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REP fitness AB-5100 bench vs Rogue Utility Bench

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Jun 8, 2021 4:00:00 PM

REP fitness AB-5100 bench vs Rogue Utility Bench

This is a comparison between the Rep Fitness AB-5100 bench and the Rogue Utility bench. Follow the links for more details.

 

 

Overview and review of the Monster utility bench 

The Rogue Monster Utility bench comes in at $265 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

Overview of the Utility bench

 
The monster utility bench is the workhorse in the Rogue portfolio. It is the best portable bench from Rogue which you can not adjust. The Utility bench can be customized which leaves you with six different configurations. You can choose between:
 
  • Regular height 
  • Shorty height 
  • Thompson fat pad 
  • Competition pad 
  • Standard pad 
 
The three different pads will give you more grip when you are on the bench, depending on your size. The shorty setup enables to have the bench at the same height while having a big pad. The specs are: 
 
  • Made in Columbus, OH, USA
  • 3x3” 11 gauge steel tubing
  • Footprint: 44”L x 24”W 
  • Weight (without pad): 52 lbs.
  • Gussets feature laser-cut Rogue "R" logo
  • Rubber feet for added stability
  • Includes hardware for assembly
  • Available in Standard or Shorty height
  • Choice of Standard, Comp Fat Pad™, or Thompson Fat Pad™
  • Color: Black
 
 

Pros of the Utility bench

 
The pros is the Utility bench is its low price and versatility. With the new pad options, there is even some individualization possible. 
 

Cons of the Utility bench

 
The Utility bench can not be adjusted. Some big athletes moving very big weights might also find it to be too flimsy to bench 600 pounds on. 
 

Alternatives to the Utility bench

 
Alternatives to the Utility bench are 
 
 
The Rogue Adjustable bench is still budget-friendly and comes with the option to adjust the bench for incline bench presses or dumbbell exercises. 
 
The west side bench is the ultimate station for the serious bench presser. If you aspire to or already bench more than 400 pounds, this might be the way to go. 
 
The Rogue AB3 is the crown jewel of Rogue’s portable bench portfolio.
 

Summary for the Utility bench

 
The Rogue Utility bench is the workhorse of choice of you do not need an adjustable bench or high-performance setup

Overview and review of the REP fitness AB-5100 bench

This is an overview of the REP fitness AB-5100 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-5100 Adjustable Bench $399

 
The REP AB-5100 bench is a good option with a push pin design that can also be turned into a decline bench. The only drawback of this design is that this is one of the benches with the widest gap between the two pads from REP fitness. The full specifications of this bench are:
 
  • 11-gauge steel frame.
  • 1,000 lb capacity.
  • Seven back pad adjustments & four-seat pad adjustments with laser-cut degree markings on a stainless steel wear guard.
  • Three large steel supports on the back pad and two on the seat pad for rock-solid stability.
  • Pivoting urethane grip handle and wheels for easy portability.
 
  • Total Height: 17.25"
  • Total Pad Length: 53.25"
  • Back Pad Width: 12.25"
  • Pad Gap: 3"
  • Overall Footprint: 7.5 SQFT
  • 3% Tolerance
 
This is a great bench to convert into a decline bench. Otherwise, you might want to opt for the REP AB 5200 or REP AB-5000 instead.
 

Pros of the REP  AB-5100 Adjustable Bench

 
The pros of the REP AB-5100 are:
 
  • Labeled degrees
  • Big and beefy
  • Heavy bench
  • Decline bench (attachment needed)
  • Pushpin safety
  • Wheelguards
 
The design is big sturdy and will meet the needs of big athletes who want to move big weights but do not have space for a dedicated be ch press station. The pushpin mechanism will provide further stability when benching.
 
The REP AB-5100 can also be turned into a decline bench. For this, you will need to purchase an additional attachment that comes in at slightly under $100. This is a nice upgrade option for anyone who wants to do everything with their bench.
 

Cons of the REP AB-5100 Adjustable Bench

 
The cons of the REP AB-5100 adjustable bench are:
 
  • Heavy bench
  • Hard to move
  • 90 degrees
  • Pushpin adjustments
  • 4-inch GAP
 
This bench is heavy and can be hard to move sometimes. While this is great when everybody is big and burly and might not be the best portable bench to get in a commercial setting with mainly average-sized humans.
 
The highest incline is an exact ninety degrees. I always find that to be quite uncomfortable for overhead presses as it easier to lean against a setup that still provides a 5-degree tilt in the highest setting.
 
The push pin adjustments can be hard to adjust. Compared with the fact that this bench is heavy this can get annoying. I am personally not a huge fan of the pushpin design on any bench as it does not allow for quick and easy adjustments.
 
The bench has probably the widest gap between the bottom and top pad compared to other be benches out of the REP fitness lineup. This allows for decline settings at the cost of a possible annoyance for flat benching. This is why o prefer the 5200 or 5000 models I am also not an advocate for decline benching.
 

Alternatives to the REP  AB-5100 Adjustable Bench

 
The alternatives to the REP AB-5100 bench are:
 
 
The REP AB-5200 is my personal favorite among the REP fitness benches. It is easy to adjust and move for a beefy bench and can be stored upright. The only drawback is the price.
 
The REP zero Gap bench is in a similar price range as the 5100 but provides the possibility the adjust the lower pad in a way that there is no gapping. If you really struggle on benches with gaps based on your build then this is the one to get. The downside is the pushpin mechanics. I always hated those and I just would not use benches that are being adjusted this way.
 

Conclusion for the REP-5100 Adjustable Bench

 
The REP 5100 adjustable bench is the best model from REP fitness if you are looking for a decline bench option. Otherwise, I would recommend the 5200 or 5000 models if you do not care about the decline.
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