Weight Bench

The Weight Bench is one of the most fundamental pieces of fitness equipment in any home gym.  This is the one piece of equipment that can be used for multiple exercises throughout any fitness routine.  It is therefore important to acquire a bench that is able to perform all of the exercises that will be required from your fitness routines.

Weight Bench - Variety

There are many different types of weight benches available on the market.  The most common bench is the flat weight bench.  This particular bench is restricted to one position (the flat position) and does not offer any adjustability.  One of the most common exercises that an individual would perform on a flat bench would be the bench press.  This exercise focuses primarily on the chest muscles.

In comparison an adjustable weight bench or folding weight bench will allow an individual to adjust the weight bench to different angles and or positions during their workout routines.  Some of the more common adjustable weight benches have positions such as the decline bench position, incline bench position, and other variants of the incline and decline positions i.e. varying degrees of angles to maximize and add flexibility to your workout sessions.

Aside from the adjustability of the weight bench other differences may include the cushioning of the seat or back rest for added comfort, the weight capacity i.e. how much the weight bench will be able to hold, and the structural frame of the weight bench i.e. what gauge steel the bench is made out.

Weight Bench Additional Accessories

The weight bench alone will not allow an individual to perform any weight lifting exercises although you would be able to perform body exercises e.g. dips, sit-ups, reverse crunches etc.  Therefore, you will probably want to get a set of weights to complement your bench.  There are many weight sets to choose from and all of them will vary in the amount of weight that is offered and in the style and/or finish that the weight plates are made from.  It is a good idea to know how much weight you would like to be able to lift in the future so that you can pair up an adequate weight set that will meet all of your weight lifting requirements.

When looking for weight lifting equipment to place in your home gym it is important to factor in future compatibility with your workout routines.  There's nothing worse than having a piece of fitness equipment in your gym and not being able to utilize it to your fullest potential i.e. you've outgrown the weight offered or options that your piece of equipment can offer.  It is therefore recommended that you adjust your buying requirements to where you would like to be able to lift in the future.  It's always better to get a piece of fitness equipment that has the ability to perform more functions or is more durable than one that is not.  The same goes for a weight bench.  If you think that your future exercise routines will require you to get a weight bench with various adjustments then you should lean towards an adjustable weight bench.

Additional Resources:

Info From Wikipedia: Weight Bench