REP fitness AB-5200 adjustable vs TITAN power tower bench

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

Overview and review of the TITAN power tower bench

This is an overview of the TITAN power tower 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 power tower bench

Price: $189

The power tower is a classic all in one home gym that you can have in your garden or in your basement. You can do dips, pull-ups and leg raises on this machine for a full-body workout. TITAN also added a bench so that you can do dumbbell bench presses, flyes, and other exercises to attack your back and front. All in all, this is a great station for a very low price to get started with bodyweight exercises and light bench presses. The full specifications of this tower are:

Full-size bench
Adjustable j-cups
Dip station
Multi-grip pull up bar
Push-up handles
Length: 79 1/2"
Width: 34"
Height: 86 1/2"
Bench Length: 43 1/2"
Weight: 99 lbs
Capacity: 350 lbs

This is a good little extra or start to a home gym when you do not have other options. For this low price, there is not a lot you can do wring except eating up space where you put the power tower itself.

Pros of the TITAN power Tower bench

These are the pros of the power tower bench:

Low price
Dedicated station for dips, pull-ups, and leg raises
Bench included

The Power Tower bench is a good all-around starting point when you are building your body at home. You can not beat the price tag for starting a home gym with all the necessary basic movements. With some little weights, you can get started and if you do not want to become a massive powerlifter or football player the power tower might be eve enough for all of your strength needs.

Cons of the TITAN power tower bench

The cons of the tower power bench are:

Lightweight
TITAN finish
Space requirements

This tower is quite lightweight for the amount of movement you put it through. If you are a big athlete, this tower will move which is not ideal. As with most TITAN products they have to cut some corners to provide prices to you which are mostly about half of what the competition does. Therefore the finish on the pads and handles can be a bit sketchy. Nothing that a bit of glue and DIY can not fix, but still minor quality issues.

Alternatives to the TITAN power tower bench

Alternatives to the tower power bench are:

If you are building a home gym or need a bench for a professional gym to competition measurements, then the single post competition flat bench from TITAN can be an option. It is very easy to transport as it comes with a handle and wheels and the single post makes it easy to handle. It will also get not in the way of your bench press setup as it has a single post at the foot end.

The flat weight bench is the classic workhorse that you will find in any gym. Sturdy, cheap and easy to use. You can not do a lot wrong with this bench, especially if you want to save money and are not particularly into powerlifting.

Conclusion for the TITAN power tower bench

The tower power bench is a great start to a home gym for a teenager in a big house. IT is also great for anyone who does not want to lift weights and only focus on calisthenics at home or provide an extra station for that purpose in a professional gym. Apart from this, I think you are giving up too much space for too little choice of exercise, even though the price is so low that even if you buy it and never use it again it won't hurt too much.

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.