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REP fitness AB-5200 adjustable bench vs TITAN hefty bench

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Jun 7, 2021 4:00:00 PM

REP fitness AB-5200 adjustable bench vs TITAN hefty bench

This is a comparison between the Rep Fitness AB-5200 bench and the Titan hefty bench. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the TITAN hefty bench

This is an overview of the TITAN hefty bench including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally posted in Which TITAN bench to get? Follow the links for details.

 

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Overview of the TITAN hefty bench

Price: $209
 
The TITAN hefty bench is the right choice for you if you like bench pressing heavy. Once you breach about 300 - 400 pounds of the bench press depending on your body size, some of the regular benches can feel a little small and flimsy. This is where you either need a professional powerlifting setup or a fat pad bench. TITAN does not disappoint with a hefty bench that is worth its name. The full specifics of this bench are: 
 
  • Designed to handle heavy weights
  • Enhanced vinyl covering for extra grip and support with 4-in pad
  • Durable steel construction with 3-in tubing- 3-foot design allows athletes to use proper positioning of the feet.
  • Welded metal endcaps.- Handle and wheels for easy transport.
  • Powder-coated paint job prevents rust and corrosion
  • Overall Height: 17.5-in.
  • Overall Length: 53-in.
  • Overall Width:  24-in.
  • Pad Dimensions: 50-in x 15-in x 4-in.
  • Color: Black
  • Material: 3-in x 3-in 11-Gauge Steel
  • Weight Capacity: 1,200 lb.
  • Product Weight: 84 lbs.
 
This is a nice upgrade to a regular bench, if you already have one that is old and sweaty or when you are building your first gym. 
 

Pros of the TITAN hefty bench

 
Pros of the TITAN hefty bench:
 
  • Price
  • Fat pad
  • Easy to transport
 
Compared to the competition this bench against comes in at about half the price. If you want to build a semi-professional gym for yourself TITAN is hard to beat at price. Especially if you do not mind to take matters into your own hands for some on-site adjustments.
 
The fat pad is a delight to bench on. Once you use a fat bench you will never go back to what you used before. If you are torn between a regular flat bench and the hefty, get this one. It is definitely worth the $50 or $70 extra and you will be using it for a couple of years anyway. In addition, you will also use it in almost any session.
 
With the included handle and wheels this bench is also easy to get to different places in your gym without having to carry it around. 
 

Cons of the TITAN hefty bench

 
Cons of the TITAN hefty bench are: 
 
  • Size 
  • Finish
  • Not adjustable
 
While a fat pad is nice, it can also be a little too much. If you are a very small athlete or a beginner you might prefer to first work on a smaller bench until you have built up some size. Having a bench press set up that is wider than you back can be uncomfortable at times. 
 
This bench is not adjustable. If you only get one bench you have to weigh up whether you want an adjustable bench or a flat bench with a big pad. In most home gym scenarios the adjustable bench is probably the better pick to keep things interesting. 
 
With TITAN product you always run a higher risk of minor issues in quality in the finish for the welds or the coating of your products. The good news is that the TITAN hefty bench is a very easy product to manufacture is there are not a lot of moving parts. Therefore this is more of a safe place for the buyer when quality control is not as tight as with other vendors. 
 

Alternatives to the TITAN hefty bench 

 
Alternatives to the TITAN hefty bench are:
 
 
If you are looking for an adjustable bench for your home gym or commercial gym, then the FID single post is the go-to option to save money or pay and spray. It is only slightly more expensive than the hefty bench, but in return is more versatile for a broader audience. 
 
The flat weight bench is one of the absolute budget options from TITAN. This is just a simple flat bench like you would find at any doctor or rehab center. Maybe not for the very ambitioned, but it does the job for a little more than $100.
 
The single post competition flat bench is probably the best pick from TITAN if you do not want any incline or fat pad, bu still bench press heavy. It is slightly less expensive than the hefty bench but carries the same DNA.
 

Conclusion for the TITAN hefty bench 

 
If you weigh more than 120kg do yourself a favor and get this and do not go near other flat benches. Everyone else can ask themselves of heavy they already bench press and whether they felt uncomfortable on other benches. If that is the case you might want to upgrade to the hefty bench. If it is between the hefty bench and an adjustable bench for your first home gym, take the adjustable option. 

Overview and review of the REP fitness AB-5200 adjustable bench

This is an overview of the REP fitness AB-5200 bench including pros, cons, and alternatives. The original was published under which rep fitness bench to buy. Follow the links for more details.

