REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench Review (2023)

If there’s one piece of kit you want in your house fitness center, it’s a weight bench. However not simply any kind of weight bench. You want an adjustable weight bench, like the brand new and improved REP Health AB-5200 2.0. FID weight benches are a flexible, moveable, and economical alternative for inexperienced persons and athletes who need to spruce up their dumbbell workouts. Plus, when you have a squat rack and a few barbells, you’re just about good to go.

In the present day, many manufacturers, like REP Health, Rogue, Sorinex, and Titan, produce high-quality benches. Nonetheless, none of them might be a very good match for everybody. Subsequently, you need to consider your finances, health objectives, and preferences to make sure you decide the fitting one for you. 

As a 5+ yr Public Well being Skilled and Author, I’ve researched and written on a number of weight benches. I’ve additionally had an opportunity to check out a couple of for myself. On this REP AB-5200 adjustable bench assessment, I’m supplying you with all of the deets so you possibly can resolve if that is personally well worth the purchase. 

Key Takeaways

• On their web site, the bench is mechanically set to the fastened publish possibility, making it a flat-incline bench. Should you’d choose a FID bench, choose the “adjustable publish” possibility. 
• Should you don’t just like the bench, REP Health gives a 30-day money-back assure, however there might be a 15 p.c restocking price utilized if it’s not returned in its unique packaging. 

REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench Professionals

• Six completely different colour choices can be found for the body and rails. You may add a pop of colour to your property fitness center or coordinate your bench together with your different tools.
• The AB-5200 may be saved in an upright place, which is useful for these with small areas who need to tuck it away after they’re finished figuring out.
• The bench has a 1,000-pound weight capability, making it appropriate for almost all of lifters.

REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench Cons

• The vast pad doesn’t meet Worldwide Powerlifting Federation (IPF) necessities, so the AB-5200 will not be superb for powerlifters who need to practice at dwelling.
• No suitable attachment choices can be found. The REP AB-5200 isn’t as versatile as different adjustable benches we’ve tried, which may be limiting for lifters who need to carry out a greater diversity of workout routines at dwelling.

REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench Score

At Breaking Muscle, we’ve been lucky sufficient to check out a few of the best weight benches available on the market. From flat and FID benches to foldable weight benches – we’ve put them to the check. Right here’s how the REP AB-5200 2.0 scored after we put it by means of our proprietary issue methodology system. 

Issue	Score (out of 5)
Worth and Worth	4.5
Development High quality	4.5
Supply and Meeting	4.5
Dimensions	4.5
Padding	4.5
Footprint and Portability	4.5
Efficiency and Ease of Use	4.5
Incline Ranges	4.5
Accessible Attachments	1.0
Guarantee	4.0

REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench Overview

If I’m being sincere, I feel REP Health did their factor on this second iteration of the AB-5200. It’s evident that they listened to their clients and aimed to enhance on the issues they beforehand missed. 

To start out, the customization choices are out of this world. It’s uncommon to discover a weight bench that permits you to choose from a plethora of body and information rail colours. Subsequent, they’ve applied their proprietary padding that’s grippy but in addition comfy. Then, one in all their most vital adjustments is to the adjustable again publish, which is a win for individuals who like doing sure workout routines, like decline bench presses. 

This FID bench (flat-incline-decline) is engaging, high-end, and good sufficient to go as industrial fitness center tools. Their consideration to element is simple, as you’ll discover the laser-cut REP emblem on the ladders and black {hardware} and chrome steel elements in varied locations. This space-saving bench has rather a lot going for it, but when we’re being sincere, it’s definitely not probably the most budget-friendly possibility available on the market. Plus, some issues might make this a dealbreaker for you.

We’ll get into who should purchase it and who may be higher off on the lookout for one thing else beneath. 

Who Ought to Purchase the REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench

• Those that choose ladder-style changes over pop-pin changes.
• Elite lifters who desire a weight bench that’s secure sufficient to deal with heavier weights.
• People preferring to customise their adjustable bench in order that it suits their preferences/wants.

Who Ought to Not Purchase the REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench

• Trainees planning on doing core workout routines which will require leg rollers. 
• People who’re on the lookout for a budget-friendly bench. 
• Anybody who likes including attachments to their weight bench to extend train versatility. 

RELATED: REP Fitness BlackWing Adjustable Bench Review

REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench Evaluation

So as to make a sound buying resolution, there are some things it’s best to know. Subsequently, in the following couple of sections, we are going to go over various factors, like value, building, footprint, and extra. We’ll develop on why we ranked every issue the best way we did and handle issues which are straightforward to miss. That ought to assist you to discern if this bench is smart to your way of life. 

