The most basic bench is the flat bench. These were the most common type of benches in the early days of weight training. Ironically, as strength training has reverted back to an emphasis on basic movements like bench pressing, flat benches have seen a resurgence. Some benches were designed to also go incline, which is great for those who want some variety. This allowed you to do different exercises in a variety of angles, like the incline bench press. The design of these flat incline benches is relatively simple, so they can be heavy-duty.
The incline benches were further developed to incorporate decline angles. These benches are commonly referred to as FID benches (Flat, Incline, Decline). For serious home gym users or personal trainers that are tight on space, the FID bench is very popular. You get to perform a variety of exercises from one workout bench.
What’s wrong with a cheap gym bench?
If you are committed to your training, you need to invest in a quality bench. Although they might be twice the price or even more than a cheap bench, it is a sound investment that will pay dividends down the line. Since your bench sees a lot of work, the quality of materials used in a budget bench will only last a year or two, if you are lucky.
It is crucial for your bench to have quality upholstery. If you are lifting heavy, the cheap foam simply compresses and doesn’t offer you any comfort. Secondly, the padding is attached to a timber board. On cheap benches, this board cracks easily, making the bench almost useless.
What is more concerning is a bench made of poor quality materials combined with a poor design. This is dangerous. Often a large portion of the load is resting on a cheap pin or a welded joint between two pieces of paper thin steel. The factories that produce these benches aren’t liable for any injuries caused, so they will overstate their load capacities. If you are a serious trainer moving some serious weight, using a poor quality bench is an accident waiting to happen.
We stock the best & most functional benches in Australia
We have the best range of benches in Australia. All our benches are designed and produced by international companies selling in both Europe and the United States. Their benches have undergone independent testing and certification for their intended use. More importantly, they have been around for years and taken plenty of punishment in gyms around the world.
This is very important, particularly for FID benches. Their increased functionality means that they have more moving parts. More moving parts often mean a higher potential for instability. But whether you choose a ATX® or Ironmaster, your safety is guaranteed because all their benches are built like tanks.
The other reason we are known for stocking the best benches is the fact that our benches are the most functional. Several of our benches have optional attachments available, bringing you even more versatility to your gym.
A new age for the humble bench – versatility with attachments
Whenever you talk about versatility on a workout bench, the Ironmaster Super Weight Bench immediately comes to mind. It easily has the longest list of fair dinkum attachments. By fair dinkum, I mean you can actually use them for their intended purpose. So the leg extension will feel like a standalone leg extension machine.
When you start adding attachments to the Super Bench, it morphs from being a solid FID bench into a multi-gym. Whether it is for your home gym or studio where you need to pack a lot of exercises into each piece of equipment, the Ironmaster Super Bench will always be at the top of your list.
The ATX® benches also feature some handy optional attachments. They have leg extension and curl, leverage preacher curl, pec fly, Ab Crunch, and dip attachments. These are all quality exercises that can spice up your workout routine.
Quality guaranteed – all you need to do is choose the bench that’s right for you
My final word is that we probably have too many benches. It was easier back in the day when we only offered three benches. Today, some people get bamboozled by the variety we offer. So my advice is simple: don’t overthink the decision. By being selective with the brands that we stock, we have made your decision-making simpler.
All our benches are of superior quality and design. They will work properly for their intended use and last forever. So whichever weight bench you choose, you will be able to train hard for many years to come. If you need some assistance or guidance, we will only be too happy to guide you to the bench that will work best for your intended purpose.
