 650 lb capacity is still lower than many benches in this price range.

However, if this capacity supports years of future strength gains for you, then it could be the perfect choice.

Weight Bench Brands: Body Solid, Ironmaster, or XMark?

This brings us to three options; the Body Solid FID46, the Ironmaster Super Bench, and the XMark XM-7472 FID bench.

Each design offers a weight capacity of 1000 lbs+, with the XM-7472 rated at 1500 lbs. This makes them some of the strongest benches available for the home gym.

Although it doesn’t offer any attachments for lower body exercises, the Ironmaster was our top choice for several reasons.

Firstly, XMark benches will always have a gap between the seat and back support. The only one that doesn’t is the XM-9011 Power Series FID Bench, which usually costs around $400.

For some people, this gap won’t be an issue, and it’s only noticeable in the flat bench position. But it has been a common reason for lower ratings in customer reviews.

Putting this issue aside, the XM-7472 would be our top choice for full body workouts. You can even buy a removable leg developer attachment. This is an advantage over the Body Solid bench, where a fixed leg developer could restrict upper body workouts.

The Ironmaster Super Bench also has the widest range of positions (11) and some useful attachments for upper body exercises. This includes attachments for chin-ups, sit-ups, and dips.

Best Weight Bench Over $500 – Body Solid SDIB370

The Body Solid SDIB370 is our top choice of weight bench over $500

Most benches are available for less than $500. Anything more expensive tends to be a commercial weight bench, designed for large-scale installations, such as the Precor strength collection.

In the $500+ price range, you also see a lot more leverage weight benches from Powertec and Body Solid. These provide a fixed plane of motion and a safe way of lifting heavier weights at home without a spotter.

Although there are a few exceptions, FID benches generally stop at around $500. They’re replaced with these commercial, plate loaded or fixed Olympic bench/rack combinations.

For this reason, our top choice of weight bench over $500 is the Body Solid SDIB370. This is an excellent example of a high quality bench and power rack combination.

The bench in this package is the SFID325 ProClub Line. It features tapered back support that provides excellent protection for your lower back.

As we would expect from Body Solid, the weight capacity is amongst the best in its class, at 1000 lbs.

The squat rack is also capable of holding the same amount of weight, with a 14-position gun rack style design. It’s perfect for a wide range of exercises, from decline bench pressing to front squats.

Extended 17″ safety rails are provided to prevent the possibility of becoming pinned under the bar while lifting weights. The raised base sturdy frame also provides added stability when you’ve got heavier weights on the rack.

Best Weight Bench Brands

An important part of finding the best workout bench is deciding on a brand. But with so many fitness equipment companies to choose from, how do you know who to trust?

Our experts have performed dozens of weight bench reviews for some of the biggest names in the industry. Based on this feedback, we’ve shortlisted the best weight bench brands for home gyms.


1. Adidas

One of the biggest names in fitness apparel and exercise equipment, Adidas have a trusted reputation built on quality.

The most popular Adidas workout bench is their Performance Flat Training Bench, which usually retails for under $100. But they also produce an Essential Combo weight bench set, with a barbell, rack, and 100 lbs of plates.

If you need an adjustable weight bench, the Adidas Utility Bench gets excellent reviews, as does their Olympic Weight Bench. This has their highest weight capacity (600 lbs), but is one of the less affordable Adidas benches (around $380).


2. Body Champ

Known for their affordable home fitness equipment, Body Champ have two main workout benches. These are the BCB3780 Olympic Weight Bench, and the BCB5860 with preacher curl and leg developer attachment.

The main difference is that the BCB5860 has the bench fixed to the weight rack, whereas the rack for the BCB3780 is freestanding. This makes it similar to the Gold’s Gym XRS20.

Cheaper Body Champ benches are available, but they tend to have lower customer review ratings on sites like Amazon. Examples include the WB125 and BCB500, which is a compact weight bench with a butterfly attachment for the pec fly exercise.


3. Body Solid

Some of the best adjustable weight benches on the market come from Body Solid. Their FID benches support up to 1000 lbs of weight, with the FID46 and GFID71 being two of the bestsellers.

In addition to FID benches, Body Solid produce flat benches, Olympic benches, and leverage benches, in incline and flat weight positions.

The Body Solid workout bench is also covered by their in-home lifetime warranty. This protects you against any defects in materials or workmanship and includes the popular GFID71 design.

If you’re looking for an Olympic weight bench, we can recommend the GDIB46L, which also comes with a leg developer. You can also upgrade this high quality bench with a preacher curl station (GPCA1) or lat pulldown station (GLRA81).


