REP fitness AB-5000 bench vs Rogue AB2
This is a comparison between the Rep Fitness AB-5000 bench and the Rogue AB2. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the Ab2 Adjustable bench
The AB-2 bench comes in at $815 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".
Related articles
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:
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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 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.
Overview of the AB2 Adjustable bench
The
Rogue AB2 bench comes from the designers of the Nebula 1080
bench which has been on an established reference in the fitness industry. The
Ab2 includes 6 different seat settings and nine back positions. This makes it a strong piece of equipment for any home gym which needs versatility and space-efficient setup. The specifications of the
Rogue AB2 bench are:
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Adapted from the Nebula 1080 "Awesome" Utility Bench
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Weight: 94LB
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Length: 52"
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Pad Width: 12"
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Height: 18"
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Footprint: 51 1/4" x 22 1/2"
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Steel: 2 x 2" and 3 x 3" 11-Gauge Steel
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6 Adjustable Seat Settings
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9 Adjustable Back Pad Settings (from flat bench to 78 degrees upright)
This is the upmarket version from Rogue if you do not want to do decline bench presses.
Pros of the AB2 Adjustable bench
The
AB2 has a pin design which keeps the
bench firmly in place. It is heavy duty and well made and gives you more options than the cheaper versions from
Rogue.
Cons of the AB2 Adjustable bench
$815 can still be a hefty price tag for a bench. As you are not buying any kind of structure with this and probably did not consider yourself that much of a beast to look into the Reflex options, you might as well want to save a little more on the bench itself. This bench has the price of a rack.
Alternatives to the AB2 Adjustable bench
Alternatives to the
AB2 are
The
AB3 is the weapon of choice if you need a
bench that can be moved around and used for incline, decline, and flat
bench press setups. It comes in at a slightly higher price tag than the
AB2 and makes more sense in my opinion if you are looking for a high-end
bench.
The
Rogue Adjustable bench 2.0 would probably my personal choice for a
bench from
Rogue. This is the middle priced
bench which covers any need you might have. Production costs are lower compared to the
AB2 as not as many holes need to be drilled. It still does the same with fewer options to adjust the
bench. To be honest, in practice you will most likely only use one incline, one decline, and the flat position anyway.
The
Rogue Flat utility bench would be my tool of choice if I had to equip an entire gym with
Rogue benches. They have multiple options for customization and are only a fraction of the cost f the
AB2 and
AB3. You basically get 4 of these four one
AB2.
Overview and review of the REP fitness AB-5000 bench
This is an overview of the REP fitness AB-5000 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-5000 Adjustable Bench zero-gap
The
REP AB-5000 bench is the
zero-gap bench option from REP fitness. The lower part of this bench can be moved in place so that the gap disappears. This is a great bench for very lifters who still want an adjustable bench to move around but no gap when flat benching. The full specifications of this bench are:
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Patented: This product was designed by REP in the USA and protected by one or more issued patents.
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11-gauge steel frame.
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Flat, incline, and decline positions with 7 back pad adjustments and 4 seat pad adjustments.
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Laser-cut degree markings on a stainless steel wear guard
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Unique pop-pin and bearing system adjustment for zero gap between seat and back pad. Adjusts in 1 second.
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Easy to move with urethane grip handle and wheels
This is a solid option at the higher price range of REP fitness bench portfolio of like the pin design and want no gap between the two pads of the bench.
Pros of the REP AB-5000 Adjustable Bench
The main feature of this bench is the
zero-gap design. This makes it a good bench to keep inside your rack as it is not as easy to adjust as other benches in the REP fitness lineup.
It also comes with a harder cushion than some of the other REP fitness options and a longer seat than the REP AB-
5200.
The labeled degrees on this bench are one of the biggest distinguishing features of the REP fitness compared to the competition. If I was a designer at someone else’s company I would probably copy it.
Cons of the REP AB-5000 Adjustable Bench
This is a big and hard-to-adjust bench. What you can in options for the setup you lose in speed for the adjustment itself. I also don’t like the 90 degrees top spot and prefer the 85-degree option in the
REP AB-5200. The vertical handle to move the bench is also not of its time anymore as horizontal handles are easier to use.
Alternatives to the REP AB-5000 Adjustable Bench
The
REP AB-5200 bench is the better option if you don’t mind a little gap in your bench while gaining a lot more comfort in adjusting it. I am personally not a huge fan of the safety pin design on adjustable benches as it is a pain to use. The hook system is more dangerous for your fingers but has greater ease of use.
The
Rogue AB2 adjustable bench works with the push pin design and can also be upgraded to the AB 3 by buying a leg attachment. These are the sturdiest benches you can get from one of the best vendors in the market. Their price is off-putting. The range close to $1000. At TITAN fitness you can build an entire gym on this budget.
The
Rogue adjustable bench 2.0 is the model a personally own and I am very happy with it. This bench can be stored upright, is beefy, and still reasonably easy to move around. The price is also not outrageous even though it comes in higher than REP fitness’s top model
AB-5200.
The
TITAN Max adjustable FID bench is TITAN’s take on a beefy adjustable bench. If you want something for a low price to rival REP fitness and Rogue TITAN is the right place to shop.
Conclusion for the REP AB-5000 Adjustable Bench
The
REP zero-gap bench does what it says on the tin. You can always set it up in a way that there is no gap between the upper and lower pad. This makes it a pain to adjust at times with the pushpin system, but that is the price you pay for this feature to work.