For us home gymers, having a high quality weight bench is a must. Well, it’s a need to if you like raising weights (and also do not have an all-in-one residence fitness center system).
Anyway, having a weight bench certainly includes a great deal of selection to your workout, but the issue is they occupy floor space. And also if your exercise location is restricted to begin with, you need to make the most of every square inch.
The Bowflex 5.1 S Stowable Bench is pretty distinct because it’s designed to be stored upright.
The idea appears fascinating sufficient and also could work in concept, yet does this alone make this the most effective weight bench for small spaces? If you ask me, no.
Storability is just one feature to take into consideration. We likewise need to make certain our weight bench is durable enough to hold up to any type of exercise we can toss at it and comfortable to make use of.
My goal for this evaluation is to take a close consider the Bowflex 5.1 S as well as see if it truly is the most effective alternative for tiny exercise areas.
The first thing this weight bench has going all out is it’s name. Bowflex is quickly one of one of the most identifiable fitness brands in the world.
They produce whatever from treadmills to dumbbells and also are generally known for having a good credibility in regards to item high quality and customer care.
The 5.1 S is the current enhancement to their weight bench schedule, which likewise consists of the 3.1 as well as 5.1. Look into the table listed below for a fast contrast of the 3:
Bowflex 3.1 Adjustable Bench | Bowflex 5.1 Adjustable Bench | Bowflex 5.1S Stowable Bench | |
---|---|---|---|
Number of positions | 4 | 6 | 6 |
Stowability | No | No | Yes |
Stabilizing levers | No | Yes | Yes |
Weight Capacity | 480 lb | 480 lb | 600 lb |
Price | $ | $$ | $$$ |
I wished to start with this table due to the fact that it not only highlights the differences between these 3 popular benches, but it additionally provides us a good summary of a few of things we should think about when searching for a bench.
Points like bench positions as well as weight ability need to be taken into consideration as well as contrasted to find the best weight bench.
However when trying to find a bench that will help tiny exercise areas, we also need to take into consideration the portability and also storability factors. And also the real dimensions of the bench.
Stowability
I want to see to it we are all on the same web page right here and most of us understand what Bowflex suggests by “stowable”. The 5.1 S is designed to be stored upright. By doing this, Bowflex has actually essentially reduced this bench’s footprint in half when not being used.
During use, this bench occupies this much flooring area: 61.3 ″( L) x 28.1 ″( W) x 49.5 ″( H).
When stowed away upright, this bench uses up this much floor area: 23.9 ″( L) x 28.1 ″( W) x 52.3 ″( H).
So as you can see, Bowflex’s room saving suggestion does work. When kept upright, the 5.1 S takes less than half the floor room it does when being utilized. It also has integrated in transport wheels which is nice if you do have to relocate your bench from storage to utilize it.
FYI, if you have small children like I do, you may wish to be careful with where you save this bench (if you determine to buy it).
If little kids are playing around it or climbing on it, it can drop and create injury. Storing behind-the-scenes or somewhere much less available to youngsters would most likely suffice.
Positions
Potentially one of the most essential attribute to consider when contrasting benches is how many settings it can supply. A lot more placements is constantly much better in my book because it means even more workout opportunities.
Whether you intend on utilizing them all or not, it’s better to have them and also not need them than the other way around.
The 5.1 S supplies 6 various bench placements. These consist of:.
- Apartment.
- 30 deg slope.
- 45 deg incline.
- 60 deg incline.
- 90 deg incline.
- 20 deg decline.
This bench supplies a rather charitable choice of placements. The 30-60 deg slope setups can be found in useful for carrying out slope bench and also incline pec flys (among my favored chest workouts, by the way).
The 90 deg slope setup is great for doing shoulder press exercises or seated bicep curls- truly anything you intend to do with your back sustained.
The decrease setting is a good touch because it allows you to do decrease pinhead or bench press, a workout commonly omitted when working out in the house since a great deal of residence benches don’t have decline setups.
It also offers you the capability to do decrease stay up, an awesome core action.
In regards to bench positions, the 5.1 S definitely has a great deal to supply. The 20 deg decline establishing collections it apart from a great deal of the competition.
Weight Capacity
When speaking about a weight bench, weight capability refers to the overall load a bench can hold, counting the user’s weight. This bench has a weight capacity of 600 lb.
This suggests that in theory, given that I weigh about 200 pound, I could securely rest on it and shoulder press 150 lb in each arm as well as still be well under the max limitation.
I undoubtedly can not come anywhere close to doing that, yet I really hope that example makes sense.
A 600 pound weight limitation goes over for any type of house weight bench. It needs to also be strong enough to stand up to pretty much any workout you can throw at it. In order to hold such high weights, Bowflex built this bench out of business quality steel.
