Are you trying to find the best Olympic benches for home gym? Do you have any questions about how to start or what to look for? In this article, we’ll explain what to think about when purchasing a new Olympic weight bench and how to choose the one that best suits your needs.
An Olympic weight bench is the most important piece of equipment in any gym and a requirement for any resistance training regimen. No substitute comes close to being as effective as bench pressing, one of the essential compound movements for building the upper body.
Furthermore, many Olympic weight benches are multipurpose, enabling you to carry out a variety of exercises like leg extensions, bicep curls, overhead shoulder presses, and ab crunches.
5 Best Olympic Benches For Home Gym in 2023
Here are our top picks for Olympic benches.
1) Body Champ Olympic Weight Bench
Body Champ created this new Olympic weight bench and added a preacher curl, taking the BCB3780 one step further. Therefore, using this particular tool, you can work your shoulders, quadriceps, and biceps in addition to your entire chest—everything on a single machine.
The rack is no longer detachable, so you can’t use it for squats, but it is now much more secure and stable. The bench doesn’t budge at all and is highly stable.
The set also includes foam grip handles and a hook attachment that can be used to perform ab crunches.
All the parts appear solid and comfortable, and the overall construction quality is good. You might experience some difficulty with the leg extension foam rollers because they are not the best.
Another drawback is that even if you are a skilled DIYer, assembling this bench will take at least a few hours. The assembly requires a lot of parts, and the instruction manual is relatively thick. At least it’s just a temporary hustle.
2) Marcy Diamond Adjustable Olympic Weight Bench
The Olympic weight bench by Marcy Diamond will provide various exercise options. The standout feature is the preacher curl pad, which can be detached.
Additionally, it includes a stand-alone adjustable weight rack that can be used as a squat rack to strengthen your legs.
After removing the preacher curl pad, you can use the bench for leg curls, extensions, and hitting the chest. By turning a knob, it is straightforward to remove. In other words, this equipment will give you a full-body workout. The bench is generally well-built; everything appears to be carefully put together and has a high-end feel.
The bench has a slight incline—perhaps 5 or 10 degrees—and does not sit completely flat.
3) Marcy Pro CB-729 – Competitor Olympic Weight Bench
This is a fantastic inexpensive Olympic weight bench for anyone looking to set up a small home gym.
It can be used for flat bench press exercises and incline bench press using five different incline positions. The rack feels secure because it is fastened to the bench. This bench also includes a leg developer with a conventional weight holder. It can be used for leg curls and extensions.
The seat, backrest padding, and foam rollers are surprisingly good for the price. Contrary to more expensive models, the Marcy Pro bench can also be decelerated, which is unquestionably a big plus.
As you would expect from a budget product, it has flaws such as a poor paint job, it becomes shaky if you use more than 225 pounds, and the overall build quality could be better.
4) Valor Fitness BF-48 Olympic Bench
The Valor Fitness bench is a complete 180 from the inexpensive Marcy Pro CB-729 and will cost three times as much. It belongs to the premium category.
Put this bench next to any other benches we discussed above, and it will resemble a tank. In contrast to the competition, which typically uses 2″x2″ or 2.5″x2.5,” it is made of 4″x2″ steel. It is, therefore, a very sturdy bench that you can use regardless of your strength.
There is no option to use it as an incline or decline bench, and no leg developer, preacher curl pad, or other accessories. It can only be used as a flat bench. If you don’t have a spotter, it does have a spotter stand and safety catchers. Therefore, it is undoubtedly intended for heavy lifters.
Taller users claimed that the weight rest position was too low and that doing so might result in the bar being placed in the top rest position.
5) Body Champ BCB3780 Olympic Weight Bench
An Olympic weight bench like the Body Champ BCB3780 offers many exercise options. In addition to the flat position, the bench has several incline and decline positions that will help you get a good chest workout. You can also have it vertically set to perform exercises like seated bicep curls or overhead shoulder presses.
Leg extensions are another exercise option available on this bench. However, the foam rollers are a little thin, so if you roll heavily, you might experience some pain around the ankles.
There are benefits and drawbacks to the rack being shipped separately from the bench. The fact that you can use it as a squat rack is a plus, but it is not as stable as you might prefer. As a result, there may be times when you don’t feel all that confident while re-racking the weight.