Worth and Worth

On the time of penning this, the REP Health AB-5200 2.0 is $549.99, however that value is for the fastened publish solely. The fastened publish model solely works as a flat-incline bench, however if you happen to improve to the “adjustable publish,” you’ll get three extra decline angles. That’ll price you an additional $30, bringing the worth to $579.99. There’s additionally an choice to get wider again and seat pads for $20. So, if you happen to add that together with the adjustable publish, you’re $599.99. 

This can be utterly out of some individuals’s budgets, however with it being a higher-end product, it’s going to price extra. Merchandise just like the FLYBIRD weight bench on Amazon price round $149 and may get the job finished, however, as somebody who owns that, it’s lacking options that the AB-5200 2.0 has. 

For one, this wobbles once I’m doing most exercises, which limits its versatility. I don’t really feel 100% comfy utilizing it to do step-ups with my adjustable dumbbells due to this. Whereas it’s very maneuverable, because it’s solely 28.5 kilos (12.92 kilograms), it lacks stability. It merely wouldn’t work for these wanting to make use of heavier weights, like a powerlifter. Plus, the pop-in adjustment slows me down. These are issues you need to think about once you go cheaper. 

Total, I’d say you’re getting an excellent quantity of worth for the worth with the AB-5200 2.0, which is why we ranked it a 4.5 out of 5. If you wish to pay rather less, take a look at the REP AB-3000 FID bench (for round $319.99) or the REP AB-5000 Zero Hole adjustable bench (for about $449.99). 

RELATED: Best Budget Barbells

Development High quality

With regards to the general construct high quality of this weight bench, we’ll simply give it a 4.5 out of 5. 

The body contains 11-gauge metal and heavy-duty bolts, which might help over 950 kilos (430.9 kilograms). Such a materials makes for a heavier bench (i.e., 115 kilos), nevertheless it additionally means it needs to be extra secure. The AB-5200 2.0 is a strong piece of kit that ought to stay sturdy it doesn’t matter what again pad and seat pad changes you make. It’s the kind of stability I want my FLYBIRD had. 

Though this weight bench is type of heavy, it’s nonetheless on the lighter facet in comparison with different high-end choices. Heck, even the earlier mannequin of this was 10 kilos heavier. It’s additionally very maneuverable, due to the knurled, chrome steel deal with that you should use to choose up the entrance of the bench. The ladder system and adjustment publish have knurled handles as nicely. The older mannequin simply featured a stainless-steel steel deal with that wasn’t knurled. 

REP Health additionally upgraded the pad materials. The unique one had premium, grippy vinyl, however this new one has proprietary CleanGrip pads, which we’ll develop on later.

RELATED: REP Fitness Colorado Bar Review

Supply and Meeting

Should you order the AB-5200 2.0 immediately from the REP Health web site, you’ll get free delivery. Make sure to choose the body and rail colour you need to customise it to your liking. There are six colour choices to select from: metallic black, blue, military inexperienced, white, matte black, and crimson. 

As soon as they ship it, your product will possible arrive in three to 4 well-packaged packing containers. It’s a bolt-together bench, which cuts down the price of delivery and lets the model ship the product in smaller packages. 

As a shopper, I discover that bolt-together benches are simpler to pack when shifting, however that additionally means meeting is required once you first get it. Luckily, that’s not troublesome to do. In actual fact, a workforce member stated all they needed to do was connect the again adjustment piece, the pads, and the toes. 

In our e-book, the supply and meeting course of deserves a 4.5 out of 5 because the complete expertise was simple. 

Dimensions

Before you purchase the AB-5200 2.0 to your dwelling fitness center, it’s essential that you know the way a lot area it’ll take up and if it’ll work to your physique kind. When assembled, it’s 57.6 inches lengthy, 25.8 inches vast, and 17.5 inches excessive. To provide you perspective, it’s about ¾ so long as a twin-size mattress, 4 US greenback notes vast, and about two girls’s measurement 5 sneakers excessive. 

Should you’re a aggressive powerlifter, understanding these particulars is crucial, because it’s greatest to coach on benches that meet Worldwide Powerlifting Federation (IPF) top necessities. Curiously, many weight benches are too low, which might intrude together with your kind and trigger your hips to sit down too far down. The improper top may also compromise leg drive and your skill to push again into the bench, making it laborious to appropriately carry out workout routines like bench presses. 

Whether or not you’re tall or brief, the size of this bench ought to accommodate you. It’s a tad bit longer than another benches, which is a bonus. With this one, you’ll have good head help when in an incline place and nonetheless be capable of put your toes flat on the bottom if you happen to’re mendacity in your again. 

Now, let’s swap gears to the pad dimensions. At 41.7 inches lengthy, the again pad makes up a lot of this bench’s size, and its width will depend on which model you choose. 

