The 5 best weight benches for home gyms, according to experts
Weight benches are great tools for building muscle mass and strength. Check out these top picks from Rogue Fitness, Perform Better, FlyBird and more.
Both LaMarco and Kercher recommended the Rogue Fitness 2.0 as a premium flat bench option for advanced lifters. “This would be the pinnacle of flat benches for home,” said LaMarco. The frame is constructed of steel and comes in several options for height and pad thickness. You can get the bench in Shorty (15.25 inches with a standard pad and 17.5 inches with Rogue’s Fat Pador Standard height (17.5 inches with a standard pad and 19.75 inches with the Fat Pad. The Standard Pad is 40 inches long and 2.5 inches thick; the Fat Pad’s length is 50 inches with a 4.5-inch thickness. The bench has a single-column front foot design, which Rogue Fitness says gives lifters more room to place their feet while lifting and allows users to store the bench vertically. It also comes with rubber foot pads as well as two wheels on one end to make transport easier.
Kercher recommended this bench as a lower-cost adjustable option, suitable for someone who needs a bench that’s easily transported, or a beginner who doesn’t want to break the bank. You can switch between 12 angle settings — from -20 degrees to 80 degrees and its triangular support structure and extended leg stabilizers give the bench added stability. The bench, which has a weight capacity of 800 pounds, is also foldable and can be used by people as tall as 6 foot 4 inches, according to Fitness Reality.
Jennings described this bench, which has a welded frame, as “top of the line” and recommended it “if you’re looking to splurge.” She called it a great choice for seasoned lifters because of its durability. The bench back is adjustable to five different angles — 0, 20, 35, 45 and 82 degrees — and the seat also has five adjustable settings. The bench comes equipped with a hydraulic piston assist to help with bench adjustments and a handle and wheels for added portability, according to the company. The bench weighs 100 pounds and has a weight capacity of 1,000 pounds, says the brand.
Jennings recommended this adjustable, foldable bench as a quality space-saver that’s great for beginners. It’s also Select writer Barbara Booth’s personal workout bench of choice: “ You get a lot of value for the money. It has enough incline/decline settings for the average user, it’s comfortable because it has a nice wide seat and backrest, and it comes almost completely assembled ,” said Booth. You can adjust the bench to six different angles and the seat to four different positions. The frame is made of steel and can hold up to 600 pounds, according to the company. In Jennings’ experience the angle adjustments are simple and the price is reasonable. “It’s held up well for me even with heavier weight, and the cushioning has also been both comfortable and supportive,”said Jennings.
Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
