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- Verified Buyer
The bench does the job for me and was easy to assemble. I first made sure I had all the parts on the parts list and used my own socket wrench to tighten everything down. It took about 1.5 hours to put together while I also watched football.The bench is set up in what used to be an exercise room that now serves as a guest room so I really like the fact it can fold up for storage. It doesn't seem to lock in the upright position so after I fold it up, I put the barbell on the top rack to secure it in place.While it came with all the parts the list called for, it seems to be short 2 M8 washers (or maybe I used a couple where I didn't need to). Thankfully, I had some extra washers around that did the trick.Prior to ordering, I had reached out to the seller with a few questions and received replies within 12 hours.I use 2 inch weights. The barbell and weights do not come with the bench so you can use with the weights you want/have. My barbell set came with a 7' length, 2" diameter bar, which I prefer over the 1" bar. I ended up buying a 5' / 2" bar because of the spacing in the room, but you can use whichever length suits your needs.I also bought 1" to 2" adapters (also on Amazon) for the arm and leg weights as the bench has 1" poles. I had to cut the adapters down 1.5" so they could be tightened on the pole, but if you're using 1" weights, you won't need these.I really like this bench. It's a little wobbly with no weights but I dont notice that with weights on. I've since replaced my Bowflex Ultimate 2 with this setup and an very happy with the change.It's a good bench when it comes to space saving but i was expecting better material . Also i am not able to have flat bench to do bench press. Also the bar holder can be more steady without shaking. sometimes i am afraid it may fall. Leather seats and backrest pad can be better quality one. It looked very cheap material.I bought this product in February. We have tried to use it and made some work arounds in the last 8 months. I feel a burden to help others not make the same mistake we did.The spacing of the supports that hold your barbell are right where you want your hands to be. I've experimented with several different people's heights including 5'6", 5'10", 6'0" and 6'3" In all of those cases where you want your hands on the barbell is impeded by what they are resting on. This includes standing and trying to get a grip there for standing shoulder press. There is a reason the model in the video is reverse on the bench and using another support on another workout unit to hold the bar. Watch the video. There is no way he would do it the "normal" way.DANGER: Do not try to load a 45 pound weight on one side of your bench press barbell!! The spacing of the supports is so narrow that the bar will flip! If I'm working out with my son or wife, we have to do it at the same time and even then it is awkward.We figured out that pushing the barbell all the way to one side provides enough counter-balance to hold a 35. Then you load the other side, then scoot it over for more loading. You just shouldn't have to do these awkward maneuvers when you are tired from lifting.Finally, you might think, "well, I'll just put my hands narrow inside, lift it up and then scoot my hands out for the lift." Yes, this is possible with low weights, but heavy or light, if you work the set to exhaustion, it is so dangerous to try to move your hands back in before returning the bar.This is a nice bench that's easy to assemble and easy to use. It folds up easily so you can store it against a wall or in the corner which is most of the reason I bought it.Folds up compactly, taking up the space of a chubby 10 year old. With too much weight and leaning slightly the wrong way, the bench is capable of tipping. Folds quickly and I love the resistance bands and handles for shoulder exercises using your body weight.The only problem I have may be because of the length of the barbell I have, but I find it difficult to find a space for my hands to grasp the bar. It's most likely my barbell because it is one of those specialized ones that you can unscrew and turn into dumbbells so the length of the bar is probably different than a typical barbell length.Overall, a great buy and I would certainly recommend.Very happy with purchase. Easy to fold up and put away, great for apartment living. Does the trick, for me. Note: the supports are close, so bar will flip if one side is too heavy but easy to manage.Pro tip. Have a wrench handy, they give you tools to do the job, but its much easier with your own tools.It wasnt too bad to assemble, if you have half a brain and have done leggos before youll be fine. Its pretty sturdy but i habent pushed the envelope in testing its limits. I would recommend to someone just starting outMy teenage son, during this pandemic, has been lifting weights as a break. He asked for a bench to further enhance his lifting. We were looking for something that was sturdy and foldable. We found that in this bench. I was impressed with the quality and just how sturdy the bench is. And it folds up nicely in the corner of his room. As for ease of assembly, let’s just say a 16 yr old was able to put it together. Makes me wish I had one of these when I was younger.
