REP fitness AB-3000 bench vs TITAN chest supported row
This is a comparison between the Rep Fitness AB-3000 bench and the Titan chest supported row. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the TITAN Chest supported row bench
This is an overview of the TITAN chest supported row bench including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally posted in Which TITAN bench to get? Follow the links for details.
Overview of the chest supported adjustable row bench
Price: $464.99
The
chest supported adjustable row bench is a machine that specifically isolates the back muscles and prevents lower back pain when you work with barbell rows. It also allows you to do weighted back raises, especially if you go very heavy. Some of the international elite powerlifters recommend this exercise to build a stronger back. Some bodybuilders also recommend it. This makes the
chest supported row bench a niche product for individuals or gyms who work a lot with barbells and have serious lifters in their midst. If your rows are a little lighter, you can also achieve similar results with a simple free-standing barbell row. The full specifications of this machine are:
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Weight: 128 LB- Adjustable Seat Height: 30 1/2” to 37 1/4"
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Adjustable Depth: 68 1/2" to 65 1/2”
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Adjustable Width: 55 1/2” to 42”- Seat Length: 18”
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Seat Width: 9 1/2"- Seat Thickness: 2 3/4”
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Band Peg Length: 5 1/2”
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Footplate Dimensions (per side): 21 1/2” x 24”
This is a good addition to your home gym or commercial gym if you have to work on your back and space. Still, I personally think there some better purchases you can make for your gym for $400 like a set of good kettlebells, especially some heavy ones for swings, sumo deadlifts, split squats, and front squats.
Pros of the TITAN chest supported row bench
This is a great machine to make heavy rows with the barbell a lot safer. You will also isolate your muscles in the back a lot more. So if you want to work on your lower back and back with heavy loaded rows and back raises, this is a good machine to get. If you want to cut out any kind of activation from the hips or lower back you might want to up for a seal row bench.
Cons of the TITAN Chest supported row bench
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Limited use
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Space requirements
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Cumbersome setup
The
chest supported row bench has a very limited range of exercises you can do at that particular station. You will also need to get a barbell in place and load it. This needs to be lifted on the two pins in the starting position. While it is not a lot of setup, you might as well to regular barbell rows, especially when you do it for mass rather than maximum strength. In a home gym scenario, this machine will eat up space where you can place a GHD or a rack. If you need to decide between this and a GHD, I personally think the GHD is the better option as it gives you a similar effect in your training, but more variety for exercises.
Alternatives to the TITAN Chest supported row bench
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Seal bench
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GHD machine
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Adjustable bench
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Rogue donkey
If you want to use an extended range of motion for rowing exercises while eliminating the lower back motion, the seal row is a very good option. To perform these rows you need a bench or station that enables you to elevate yourself so that the arms are fully extended while you lie on the bench. Then you start rowing.
A GHD machine helps you to do back extensions, situps and Glute ham raises. This machine has roughly the same size as a
Chest supported row bench. They are usually slightly more expensive but more versatile. Definitely the better pick for a home gym that has that extra space beside a rack, but not much more.
An adjustable bench with a good pair of dumbbells can be used in a similar way to the
chest supported row. just lay on the bench on your stomach and bring it to an
incline bench press position. It is not the same thing, but a lot more space-efficient. You just have shell out more money for a proper adjustable bench.
The Rogue Donkey is a combination of a reverse hyper and a GHD machine. While it is quite pricey, I think this is the machine to cover all over your lower back development needs in one station. You still won't be able to do very heavy back raises or work with a barbell, but I think the trade-off is there. If you have tons of space, these questions become less relevant and you can get cheaper, specific one purpose equipment and spread them out over your floor space.
Conclusion for the TITAN chest supported row bench
The
chest supported row bench is a good tool in a strength-focused commercial gym with a lot of space. There you have space and clients who can get good use out of the heavy rows to form massive backs. Home gym owners will probably just use the barbell for rows. If the basement or garage is bigger, you can look at the Rogue Donkey for all of your lower back needs, as long as your wallet allows for it.
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:
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7 different angles, including -20 (decline), 0 (flat), 20, 35, 50, 65, and 85 degrees
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Weight capacity: 1,000 lb
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Thick, firm, 2.5" pad wrapped in very durable textured vinyl for maximum comfort and support.
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Wheels allow for efficient maneuvering around the gym.
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Solid steel ladder.
A great bench on a budget with which you can not do a lot wrong.
Pros of the REP AB-3000 FID Adjustable bench
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
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Vertical handle
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Hands can get caught
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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.