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REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench $469

 
The REP AB-5200 is the current top dog among the REP fitness benches. It is easy to adjust, has a minimal gap between the lower and higher pad, and can be easily rolled around with it included pair of rolls. The full specifications of this bench are:
 
  • This product was designed by REP in the USA and is a Patent Pending Product.
  • 11-7 gauge steel throughout 2x3" steel frame with a 1,000 lb capacity.
  • 7 back pad adjustments with laser-cut degree markings in 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 85 degrees.
  • 3 seat pad adjustments to find the perfect angle.
  • High-grip pad material with an ultra-dense foam core, backed by 3/4" plywood.
  • Ladder back design with cage. Nylon cover over bolts to protect the paint on the ladders.
  • Urethane-covered back pad handles.
  • Oversize stainless-steel handle and wheels with a low lift-off point for easy maneuverability.
  • Thick steel wheel guards to protect the wheels when being maneuvered, and to lessen tripping hazard.
  • Space-saving design allows the bench to be stored in an upright position.
  • Stainless logo plates.
  • Optional Spotter Deck sold separately.
 
  • Total Height: 18"
  • Total Pad Length: 55.25"
  • Back Pad Width: 12"
  • Pad Gap: 2.25"
  • Toal Footpring: 8.25 SQFT
  • Weight: 125lbs
  • 3% Tolerance
 
You can not go wrong with this bench except for the price. This the most expensive bench from REP and you might opt for something else to push your savings further. Compared to the competition from Rogue Fitness you are saving a lot as you are still staying under $500 where the top range of Rogue fitness products can take you close to $1000.
 

Pros of the REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench

 
The pros of the REP AB-5200 are:
 
  • Easy-adjust
  • Good outside rack bench
  • Horizontal handle
  • Easier to move
  • Can be stored upright
  • 85-degree incline
  • Spotter deck option
  • Less likely to catch fingers
  • Labeled degrees
  • Color options
 
The big pro of this bench is that it is easy to use and transport even though it is beefy. The horizontal handle at the base of the bench makes it easy to lock up and roll around. This makes it great outside the rack bench for all purposes on a free-weight area.
 
The incline options run up to 85 degrees and it can also be stored upright when in the flat position. This makes it easy to put this bench against a wall when it is not being used to free up some space. I personally also like that the highest option is not a true 90-degree angle as this is easier to train in while putting less strain on your shoulders.
 
REP Fitness also has three extra features on this bench compared to Its main competitor Ro hue Fitness. The mechanics for putting the bench up and down are protected by a little rail. This makes a lot less likely to catch your fingers in them. The angles for the different inclines are numbered so that you always know which degree you are training on. The last bonus is that REP Fitness offers different color options for its benches where Rogue only comes in black.
 

Cons of the REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench

 
The cons of the REP AB-5200 are
 
  • Gap in seat
  • Light compared to bigger benches
  • Price
  • Short seat
 
The seat has a gap and the lower part is always quite short. If you have a very big backside or it happens to fall on the gap in your bench press setup then you might want to go for the REP zero-gap bench instead.
 
Compared to other bigger benches from competitors this bench is fairly light. Within the REP range, it is the beefiest you can get, but other vendors offer some bigger benches specifically for powerlifters. This is only a consideration if you intend to be ch press more than 700 lbs on a regular basis on your bench. For all other scenarios, I personally think that the AB-5200 is more than enough.
 
The last thing is that this is the most expensive bench from REP Fitness you can get. That is nOt the definition of the ultimate bargain, even though REP fitness will already save you a lot of money competed to Rogue fitness.
 

Alternatives to the REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench

 
Alternatives to the REP AB-5200 are:
 
 
The REP zero Gap bench is a good alternative if you think you need a longer lower seat and no gap in the bench pad. The Zero gap also works with a push pin setup for the different incline settings which makes it more secure once it clicks in. The downside is that it can be a pain to adjust mid-session.
 
The Rogue AB2 adjustable bench works with a push pin mechanic and comes very close to the REP fitness Zero gap bench design. If you want your bench from the best vendor around and like the push pin design, this is it. I personally think that this bench is a little pricey even for Rogue standards.
 
The Rogue adjustable bench 2.0 is the closest design from Rogue to the REP AB-5200. I own this bench myself and if you have any worries about a gap I can assure you that it is virtually nonexistent for the Adjustable bench 2.0. Price-wise it is close enough to the AB-5200 to consider it if the rest of your gym is also from Rogue.
 
The TITAN max adjustable FID bench is TITAN’s approach to a beefy adjustable bench. Titan Fitness is the low-cost competitor in the home gym space to REP fitness and Rogue fitness. They are known to have more quality issues on minor things like the coating and welds but make up for it with dumping prices.
 

Conclusion for the REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench

 
The REP AB-5200 is an excellent bench for the price tag and will be beefy enough for all your needs in a home or commercial gym. You can not do a lot wrong here unless you are super worried about the gap in a bench, which this model has a minimal one of. The best alternative would be the Rogue adjustable bench 2.0 it a slightly higher price.
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