REP fitness FB-4000 comp lite bench vs Reflex competition bench

This is a comparison between the Rep Fitness FB-4000 bench and the Reflex competition bench. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the Reflex competition bench

The Reflex competition bench comes in at $1697 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 Reflex Competition bench

The reflex competition bench setup delivers a sturdy machine for bench pressing competitions. This is the kind of bench where all sizes of athletes can perform to their very best. A competition bench is needed so that spotters can do their work properly, but also to provide the athletes with enough grip on the bench. All of this is included in this piece of equipment. The specifications are:

Meets International Powerlifting Federation ( IPF ) Guidelines
3/16 wall and 11ga. Welded Tubular steel construction.
Powder Coated finish.
Oversized 24×30 Polished Diamond 6061 Aluminum skid plate for foot deck.
6 position band pegs.
14 position Weight saddles w/ handles and engraved numbers.
11 position Over-Sized Safeties w/ engraved numbers.
Full Framed supported Pad
Plastic lined Saddles & Safeties
Additional adjustment hole in both Saddles & Safeties to use 1/2 hitch pin.
1in high-density foam pad.
Made in the USA
Weight 370LB
Length 60”
Width 50”
Height 55”

Remember that if you have to move this one around a lot it will be shipped by freight as it is so bulky.

Pros of the Reflex competition bench

This is a secure, sturdy bench press setup which meets the standards of the IPF. With this, even the biggest athletes can chip away at their geared 1000LB be ch presses.

Cons of the Reflex competition bench

It is a single purpose station which means you still have to provide a squat setup for your competition. It will also be hard to ship or transport to wherever the competition is held.

Alternatives to the Reflex competition bench

Alternatives to the competition bench are

The Rogue combo rack is also IPF approved and can be used to squat and bench with plenty of spotter hopping around. It can also be broken apart for easier transport. If you regularly want to do powerlifting competitions in different locations this might be the better pick.

The Rogue Westside bench is a beast that even your biggest athletes won’t break. In addition, it gives you more options for starting positions and attaching bands. This makes it a great work station to prepare for your next competition.

The Rogue AB3 is the bench of choice for weekend warriors who want to have all bench press options at home. This bench is portable and therefore not recommended when you want to bench 1000LB or do other crazy stuff that might make the bench move around.

Summary for the Reflex competition bench

If you are looking for a stationary bench station which complies with IPF standards the reflex competition bench is a good pick for you. However, if I was to get something for competition use I would invest the extra dollars in the combo rack to get a two for one.

Overview and review of the REP fitness FB-4000 comp lite bench

This is an overview of the REP fitness FB-4000 bench including pros, cons, and alternatives. The original was published under which rep fitness bench to buy. Follow the links for more details.

REP FB-4000 Comp lite bench $115

The FB-4000 is one of the lowest-priced options in the bench department of REP fitness. This bench is a little beefier than the FB-5000 but not compatible with a Thompson fat pad. The full list of specifications is:

Total height: 17"
Total Pad Length: 45.25"
Pad Width: 12"
Total Footprint: 7 SQFT
Designed with Competition Standards
3% Tolerance

If you want a good bench for a low price this is it.

Pros of the FB-4000 Comp lite bench

Pros of the FB 4000 bench are:

Light and easy to move
Low price
Single post design
Grippy cushion

The grippy cushion is one of the best product ideas of REP fitness for their benches. Combine it with a low price and single post design and you get yourself a good recipe for a nice bench for a home gym.

Cons of the FB-4000 Comp lite bench

The cons of the FB-4000 are:

Vertical handle
700lbs limit
Finish
Instability when sitting on it

Vertical handles are not as good as horizontal ones for rolling your bench around. Minor issue, but still worth mentioning and will probably be fixed I future designs.

This bench has a 700-pound limit while others of REP fitness have a 1000 or even 1500 pound limit. If you want a big sturdy bench this is not the one. Even though you could bench 700 on this, I wouldn’t recommend it.

This bench is also designed for bench pressing, not for general use. The single post makes it unstable for exercises like hip thrusts or step-ups.

Alternatives to the FB-4000 Comp lite bench

The Rogue Utility bench and the TITAN hefty bench are good alternatives to the FB-400 if you want a thick pad or a multi-purpose bench.

Conclusion for the FB-4000 Comp lite bench

Good price , solid bench... can not do a lot wrong here.