TITAN Preacher Curl Bench vs Rogue AB3

This is a comparison between the TITAN Preacher curl bench and Rogue AB3 including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally posted in Which TITAN bench to get? Follow the links for details.

Overview and review of the Rogue AB 3 Adjustable bench

The Rogue AB3 bench comes in at $935 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".

Overview of the Rogue AB3 Adjustable bench

The AB3 Adjustable bench is the next generation bench of the AB2. The AB3 adds decline positions to the setup to make it possible to either bench incline, flat or decline. It made from 11 Gauge steel and is a direct descendent of the Nebula 1080 bench. It also comes on rolls and can be maneuvered around easily. The Rogue AB3 has the following specifications:

Adapted from the Nebula 1080 "Awesome" Utility Bench
Includes NEW Decline Bench feature
6 Adjustable Seat Settings
9 Adjustable Back Pad Settings
Weight: 117LB
Length (with bench flat): 68"
Pad Width: 12"
Height: 18"
Steel: 2x2" and 2x3" 11-Gauge Steel

Which makes it the most versatile one in the Rogue line up.

Pros of the Rogue AB3 Adjustable bench

The AB3 is the most versatile bench out of the Rogue line up. You can use it on the entire gym floor and give it the most possible setups to bench press.

Cons of the Rogue AB3 Adjustable bench

For a portable bench, the AB3 comes in at a high price. The attachment which makes it possible to decline bench might also not be for everyone. Especially powerlifters and big athletes might feel like that this addition to the bench is more of a hindrance than a value add.

Alternatives to the Rogue AB3 Adjustable Bench

Alternatives to the Rogue AB 3 bench are

The AB2 is the bench as the AB3 just without the option to do decline bench presses. If you want a big bench that can be moved and don’t trust decline setups on portable benches this is the one for you.

The Rogue Westside 2.0 bench is a drop in for Rogue racks specialized for the Westside style training. It will provide a flat bench setup which can be effectively used with bands and chains to create a maximum variation on the flat bench press.

The Rogue Adjustable bench is the best value for money bench you can get from Rogue. They spent time and thought on perfecting the production process to make this their low-cost adjustable bench.

Summary for the AB3 Adjustable bench

The Roge AB3 is the Porsche in the Rogue portfolio when it comes to portable benches. As long as you don't mind the attachment at the end of the bench getting in your way.

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.