Recommand a good weight bench / what to look for when buying one?

[Red Squirrel]

I'm looking at buying a weight bench, something I have been wanting to do for a while and finally decided I need to just do it. I was hoping to wait for a good deal on a used one or something but not much is available. About the only places that seem to sell them here is SportChek and Canadian Tire. I checked Amazon and there's a few as well with free shipping. This is one I was looking at since I can just go pick it up: (guessing they come in a box that would fit in a car and require assembly? I don't have a truck).

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/cap-barbell-bench-with-100-lb-weight-set-0840542p.html

Also looking at this one, looks like better quality:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/cap-barbell-2-piece-olympic-bench-0840777p.html

But does not come with the bar, and people are saying this does not use the standard length bars so it would probably be hard to find a bar for it.

Most of the ones I see the reviews are bad though including that one. They say it's too small, or too flimsy etc...

What are other sources I can look into to buying one and what are things to look for? I'm in Canada.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Benches... the weight is usually is an indication of quality. Mine weighs about 80 pounds. Get a flat of flat incline bench. Decline is a waste of money.

You getting a rack for the bench or are you wanting a bench with support arms?

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

What is your budget?

Age?

Current level of strength? Goals?

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Do you need weights? If so find a used Olympic set. Should go for about 50 cents a pound. Beauty is, you can always sell it for 50 cents a pound.

Sorry for all the damned posts.

 

[Red Squirrel]

For now I don't plan to bench all that much (under 100), but don't want to limit myself either. I'm 28 and about 5 foot 10 or so. I want something heavy duty enough and not something that will feel flimsy.

For storing extra weights, not too fussy about that for now, I'll probably just lay them on the floor somewhere, or build a rack/shelf or something in the future. The same weights will probably stay on it all the time and I'll just add more as my strength increases. I tried finding used but not too many people sell and the ones that do are cheap units. It seems the olympic ones are hard to find, not even sure where I'd look if I wanted to buy new. Budget is $600 total for something good quality, but if I can spend less, even better, but I rather spend $600 for something good quality than spend $300 for something sub par.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

You can get a used 300 pound (135 kilos) Olympic set for about $150.

I'd do that. Do you mean 100 kilos or pounds?

If pounds, anything will do. Just remember that if you do gain strength you WILL have to upgrade later and any cheap bench you buy will be basically worthless a day after it is out of the stores doors. Actually, most equipment value tanks drastically. But your $100 bench will probably be worth $20 in a year.

 

[blackdogdeek]

What is your goal?

 

[Red Squirrel]

I have not found any used olympic sets. If there's no place to buy them chances are nobody has them. My goal is just to work out, not anything super serious, just stay in shape. I just don't want something that I end up growing out of. I'll go look at Canadian Tire and see what they have, if I can physically look at them I'll be able to decide if the quality looks to be decent. The $300 one looks decent but the spacing is the issue, it might be hard to find a bar that will fit. That's what most people in reviews are saying anyway.

 

[iluvdeal]

Since you're just starting off, I'd buy a quality adjustable weight bench and adjustable dumbbell set, those are foundation pieces you can build out from. When you max out yours lifts on that and are hungry for more, add an olympic set and rack later.

I'd also trying posting wanted ad in Craiglist in your area, I gotta imagine someone wants to get rid of exercise equipment in your area.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Goal of working out?

Buy running shoes.

Get stronger? Get weights.

You need a goal or you'll work out for about 2 weeks and stop.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I have a sit down job, I just want to work out so I can make up for that. Goal is gaining strength, and I could probably lose 10-20 lbs too, but I tend to maintain my weight so it's not really the ultimate goal but of course it would not hurt. I have an exercise bike that I occasionally use but honestly I find it's not worth while getting changed and stuff, just for that. With a weight set at least I can do some cardio then some weights, and maybe make myself a workout regime I can follow every couple days. I figured, some of the time I spend wasting on the internet, I should be working out instead.

Did not get around to check Canadian Tire, will do that tomorrow. I might just get that set here:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/cap-barbell-2-piece-olympic-bench-0840777p.html

And see if they have bars that are long enough as that is really the only problem with that one, people are saying you need a bar that's longer than standard. For $300 and with a weight limit of 500 lbs total it should be pretty decent right? I'm around 160lbs so that leaves more than enough for weights. I might also bolt it down on a sheet of plywood to make it more steady, if needed.

The urge just suddenly came on me to really want to get one and be done with it, and start using it.

 

[mizzou]

As long as you have room, get a bench set that will allow room for a standard olympic benchpress. The mini ones are just a waste of money, unless you don't plan on doing any serious lifting. I used a setup like this that lasted quite a while:

Not the same one, but very similar in the rack style:

 

[z1ggy]

If you plan on being dedicated, get the legit rack for benching, squatting, etc. Don't get the mini POS one that's in your dad's garage or whatever. Adjustable bench will definitely be helpful so you can do incline bench and whatnot.

