Reflex competition bench vs Rogue west side bench

This is a comparison between the Reflex competition bench and the rogue west side bench 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:

Made in the USA
2x3" 11-Gauge Uprights with Westside hole spacing
Total Height: 54.625"
Bench Height: 17.5” (adjustable up and down by 1" increments)
1000+LB weight capacity
Your choice of either a 12" wide standard bench pad or a 14.5" wide Thompson Fat Pad™ (at additional cost)
NEW Bolt-Together Design with 0.625" Hardware
NEW 7-Gauge Reinforced Steel Spine Under Pad
NEW Laser-Cut Rogue Side Panels
Infinity J-Cups with UHMW inserts to protect the bar knurl
24" Pin/Pipe Safety Set
4 Adjustable Band Pegs
NEW Optional Spotter Decks (at additional cost)
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

Alternatives to the Westside Bench 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?

The reflex incline is an alternative to consider or even an additional purchase to the west side bench 2.0. If you are equipping a gym with a west side bench I know you mean business, so where are your freaks going to do their incline bench presses? Same goes for the decline.

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 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:

Meets International Powerlifting Federation ( IPF ) Guidelines
3/16 wall and 11ga. Welded Tubular steel construction.
Powder Coated finish.
Oversized 24×30 Polished Diamond 6061 Aluminum skid plate for foot deck.
6 position band pegs.
14 position Weight saddles w/ handles and engraved numbers.
11 position Over-Sized Safeties w/ engraved numbers.
Full Framed supported Pad
Plastic lined Saddles & Safeties
Additional adjustment hole in both Saddles & Safeties to use 1/2 hitch pin.
1in high-density foam pad.
Made in the USA
Weight 370LB
Length 60”
Width 50”
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

Alternatives to the competition bench are

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.