This is a surprisingly sturdy, lightweight bench to use for dumbbell exercises. Not only is it affordable, but it is easier to put together than the average treadmill. The manual''s instructions for putting the bench together are clear and easy to follow, and it offers good advice on how to get started coming up with an exercise routine. The bench''s backrest is adjustable (a hard-to-find but important feature), so you can do the full range of dumbbell exercises.
Customers should know before buying that the bench is designed to support a maximum user weight of 250 lbs with a combined dumbbell weight of 100 lbs. So, although you cannot use this bench for lifting massive weights, it is ideal for people who are just starting out or who are focusing on fitness instead of extreme bodybuilding.
(Update: November 28, 2010)
Well, it has been a little over a year since I have been using this bench. I started out using 5-pound dumbbells with it at least 5 days a week. Now I am able to use 25-pound dumbbells on the same routine. Not once have I had the slightest bit of trouble with the bench. Durable? I would have to say so. My original 4-star rating still stands.
(Update: April 22, 2012)
Alright, I decided to do one last update for this review. What''s the reason? Honestly, I still feel like you could not find a better bench to start weightlifting with for the price and quality, and I want to give you my take on what negative reviewers are saying. Here are some of the charges against the bench: a weird chemical smell, missing parts, rusted parts, wobbliness. First of all, let me tell you that any product that is shipped from a warehouse is likely to have a different smell. Ever been to the outdoors department at a retailer? Then you know what I''m talking about. The equipment will smell different at first, but that scent will eventually dissipate altogether. So, you don''t have to worry that the bench is somehow lethally toxic. But when I received my bench, were there any rusted or missing parts? No. Everything was there as expected. As for wobbliness, I tend to think that this issue really depends on the skill of the person assembling the bench. You do a poor job, you get a poor result. Makes sense, right? C''mon people, let''s be rational. I encourage you to read what other positive reviewers are saying about this bench if you still have any doubts.
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)(#1 REVIEWER)I''d been looking at benches for quite some time now that I''ve gotten more into strength training than I''d ever been before and decided the space in my workout room was worth it...
Most were simply a bench. Some had ankle support...I was eyeing a $250 when I came across this one on Amazon...that had more.
Now granted it has a weight limit on it, but I think that''s more because you can do sit ups on this one and to support very heavy weight may require a wider bench of more weight...but this is very heavy and other than that, it seems like it would work with twice the weight limit.
I LOVE the backrest moving up and down...in simply a flip of your hand...all the way down for situps, a bench, flip around with the back all the way and face the other direction laying on the seat and raise and lower your legs for core work, lean on the bench or lay on it for arm work...it was solid but I think that takes a lot of work to get to that...with a two-man building team which I''ll touch on in a moment.
In the photo it looks like this is red, it''s actually a dark tan faux leather with ample padding and a yellow logo. What you may not notice in the photo is that it also has 4 hooks underneath that hold two dumbbells for easy access.
There is even a one step way of folding this up for easy storage via one pin.
To me, it''s phenomenal al this has for the price...far more than the ones way more expensive. That said, I know why.
You are paying for convenience to pay more...this is a two-person job putting together and that''s coming from someone who puts every piece of furniture etc together in this house because I have a world of patience and ability to read directions...but you have to have one person hold a wrench as another tightens it (tip: use a ratchet set and a wrench rather than 2 wrrenches). And you have to decipher the directions they haven''t updated...like it tells you to put together a few pieces in the directions that they already put together and they labeled a part number 30 in the directions but there is no part labeled number 30,,it was 20...but get past all that and you have a superior bench.
That said, using two people to ensure that every screw is uner taught is something you have to do in a weight bench...you want it sturdy. We did so and this is incredibly solid. But I also have a horrid bruise days later on my index finger from fighting to ensure it was all tight and that wasn''t easy and took time with a wrench that slipped and grabbed my finger instead.
Conclusion: It took an hour and 2 people to put it together (not actually doing it but figuring and reading the directions along the way very carefully) but I saved over $200 from the bench I almost got that did far less and I couldn''t be happier. If you have patience and know how to tighten a bolt, I''d say you''ll love it. If you bench an estreme amount of weight or want to throw things if it takes you longer to build something, I''d say go with a commercial bench. I wish they''d made the middle 2 pieces one piece...that was the hardest part but I think they split it into 2 to make it ship in a more compact box but I think they could charge more if more pieces were put together prior--For me, I love it and building it was a bit like labor pains...you may hear some cussing out of character during, but it feels worth it in the end. Ordinarily for the building time I''d knock off a star in my review, but I feel they compensated for that by putting so much into a bench that costs so little...so I feel they took this into account and it made it worth it for me.
Buy Cap Barbell Fitness FID Bench Now
I''m an inch or so over 6 feet and my head is almost at the edge of the bench when doing lying-down chest dumbbell workouts (after scooting down a bit). It may not matter to you but just mentioning since I like to lift my feet up to the foot-rest to keep my lower back down.
Putting the bench together is a bit of a pain and I don''t think the weight holders are useful -at least not for someone with my arm length.
Overall though, its good enough for your basic exercise needs, so I would say, go for it.
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I weight 191 Lbs and workout with dumbells. The bench is quite sturdy. No complaints.
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Easily assembled, compact and sturdy. Great ab bench, dumbbell chest bench, and good for back work. Leg bars make isolation curls a little difficult, but otherwise a solid product.
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The product arrived cracked on one of the band''s hooks. We saw the crack and poked it. The hook broke completely off. We returned it with no problems what so ever, great seller.
