REP fitness FB-4000 comp lite bench vs TITAN Preacher curl

This is a comparison between the Rep Fitness FB-4000 bench and the Titan Preacher curl. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the TITAN Preacher Curl Bench

This is an overview of the TITAN Preacher Curl 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 preacher curl bench

Price: $324

A preacher curl bench is one of the few single-purpose machines that I can get on board with. There is nothing better to pump my biceps than preacher hammer curls. Everyone is different, but this is one of the few machines that sucks up space to only train one muscle group that's actually worth investing in. A preacher curl station will isolate the biceps by giving you the opportunity to sit down and not use your back when doing curls. This has big advantages for developing your biceps. You can also lean against a wall, but a preacher curl just gives the best pump. The full specifications of this TITAN product are:

High-density contour foam padding for a comfortable but firm base to lift from
Adjustable seat to fit different size athletes- UHMW lined j-hooks to protect barbell while racking
31.5-in Rack width to fit most standard barbells and EZ curl bars
Rubber feet to protect floors and provide a stable base
Overall Height: 35-in.
Footprint: 34.5-in W x 40-in L
Rack Width: 31.5-in.
Pad Dimensions: 14-in x 24-in x 2-in.
Finish: Powder-Coated Black
Material: 2-in x 2-in 11-Gauge Steel
Weight Capacity: 250 lb.
Product Weight: 73 lb.

This is a good preacher curl bench that can be easily moved around to fit your needs. There are also no metal pieces obstructing the bar path.

Pros of the TITAN preacher curl bench

Pros of the preacher curl bench are:

Price
Design
Impact

As with all TITAN products, this comes in at roughly half of the price for anything similar you can find in the market. It is also fairly heavy for a preacher curl bench. Cheaper products are usually very light. The lighter your equipment is, the less heavy you want to train on it.

For a preacher bench, the design of this model is beautifully simple. Many other preacher benches get in the way of you doing your curls, especially if you use a straight bar. You will not have this challenge with this model.

As with all preacher benches, if you want big biceps, you basically can not go without. This is the ultimate station to pump your arms up in a big way.

Cons of the TITAN preacher curl bench

Cons of the TITAN preacher curl bench are:

Can not be bolted to the ground
Space requirements
Non-versatile

Even though I am a huge fan of preacher curls in a commercial gym, I would not get one for my home gym. The space I have is very limited and putting a curling bench in just for the sake of getting bigger arms is not possible. Unless you give up an entire two-car garage for your gym or a big basement, I personally think there other machines you can get that have more impact. This can include lat pull down, GHD machine or even a yoke in addition to your existing rack. In addition, there is one design flaw as this bench can not be bolted to the ground. There are no pre-drilled holes to achieve this.

Alternatives to the preacher curl bench

Bicep/tricep curl machine
Preacher Curl station
Rogue Arm Blaster

The TITAN bicep /tricep curl machine follows the same moment pattern as a preacher curl bench. The big difference is that you will not do it with a free weight but on a defined movement path. The Bicep curl machine is plate loaded and takes up roughly the same space as the Preacher curl bench. If you prefer machines with given movement paths for muscle isolation, this is it. It is also easier to start, as getting the curl bar from the starting position is usually a bit challenging and hard on the wrists.

The preacher curl station is the little brother of the preacher curl bench on the TITAN fitness line up. It costs about a third and is less heavy. The steel pins to rest the bar on can get in the way of you exercising. In return, it is a steal at about $150.

The Rogue arm blaster is the ideal solution for someone who wants to isolate their bicep at home but does not want to get in a preacher curl bench. It is still not as good as a preacher curl station, as you will be free-standing, but at least you can isolate the biceps to a similar extent. It also only costs about $50 and makes a nice Christmas present for anyone who has a home gym.

Conclusion for the preacher curl bench

This is one of the first and maybe only machines I would get in my home gym if I had space. A well organized professional gym has to have at least one of these so that you can blast your arms.

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.