
Flat benches have a single cushion and won’t have an adjustable back or seat, while the other two types will have one or both adjustments. Most weight benches available for home use (including the ones in this list) have capacities from around 600 to 1,000 pounds, which is well above what the average person will be reaching with dumbbells or a barbell.Īngle adjustability: There are three main types of benches: flat, adjustable incline, and adjustable incline-decline.
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A bench’s weight capacity, or the maximum amount of weight (user plus weights) it can support, is not as crucial to look at. “For adjustable benches, you should look for one that is 50 pounds or heavier,” suggests Dean Pohlman, a yoga and fitness instructor.

Generally, the heavier the weight bench, the more stability it can provide - but more weight might make it harder to assemble. That sturdiness comes partly from the construction of the bench, and partly from its own weight. “Whether you’re using it for barbell work or dumbbell work, you want something stable enough to not move around or collapse on you while slinging weights,” says Paolo Galang, a certified Olympic weightlifting coach. Weight: Much like how a good pair of weightlifting shoes provides a stable base to push from, a good weight bench functions as a kind of anchor.

Here, we’ve rounded up the best ones, according to weightlifting coaches, personal trainers, and other experts who practically spend just as much time on a weight bench as their own mattress.īest overall | Best (less expensive) overall | Best incline-decline | Best flat bench While ultimately it comes down to preference, we think the best weight benches offer a Goldilocks-type option: a pad that’s firm (but not so stiff that it feels like plywood), yet cushioned enough to provide comfort for longer sessions. And owning the right home-gym equipment is crucial to making sure your routine is as safe and effective as possible - especially when weights are involved. A good weight bench should have a firm, supportive cushion - not a plush one that will sink in when you sit or lie down on your back. Having a bench at home saves you from playing musical chairs (benches?) with ten other sweaty gym patrons, limiting your actual time spent working out.

Photo-Illustration: The Strategist Photos: RetailersĪ weight bench serves as the station to perform many basic weight-training exercises, like bench presses and dumbbell and core work, to name a few.