4. Bowflex

Another of the most trusted names in home gym and weight bench design. Bowflex are creators of the bestselling SelectTech 3.1 and 5.1 adjustable benches, each of which has hundreds of Amazon reviews.

The main difference between the two workout benches is the number of back support positions. As you might expect, the 3.1 bench has 3 positions, and the 5.1 bench has 5 positions (excluding flat). Both benches feature a removable leg hold-down brace for stability in the decline positions.

Unfortunately, Bowflex don’t produce any Olympic weight benches or leverage systems.


5. CAP Barbell

CAP Barbell produce two of the top benches for the home gym. The Deluxe Utility Weight Bench and the CAP FID Bench are each usually available for less than $120.

They also produce several other affordable weight benches, in both flat and adjustable variations. You can even find several weight bench and barbell rack combinations, but they support less weight than Body Solid benches.

CAP are best known for their affordable fitness equipment, with thousands of reviews for their kettlebells and solid hex dumbbells on Amazon.


6. Gold’s Gym

Gold’s Gym is a name synonymous with bodybuilding. But their benches have never gained the same popularity as Bowflex or Body Solid.

Their bestseller is the XRS20 Weight Bench, with a steel frame and preacher curl pad for bicep exercises. You also benefit from a freestanding squat rack with adjustable safety spotters, which accompanies the workout bench.

Gold’s produce several other adjustable benches, including the XR 6.1, XR 6.0, and XR 5.9. They also produce an Olympic weight bench (XR10.1) and a Slant Bench (XR 5.9), which features a range of decline positions for ab workouts.


7. Ironmaster

Although they only produce one workout bench, the Ironmaster Super Bench is a careful balance of strength and affordability.

The back support can be adjusted from decline to upright and features heavy-duty foam padding for added comfort.

But what makes this weight bench special is the range of attachment options. You can buy a crunch sit-up attachment, dip handle attachment, preacher curl attachment, and even a hypercore attachment. This is useful for performing hyperextensions, to strengthen your core and lower back.

A chin-up attachment, leg curl attachment, and cable tower attachment are also available for added upper body exercises.


8. Marcy

Marcy are perhaps best known for their MD-9010G Smith Machine, which also includes their multi-function workout bench.

But they also produce a range of bestselling workout benches, led by the SB-315 Flat Utility Bench. Usually available for less than $60, this currently has more than 1000 reviews on Amazon, with a capacity of 300 lbs.

Marcy have an excellent reputation for customer service and build quality. Their fitness equipment line includes folding benches, Olympic weight benches (MD-857), and even a bench with a pec fly attachment (MD-389).


9. Rep Fitness

Rep Fitness are quickly establishing themselves as a leader in home gym equipment, ranging from battle ropes to plyo boxes.

You can find several of their best weight benches on Amazon, including the FB-3000 flat bench, and AB-3100 adjustable bench. Each design carries a 1,000 lb load capacity and near-perfect review scores.

In case of wear, replacement bench pads are available, but the warranty is a far cry from Body Solid. All Rep Fitness workout benches are warranted free of manufacturer defects for just one year, compared to a lifetime warranty for Body Solid.

This is factored into the price, where Rep Fitness benches are slightly more affordable.


10. Rogue Fitness

Since its humble beginnings in a garage back in 2007, Rogue Fitness has come a long way. Its proudly American attitude and mission to source locally have proven a hit.

One of the heavyweights in home gym equipment, Rogue Fitness supplies equipment ranging from rigs and racks to push sleds and weight benches.

You’ll find some of their smaller items, like wrist wraps, on Amazon. For weight benches though, we recommend cutting out the middleman and heading straight to Rogue Fitness

The brand offers a variety of weight benches including adjustable benches, fold-up options, and hip thruster benches. All with great reviews and high ratings. 

The Rogue Monster Utility Bench 2.0 is one of our favorites, due to the 1000+ lb weight capacity and convenient rear wheels. The wheels and the front built-in handle make it easy to pick up the bench and pack it away. It can even be stored vertically, for a quick space-saving option.

This bench offers standard pads, the Competition Fat Pad, as well as the firm Thompson Fat Pad. Perfect for those needing extra support. 


11. Universal by Nautilus

Universal are best known for their 5-Position Weight Bench, but its 250 lb capacity is lower than the 300 lbs supported by Bowflex SelectTech benches. The 250 lbs is a user weight limit, with a total supported lift load of 430 lbs.

Nevertheless, it’s still a high-quality workout bench and has hundreds of highly rated reviews.

Universal also produce a Decline Bench, which has a 200 lb capacity and fixed leg brace for ab workouts.