Comfort
The 5.1 S has really decent stats in the function departments, however what regarding convenience? Besides, a bench can hold all the weight on the planet, yet if it isn’t comfortable to make use of routinely, odds are you aren’t going to utilize it.
Individuals overwhelmingly agree that the 5.1 S is comfortable to use. The foam extra padding is thick sufficient to cushion you sufficiently during use.
The bench is also large and also hefty, so it doesn’t wobble while you are raising either- which is extremely annoying if you have actually ever utilized a sub-standard weight bench before.
The only problem some users have is with the rather big void in between both pads when the bench remains in the level or decline setting. Some have actually whined that it makes stay up uncomfortable. Others complain that it obstructs throughout bench press.
This gap exists in order to offer the bench the capacity to incline approximately 90 degrees. Without it, Bowflex most likely would’ve needed to create some advanced (and pricey) set up to use the very same wide variety of settings.
General though, a lot of individuals enjoy the feel of the 5.1 S. The gap issue may depend on your elevation also.
Warranty
The warranty on the 5.1 S, like a lot of Nautilus products (did you understand Nautilus possesses Bowflex?), is respectable. The 5.1 S comes with a 15 year structure service warranty and a 1 year parts as well as upholstery service warranty.
I believe this guarantee is a good indication that this bench is designed to last.
When it comes to service warranties, longer is always better. When items don’t included service warranties, or they are less than a year, it’s most likely a sign you must maintain looking.
Assembly
Placing this bench together is pretty uncomplicated. The majority of customers report they had the ability to finish assembly within half an hour approximately.
The instructions are simple to adhere to as well as the pictures are big enough that you can in fact see which washers pair up with which bolts.
Which’s really all you need to do to assemble the 5.1 S- connect the different components with the offered bolts as well as washers- nothing as well expensive below. The Allen wrench needed to do the job is provided.
If you are also from another location handy you won’t have any kind of trouble putting this bench together. If you know what an “Allen wrench” is, you’re great to go.
5.1 vs 5.1S
We’ve taken a quite detailed consider what the 5.1 S has to offer as well as whatever looks excellent. It’s well-built as well as uses a wide variety of positions for you to use during your workouts.
Yet does it make more feeling to save a little money as well as go with the 5.1? After all, according to the table it appears very similar to the 5.1 S.
There are a few key differences between the 2 benches:.
- Initially, the 5.1 IS NOT DESIGNED TO STORE UPRIGHT- that is, it isn’t stowable. Somehow Amazon.com markets that it is. According to the user guidebook, the 5.1 does not stowe upright.
- The 5.1 S has a considerably greater weight capacity, 120 pound to be precise. This is since it’s heavier-duty. Comparing the images of the two online, you can inform the 5.1 S is “thicker”. It’s likewise a great deal sleeker looking.
- Surprisingly, the 5.1 has a three decades warranty on the framework, where the 5.1 S just has a 15 year guarantee. I’m presuming this is because the 5.1 S is newer as well as Nautilus made a decision to transform the time frame up. That claimed, I do not believe
- Bowflex is still producing the 5.1 bench. You can still buy them online with Amazon.com and also other sellers, however when they are all gone, I believe that’s it for the 5.1.
Oh yep, there’s additionally the price difference. I recognize my little “$” symbols are a little ambiguous and it’s hard to tell just how much difference there is in between the different benches. Maybe I much like to be a little mystical?
Actually though, there’s only a $50 distinction in between the 5.1 and also 5.1 S.
When trying to find a bench for small exercise areas, the 5.1 S certainly has the 5.1 beat. The capacity to be stored upright is pass on the winning element.
The added weight capability is a good thing also- the much heavier task bench is mosting likely to move much less during use as well as feel even more comfortable.
Final Thoughts
Generally, I such as the Bowflex 5.1 S. It’s a good looking weight bench that can get to 6 various positions and also is backed by a strong service warranty.
It’s also simple to construct and can withstand a 600 lb lots. The capacity to be kept upright is an outstanding feature.
If your workout room is limited to start with, the capability to instantaneously lower the footprint by fifty percent and also store upright could make all the difference in the world.
It can actually make the distinction between being able to have a weight bench as well as not.
For the cost, I believe it’s quite risk-free to claim the 5.1 S is the most effective weight bench for small spaces. The only drawback is the fairly huge void in between the 2 pads when in the flat and decrease settings- some folks locate it a little uneasy as well as disruptive.
Obviously without that gap, it would not be possible to reach a 90 deg slope setting (which a great deal of weight benches can not do).
If you’re searching for a terrific weight bench for your home, the Bowflex 5.1 S is a rather winner. Particularly if you are seeking a bench that does not use up much room when not being made use of.