Reflex flat bench vs Rogue Westside bench 2.0
This is a comparison between the Reflex flat bench and the Westside bench 2.0 including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the Rogue Westside bench 2.0
The Westside 2.0 comes in at $725 and are 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 Westside bench 2.0
The
Rogue west side 2.0 is a bolt-together version of the Westside
bench to bring down the cost in production and shopping. You will have more moving parts, but it is still a 1000+ pound
bench press set up for the serious athletes. One of the main features of this
bench is that you can adjust it in 1” increments and use it with bands and chains effectively. If you are a fan of the west side training method and benching big this is a great option. The specifications of the
Westside 2.0 bench are:
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Made in the USA
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2x3" 11-Gauge Uprights with Westside hole spacing
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Total Height: 54.625"
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Bench Height: 17.5” (adjustable up and down by 1" increments)
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1000+LB weight capacity
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Your choice of either a 12" wide standard bench pad or a 14.5" wide Thompson Fat Pad™ (at additional cost)
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NEW Bolt-Together Design with 0.625" Hardware
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NEW 7-Gauge Reinforced Steel Spine Under Pad
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NEW Laser-Cut Rogue Side Panels
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Infinity J-Cups with UHMW inserts to protect the bar knurl
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24" Pin/Pipe Safety Set
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4 Adjustable Band Pegs
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NEW Optional Spotter Decks (at additional cost)
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Color: Black
If you are into the Rogue setup for west side benching, this is the way to go.
Pros of the Westside 2.0
This is a lower-cost version of the west side bench and is probably one of the most cost-efficient setups in the market I which you can comfortably go to 1000 pounds for the bench press.
Cons of the West side 2.0
Compared to other bench stations or combos you will have little to no plate storage and no support for heavy incline or decline bench presses. If you care about a 1000 pound bench press you will probably more than this.
Alternatives to the Westside 2.0
If you care about a west side bench I would conveniently assume that you already own a normal bench press setup or just don’t care about getting a portable bench.
The
west side bench is the big brother of the 2.0. You will have fewer moving pieces and bigger beams which brings the cost up but also means that you get more integral stability. If you have the money and do not want to transport the
bench often, why compromise?
Summary for the Westside 2.0
The
west side 2.0 is a great option for the serious athlete who wants to train at home with a buddy. If you are equipping a professional gym you might as well go for the big one.
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:
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Combination of 3×3 11ga. & 3/16-walled fully Welded Tubular steel construction.
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Powder Coated finish.
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Plastic lined weight bar saddles.
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Adjustable Saddles w/ 11 positions.
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Weight storage.
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7 position adjustable safeties.
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Weight storage.
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1in high-density foam pad.
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Weight 167 - 470LB
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Length 60” - 70”
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Width 48”
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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
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