If you work at at home you need a bench press. However, buying a bench press can often be a difficult task as there are many different things you need to take into account. In this post I will show you the main things you need to look for when buying a bench press.
What to look for when buying a bench press
Here are a list of things you should take into account when you are looking to purchase a brand new bench press. Some of these things could save you hundreds of dollars in the long run.
1. What EXACTLY do you want the bench press for?
This might sound like a silly question but it might be important. For example, if you want to do dumbbell presses on the bench press you need to find out whether the upright barbell supports are going to be in the way. I didn’t think of this and as such I have a lot of problems doing dumbbell presses.
Or, you might want to do some leg extensions on the bench press in which case you need one of the fittings that go on the end. Make sure you really think about this first.
2. How much weight can it handle?
Some bench presses look sturdy but when you read the warning label it says “Not intended for more than 120 kilograms”. Now, if you weight about 84-95 kilograms that means you can only bench press about 25-35 kilograms safely! Not good enough. Make sure the bench press is intended for big weight.
3. Where is the barbell holder situated?
This is a really important one because the barbell holders are often in really stupid places. For example, my first bench had the holder right above my face and I could not lift a heavy weight off for the life of me. You want to make sure the weight is held more over your chest and less over your face.
4. Is it stable?
You do not want a poorly constructed bench press that is going to wobble everytime you press the weight. Not only is this unsafe it is really annoying when you are pumping some serious weights. You want your mind 100% on the job and not on the status of your wobbly bench press.
5. Are you SURE the price is right?
If the bench press is out on display in the store it is about 90% likely that you can get a good discount. My bench press was out the front and as such had scratches and dings on it so they gave me a 30% discount as soon as I mentioned them. They want to make the sale so make sure you are getting the right price.
Furthermore, some stores sell the same brand bench at a much cheaper price. Your first instinct is to buy the cheaper one but there is a better option. Go back to the more expensive store and show them the other store that has a cheaper price. 9 times out of 10 they will better it for you.
6. How many settings does it have?
A good bench press will have a lot of settings for your incline/decline movements; not just one or two. Quite often the good ones will also have an adjustable seat so the angle of the seat as well as the back support can be moved. At the very least make sure there are four or five different angle settings.
7. Warranty?
Find out what the warranty length is and what it covers? Many fitness companies do not cover for anything other than manufacture fault which can be very annoying when the product turns out to be below average.
Conclusion on buying a bench press
The bench press in the photo above is ideal, I think, because it is stable and has nice wide barbell arms. Make sure you address all of these elements before forking out a couple of hundred dollars for a new one.
