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Reflex decline bench press vs Rogue Utility bench

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Jul 16, 2020 4:00:00 PM
 

Reflex decline bench press vs Rogue Utility bench

This is a comparison between the Reflex decline bench and the Rogue Utility bench including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

 

Overview and review of the Monster utility bench 

The Rogue Monster Utility bench comes in at $265 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 Utility bench

 
The monster utility bench is the workhorse in the Rogue portfolio. It is the best portable bench from Rogue which you can not adjust. The Utility bench can be customized which leaves you with six different configurations. You can choose between:
 
  • Regular height 
  • Shorty height 
  • Thompson fat pad 
  • Competition pad 
  • Standard pad 
 
The three different pads will give you more grip when you are on the bench, depending on your size. The shorty setup enables to have the bench at the same height while having a big pad. The specs are: 
 
  • Made in Columbus, OH, USA
  • 3x3” 11 gauge steel tubing
  • Footprint: 44”L x 24”W 
  • Weight (without pad): 52 lbs.
  • Gussets feature laser-cut Rogue "R" logo
  • Rubber feet for added stability
  • Includes hardware for assembly
  • Available in Standard or Shorty height
  • Choice of Standard, Comp Fat Pad™, or Thompson Fat Pad™
  • Color: Black
 
 

Pros of the Utility bench

 
The pros is the Utility bench is its low price and versatility. With the new pad options, there is even some individualization possible. 
 

Cons of the Utility bench

 
The Utility bench can not be adjusted. Some big athletes moving very big weights might also find it to be too flimsy to bench 600 pounds on. 
 

Alternatives to the Utility bench

 
Alternatives to the Utility bench are 
 
 
The Rogue Adjustable bench is still budget-friendly and comes with the option to adjust the bench for incline bench presses or dumbbell exercises. 
 
The west side bench is the ultimate station for the serious bench presser. If you aspire to or already bench more than 400 pounds, this might be the way to go. 
 
The Rogue AB3 is the crown jewel of Rogue’s portable bench portfolio.
 

Summary for the Utility bench

 
The Rogue Utility bench is the workhorse of choice of you do not need an adjustable bench or high-performance setup
 
 

Overview and review of the Reflex Olympic decline bench 

The Reflex Olympic decline bench press comes in at $1882 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 Decline bench

 
The Reflex decline bench provides you with a sturdy decline bench press setup for the big boys. This bench is going nowhere no matter how big the weights or athlete. You will have the bench set up steady so that you will always have the same setup. There are also safeties in place. Overall a solid piece of equipment, especially when your gym is specializing in big guys or bodybuilding. The specifications of the Reflex decline bench are: 
 
  • Combination of 3×3 11ga. & 3/16-walled fully Welded Tubular steel construction.
  • Powder Coated finish.
  • Plastic lined weight bar saddles.
  • 7 position adjustable roller pads.
  • Adjustable Saddles w/ 11 positions.
  • Weight storage.
  • 7 position adjustable safeties.
  • 1in high-density foam pad
  • 145 - 450 LB 
  • Length 62”-92”
  • Width 48”
  • Height 47”-53” 
 
This is a good addition to your gym when you have a lot of space and many big guys or very new athletes. 
 

Pros of the Reflex decline bench

 
The sheer size of this will make it a favorite for all your athletes who don’t fit into other machines. Once a transportable bench becomes too small, you probably want to graduate to this beast. Some might also appreciate that the bench will always be set up at the same distances. This is hard to achieve with a transportable version. The reflex decline also provides space for plates and is a good addition to any gym with plenty of floor space. 
 

Cons of the Reflex decline bench

 
The reflex decline bench press is not very versatile. If you do a lot of circuit training and have little room, it probably won’t be the best investment. It takes up a lot of floor space and can be intimidating to some clients. If you are planning a home gym it is pretty much out of the question, unless you live in a mansion. 
 

Alternatives to the Reflex decline bench

 
Alternatives to the reflex decline bench are 
 
 
The reflex incline basically does the same as the decline setup, just for an incline bench setup. Again you need a lot of space in return for security.
 
The reflex military bench takes the incline and decline approach and uses it for the military press. Again you are taking up more space in return for being able to move bigger weights more secure. 
 
The Rogue AB3 is a portable bench from Rogue which can be set up for incline and decline benches presses. This will probably the tool of choice for anyone who wants to build their home gym. 
 

Summary for the Reflex decline bench

 
The reflex decline bench machine is probably the piece of equipment I would consider the most from reflex. The decline bench press is the one where you most need a secure setup. All other forms of bench presses I am personally happy to do with a bench and barbell in a rack. I might feel different if I did those with more than 300 pounds for repetitions. 
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