REP fitness AB-3100 bench vs TITAN chest supported row

This is a comparison between the Rep Fitness AB-3100 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:

Weight: 128 LB- Adjustable Seat Height: 30 1/2” to 37 1/4"
Adjustable Depth: 68 1/2" to 65 1/2”
Adjustable Width: 55 1/2” to 42”- Seat Length: 18”
Seat Width: 9 1/2"- Seat Thickness: 2 3/4”
Band Peg Length: 5 1/2”
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

Pros of the TITAN Chest supported row bench are:

Spine protection
Goes up to very heavy setups
Works with a barbell

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

The cons of the TITAN chest supported bench are:

Limited use
Space requirements
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

Alternatives to the chest supported row bench are:

Seal bench
GHD machine
Adjustable bench
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-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.