12. Weider

Weider is one of the most recognized brands in the health and wellness industry, selling bodybuilding and sports supplements. But they also have a range of home gym equipment, which includes the Weider Pro 225 Slant Board, 395 B Olympic Bench Press, and 265 Weight Bench.

But as with Gold’s Gym, their fitness equipment hasn’t proven as popular as Body Solid, Bowflex, or XMark.


13. XMark Fitness

XMark are one of the biggest names when it comes to the adjustable weight bench, with more than a dozen to choose from.

Two of their bestsellers are the XM-7604 and the XM-7630. Each design supports up to 1500 lbs, and because they’re FID benches, positions include decline, incline, and military.

XMark also have FID benches with preacher curl attachments (XM-4419), Olympic Weight Bench systems (XM-4424), and flat utility benches with dumbbell storage (XM-4414).

Because of their high capacity, XMark weight benches are ideal for both dumbbell and barbell workouts. They’re also available at a similar price to the Body Solid benches.

How Many Incline Settings Do I Need?

One of the reasons a weight bench is so popular for home and commercial gyms is its versatility.

Depending on the type, a good bench is capable of supporting dozens of different exercises for every major muscle group. This includes leg extensions, incline dumbbell presses, dumbbell pullovers, and decline sit-ups.

Your standard decline angle won’t be much steeper than -10 degrees, and you’ll often only have one decline setting. From there, you’ll move onto a flat position, then a series of incline angles, until you reach upright.

Of course, this is only true for FID benches, which is the style we recommend for 95% of home gyms.

With a FID bench, all you need are 2 or 3 incline settings between the horizontal and upright positions.

In most cases, you can also adjust the seat, to improve your stability during the incline and decline settings.

An Alternative to FID Weight Benches

Fixed position designs only have one angle setting, while ab boards usually have closer to 12 decline settings. These are the most popular alternatives to a FID bench.

Ab boards are very different to your standard weight bench, but still worth a mention. Their wide range of decline settings acts as intensity levels, similar to the weight plates on a barbell.

By raising the height of the leg brace, you’re making sit-ups and crunches much more difficult, even using bodyweight.

If you’re interested, we recommend the XMark XM-4416 or the XMark XM-7608 as two examples of high quality ab boards.

Do I Need a Decline Bench?

ValorFitnessDF-1DeclineBench
Not all decline benches are as steep as the Valor Fitness DF-1

Every variation of the bench press will recruit your pectoral muscles to some degree. The decline just does a better job of focusing the weight over your lower chest.

This results in better overall chest development, which can be useful for both competing and maintaining a well-balanced physique.

As with squats, flat bench pressing isn’t the best exercise for everyone. For some people, a combination of incline and decline pressing will work better than flat and incline. This is due to the reduced load being placed on your shoulders and rotator cuff.

Even with the strictest form, it’s easy for your shoulders to tire before your chest muscles. If this is the case, the decline can bring up your chest strength while you work on your shoulder strength.

You can buy benches that are set up purely for decline bench presses. But they’re usually found in commercial gyms, attached to a rack and with a platform for a spotter to stand.

For a home gym, a FID bench is much more practical and affordable.

FID stands for Flat, Incline, and Decline. It’s a style of weight bench that XMark Fitness and Body Solid are best known for.

There’s rarely much of a price difference between a flat/incline bench, and one that offers all three positions. That’s why we always recommend a FID bench, even if decline bench press isn’t currently an exercise in your routine.

Finding the Best Weight Bench For Your Height

Certain models of fitness equipment are better suited to specific user height ranges. This is the case with inversion tables, treadmills (due to the belt length), and elliptical trainers (due to the stride length).

With bench height, it’s not so much of an issue, as you only need to support your upper body. There’s also no negative impact if you don’t use the full length of the bench. That’s compared to fixed path ellipticals, which may cause you to run with an unnatural stride.

But after reading hundreds of weight bench reviews, we’ve never seen negative feedback caused by a short back support.

The length of a weight bench is usually less than 60″, with most Body Solid benches between 57″ and 58″. This is something to consider when you’re thinking about where it’s located in your home gym.

Where Will It Be Positioned?

One detail we include in all our weight bench reviews is the dimensions. This makes it easier to allocate a space in your home.

Finding the perfect location is usually something you need to do manually. But some companies now have room planning tools, to help you find the best space for your new equipment.

Precor, Life Fitness, and Body Solid are a few of the brands currently offering this service. Body Solid’s simple room planning tool even includes a catalog of their most popular benches.

