A flat weight bench is the first piece of fitness equipment you need to buy when setting up a home gym. These are benches with padded vinyl and a durable steel frame perfect for free weight workouts and other muscle building activities. If you’ve ever joined a gym, you know how they can be crowded, and sometimes you just don’t feel like getting in the car to drive to it. The best way to combat this is to set up a home gym, one stocked with the equipment you use the most.
Visit any fitness facility and you will see at least one or two flat weight benches, and probably a sit up bench as well. They are versatile, necessary pieces of weight training equipment. Whenever you see anyone working out with them, they are most likely planning to do bench presses and various free weight activities. Actually these benches are handy for many different kinds of muscle building exercises that build the back, chest and arms. These include exercises such as dumbbell rows, dips and tricep extensions. You can even work the abdominal muscles. For use as a bench press, the flat bench is placed with one end under the smith machine to aid in having a place to rest your barbell after each set.
A weight benches is usually made with a heavy gauge steel frame, on thick tripod legs for stability. Not all benches are the same dimensions, so take a look at the manufacturer’s specifications and make sure the height and length are what you need. Even just starting with the flat bench will open up the opportunity to add different workouts to your regimen. You could just use free weights standing up but after a while that will get monotonous. Proper physical form is crucial to avoid injuring yourself, and having a bench as support is a good idea.
Create variety in your workouts to keep you motivated with the help of a flat bench. Perform bench presses by lying back on the bench, holding a barbell and press upward; this really build the chest. Work your arms and shoulders by kneeling with one knee to do rows with dumbbells. Blast your triceps by using the edge to do dips. Push-up variations can be done with the bench as well. Before you know it, you’ll see results because of all your hard work.
You can go online and browse around the different weight training equipment sites, as there are hundreds. Check out the various models of weight benches first, to learn and get an idea of the features each offers. Stick to the heavier gauge steel framed ones, they are sturdier. Moisture resistant vinyl will have a much longer life. Body oils and sweat make the vinyl weak over time.
If you’re just using the bench for a personal fitness routine, then a regular grade weight bench set should be all you need. Heavy usage or commercial use will require a utility grade weight bench. Subject a basic one to heavy daily use and you will be replacing it in no time. This is just a waste of money. Inspect the welding job as well. Your bench is essentially held up by the welded areas. Buy a good cleaner for the vinyl to extend its life.
Most stores will carry one or more of well-known name brands. Champion, Deltech and Weider all make a couple of models in different price ranges. You will pay more for a name brand, such as a Weider weight bench, but they can also sometimes mean better quality. Spending a little extra money on them may be wise. Generally speaking, though, flat weight bench prices are usually within reach of most consumers.
If your budget is tight, the Deltech Fitness DF800 sells for just under $150. You could probably find it on sale for a little less. The Yukon Commercial bench is a bit more, at just over $200, but again, you pay for quality. Shop around the dozens of retail fitness equipment chains or try online stores. Since they don’t really have the same kind of overhead as the retail stores do, they and tend to a flat weight bench a little cheaper, and it might save you a few dollars.