REP fitness AB-3100 bench vs Reflex flat bench

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

Overview and review of the Reflex flat bench

The Reflex flat bench arm kit comes in at $1674 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 Flat bench

The reflex flat bench is the sturdy design of the reflex line applied to a regular flat bench setup. You will get a solid piece of equipment with little moving parts apart from the barbell. This is a good setup for your big athletes who are moving big weights. The specifications of the Reflex flat bench are:

Combination of 3×3 11ga. & 3/16-walled fully Welded Tubular steel construction.
Powder Coated finish.
Plastic lined weight bar saddles.
Adjustable Saddles w/ 11 positions.
Weight storage.
7 position adjustable safeties.
Weight storage.
1in high-density foam pad.
Weight 167 - 470LB
Length 60” - 70”
Width 48”
Height 58” - 64”

The reflex flat bench will stay where you place it and go nowhere. This is especially good when you want to ensure the same setup each and every time you bench.

Pros of the Reflex Flat bench

A sturdy setup that keeps you safe, even when moving big weights around. Can also be used as central plate storage in the middle of multiple racks.

Cons of the Reflex Flat bench

Single-purpose use and not a lot of flexibility to change. Needs more floor space than other solutions you might come up with for the bench press.

Alternatives to the Reflex Flat bench

Alternatives to the reflex flat bench are

The reflex competition bench comes in only slightly more expensive than the flat bench version. In return, you get an IPF approved machine to practice for the real thing. Of you are considering a bench press setup like this you might as well spend the few extra to get the competition version.

The reflex decline bench press is the piece of equipment that I would get if I had the floor space left. Out of the different bench press variations, the decline is the one I feel most uncomfortable with when done on a free-standing bench. The reflex decline would address this.

The AB3 bench is Rogues portable bench which can be used for flat, incline and decline setups. As it is on rolls it might not be as stable as the Reflex series, but if you are not a beast, this will be more than sufficient to get your work done.

Summary for the Reflex Flat bench

The reflex Olympic flat bench is not something I personally would consider. I would either go for the decline or competition bench press if I was in the market for a bench machine.

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.

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.