Rep Fitness Adjustable Bench – AB-3000 FID – Flat/Incline/Decline

I spent a LOT of time researching benches (really, way too much time), but bottom line was that I wanted something stable, adjustable, and of course I didn't want to break the bank. There are a lot of really questionably pricey benches out there -- and when it comes down to it a bench is a very simple piece of equipment. Why are they so expensive? After all of my time investment I am confident in saying that absolutely no other bench on the market combines the features of this bench and its low price. Specifics: Delivery -- Typical, left outside of my house. Packaging -- Decent. The inner boxes were a bit torn up as Rep didn't put enough padding in place. But none of the parts were damaged. Instructions -- Complete joke. The "assembly" instructions are a single page parts diagram and then a second page of "tips." Come on, at least provide a step-by-step guide? Please visit any IKEA store to learn how it's done. Assembly -- The instructions are not completely useless; everything can be figured out from the diagram. There is some mention of videos to be watched, but I couldn't be bothered. Overall it wasn't bad but it definitely took longer than the stated 15 minutes -- probably closer to 45. The biggest issue for me was getting the seat bolted into place. The "tips" sheet shows it being done with the cushion up, which would require some extreme form of dexterity that I don't possess. After a while I realized that I could un-bolt the seat from the base of the unit (this requires removing a bolt that comes already in place from the factory) and then just flip the whole thing back -- after that the rest of the assembly was very simple. Note that the bolts are a bit on the large side. Neither of my two ratchet sets had anything quite big enough (mine go up to 9/16"), so I had to use a combination of an adjustable wrench and the provided sheet metal "multitool." This undoubtedly slowed me way down. Overall assembly includes screwing in maybe 8 bolts for the seat and back, two for the ankle pads, and then another four or so for the rest of the unit. Then you go through and tighten everything down, including the bolts that were put on at the factory. Utilization -- Once assembled, the unit feels extremely sturdy. It sits perfectly on the floor without rocking, and gives me full confidence. The pads are plenty comfortable in my opinion; sure they're a bit stiff, but it's not like I'm going to take a nap on the thing. Also I suspect that these pads will hold up better over time than softer ones would. Adjustment is simple for both the seat and the back and there are plenty of options for what I need to get done on a daily basis. One important note is that when flat or in decline there is definitely a considerable gap between the seat and back. I know this bothers a lot of people. I don't mind it and don't find it uncomfortable, but I do notice it; if you're looking for something gap-free, look elsewhere. Not much else to say. I think despite the few flaws, for the price this bench is absolutely unbeatable and will serve me for many years. I'm very happy with my purchase...and I can use the money saved to buy more weights to test that 1,000 pound capacity limit!

