If you're building a home gym, then you need a weight training bench and some adjustable dumbbells. With these two basic home gym elements, you can get a great workout at home and avoid the cost and hassle of going to a commercial gym. You should be able to get a high-quality bench for around 0-0. A good bench will give you a challenging workout that develops strength, muscle tone, and your bones.
Tips on Buying a Weight Training Bench
There are so many models and makers out there, it's hard to know where to turn when you're shopping for a bench. You should decide what you want to do with your bench. For example, do you want a simple foldable bench that will allow flat bench presses only or do you want to be able to do other types of press as well? You also need to think about additional components, but be sure you'll really use them before you buy.
It's a good idea to look for a bench you can adjust for different types of exercises. You want to be able to adjust the back to different angles to work different muscle groups. One special tip: avoid benches that use bolts for making adjustments, as bolts usually mean the bench won't be very durable. A couple of extras are worth the additional cost: a rack for your barbells so the weight will be in the correct position before you start exercising and an inexpensive barbell set that includes dumbbells.
Three Great Weight Training Benches
There are too many brands and models to cover in one article, but three high-quality benches available through amazon.com stand out:
The Ironmaster Super Bench adjusts to give you 11 different angles for a variety of exercises. This 1000-pound rated bench (600 pounds for incline and upright) has a super strong steel frame, and you can add attachments like dip bar handles, crunch sit-up, and chin up bar. It comes already assembled. Eleven of 14 Amazon users gave it a 5-star rating.
The Powretec Fitness P-UB Utility Bench is a good all-around bench offering a low-to-the-ground design, rear wheels, and the ability to adjust up to 90 degrees from the decline position. You can also slide it in and out of a rack system easily. The bench has a 600-pound capacity. It costs less than the Ironmaster Super Bench, and two of two Amazon users gave it a 5-star rating.
Finally, Bayou Fitness Adjustable Dumbbell Bench is a versatile adjustable bench that's compact and inexpensive. You can adjust for seven bench positions from flat to upright and six preacher curl positions. The Bayou has a 300-pound weight. If you want get dumbbells as well, you can step up to the 2x50-pound dumbbell weight training bench package.
