Weight Bench
Anyone looking to add muscle to their body is going to need some exercise equipment. You will need a number of items such as dumbbells, various bars, and weights. One of the few pieces of equipment that should be a staple in any weight lifting environment is the weight bench. There is no denying the importance of a weight bench. Many people look at the weight bench as just a product to complete a bench press with. This is where many people misunderstand the importance of using a weight bench. There are many different exercises that are performed on a high quality weight bench. This includes the standard bench press, incline and decline bench press, butterflies, and more.
Types of Weight Benches
If you go to a local gym you should consider yourself lucky. All gyms are equipped with Olympic weight benches. These are much larger than the weight benches found in most homes. There are a variety of reasons why an Olympic weight bench is preferred over a standard weight bench. The main advantage to an Olympic bench is the grip. With a standard bench you cannot perform a normal bench press grip properly. Some designs may be more convenient than others (such as being able to reach around the posts to get a grip) but there are no standard benches that can compare to Olympic benches.
An Olympic weight bench uses an Olympic bar which is usually around 45lbs (standard benches use very light bars). The weight capacity is also much higher and some standard benches can barely hold over 100lbs. Many Olympics benches can be set to incline, decline, or normal position. Most standard benches can only be in normal or incline position.
You also have to look at the accessories that are included with each bench. This is where a standard bench may appear to be more interesting. A standard bench can come with leg curl extensions, butterfly curl extensions, and more. Some models also include a tower design addition which can be used for various upper body exercises.
Truthfully, if you could afford an Olympic bench and other high quality equipment it would be extremely preferred. For people that are beginners to weight lifting or are still lifting lightweights then they may be fine with a standard bench. It may also be fine for beginner to intermediate female weight lifters.
Buying a Weight Bench
When buying a weight bench you will have to consider your budget, the amount of space in your home, and what you are purchasing with it. If you need to buy all the bars, weights, extensions, and more then it may start to add up. An Olympic bench can run you $300-500 or more and a high quality Olympic bar can easily cost $200-300. Factor in the cost of the weights as well. Expect to pay around $1 per pound for weights for you Olympic bench.
If you wish to purchase a standard bench then you could easily get everything for around $200. If you are an absolute beginner and can only lift lightweights then you may be satisfied with the product for the meantime. A standard bench could be a good way to get you to transition into daily lifting and then move on to working out at a gym instead. If you can look at various standard weight benches in store and check how easy a basic bench press grip is prior to purchasing it would be recommended.
The last thing you should do when buying a weight bench is check up on reviews for the particular model (or brand) online. You can find out how the product worked for other people and decide based on their experiences. This could help prevent a number of issues if you made a blind purchase. For instance, if the bench tends to be uncomfortable for people with a bigger back, it may be a concern for you. Keep all of this in mind when shopping for a weight bench and make a smart decision when you make a purchase.
