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TITAN Single post adjustable FID bench vs Reflex flat bench

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Oct 22, 2020 9:00:00 AM

TITAN Single post adjustable FID bench vs Reflex flat bench

This is a comparison between the TITAN Single post FID adjustable bench and Rogue xxx including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally posted in Which TITAN bench to get? Follow the links for details.

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Reflex flat bench
 

Overview and review of the Reflex flat bench 

The Reflex flat bench arm kit comes in at $1674 and is a great addition to your existing gym to widen the possible exercises you can do. This article was originally published in "Which bench to get to from Rogue".

What else to consider from Rogue

Overview of the Reflex Flat bench

 
The reflex flat bench is the sturdy design of the reflex line applied to a regular flat bench setup. You will get a solid piece of equipment with little moving parts apart from the barbell. This is a good setup for your big athletes who are moving big weights. The specifications of the Reflex flat bench are: 
 
  • Combination of 3×3 11ga. & 3/16-walled fully Welded Tubular steel construction.
  • Powder Coated finish.
  • Plastic lined weight bar saddles.
  • Adjustable Saddles w/ 11 positions.
  • Weight storage.
  • 7 position adjustable safeties.
  • Weight storage.
  • 1in high-density foam pad.
  • Weight 167 - 470LB
  • Length 60” - 70”
  • Width 48”
  • Height 58” - 64” 
 
The reflex flat bench will stay where you place it and go nowhere. This is especially good when you want to ensure the same setup each and every time you bench
 

Pros of the Reflex Flat bench

 
A sturdy setup that keeps you safe, even when moving big weights around. Can also be used as central plate storage in the middle of multiple racks.
 

Cons of the Reflex Flat bench

 
Single-purpose use and not a lot of flexibility to change. Needs more floor space than other solutions you might come up with for the bench press. 
 

Alternatives to the Reflex Flat bench

 
Alternatives to the reflex flat bench are
 
 
The reflex competition bench comes in only slightly more expensive than the flat bench version. In return, you get an IPF approved machine to practice for the real thing. Of you are considering a bench press setup like this you might as well spend the few extra to get the competition version. 
 
The reflex decline bench press is the piece of equipment that I would get if I had the floor space left. Out of the different bench press variations, the decline is the one I feel most uncomfortable with when done on a free-standing bench. The reflex decline would address this. 
 
The AB3 bench is Rogues portable bench which can be used for flat, incline and decline setups. As it is on rolls it might not be as stable as the Reflex series, but if you are not a beast, this will be more than sufficient to get your work done. 
 

Summary for the Reflex Flat bench

 
The reflex Olympic flat bench is not something I personally would consider. I would either go for the decline or competition bench press if I was in the market for a bench machine. 

Overview and review of the TITAN Single post adjustable FID bench

This is an overview of the TITAN FID single post adjustable bench including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally posted in Which TITAN bench to get? Follow the links for details.

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Overview of the Single post adjustable FID bench

Price: $249
 
The single post adjustable FID bench is a rock-solid option for a home gym that wants to save money or a professional gym that wants to add a couple of incline benches to their existing setup. For buying in bulk or on a budget, this product is hard t beat in quality for the price. You will get everything you need to get some incline work in and can also use it for heavy flat bench presses unless you are an absolute monster (120kg plus). In that case I would recommend the hefty bench instead of the FID for flat bench presses. The specifications of this bench are:
 
  • 7 back positions, 4 seat positions.  
  • Plastic endcaps prevent feet from scuffing gym floor. 
  • Handle and wheels for easy transport. 
  • Included foot roller gives you many more options for exercises while in the decline position including decline sit-ups and dumbbell press.   
  • Overall Height: 53-in. 
  • Overall Length: 56.75-in. 
  • Overall Width:  25.25-in. 
  • Bench Height: 18.25-in. (Top of pad when in flat position) 
  • Back Pad Dimensions: 36-in x 11.75-in x 2.25-in. 
  • Seat Pad Dimensions: 15-in x 15-in x 2.25-in. 
  • Color: Black 
  • Material: 2-in x 2-in 11-Gauge Steel 
  • Capacity: 1,500 lb. 
  • Product Weight: 71 lb.
 
Overall a solid bench for a solid price. 
 

Pros of the TITAN Single Post adjustable FID bench

 
The pros of the Single post adjustable bench are:
 
  • Price
  • Incline
  • Solid build
 
As with all TITAN products this Incline bench comes in roughly at half of the price of a comparable product from another major brand like Rogue or Eleiko. This makes it a great option to buy in bulk or for a home gym on a budget, that still does not want to be made of amazon flimsy purchases. 
 
This bench does what it says on the tin. The incline is easy to adjust and does not have a pin system, which I personally like, This makes this bench easier to adjust in the spur of the moment, without having fiddle around with a pin that needs to be locked in place. I personally do not get why these pins are used in incline benches. This is really only necessary if you use a bench for declines for safety reasons. The decline on this works but can get a little wobbly. 
 
For the money, you pay this is a very sturdy bench. If you just randomly go to amazon for a bench for the same price it is very likely you will get something of inferior quality. Unless you buy used benches. 
 

Cons of the TITAN Single Post adjustable FID bench

 
 
  • Quality issues
  • Injury risk
  • Stability
 
As with all TITAN products you need to cut some corners to offer a very similar product made of the same materials for half the price. This usually shows in the finish of the product itself, missing instructions as good handbooks are expensive to make or parts that not completely fit. Anyone who buys from TITAN runs a higher risk compared to other brands, that they will have to put in some extra elbow grease to finish the product off when it is unboxed. This usually means widening a whole, sanding down an edge, or getting a bolt that was not shipped. It happens with other vendors too, but the likelihood is higher with TITAN. 
 
The Single post benches do have a higher injury risk compared to pin based benches. It is easier for your hands and fingers to get caught in the mechanism than with the pin systems. While this makes it easier to adjust, it also exposes the mechanism for a finger to get caught in it. You will not chop off your finger in the process, but it is still unpleasant when it happens. 
 
if you are planning to do a lot of tools, hanging, and flipping movements on this bench it is not ideal. In this case, opt for the bigger brother the Max adjustable FID bench. The mechanism is ok for normal bench presses and declines. If you intend to go Jackie chan or bruce lee on this bench for situps and all kinds of weird Kung Fu moves, get the FID Max bench instead. 
 

Alternatives to the TITAN Single Post adjustable FID bench

 
Alternatives to the  TITAN Single post adjustable FID bench are:
 
 
The max adjustable FID bench is the big mama of benches you can get from TITAN. If you intend to do a lot of decline work or use the bench for split squats, step-ups, and all kinds of other gymnastics, then this bench leaves you with more options and is heavier. This also means that it will cost about twice from the single post adjustable bench. 
 
The hefty bench is a good alternative for serious powerlifters who just want to bench press or very big athletes. Compared to the single post bench it has bigger padding and no incline. Depending on your needs and whether you already have a bench, this is a good option.
 
The single post competition flat bench is a bread and butter bench for any professional gym. For a home gym, it might not be versatile enough, as you can spare some extra change for buying just for one person. This bench is easy to transport and store, while it still does the job. 
 

Conclusion for the TITAN Single Post adjustable FID bench 

 
The single post adjustable bench is the ideal buy for a home gym from TITAN that wants to stay versatile. It is also a good value for money option, as its big brother might not give you the same return. Only if you use your bench for complicated movements or you are massive the hefty bench or Max FID might be a better option.