Even if you are of average height, the bench’s height may prevent you from putting your feet on the ground while performing chest presses. Since many people use their feet to balance their bodies when they bench press, this will undoubtedly be inconvenient.
Factors To Consider When Buying the Best Olympic Benches for Home Gym
Before spending your hard-earned money on an Olympic weight bench, it’s a good idea to be clear about your needs.
And because the features and quality of each Olympic bench differ so greatly, I thought I’d put together a brief buyer’s guide to assist you in selecting the best Olympic weight bench for your home gym.
Adjustability
A bench with various back pad angle adjustments is highly advised if you want to get the most out of your fitness regimen. It should ideally adapt to flat, decline, several inclines, and a full 90-degree military press.
The benefit of these adjustments is that they enable you to carry out a variety of exercises, including shoulder presses at the military angle, decline crunches, and chest exercises at various chest angles.
Weight Capacity
Any product marked “Olympic” should have a weight capacity that is more than adequate because it was designed to meet higher workout standards than standard equipment.
The only time weight capacity matters are if you’re into powerlifting and plan to use maximum loads higher than average.
Reliability
Nobody wants to spend money on a product that is unreliable, likely to break, or has some inherent safety flaw.
All of the products on the list are dependable and constructed to Olympic bench standards, which provide higher quality than typical exercise benches.
Take a look at some unique features, like maximum capacity and adjustability, if you’re having trouble choosing.
Material Quality
Some people will only look for the best that money can buy and prioritize material and build quality, which is a reasonable standard.
All the options I’ve provided are of excellent quality, constructed of various steel types, and will last longer if you take good care of them.
Naturally, you can anticipate better build and material quality at higher prices.
Bench Attachments
Many inexpensive Olympic benches have numerous add-ons, including preacher curls, leg developers, and fly arms. Some individuals may find these helpful, while others, like myself, find that they obstruct proper foot placement when preparing for presses.
Whether or not you use the attachments depends on your training schedule and personal preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Best Olympic Benches for Home Gym
1) How much should a weight bench cost?
Costs for weight benches can range from about $75 to as much as $700. However, a better bench isn’t always associated with a higher price point. Look for a bench with the required height, angle, and weight capacity. If you’re on a tight budget, remember that you can start small and expand your setup later.
2) Do exercise benches merit the cost?
A workout bench is a great piece of equipment to include in a home gym. A good bench offers a stable exercise surface while seated and lying down.
While those just getting started with strength training may be able to skip using a bench for a while, most people who regularly work out at home will want to invest in a sturdy workout bench.
3) What exercises can be performed on a bench?
Benches can be used for a wide range of exercises. You can use it for lying workouts like triceps crushers, inclined reverse dumbbell flyes, dumbbell chest flyes, and dumbbell bench presses. A bench can also be used for seated exercises like overhead dumbbell triceps extensions, concentration curls, and shoulder presses.
There are still other options, though. Step-ups, Bulgarian split squats, and even sit-to-stand assisted squats can all be performed on a bench. Additionally, you can use it as support when performing exercises like incline pushups, triceps bench dips, and dumbbell rows.
4) Should I purchase an adjustable or flat bench?
The decision between a flat bench and an adjustable bench is largely influenced by the kinds of exercises you intend to do.
Flat benches are a great alternative for common lying or sitting exercises and frequently cost slightly less than adjustable benches. However, they won’t function for exercises like the incline chest press, reverse fly, or decline abdominal work that calls for an incline or decline.
An adjustable bench is probably the best for a wider variety of strength training exercises, but only if you intend to use the incline and decline features.
Conclusion
Finally, the best Olympic benches for home gym is a fantastic piece of weight training equipment that can be used to perform a virtually limitless number of exercises, both with and without your favorite set of dumbbells, barbells, or weight plates.
The good news is that many options are available for every type of lifter and budget, even though selecting the right one might feel overwhelming.
Before purchasing, consider variables like price adjustability and material quality to make the most of every session. The ideal combination of comfort and versatility for strength training is waiting.
We appreciate you reading our article on the top Olympic weight benches. We hope it was useful in helping you find the best Olympic benches for home gym.
You can also check the 5 Best Preacher Curl Benches.