Weight Benches – Reviews, Attachments and How to Buy
70Hi and welcome to the first in our series on weight benches.
In this first article, we're going to take a look at the basic construction and
uses of the typical weight training bench. Then we are going to move on
discussing the advantages and disadvantages of benches versus other sorts of
weight training equipment and methodologies.
We'll talk about the different kinds of benches that you can
get, and how they may fit into your overall fitness routine.We will also delve
into the various attachments that you can fit onto your bench to further expand
their utility during your weight training workouts.
To begin with, why do we want to use a bench in the first
place? Primarily for safety. Pressing off of the floor is both uncomfortable
and risky. In addition, the bench allows us both to expand the number of
different exercises we can do, and to increase the load we are using on them.
What kind of Weight Bench do you need?
The numbers and types of different benches out there are
truly staggering. To start with we have fixed flat weight benches, also known
as exercise benches. We have the various ab benches used for core training, by
the millions looking for “6 pack abs”. Probably the most common benches seen in
the home are simple incline benches. These allow you to set the bench back
support in a flat position for doing something like bullets a standard barbell
bench press, and also to elevate that part of the bench to enable incline
movements.
A slight step up from that are incline/decline weight
benches. These allow you to perform order known as the decline movements.
Typically these are pressing movements performed with the shoulders and head of
the lower elevation than the waste. Often these benches will include some sort
of a catch or support for the feet to aid in stability.
On the lower end of the price range, we typically find
benches made from less sturdy tubular steel stock. Sometimes these will include
attachments for doing leg extensions and leg curls. There are few units out
there that actually include a "LatTower" attachment to be used
in doing pull downs or rows.
More expensive weight benches - worth it?
As you move up in price, weight benches begin to look more
like pieces of commercial fitness equipment, they're made of much more sturdy
stock such as two or 3 inch rectangular steel tubing, and feature baked powder
coated finishes for durability. The edges of this type can also be much more
complex, and some are actually complete home gym that sit in the corner of a
room. Cheap weight benches simply cannot offer this kind of quality.
We also see Olympic weight benches, which are benches and
bench systems set up to accommodate a standard 7 foot Olympic barbell. These
are usually much larger and heavier pieces of equipment, as they must
accommodate much heavier loads that are typically associated with Olympic
lifting.
At the extreme high end of the range, we see complete home
gymnasium's with multiple features to accommodate most any weight training
exercise. We also see extremely heavy duty weight benches here made to take the
loads seen in advanced bodybuilding and powerlifting competition. A weight
bench at this end of the spectrum can itself weigh several hundred pounds and
cost thousands of dollars.
Weight benches are one of those categories of equipment
where you usually get exactly what you pay for. Skimp, and you end up with something
that will break the first time you use it with a heavy load. But if you go
ahead and pay for a piece of quality equipment – you may never have to buy
another.
Hey, I wanna buy a bench - I need more info!
I hope you will join me as I take a look at all the many varieties of weight benches and accessories available for both home and commercial use. If you're thinking of buying a weight bench, I have good news for you. I'll also be including links to weight bench reviews and home gym systems that I'll be reviewing as well as used equipment.
I'm looking forward to writing this series and I hope you'll enjoy reading it as well.
Jordan Riley 16 months ago
Insightful discourse you have provided . Will check out your other hubs