 

[blackdogdeek]

At the very least I think you should have a lifting routine in mind before you decide what to buy.

 

[Red Squirrel]

The one I linked to seems to be the best one I can find. Does it look decent? I'd love to get a gym quality one but no idea where I'd find that, as they are not geared to consumers so they're not available at regular stores. Might also be way out of my budget even if I could find one. Is there any sites in Canada that specialize in equipment like this? Might give me more options to look at.

 

[rga]

Not sure where in Canada you are, but if you're close to the GTA you may consider looking at the racks here:

http://www.xtcfitness.ca/strength/power-racks-smith-machines.html

Some decent made in Canada stuff for around the price of the stuff you linked from Canadian Tire.

 

[Red Squirrel]

It does look like they ship here.

Looking at this one:
http://www.xtcfitness.ca/made-in-no...t-bench-press-rack-204-4232-york-barbell.html
And this bar:
http://www.xtcfitness.ca/strength/w...ith-bar-collars-2900-york-barbell-canada.html (ommiting this as it bumps shipping to freight which is WAY over my budget)

Hard to tell how the bench adjust though if I want to incline, as I don't see any mechanism that keeps it in a certain position, unless there's a bar that they don't show in the picture. Does not mention what the weight limit is but I imagine that's a non issue when getting into higher end gear.

With shipping it comes up to $726.72, a bit over my budget, but is this a really good set for that price? I'm willing to pay that if it's good quality. I may buy the bar locally though, that might reduce the shipping cost.

Edit: NM, it says bench not included, by the time I add that I'm way over budget and still need to get the bar. Shipping is just unrealistic, I think I'll have to stick to what I can get locally.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I just posted on our classified Facebook page, to see what used equipment is for sale. Been thinking this over, and as nice as it would be to have something commercial/very high quality, I think I'll just start with a basic consumer grade set and if I feel the need to upgrade then I'll do so. I was almost about ready to pull the trigger off xtcfitness.ca but I hate paying that much money just for shipping. If something happens and I have to return it or something, that's money I don't get back.

 

[Carson Dyle]

I have not found any used olympic sets. If there's no place to buy them chances are nobody has them.

If you're in the middle of nowhere, that might be true. but don't just assume it. Is there a local Craigslist or other classified ads? If so, check them out. Exercise equipment is one of the most common things that people buy and never use, so they then sell it just to get it out of the garage or basement. Cheap.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Did check but not much, there was a few but already marked sold. There's a facebook page for buy/sell for my city so just posted that I'm looking for one, and I'll see what happens. It's going to be cheap consumer stuff unless there would happen to be a gym that's closing or something, but think I'll just take what I can get used for cheap, and decide later if I want something more heavy duty. This is the time of the year to be looking though, people make new years resolutions in January and buy all this exercise equipment and by spring they don't use it anymore.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I found someone that has a bowflex, not sure what they're asking yet, it was someone posting for someone else. Is a bowflex any good or is that just a marketing gimmick? I prefer to stick to free weights though, but if it's a good price I might consider it.

Went to check that $300 bench at Canadian Tire, it actually feels like pretty decent quality, maybe not gym quality but it's big and roomy, I could lie down on it and don't feel cramped. The back is adjustable, decline, flat, and incline, and it has the leg workout on front. I'll just have to decide what kind of bar I want to get. I kinda want olympic style but in the grand scheme of things, weight is weight, so might settle for the normal style.

 

[Red Squirrel]

...and I bit the bullet.

Went with this for the bar/plates: http://www.xtcfitness.ca/york-300lb...ith-bar-collars-2899-york-barbell-canada.html

$500 shipped along with a few other accessories like an adapter for the leg part of a bench so I can use the same plates.

I'll probably end up buying that $300 Cap set from Canadian Tire. It looked decent when I looked at it in store, I just hope that they have one in a box so that it will fit in my car and I can assemble it at home.

So a bit over $800 total. Quite a lot of money but the way to look at it, a gym membership costs more over a certain period of time, and I'll have this practically forever. So hopefully this was a smart purchase, and after spending that kind of money I'll definitely actually use it. A lot. :biggrin:

 

[killster1]

just curious but why not get a power rack with lat pull down? i am looking at many diff ones for 350 on craiglist all good condition.. with one for 100 just for the tower.. tempting haaa

 

[Red Squirrel]

I thought of it too but most of em are in the $1,000 range. There's really nothing here in terms of used stuff, and definitely not pro stuff. I checked a lot before deciding to just buy new.

 

[Howard]

I bought that set (bar, plates, rack) a few years ago. Still using it to good effect today.