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REP fitness AB-3100 bench vs Reflex decline bench press

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Jun 2, 2021 4:00:00 PM

REP fitness AB-3100 bench vs Reflex decline bench press

This is a comparison between the Rep Fitness AB-3100 bench and the Reflex decline bench press. Follow the links for more details.

 

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".

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 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. 

Overview and review of the REP fitness AB-3100 bench

This is an overview of the REP fitness AB-3100 bench including pros, cons, and alternatives. The original was published under which rep fitness bench to buy. Follow the links for more details.

Related articles

 

REP AB-3100 Adjustable Bench V3 $219

  
The REP AB-3100 adjustable bench is a great option for the small pocket. If you want a great bench for a small price and do not intend to bench 500 pounds or more on a regular basis then this is a good option.
 
  • Weight Capacity: 1,000 lb
  • 6 back pad adjustments, from flat to 90-degree incline - including 0, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 to accommodate any workout routine.
  • 3 seat pad adjustments, from flat to incline. A seat pad with the ability to incline keeps you locked in place when the back pad is inclined.
  • Minimal pad gap (approx 2")
  • Frame thickness varies from 14 to 4 gauge steel
  • Handle and wheels for easy transportation
  • Matte black powder coating
  • Pad and hardware individually boxed to prevent shipping damage
  • Simple 20 minute assembly with a socket wrench (not provided)
 
  • Total Height: 17"
  • Total Pad Length: 49.5"
  • Back Pad Width: 11.75"
  • Pad Gap: 1.75"
  • Total Footprint: 8 SQFT
  • 3% Tolerance
 
  • Rubber feet on all 3 contact points for increased stability.
  • Redesigned adjustment ladder for easier adjustment and rubber-coated contact for less noise.
  • The improved rear base design for easier assembly.
  • Improved hinge design at seat and back pad.
 
 

Pros of the REP AB-3100 Adjustable Bench V3

Here some of the biggest advantages of the REP Adjustable bench V3:
 
  • Easy to adjust
  • Grippy cushion
  • Small Gap
  • Big wheels
 
This bench is easy to adjust and comes with the REP fitness signature grippy cushion on the newer models. As it is a small bench you will also not have a lo of gapping compared to bigger benches.
 

Cons of the REP AB-3100 Adjustable Bench V3

 
Cons of the AB-3100 are:
 
  • No decline
  • Small bench
  • Vertical handle
  • Hands can get caught
  • 90 degree upright
 
This bench is fairly small so if you are a very big lifter and move heavy weights on a regular basis you might want to go for something g else.
 
While you save a little money compared to other options from REP fitness this bench does not provide a decline option. If you are in a budget and want a decline option the REP AB-3000 is a better option.
 
Compared to the REP AB-5200 which is beefier this bench has no protective rail that covers the adjustment rail. This means you can get your fingers caught when you are putting this bench in different positions. The 90 degrees upright position can be uncomfortable and I personally prefer an 85-degree angle at the highest position.
 

Alternatives to the REP AB-3100 Adjustable Bench V3

 
 
The REP fitness 3000 is an option in a similar budget range that can also provide decline options. If that is what you are after then spend the little extra to cover all your needs.
 
The Rogue adjustable bench 2.0 is the bench that inhabits my own home gym. It is a great sturdy design that comes in a nice black. The horizontal handle makes it easy to move even though it is beefy. The only downside is the higher price compared to the 3000 series from REP.
 
The TITAN Max adjustable bench is TITAN’s take on a low-budget beefy adjustable bench. If you want to go as cheap as possible for a decent adjustable bench then this is the one. The drawback is that TITAN is known for quality control issues.
 

Conclusion for the REP AB-3100 Adjustable Bench V3

 
I personally think that the AB-3100 is a great option for anyone who does not want to spend more than around $200 on a good adjustable bench for their home or commercial needs. The only downside would be the gap on this.
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