From a premade room template, you can customize the dimensions, furniture, door openings, and even window positions. Then you can simply drag a weight bench onto the drawing, and decide on the best position.

This can also help with the decision-making process. You can find the bench with the best space saving design for your home gym. 

If you don’t want to buy a Body Solid weight bench, you may need to use the measuring tape approach. It’s just as effective if a little more time-consuming.

Will you need to move your weight bench?

Weight benches are usually very mobile pieces of gym equipment. They’re not very heavy, offer easy assembly, aren’t particularly bulky, and often come fitted with transport wheels.

You might need to move a weight bench inside a power cage/smith machine to perform different exercises. Having these transport wheels also makes storage easier when you finish your workout routine.

How Much Should I Spend On A Weight Bench?

High-end ellipticals and treadmills can cost over $10,000. In comparison, a weight bench is much more affordable, with only a few designs that cost more than $500.

Even better, the average price is nearer $200 for an entry-level FID bench or mid-sized rack and bench combination.

But we would recommend starting with a budget of $300 for your new weight bench. This gives you access to better quality FID benches, with higher weight capacities that support years of strength gains. They also tend to offer longer warranties.

By increasing your budget, you’ll be able to choose from some of the best weight benches available. This includes the Ironmaster Super Bench, the folding adjustable Body Solid GFID225, and the bestselling Bowflex 5.1.

These are 3 excellent benches, with the Ironmaster capable of supporting up to 1,000 lbs. It can also be upgraded with numerous attachments, while the GFID225 is a great compact folding option. Bowflex benches are some of the most popular on Amazon and support more than 30 exercise options.

We would always recommend waiting until you have the funds to buy a higher quality bench. In the long run, they’re much higher quality, with less maintenance, more attachment options, and a higher load capacity.

If you’re on a tight budget, we recommend the Marcy SB670 Utility Bench, and Nautilus Universal 5 Position Weight Bench. They usually retail for around $100, offer various incline positions, and are backed by hundreds of highly-rated customer reviews.

Best Adjustable Dumbbells

Setting up a home gym doesn’t mean you have to buy dozens of weight plates and different sized dumbbells.

If you want to save hundreds of dollars and have limited space, adjustable dumbbells could be your best option.

Two of the best brands are PowerBlock and Bowflex. The Bowflex SelectTech collection has thousands of reviews on Amazon and recently got upgraded, with the new SelectTech 560 set.

But there are many other dumbbell sets worth considering, from brands such as Universal, Gold’s Gym, and ProForm.

To help you find the best set for your workouts, we created a guide to the best adjustable dumbbells.

What’s the Best Type of Weight Bench?

Still not sure which type of weight bench is right for you?

To narrow down your options, it’s worth looking at some common design features. This includes the pros and cons of each type of design.

There are hundreds of benches available, but most fall into one of six categories:

1. Flat Weight Bench

Next to ab boards, the flat bench is always going to be your most affordable option. The problem is, you’re limited in the range of exercise options, due to the lack of incline settings.

Adidas Flat Bench

A flat bench is really only suitable for your standard flat bench press, with dumbbells or a barbell. But you can also perform lying tricep extensions, elevated single-leg squats, bench dips, and most of the basic exercises for various muscle groups.

A couple of designs also include a dumbbell rack underneath, as a built-in storage option. Some flat benches even fold down to slide under a bed or inside a closet, which helps to save space.

However, there isn’t much of a price difference between a flat weight bench and an adjustable FID bench. This is one reason why the flat bench has struggled to achieve the same level of popularity.

Pure Fitness have a few flat benches with a mediocre average review rating. But in our opinion, your best option would be the XM-7602 or preferably the XM-4414, with its built-in dumbbell rack.


2. Adjustable Weight Bench

An adjustable FID bench (flat/incline/decline) supports the widest range of exercises, thanks to the various incline and decline settings.

This is the type of weight bench XMark are famous for, with dozens of affordable variations. Most XMark benches have high weight capacities and support a variety of attachment options.

But the term ‘adjustable’ refers to any freestanding bench that supports angles other than that offered by a flat bench. They’re usually freestanding, rather than fixed to an Olympic bench press rack.

So, in addition to the Xmark Fitness benches, you should also consider designs like the Ironmaster Super Bench. The Bowflex 3.1 and 5.1 are two other bestsellers and the popular utility bench from CAP Barbell.

But how do you decide which is the best adjustable weight bench?

The designs mentioned above feature in our list of the 10 best weight benches for home gyms. Between them, they’ve gained thousands of highly-rated reviews, and are backed by companies with an excellent customer service record.


3. Olympic Weight Bench

Olympic benches come in two main variations – adjustable and fixed, with adjustable being the most popular.

