TAKE A SEAT
PICKING THE RIGHT adjustable bench FOR YOU
18/05/2021 | Andrew Tracey
Andrew Tracey is a long time collaborator with Bulldog Gear. A coach, writer and current fitness editor of Men’s Health Magazine, he has been in and around the fitness industry for the past 16 years. Having enjoyed and endured a number of disciplines from endurance racing, to strongman, to Crossfit AT enjoys getting neck deep in the practice just as much as the theory.
Whether you’re kitting out a home workout area, a garage setup, or a commercial gym, benches are a time tested stalwart of any fitness space.
We’ve put together this guide to our adjustable bench offerings to ensure you pick the optimal product for your environment, goals and budget.
Let’s take a look at our options:
THE SPACE SAVER
Zero Adjustable Bench
If you’re tight on space or trying to kit out your home gym on a budget, this is the bench for you. With it’s ‘pop and lock’ design, the Zero can go from fully functional to fully folded in seconds, making it perfect for gym spaces where storage is at a premium, and especially ideal in home gyms where equipment needs to be discreetly stored away when not in use; with it’s inbuilt wheels it can quickly be stored under a sofa, ready to be wheeled straight out for use in the living room or even into the garden on fairer weather days.
When in use, you can adjust the bench all the way from a decline, through to 70 degrees of incline with 7 degrees of adjustment between, as well as 3 separate seat pad positions, perfect for a variety of presses and rows.
Being a lighter, more compact offering means the total load capacity tops out at around 150kg, great for home dumbbell workouts.
THE HEAVYWEIGHT
Adjustable Bench 1.0
The first of our heavyweight offerings, visibly much bigger and more robust than the Zero bench, constructed from 3mm thick steel with a 30cm back pad, the added size brings a huge increase in load capacity versus the Zero. Tested to absolute destruction, the 1.0 is rated up to 450kg, meaning it can handle more weight than you’re ever likely to have to worry about.
Adjustable from a flat bench, through to just shy of 90 degrees via seven degrees of adjustment and featuring an adjustable seat pad, the 1.0 is the perfect option for the more serious trainee looking for a combination of durability and versatility.
Although significantly bigger on the surface than the zero bench, a unique combination of wheels, a handle and a clever design mean the 1.0 can be stored completely vertically, massively reducing it’s footprint and making it perfect for gym spaces where premium equipment is required, but space is limited.
THE PROFESSIONAL'S CHOICE
Adjustable Bench 2.0
Third and finally, our most premium option: the Adjustable Bench 2.0. Similar in dimensions to the Adjustable Bench 1.0 but noticeably lighter, the 2.0 is more manoeuvrable than it’s heavier cousin.
Fully adjustable from 0-90 degrees and featuring a 5 position seat pad; with the addition of the compatible leg attachment, the 2.0 can also be utilised as a decline bench, making it slightly more versatile than the 1.0.
Where the 2.0 really comes into it’s own is with it’s linear bearing and pull-pin adjustment mechanism, enabling you to make horizontal adjustments and eliminate any gap between the seat pad and back pads in all positions, perfect for trainees who want the option of an adjustable bench, without the inevitable pad gap, which can alter bench press mechanics.
BENCHED
Use this infographic to help assess which key features in an adjustable bench are more important to your training and more suited to your environment.