The usual model is 12 inches vast and can work for most individuals. However if you happen to’ve received wider shoulders and carry massive weights, think about the 14-inch one. In any other case, you threat overhanging, which isn’t secure or secure when lifting heavy weights. Should you go for the broader pad, it gained’t meet the IPF width necessities, and a few individuals imagine that getting a wider pad interferes with their vary of movement. So hold that in thoughts before you purchase. 

The seat pad size is 11.4 inches lengthy with a normal width of 12 inches that tapers to eight.9 inches. The vast model is 14 inches and tapers to 11 inches. Each the again pad and seat pad are 2.5 inches excessive. 

One different factor you need to take note of with adjustable benches, particularly, is the pad hole. The pad hole is the gap between the again pad and the seat pad when it’s in a flat place, which is only one.4 inches right here. That is thought of a “little hole,” so it shouldn’t really feel such as you’re sitting on a gap. Should you’re attempting to keep away from pad gaps altogether, think about a flat bench or the REP Health AB-5000 zero-gap bench. 

Based mostly on the knowledge above and our information of weight benches, the scale right here obtain a 4.5 out of 5.  

Padding

Expertise has taught me that not all weight bench pads are created equal, so it’s refreshing that REP Health has put a whole lot of power into this. As beforehand talked about, the brand new iteration options the CleanGrip Pads. That is stated to be grippier, firmer, and simpler to wash than others. The model says they made this improve in response to buyer suggestions, as trainees needed one thing to cease them from sliding when bench urgent. 

We had a member of the Breaking Muscle workforce give it a attempt, and so they loved utilizing it throughout their exercise. They stated the pad was thick and agency, and it wasn’t uncomfortable in any respect, whether or not they have been seated, on their chest, or on their again.

Based mostly on our proprietary score system, the padding on this bench will get a 4.5 out of 5. 

Footprint and Portability

When the AB-5200 2.0 bench is totally assembled, it solely takes up 10.33 sq. toes. That can assist you visualize the way it would possibly match into your property fitness center area, think about this. The typical bed room is 132 sq. toes, and a one-car storage is about 240 sq. toes, so when you have that a lot space to work with, you most likely can provide this bench a devoted area. After all, this additionally will depend on the opposite tools you will have within the room, like power racks, furnishings, and so on. 

Now, if you happen to’re brief on area and have to stow your bench after use, say good day to vertical storage. You may stow it vertically, and it’ll solely take up 3.1 sq. toes. To do that, simply pull up the knurled, chrome steel entrance deal with till it stands all the best way up. 

Though it’s 115 kilos (52.1 kilograms), the precise roll weight is extra like 54 kilos (24.49 kilograms), so it’s not troublesome to maneuver. To guard your ground, there’s UHMW plastic on the tip of the bench to forestall scratches. This characteristic wasn’t on the final mannequin, so it’s good that REP Health made an replace right here. Lastly, the closed ladder design additional ensures the pads are protected and keep in place. 

All in all, it’s a strong space-saving alternative and isn’t difficult to maneuver round, so we gave it a 4.5 out of 5. 

Efficiency and Ease of Use

Efficiency-wise, this bench may very well be higher than some industrial fitness center choices. It’s robust and may deal with a powerlifter performing some severe barbell bench presses. REP Health says this bench was designed to permit for optimum efficiency it doesn’t matter what place you’re in.

For instance, they are saying that this bench solely declines as much as -8 as a result of that stage nonetheless helps you to preserve correct leg drive for particular workout routines. Consequently, leg rollers aren’t even required for this bench. Nonetheless, the dearth of leg rollers may be a dealbreaker for individuals who need to use their bench to do a whole lot of core workout routines and Nordic curls.  

This bench makes use of a closed-ladder mechanism to make angle changes to the seat and again pads. All you need to do is use one hand to maneuver the ladder to one of many steel-cut grooves. It’ll fall in place so you possibly can return to your exercise with out worrying concerning the bench flimsily shifting round. Sadly, I can’t say the identical for my FLYBIRD weight bench. 

Please notice: Should you get the adjustable publish, there’s an additional step you need to take. You’ll have to loosen the pop-pin on the publish, pull it to regulate the angle, and twist it to tighten. Newbies might choose the fastened publish because it has fewer shifting elements. 

As a result of it’s so easy to make use of and doesn’t impede one’s exercise expertise, we’re giving it a 4.5 out of 5. 

Associated: Do This To Increase Your Bench Press

Incline Ranges

Should you stick to the fastened publish, the bench will present ten completely different again pad angles and 4 seat pad angles. The again pad angles are 0, 20, 30, 37.5, 45, 52.5, 60, 67.5, 75, and 80. Should you improve to the adjustable publish, you’ll have three extra decline angles, that are -8, -6, and -4. The seat pad angles are 0, 8, 20, and 30.

