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The Bowflex SelectTech 5.1 Series adjustable bench is currently amongst the highest rated and most popular weights benches available, due to its excellent stability and variety of back support positions.
This product article aims to provide you with as much information as possible about the bench, from its design all the way through to the customer reviews from other people who have bought and used this in their own home gyms.
Design features
Whether you are looking for a weights bench that can support a range of dumbbell free weight exercises, or a bench that can slide under a smith machine bar for barbell workouts, the Bowflex SelectTech 5.1 Series Bench could be an excellent choice.
The solid frame design and raised base supports ensure the bench stays stable throughout the required reps and sets, while the back support and seat are well padded to provide an extra element of comfort.
In terms of the seat design, the padding has been contoured to provide better support for your legs than lower priced designs, with a locking pin allowing for quick adjustments of its angle.
Similar to the design of the 3.1 Series bench, the 5.1 Series features separate head and back support sections.
As well as helping to extend the length of the bench to cater for taller users, this also helps create more space around your shoulders when you need a greater range of motion for exercises such as dumbbell flyes.
Another great benefit of the Bowflex SelectTech 5.1 Series Bench is the addition of transport wheels. These combine with the curved handle at the front of the bench to make it easy to roll the bench out of the way when not in use, or even if you need to roll the bench under a power cage or smith machine for barbell workouts.
Bowflex SelectTech Adjustable Bench – Features Summary
- Transform any space into a personal free weight fitness center
- Adjusts to six different positions, 17-degree decline to 90-degree incline
- Comes with a removable leg hold-down brace for added decline position support
- Corrects posture and stabilizes positioning for a safe, muscle-building free-weight workout
- 30-Year warranty on frame, one-year warranty on upholstery
Wide range of positions and exercise options
The main difference between the 3.1 Series bench and this 5.1 Series design is the wider range of back support and seat positions.
As well as the flat, decline, incline, and vertical positions, there are now an additional 2 incline settings (30 degrees and 60 degrees).
The seat can also have its angle adjusted, which is a major benefit over the 3.1 and particularly useful if you plan on using the bench for its decline position, for exercises such as decline crunches.
By increasing the angle of the seat this helps to alleviate any lower back pain, allowing you to workout in comfort and remain injury free.
If you do enjoy these decline exercises, you will be pleased to know that the Bowflex SelectTech 5.1 Series bench also comes with a detachable leg support. This can be used for sliding your calves behind if you want to stop yourself from sliding down the bench with the back support in its decline position.
Customer reviews
As with the 3.1 Series, the 5.1 Series bench is currently one of the highest rated and most popular weights benches available on popular shopping sites such as Amazon.
There are currently well over 200 customer reviews, with the vast majority rating the bench at 4 or 5 stars (the highest possible rating).
Pros:
Although there are a wide variety of reasons for why people are so happy with this bench, the main benefits from these reviews can be summed up in the following points:
- Good width and length to support taller users
- Easy assembly, possible in less than 20 minutes
- Effortless to switch between positions
- Excellent stability
- Very supportive for your back
- Ideal for performing decline crunches
- Comfortable
- High quality, wipe clean vinyl upholstery
Cons:
As well as knowing the positives, it can also be useful to know any negative points found by people who have purchased the bench.
For a bench with hundreds of reviews there were actually very few negative points. The only real negative that was found by a few people was the gap between the back support and the seat when in a flat position, although a simple repositioning of the body on the bench usually resolved any issue.
Review Overview
Overall Rating
4.5 / 5
When it comes to buying any piece of workout equipment, it can be difficult to make sure what you're getting is of good quality, and that it actually meets all of your requirements.
Fortunately the Bowflex SelectTech 5.1 Series Bench is backed up by its popularity and highly rated reviews, but also by the lengthy 30 year warranty on the frame provided by the manufacturer.
Adjusting to six different positions including both decline and 90 degrees ensures that you can keep your workouts varied and effective, thanks to the additional exercises you can perform compared to a standard flat bench.
This bench is also great for correcting posture and its excellent stability, which count towards a safe, muscle-building free-weight workout.
Weight Limit: 300 lbs Product dimensions: 56" (L) X 26" (W) X 20" (H)
USA Home Gym gives in-depth insights into gym equipment, supplements, and fitness training methods. The motivation behind USA Home Gym is to provide you with information that goes beyond what you can find in any user manual, customer review, or other online review sites.
We go to great lengths to ensure that our reviews are completely comprehensive, usually covering everything from the design features to the warranty coverage and exercise options. This is all to help guide you towards the home gym equipment that’s best suited to your goals and budget, whilst also being the highest quality option in your chosen price range.
