REP fitness AB-5100 bench vs TITAN fitness flat bench

This is a comparison between the Rep Fitness AB-5100 bench and the Titan fitness flat bench. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the TITAN fitness flat bench

This is an overview of the TITAN fitness flat 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 TITAN flat weight bench

Price: $135

The TITAN flat weight bench is a simple flat bench with two T posts. This is what most people think of when they are imaging a home gym with a bench in it. The design is simple and classic. Great bench to get in bulk or, a starting setup or a second bench in a bigger home gym setup beside an incline. The full specifications of this bench are:

Meets requirements for Competition Bench
Rigid Steel Base
Comfortable Padding
Sleek Leather Finish
Wheels for Quick Workout Changes
Overall Length: 52-in.
Overall Width: 17-in.
Overall Height: 17-in.
Bench Width: 12-in.
Bench Length: 48-in.
Capacity: 1,000 lb.

This is a low price, practical bench from TITAN for many purposes.Just do not expect too much from it.

Pros of the TITAN flat weight bench

The pros of the TITAN flat weight bench are:

Low price
Easy to transport
Versatile

This is a bench that can be used for many purposes without hassle. With the low price, it also will not be a problem to use the hell out of it. Especially if you are planning on stepping on this bench quite a lot, it is a great piece to get. As with all TITAN products the price undercuts the market by about half for a comparable product.

Cons of the TITAN flat weight bench

Cons of the TITAN flat bench are:

Fairly light
Finish
Not adjustable

This bench is fairly and easy to move around. This is great if you are not a beast bench presser, but pretty counterproductive if you have a massive bench. In that case, you right want to opt for the Hefty bench instead which is just slightly more expensive.

As with all TITAN products the quality of the finish and material is slightly worse compared to similar products from Rogue or Eleiko. A company has to cut some corners to save against their competition and this is usually done in how fast and well things are put together or how much money is being spent on the material in the first place.

For home gym owners it might be a better choice to get an adjustable bench to have more variety. Most commercial gms will buy one or two adjustable benches and then fill the remaining slots with a flat bench like this one to save cost.

Alternatives to the TITAN flat weight bench

Alternatives to the TITAN flat weight bench are:

The hefty bench is a great option for anyone who weighs more than 120kg. It is also a good option if you already have a massive bench press, but still want to be able to move your bench around easily.

The FID adjustable bench has the same amount of padding than the TITAN flat bench, but can be adjusted for several inclines. This is a good versatile option for any gym at a reasonable price.

The single post competition is very similar to the flat bench with one major change. At the foot end of the bench you only have a single post. This makes it easier to get into an arching position for the bench press, as the feet of the bench do not get in the way.

Conclusion to the TITAN flat weight bench

The TITAN flat weight bench is a classic design at a reasonable price from a budget vendor. It does not do a lot, but it does what it says on the tin. If you do not have any specific requirements for your bench press setup and just want an all-purpose bench for your gym which does the job, this is the one to get.

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.

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.