The unique AB-5200 solely had seven again pad angles and three seat pad angles, so the two.0 mannequin is a particular improve.

Accessible Attachments

Right now, the AB-5200 2.0 just isn’t suitable with their leg curler or spotter platform attachments. Based mostly on REP Health, the decline angle simply isn’t aggressive sufficient to require a leg curler that will help you maintain your place. If that’s one thing you’d need, it would make sense to think about one in all their different weight benches. Since attachments aren’t an possibility, we’re giving this a 1 out of 5. 

Guarantee

The guarantee on this FID bench isn’t dangerous, however we’ve seen higher. As an illustration, there’s a ten-year guarantee on the body however solely 30 days on the upholstery. We’d’ve preferred to see no less than a 90-day guarantee on the upholstery, like what you’d discover on the Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0. Due to this, we fee it a 4 out of 5. 

REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench Specs

As you’re evaluating the REP AB-5200 2.0 to different weight benches, there are some specs you want to remember. Under, we’ll present a fast overview of its dimensions, the supplies it was made with, its weight capability, and extra. 

Dimensions

The REP AB-5200 2.0 has the next dimensions:

• Size: 57.6”
• Width: 25.8” 
• Top: 17.5”

Supplies

The body is manufactured from 11-gauge metal, and the pads are created with their proprietary CleanGrip materials. The latter is sticky sufficient to tear a paper towel, so it’s greatest to wash it with material. Even easy-to-overlook particulars are well-made, just like the chrome steel handles and heavy-duty bolts. 

Pad Thickness

The seat and again pad are 2.5 inches thick. This foam pad is denser than the unique AB-5200, nevertheless it’s nonetheless comfy. 

Weight Capability

This weight bench can help a 1,000-pound weight capability, making it a good selection for inexperienced persons and superior trainees alike. 

Appropriate Attachments

At present, there are not any accessible attachments for the REP AB-5200 2.0 weight bench. 

REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench vs. Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0

A comparable choice to the REP Health AB-5200 is the made-in-the-USA Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0. It’s a quality-built adjustable weight bench with an 11-gauge metal body that gives completely different colour choices, consists of ten again pad angle positions, and is stowable. 

Nonetheless, this product, which has a smaller again pad width (11 inches) and doesn’t characteristic a decline possibility, prices round $595. On high of that, it’ll price you an additional $100 if you would like chrome steel rails and premium wheels. These are very neat options, however they’re ones that many individuals won’t care an entire lot about. 

Should you’re attempting to resolve which one in all these can be one of the best adjustable bench to purchase, I’d say the REP AB-5200 2.0. It will provide you with related capabilities and high quality because the Rogue 3.0 however at a greater value. Now, the Rogue 3.0 bench could also be a greater possibility if you happen to’re tremendous tight on space for storing (it’s barely smaller than the 5200) and wish hardly any pad hole (one inch versus 4 inches)  Each are nice choices, although. What you decide comes down to private desire and finances. 

Associated: Best Home Gym Machines

REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench Buyer Opinions

At present, REP Health has no approved resellers in the US, so you possibly can solely buy merchandise from their web site. Consequently, the one buyer opinions we might discover on the AB-5200 2.0 have been on their very own web site. 

There are solely 53 opinions presently, and all of them are optimistic. Forty-nine of the opinions had 5-star scores, with clients making remarks like, “The bench was precisely what I hoped it could be. I’m a fairly large man 6’4″ 290lbs, and the bench doesn’t budge.” One other glad buyer stated “I’ve been utilizing this for a couple of weeks now and it’s a MASSIVE enchancment over my earlier bench. This factor is a tank. Tremendous strong.”

There have been 4 4-star opinions. One buyer stated, “Nice bench, however doesn’t decline low sufficient”. One different particular person remarked, “I’ve used many benches within the final 14 years, and this one appears to be probably the most strong! Simply don’t order it in crimson… it’s not likely crimson.”

Ultimate Verdict: Is the REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench Price It?

Proper now, the brand new and improved model of the REP AB-5200 2.0 Adjustable Bench is stealing the present. In contrast to different benches, this one permits clients to have some artistic freedom. They will choose colours and even select whether or not or not the decline possibility is one thing they need. Plus, it’s very well-constructed and engaging to the attention, making it stand out in any dwelling or industrial fitness center it’s in. 

Whereas the worth would possibly trigger some individuals to look elsewhere, this bench packs a ton of worth. 

Though it’s lacking some versatility since you possibly can’t add any attachments, it could nonetheless be value it to most people. The knurled handles will come in useful when your palms are sweaty, and the stowability advantages these brief on area. Anybody on the lookout for a high-end FID bench constructed to advertise optimum efficiency ought to think about the REP AB-5200 2.0.

FAQs