ValorFitnessBF-39

One reason adjustable benches are more popular is that they’re usually more affordable, especially compared to the Precor designs.

But Precor benches are really meant for commercial gyms. You can still find a range of fixed Olympic benches at a similar price to the adjustable versions.

This includes the ProClub Line SDB351G and SFB349G from Body Solid, Valor Fitness BF-7, and the XM-4424 from XMark.

As the name suggests, Olympic benches are only suitable for Olympic barbells. These usually measure just over 7ft long and weigh 44 lbs.

If you need a bench and rack for 5ft or 6ft barbells, you’ll need a ‘mid-width’ bench. Two of the best standard weight benches worth a look are the Phoenix 99225 and Marcy Classic MD 859P.


4. Folding Weight Bench

A compact folding weight bench can help make the most of what you have if space is limited. Some benches even fold almost completely flat for storage when your workout is complete.

They’ve proven incredibly popular, with highly rated designs available from Marcy, PowerBlock, Body Solid, and XMark Fitness.

In our opinion, you should always remove any obstacles between you and your workout. This is why we prefer FID benches over folding.

But if the only option is a folding bench, check out the GFID225 from Body Solid and the PowerBlock Travel Bench. Both use quick and easy locking pin systems, with a 500 lb+ maximum weight capacity.


5. Abdominal Bench

An adjustable sit up bench is one of the best ways to train your abs, obliques, and other core muscles.

They’re usually available with back support and no seat, with an angled bar at the front. This is where you can control the workout intensity through a series of height settings.

Unlike the weight benches listed above, ab benches are designed for bodyweight exercises. You don’t have the resistance from barbells, dumbbells, or weight plates.

This can be an effective and affordable bench for any home gym. Especially if you already have a multi gym for upper and lower body muscle groups.

Adjustable ab benches are also convenient for training your core muscles if you don’t have space for a home gym.


6. Leverage Benches

If you’ve trained with resistance equipment at a commercial gym, you may already have used a leverage weight bench.

Body SolidL VIP Leverage Incline Press

They’re an incredibly safe way of performing heavy bench presses without a training partner. Weight pegs on the pressing arm can be loaded with Olympic plates, as you would with a barbell.

In terms of price, leverage benches aren’t the most affordable option. But if you have space, many of these machines support exercises with heavier weights than a multi gym.

Although XMark Fitness are one of the top weight bench companies on the market, they don’t make leverage benches.

Your best options are going to be Body Solid and Powertec, with some high quality designs from Valor Fitness.

If you want a corner leverage bench system that supports upper body workouts, we have two recommendations. The GLGS100P4 from Body Solid, and the Workbench Lever Gym from Powertec Fitness.

Are Weight Benches Worth It?

A weight bench is a worthwhile piece of equipment to add to your home gym. It’s incredibly versatile as it supports a wide range of exercises.

If you have not invested in one already, we recommend it. A flat bench, or one with different adjustment angles, is an excellent option for weightlifting because you can target several muscle groups in one workout session.

Even better, it’s ideal for women, men, lifting newcomers, and those at the top of their fitness game. But, this isn’t the only reason you should add a bench to your home gym. Take a look at these four top reasons to buy a weight bench. 

Natural Movement

Weight benches allow you to do the same types of exercises at home that you would perform at a gym using resistance bands or a machine. But, a bench gives you an edge. It allows you to follow your body’s natural movement flow. 

It also gives you a choice on how to move. You can isolate each side when lifting heavy weights. Think along the lines of concentration curls. Or, you can choose to target an entire muscle group with an exercise like the dumbbell press. 

Excellent Support

You can position a weight bench, especially an adjustable bench, to suit your body type and exercise. The bench keeps your spine straight and aligned while supporting your weight load throughout your training session. 

The backrest positions and bench padding offer comfortable support. And, the solid flat bench back helps by guiding your movements without restricting your joints. You achieve a controlled position without putting extra strain on your body. 

Easy Space Saver For Your Home Gym

The space-saving aspect of benches is perfect for home gyms. They can be used for convenient storage of weights and are extremely versatile.

Many of them can be adjusted and easily packed away after a workout. This makes them a convenient option for those who prefer a compact home gym setup. 

Multipurpose Equipment

The weights bench isn’t just for bench presses and concentration curls. You can use this equipment as support for Bulgarian split squats, weighted crunches, and box jumps. 

Benches also serve as a stable surface for decline exercises, such as decline push-ups or planks as well as for incline exercises, like the incline push up. As a result, you can train a huge variety of muscle groups while building strength. 

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