REP fitness AB-3000 bench vs Reflex Military bench

This is a comparison between the Rep Fitness AB-3000 bench and the Reflex MIlitary bench. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the Reflex Olympic Military bench

The Reflex Olympic Military bench comes in at $1.905 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

Most popular Rogue bench

This is an overview of the most popular Rogue benches based on views and click throughs for purchase on Marathon-Crossfit.com in 2020. If you want to dig deeper on the details of the data you can read what were the most popular rogue products in 2020.

These were the most popular rogue benches on Marathon-CrossFit.com in 2020. The rankings were as followed:

The Rogue AB3 is the most expensive bench you can get from Rogue. In return, you get a monster of a bench that can do incline and decline bench presses. I am not a huge fan of decline bench presses, especially for a home gym where you might pin yourself without any help around. Therefore I lean more towards the AB2. You can read the full review of the AB3 by following this link.

The Rogue AB2 is the little brother of the AB3. It is the same bench except that it is missing the mechanics to do decline benches. This makes it the best value for money bench from Rogue in my opinion. You can read the full review of the AB2 via this link.

The Rogue west side bench 2.0 is the bench of choice if you weigh more than 120kg and you are a huge fan of the west side method. In my opinion, you can get no bench which is as sturdy at this price point. This bench allows for all the band variations you can dream of and can take a 1000 pound bench press as long as you bolt it to the ground. If you are not a monster, this might be a little overkill. You can read the full review of the Rogue Westside bench 2.0 by following this link.

The Rogue adjustable bench 2.0 is a cheaper design than the AB2 which does the same thing. I personally prefer the pin and lock system of the AB2 as it is sturdier and leaves you with less risk of catching your fingers in it. The adjustable bench 2.0 is easier to adjust but more likely to slip a notch during exercise when not put in place correctly or catch a finger in the mechanics. You can read the full review of the Rogue adjustable bench 2.0 via this link.

The rogue combo rack could also be listed under racks. I chose to list it under benches because if you buy this instead of a power rack, you buy it for the competition bench and not for the squat stand. Compared to other combo racks in the market the price is decent and you will get a high-quality combo rack. It is not recommended if you are not already an experienced lifter. You can read the full review of the Rogue combo via this link.

Overview of the Reflex Military bench

The reflex Olympic military bench is a solid bench to securely do your seated military bench presses. This is a big piece of metal which will never break on you. No matter how big your athletes and the weights they will move, the reflex will not go anywhere. If you have problems with shifting benches based on your floor or the sheer size of your athletes than the reflex is the solution. The specifications of the Reflex military bench are:

Combination of 3×3 11ga. & 3/16-walled fully Tubular steel construction.
Powder Coated finish.
Plastic lined weight bar saddles.
Aluminum Spotter Deck.
Adjustable Saddles w/ 11 positions.
Weight storage.
7 position adjustable safeties.
Weight storage.
1in high-density foam pad.
Product weight 155 - 465LB
Length 38”-54.5”
Width 48”
Height 58” - 74.5”

As long as you have the floor space and very big athletes, the Reflex military bench is the right solution for you.

Pros of the Reflex Military bench

With the Reflex bench, you have the same set up for your military press each time you or your athletes step into the machine. With the weight of the machine, your athletes will be secure no matter how big the challenge. This is a great machine for a serious gym that reminds of the golden days of bodybuilding.

Cons of the Reflex Military bench

The Reflex military bench takes up quite a bit of floor space and is pretty limited in its applications. This makes it not an ideal option for home gyms or group class environments with changing demands.

Alternatives to the Reflex Military bench

Alternatives to the Reflex Olympic military bench are

The reflex decline bench tailors to the same idea as the military press machine. The decline bench press is a machine where you would need more security as for a military press. Therefore your money might be placed here unless you have a lot of bodybuilders in your gym or just like big things.

The reflex incline bench press has a fixed bench for incline bench presses. This makes a more secure setup as with a free-standing bench. This comes at a higher cost and a bigger need for floor space.

The Rogue AB3 bench would give you the option to move below $1000 while still being able to move the bench and allow for different setups. This is the only bench from Rogue which can also be used for decline bench presses.

Summary of the Reflex Military bench

The Reflex military bench will help with security and the same set up for military presses. If you want to move big weights on the seated military press this is the machine for you. Especially if you considered the ISO leg press you might want to consider the reflex range to make your budget stretch further.

Overview and review of the REP fitness AB-3000 bench

This is an overview of the REP fitness AB-3000 bench including pros, cons, and alternatives. The original was published under which rep fitness bench to buy. Follow the links for more details.

REP AB-3000 FID Adjustable bench

This bench is a great low-budget option to build a solid gym. It is not as beefy as the AB-5200 but still great for most home gym settings. The only downside is the considerable gap on this bench. The full specifications of this bench are:

7 different angles, including -20 (decline), 0 (flat), 20, 35, 50, 65, and 85 degrees
Weight capacity: 1,000 lb
Thick, firm, 2.5" pad wrapped in very durable textured vinyl for maximum comfort and support.
Wheels allow for efficient maneuvering around the gym.
Solid steel ladder.

Total Height: 18"
Total Pad Length: 54.25"
Back Pad Width: 11.5"
Pad Gap: 1.75"
Total Footprint: 11.25 SQFT
Weight: 95lbs
3% Tolerance

A great bench on a budget with which you can not do a lot wrong.

Pros of the REP AB-3000 FID Adjustable bench

The pros of the AB-3000 FID are:

Leg attachment included
The sticky surface on the cushion
Easy to adjust

This is a bench that is easy to adjust and comes with a leg attachment for added stability. REP fitness also did a great job by using a grippy sie face leather for all their benches which makes you less likely to slide on the bench itself.

Cons of the REP AB-3000 FID Adjustable bench

Cons of the REP AB-3000 FID adjustable bench are:

Vertical handle
Hands can get caught
Gap in flat position

Even though you still find vertical handles on many benches out here to transport this design is not of its time anymore. A horizontal handle is easier to use and makes it more convenient to lift the bench off the ground to wheel it around.

This bench has no protective rail on the hook system to get it upright. This means your hand can get caught. The REP AB-5200 design does a better job of protecting your fingers.

The biggest downside of this bench is the big gap in the flat bench position. If this turns you off you should go for the AB-5200 or AB-5000 instead.

Alternatives to the REP AB-3000 FID Adjustable bench

If you want to save a little more money you can opt for the smaller REP 3100 which comes with very similar functions like the 3000.

The REP 5200 is the top-of-the-line bench from REP fitness with all the bells and whistles. You will be hard-pressed to find another adjustable bench to at big and well designed for under $500.

The Rogue adjustable bench 2.0 is the bench that I own as I have a fully equipped gym from Rogue fitness. This model is not outlandishly priced like the AB3 and the AB2 but still more expensive than the REP fitness models. In return, you get a high-quality almost zero gap bench made in the US.

The TITAN Max adjustable FID bench is the low-cost player in the market for adjustable benches. What TITAN saves you in money they cut short in quality control. Be mindful when you opt for TITAN.

Conclusion for the REP AB-3000 FID Adjustable bench

Great low a budget all-around option if you don’t mind the gap in the flat bench position.