Edit August 2017: I would like to change my review based off of my experience with Rep Fitness and their Co-Owner/Founder, Shane. I have been using the bench for about a week and it is very solid and sturdy. Please read the rest of my edit for more information on why I changed my review. I would personally rate this 4.5/5 stars due to the shipping hassle, but I rounded up to 5 knowing that accidents do happen. The last three photos are of the replacement bench that has been working great for the past month! The first bench I received came with a bent frame. I arranged for a replacement and I was assured that it would be packed more carefully before being sent to me. Unfortunately the 2nd bench came and the base of it was bent up in a very mild "U" shape causing it to rock. The Co-Owner/Founder, Shane reached out to me via email after I sent their company a notice of the 2nd bench being damaged. I later found out that their company was unsure if the replacement bench was inspected for extra packaging before being sent to me. Shane was very sincere and sent me a prepaid label for the 2nd bent bench and also assured that it was assembled then disassembled before being sent to me. They then wrapped the bench and parts in so much padding and cellophane that I thought the Michelin Man arrived on my doorstep! Luckily the 3rd bench was in working order after assembly and I have had no issues with it. It spoke volumes having the Co-Owner/Founder contact me directly in addition to the very hands on approach of notifying me about my order and asking me if everything worked out. I would suggest that anyone ordering this bench ask for extra padding to be added before shipment. Just call their office. Place the order "shipped by REP" on Amazon.com while on the phone with them. Give them your order number and ask for extra padding to be added before shipment. This would avoid any possible damages while in transit, and save time and money for both parties. Original Review: This review is based off of the product I received when purchasing the "Rep Adjustable Bench" with fulfillment from Amazon for $299.00. I've been looking for a sturdy adjustable bench for my home gym to replace my older flat bench. I was on the fence between going with Rogue Fitness or Rep Fitness for an adjustable bench. What stood out for this product was how it featured a decline adjustment in addition to the incline and flat positions. I had purchased a Rep Dumbbell rack earlier this year and was pleased with the quality of that item. Finally the Rogue Bench was priced at $545 which was nearly double the cost of this bench. Taking those details into consideration I decided to go with Rep for this bench. The box the bench came in is quite large and very heavy. I was not home when it was left on my porch but I'm sure the lone UPS driver did have some trouble getting it to the porch himself. I needed help from a family member to bring the box in the house. Before opening the box I noticed a very large hole/ tear at one end and a smaller rear towards the other end. Upon opening the box I saw that the paint on the base had been scraped off and the leg bar (that needs to be assembled) had some paint chipped. Honestly this wasn't much of an issue for me and could easily be fixed with some flat black spray paint or just left alone. Assembly was pretty easy with some common sense applied. I would suggest having a socket wrench and 3 different sized heads (m8, m10, m12). A wrench is helpful too. Be careful not to over tighten the nuts and bolts. Just stop once it gets hard to turn so you don't bend/ damage the steel frame. Apart from deciphering the manual and gathering the necessary tools, assembly should take about 20 minutes, give or take. Here's where I am unimpressed by this product. I noticed immediately after completing the bench that something was wrong. First I laid on the bench to see how it felt. It was rocking and felt like the left side of my body was significantly lower than the right. I crouched down and looked straight down the bench from the seat towards the top. It was very clear that the bench was tilted on an angle. First I thought it was my floor (poured concrete basement), so I brought out my level. I checked the floor to the left and to the right of the bench and the floor was level. When checking the bench it was clear that the one side was slanted down. I noticed that where the adjustable bar on the back of the bench laid was not fully seated in the groove on the right side. The left side however was seated which contributed to the unlevel bench. When on the ground I noticed that the front base did not look like it was touching the floor evenly. I lifted the front base of the bench up to take a closer look at it. The base was pretty warped/ bent. I'm not sure if it was a result of shipping or if It was already like that. My guess it was damaged in shipping since the corners were pretty scraped up and were sticking out of the box when it arrived. Summary/ TLDR; Overall feel and materials are very high quality. The deal breaker for me was that it was not even close to being level. This would be detrimental to your posture and safety when lifting on it. I'll be sending this back to amazon in the next few days once I make the time to disassemble. repackage, and arrange for a UPS pick up. Rep needs better quality control or packaging to ensure that their items arrive and work as they are meant to. I would recommend splitting the bench up into two or even three smaller boxes. This would lessen the weight, and make it possible to pack the parts tighter and more securely. Thanks for reading my review!

Heavy duty construction accommodates large people. easy to assemble and GYM quality. All padding is durable and of quality materials makes this bench a wise investment with a long life.

I have been lifting for nearly 20 years. I recently converted my garage to a home gym, and needed a decent bench. I almost went with a cheaper option and then came across this bench. And wow, the pictures do not do this thing any justice, it is substantial, good as any gym grade bench I have used and built to last. From the solid steel and hardware to the padding on the seat, simply phenomenal. Its worth the extra money, and honestly worth more then other benches I have tried.

The bench took about 30min to put together. The weight of the bench after assembly is around 85#, and it is SOLID. I tried it out in the gym and it doesn't move sideways like my previous bench...the incline and decline options are an added bonus! I definitely recommend this product, it is over VERY GOOD quality!

Rock solid bench, doesnt even move or shake a bit!!!! Glad Spending 400$ on this bench!!!

In my opinion there is no better bench for the money. Great quality. This will last me a lifetime.

Sturdy and solid. Great addition to my home gym.