Reflex competition bench vs Rogue AB2
This is a comparison between the Reflex competition bench and the Rogue AB2 including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the Ab2 Adjustable bench
The AB-2 bench comes in at $815 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 AB2 Adjustable bench
The
Rogue AB2 bench comes from the designers of the Nebula 1080
bench which has been on an established reference in the fitness industry. The
Ab2 includes 6 different seat settings and nine back positions. This makes it a strong piece of equipment for any home gym which needs versatility and space-efficient setup. The specifications of the
Rogue AB2 bench are:
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Adapted from the Nebula 1080 "Awesome" Utility Bench
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Weight: 94LB
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Length: 52"
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Pad Width: 12"
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Height: 18"
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Footprint: 51 1/4" x 22 1/2"
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Steel: 2 x 2" and 3 x 3" 11-Gauge Steel
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6 Adjustable Seat Settings
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9 Adjustable Back Pad Settings (from flat bench to 78 degrees upright)
This is the upmarket version from Rogue if you do not want to do decline bench presses.
Pros of the AB2 Adjustable bench
The
AB2 has a pin design which keeps the
bench firmly in place. It is heavy duty and well made and gives you more options than the cheaper versions from
Rogue.
Cons of the AB2 Adjustable bench
$815 can still be a hefty price tag for a bench. As you are not buying any kind of structure with this and probably did not consider yourself that much of a beast to look into the Reflex options, you might as well want to save a little more on the bench itself. This bench has the price of a rack.
Alternatives to the AB2 Adjustable bench
Alternatives to the
AB2 are
The
AB3 is the weapon of choice if you need a
bench that can be moved around and used for incline, decline, and flat
bench press setups. It comes in at a slightly higher price tag than the
AB2 and makes more sense in my opinion if you are looking for a high-end
bench.
The
Rogue Adjustable bench 2.0 would probably my personal choice for a
bench from
Rogue. This is the middle priced
bench which covers any need you might have. Production costs are lower compared to the
AB2 as not as many holes need to be drilled. It still does the same with fewer options to adjust the
bench. To be honest, in practice you will most likely only use one incline, one decline, and the flat position anyway.
The
Rogue Flat utility bench would be my tool of choice if I had to equip an entire gym with
Rogue benches. They have multiple options for customization and are only a fraction of the cost f the
AB2 and
AB3. You basically get 4 of these four one
AB2.
Overview and review of the Reflex competition bench
The Reflex competition bench comes in at $1697 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".
Overview of the Reflex Competition bench
The
reflex competition bench setup delivers a sturdy machine for
bench pressing competitions. This is the kind of
bench where all sizes of athletes can perform to their very best. A
competition bench is needed so that spotters can do their work properly, but also to provide the athletes with enough grip on the
bench. All of this is included in this piece of equipment. The specifications are:
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Meets International Powerlifting Federation ( IPF ) Guidelines
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3/16 wall and 11ga. Welded Tubular steel construction.
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Powder Coated finish.
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Oversized 24×30 Polished Diamond 6061 Aluminum skid plate for foot deck.
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6 position band pegs.
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14 position Weight saddles w/ handles and engraved numbers.
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11 position Over-Sized Safeties w/ engraved numbers.
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Full Framed supported Pad
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Plastic lined Saddles & Safeties
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Additional adjustment hole in both Saddles & Safeties to use 1/2 hitch pin.
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1in high-density foam pad.
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Made in the USA
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Weight 370LB
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Length 60”
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Width 50”
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Height 55”
Remember that if you have to move this one around a lot it will be shipped by freight as it is so bulky.
Pros of the Reflex competition bench
This is a secure, sturdy bench press setup which meets the standards of the IPF. With this, even the biggest athletes can chip away at their geared 1000LB be ch presses.
Cons of the Reflex competition bench
It is a single purpose station which means you still have to provide a squat setup for your competition. It will also be hard to ship or transport to wherever the competition is held.
Alternatives to the Reflex competition bench
The
Rogue combo rack is also IPF approved and can be used to squat and
bench with plenty of spotter hopping around. It can also be broken apart for easier transport. If you regularly want to do powerlifting competitions in different locations this might be the better pick.
The
Rogue Westside bench is a beast that even your biggest athletes won’t break. In addition, it gives you more options for starting positions and attaching bands. This makes it a great work station to prepare for your next competition.
The
Rogue AB3 is the
bench of choice for weekend warriors who want to have all
bench press options at home. This
bench is portable and therefore not recommended when you want to
bench 1000LB or do other crazy stuff that might make the
bench move around.
Summary for the Reflex competition bench
If you are looking for a stationary
bench station which complies with IPF standards the reflex
competition bench is a good pick for you. However, if I was to get something for competition use I would invest the extra dollars in the
combo rack to get a two for one.