Benches are a must have piece of equipment for anyone looking to build a home gym. I’ve researched many products and found the Bowflex 5.1S to be the best foldable weight bench overall.
I’ve used many benches in my time working out, so I have a lot of experience using this type of fitness equipment. I’ve also heavily researched the products in this list to ensure that I relay the proper information to you so you don’t have to do a ton of research to find the right bench for you.
The Bowflex 1.5S is my top choice because of its well made design and ease of storage. It doesn’t have the weight limit of some of the other benches on this list, but is still quite high and will support the majority of users. It’s adjustability and comfort makes it a solid choice for your home gym.
You will find the Flybird benches are great for their great amount of adjustable angles and space saving capabilities. The RitFit is a great jack of all trades bench that is not killer on the budget. The SuperMax and the Barwing both have the best adjustability and weight capacity with decent mid range prices.
Keep reading to find the best bench for your home gym.
Roundup Review
Here are my top picks for you:
- Bowflex 1.5S
- Flybird Weight Bench
- Flybird Adjustable Bench
- RitFit Adjustable Bench
- SuperMax Adjustable Bench
- Barwing Adjustable Weight Bench
Bowflex 5.1S
The Bowflex 5.1S is the top choice bench for those looking to add to their home gym due to its versatility and simplicity.
Unfortunately, this bench is not foldable for storage. What I do like about this product is you can stand it up on one of its ends, which makes for easy storage in a closet. This is great if you don’t have a garage to store your bench in. It also has some wheels and a handle built in to allow for easy transport when you’re moving from storage to a workout area or vice versa.
This bench has a 600 pound weight capacity. It is not the highest on the list, but it’ll definitely allow you to bench 225 even if you’re 300 pounds! It’s also quite sturdy, so it won’t move around much at all while you’re using it.
This bench has 6 different adjustable angles and two adjustable seat angles. What I like about it is the ease of adjustability. All you have to do once you’ve decided the angle you want is to pull a pin and slide the bench into a solid and stable angle of your choice. There is no screwing and unscrewing of a pin in order to adjust the bench or the seat. A foam leg holder is also included with this bench. You will have to unscrew it and take it off the bench if you do not want it.
Another thing I like about this bench is the padding. It has a nice, textured foam padding to give you extra grip while using the bench so that you won’t have to worry about sliding around when you get sweaty.
This is the priciest bench on this list, so keep that in mind if looking to buy.
Overall, this bench is great for beginner to intermediate lifters, but the low weight capacity may leave you wanting a bench with a greater weight capacity if you’re more advanced.
Flybird Weight Bench
The Flybird Benches are another common top choice for those looking for a bench for their home gym.
This bench will save a lot of space when you need to store it. You simply have to pull out the two adjustable seat pins and the center pin and then fold the bench in half. It will easily fit in a small closet, or you can hang it up since it has a handle near the center pin. It can be stood up on its side to save even more floor space.
The weight capacity for this bench is 800 pounds, so this is a very sturdy bench. You will not have to worry about exceeding the weight limit for this bench unless you are a very advanced lifter.
This is an incredibly versatile bench when it comes to adjustability. There are 7 back positions and 3 seat positions, which will give you quite a wide array of exercises to do. Like with the Bowflex 5.1S, switching between angles is easy and seamless. All you have to do is pull the pin and slide the bench to the desired angle and reinsert the pin. In addition, you can easily move the leg holder out of the way by tilting it down if you don’t like using it.
This bench has comfortable padding like many others. A common issue found among many reviewers is the height of the bench. It is 21 inches in height, so it can be a bit difficult to get your feet on the floor to get a good base for doing pressing movements.
This bench is a bit pricey, but not as much as the Bowflex 5.1S.
This is a solid bench to add to your home gym, so long as you can get past the height issue.
Flybird Adjustable Bench
This is another great and cheaper variant of the Flybird Bench listed above.
This bench folds much like the one above. Simply remove the adjustable seat pins and the center pin and then fold the bench in half. This makes for easy and convenient storage in a closet. It has a handle by the center pin, so you can hang it up as well for storage.
This bench has a 600 pound weight capacity. This is on the lower scale on this list, so don’t expect to be doing very heavy lifts. You can definitely do a 225 bench with a 600 pound limit, but you will eventually need a better bench as you become more advanced.
There are 6 back positions and 4 seat positions, so it’s very adjustable. Making the adjustments is easy as you simply need to remove the pin and slide the bench to the angle you want and reinsert the pin.
The main issue with this bench comes from its size. Many customer reviews indicate that it’s a short bench, meaning it could be uncomfortable if you’re a taller individual. Also, some customer reviews have noted that the decline positions of the bench are inadequate/uncomfortable for exercise.
This is a fairly cheap, but good quality bench.
This is a well made bench that will make a great addition to your home gym, but keep in mind the size of the bench and the weight limit are both small compared to others on this list. This will be a great bench for you if you are a beginner or a smaller individual.
