REP fitness AB-5200 adjustable bench vs TITAN seated stationary bench

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

Overview and review of the TITAN seated stationary bench

This is an overview of the TITAN seated stationary 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 seated stationary bench

Price: $125

The TITAN seated stationary bench is a great addition to any professional gym to be combined with a smith machine or rack to do seated overhead presses or curls. You will probably only need one or a maximum of two on the floor while you fill the rest with your fleet with incline or flat benches. For most home gyms this is a waste of time, money, and space. The full specifications of this bench are:

Perfect for seated strength workouts like dumbbell curls, shoulder presses, military presses, and more
High-quality steel and pads for a robust and durable design
Back pad at a slight angle for comfort and easier should movement
Handle and wheels for easy transportation
Overall Height: 36-in.
Overall Footprint: 31-in x 41-in.
Back Pad Dimensions: 19-in x 11.25-in.
Seat Pad Dimensions: 13-in x 11.25-in.
Product Weight: 38 lb.

This is a very niche application for people who struggle to balance on a normal incline bench or who overhead press so much, that they need a fixed setup rather than an adjustable setup for seated presses to stay safe. This only applies to very few gym users and that is why most people won't even need this bench.

Pros of the TITAN seated stationary bench

The pros of the TITAN seated stationary bench are:

Low price
Fixed setup
Sturdy bench

For what it does this bench is sturdy and well built and comes at a low price. If you are in the market for something like this, you will definitely fulfill your need and be easy on your wallet with this addition to your gym.

Cons of the TITAN seated stationary bench

The cons of the TITAN seated stationary bench are:

Limited use cases
Space requirements
Not adjustable

I am not a huge fan of this bench, as I think there are a lot of better options to fill your space with than the seated stationary bench. Unless you are aiming to break the world record in the seated overhead press I do not see much of a point to get this bench instead of a proper adjustable bench. The triangular base provides a lot of stability, but at the same also eats up quite a bit of space. This product is not badly manufactured, it just has very limited use cases and therefore I do not see the point.

Alternatives to the TITAN seated stationary bench

Alternatives to the stationary bench are:

If you are looking into this bench it is most likely because you want to do some form of the overhead press. It is also advertised for curls, but for those you do not need a special bench. The Max FID bench is TITAN's flagship adjustable bench. It can be used for inclines, declines, and is also sturdy. In return, it comes in at over $400.

The FID adjustable bench is the little brother of the MAX. The build is less sturdy to save cost, but you still can do inclines and declines.

The Incline bench V2 is the cheapest adjustable bench you can get from TITAN. It can only be adjusted for inclines and is the lightest out of these three.

Conclusion for the TITAN seated stationary bench

The TITAN seated stationary bench is one of these products that you will use when you first go to the gym because you do not know any better. It is also ok for very specific applications like very heavy overhead presses or when the athlete has to sit down to do curls. Other than that, in my opinion, it is a waste of space.

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.

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.