I bought the Select-Tech 552 dumbell set w/stand, so I needed a bench to go with it. I saw this was the ''matching'' bench and had good reviews, so I went with it without much shopping around. I think I paid $150 with no tax or shipping. As I did not shop around, I don''t know if this is a good ''value'' compared to other brands.As far as the bench itself, it is very sturdy. No wobbling while you are using it this is a big plus. It also looks very nice and obviously matches my other equipment.
The adjustment options are nice to have, but to me they are mostly unnecessary. I only use it in the flat position and one incline position. I can''t imagine what one would do with all the other positions, but maybe someone who is more sophisticated in their work out could utilize them.
The leg attachment, again, is very sturdy. I didn''t buy it for sit-ups, nor would I recommend this to someone who wanted it solely for sit-ups, but if you want a bench primarily for lifting that gives you a sit-up option, this will work just fine.
As to the negatives... This was mentioned by another reviewer, but there is a opening in the bench where it folds up. It is really in a bad place (atleast for me, I am 6'' 3") right on the small of the back. It is uncomfortable and seems like it could cause injury. I am able to get around it by scooting my rear as close to the end of the bench before I lay back. Still, it seems like this could have been designed better.
The assembly was simple and consists primarily of using washers and bolts. On mine, on the bottom end, the welds were in the way of one of the holes I needed to put a bolt/washer through. The washer would not sit flat and it was very difficult to get this one tight.
Another complaint would be that the wheels are useless the way they are positioned you will just end up dragging it from one place to another. And the bench does not fold up for storage, so it may not be the most compact bench to tuck away when not in use.
Overall, I would recommend the bench and I would buy it again, but it is far from perfect. If you shop around you may be able to find a better option for your individual needs. Hopefully my insight helps with your purchase decision!
One complaint I have is that when I move the bench, the bench has to be lifted high in order for the wheels to catch the floor, otherwise, I end up dragging the bench on the legs. It''s not that big of a deal now that I know this needs to be done. Overall, I am extremely happy to have purchased this bench.
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My bench was unfortunately defective right out of the box. (The wheels on the rear stabilizer were completely bent by about 20 deg, so they could not roll at all.) My assembly instructions were apparently also incomplete, because when I called customer service to request a repair part, they told me I should first send in the registration form from the last few pages of my instruction book, which I did not have. Finally, they just let me fax in a copy of my sales receipt, and I was supposed to receive a replacement part in 6-10 days. After 6 weeks, I still have not received a thing. I have called back and started the whole process over again, and we''ll see if it''s any different this time.Read Best Reviews of Bowflex SelectTech Adjustable Bench Series 5.1 Here
My roommate had the 3.1 bowflex bench and got restationed in Guam so I had to break down and buy a bench. I went with the 5.1 because it has 0/30/45/60/90 degree settings versus the 3.1 which has 0/45/90. The benchs look the same but I think this one is sturdier. Has adjustable feet to level it out, and it also has a two-position adjustable seat which the 3.1 DID NOT HAVE. I like using different inclines and you can use them for support on other things besides bench (curls, offset shoulder work, etc). I honestly paid the extra $70 for the 60° setting because my shoulders have seen a lot of damage over the years and 45° give me less results at more risk of injury. So if you''re looking for a reason as to WHY you should spend the extra money, it''s simple: adds 30 & 60 degree inclines and an adjustable seat (MUCH BETTER and more versatile than 3.1). Oh and I''ve used many benches in lots of gyms of fitness stores over the years--this bench fits my frame well with good support under my back without hindering shoulder blade motion (like the benches at my gym). Also the adjustment is easy (on the way up, you just lift the head of the bench and it jumps to each setting, drop it to set it in place). The decline setting is OK, good for chest, not for abs--get a separate ab bench with adjustable decline angles or buy some inversion boots and hang from you''re pullup bar. Oh and the leg attachment is removable on both benches--sometimes it gets in the way, pops out with a pin in about 3 seconds.Don''t like: The lack of fine-tuned incline angles and the gap between the upper and lower cushion when its flat. No idea what its rated at for weight, either. I''ve had over 550lbs of body and bar weight on mine (at inclines) with no problems (but it could be more than nautilus has it spec''d for).
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If you''re looking for a versatile workout bench to do your decline, incline, and flat bench presses, this bench is an excellent choice. I''m very happy with the quality of the construction, and it''s as sturdy as most benches I''ve used in commercial gyms. The back can be adjusted from the decline position for situps/decline bench press to a full upright 90 degrees which is great for doing shoulder presses. The seat also has 2 adjustable positions, flat and decline. I like to workout with free weights most of the time and this bench allows me to do just about any exercise I need that requires a bench. The total assembly time took about an hour total, and was very easy. Although it''s pricier than some of the other benches on Amazon, I think it''s worth it.Save 11% off
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