RitFit Adjustable/Foldable Utility Weight Bench
The RitFit Bench is a great contender for this list.
You can fold up and store this bench like many others on this list. If you leave the leg holder on, it may stick out a little when folded up, so it can take up a bit more space than some of the other benches.
This bench has a maximum weight capacity of 800 pounds, which is very good.
You can use 5 different back angles and 4 different seat positions with this bench. This one is much like the others in that there is a pin that you pull to adjust the bench. It comes with an additional step though; you need to turn the pin just a little before and after adjusting.
Comfort wise, this bench has some thick padding with actual leather for its material. It doesn’t have much grip to it though, so it can get a little slippery if you get sweaty. Also, the bench is quite low to the ground compared to most benches, standing at a height of 16 inches. This may be a little awkward, but not too bad for most users.
This is a fairly cheap bench compared to the others, especially for a lot of the great features it has.
This is a great budget bench for those looking to add to their home gym.
SuperMax Adjustable Weight Bench
This is another great bench for those who are looking for a good starter bench on a budget.
You can store this bench in a closet if need be, but it doesn’t save as much space as some other benches on this list. It doesn’t fold in half like many of the others, but its legs do fold down, allowing for storage up against the wall.
This bench has a high weight capacity of 800 pounds, making it very good for most fitness levels.
You can adjust the backrest to 6 different angles, but you can’t adjust the seat angle at all. Adjusting is easy, as all you need to do is pull the backrest back and then slide the stopper into the bracket you want. This bench by far has the quickest and easiest method of adjusting the backrest angles.
Comfort wise, this is a pretty solid bench. It’s sturdy, though some customer reviews recommend a smooth surface to place this bench on, so carpet may not be the best place to use this. There is a small gap between the seat and the backrest, which can be a bother depending on your height. The foot bracket is solid, but there’s little padding, so this may prove to be uncomfortable for your shins.
This is a pretty solid starter bench for a cheap price.
I would definitely recommend this bench for those looking for a bench for their home gym.
Barwing Adjustable Weight Bench
The Barwing is the last bench on this list, but certainly not the least.
You can fold this bench in half and store it away easily. You simply need to remove the center pin and fold the bench in half and store it in a closet out of sight. There are also wheels on the bench which makes for easy transportation.
This bench can hold up to 800 pounds. This is great since you will be able to do heavy lifts on it. It’ll last whether you’re a beginner or advanced lifter.
This bench has 8 possible backrest positions and 3 seat positions. It adjusts just like the SuperMax bench above. To adjust it, you simply pull back on the backrest or seat and slide the stopper into the bracket you want. This is basically a more versatile version of the SuperMax bench.
This bench comes with decent padding, but there is no grip, so if you get sweaty you may find it will get a bit slippery.
The price for this bench is midrange compared to the others on this list.
Overall, this is an excellent bench that is easy to adjust and good for storage, but a bit costlier than some of the others.
Buying Guide
Take these factors into consideration before you buy a bench for your home gym.
Space
A bench is going to take up a decent amount of space. Before purchasing a bench, ensure that you have adequate space and storage for a bench.
Max Weight Capacity
You ideally want a bench with a max weight capacity of at least 600lbs, but ideally 800-1000lbs. Take into account not only your own weight, but the amount of weight you’re using on the bench as well.
Adjustability
A bench with several adjustable angles will give you more exercise options. Attachments are a bonus, but you are mainly looking for a bench with many different angles.
Comfort
You want to make sure the bench you’re using is comfortable so that you can focus on your exercises. You don’t want to have to worry about comfort when pressing heavy weights.
You also don’t want to have to worry about falling off the bench while training.
Price
Most benches range from $50-$300. Higher priced benches generally have more adjustability and higher weight limits.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about benches.
What exercises can you do?
There are many exercises you can do using a bench for all parts of your body. I won’t list all of them, but here are a few you can do if you have a bench:
- Bench Press/Dumbbell Press
- Incline Press
- Decline Press
- Shoulder Press
- Flys
- Rows
- Dumbbell Face Pulls
- Tricep Kickbacks
- Skullcrushers
- Bicep Curls
- Bulgarian Split Squat
- Hip Thrusts
Is A Weight Bench Worth It?
Yes, a bench is worth it. I’ve had one for a long time and it has helped immensely in my journey due to its versatility.
Is it Safe?
Keep in mind the weight capacity of the bench and the weight of the exercise you’re doing. Make sure to pick a bench that can carry your weight and the weight that you’re lifting.
Be careful when doing exercises such as flys and pressing movements since there will be more freedom of movement in your shoulder. If you pick a weight that’s too heavy, you may injure your shoulder if on the bench.
Final Verdict
The Bowflex 1.5S is overall the best choice for your home gym.
It is a versatile piece of equipment with great comfort, adjustability, and a decent weight limit. You can easily store it when not in use and it is very well made. It is a bit on the pricier side, but for the quality you’re getting, you cannot beat this.
Whichever choice you make, a bench will greatly enhance your workouts and home gym.
