REP FB-5000 Competition Flat Bench Review

Sometimes overlooked, a trusty weight bench like the REP Fitness FB-5000 can be the key to taking your training to the next level. If it weren’t for a weight bench, you wouldn’t be able to work your bench press — but that’s not all these tools are good for. You can also use a weight bench for core exercises, dumbbell rows, shoulder presses, and even leg exercises, like Bulgarian split squats. The FB-5000 Competition Flat Bench stands out to with impressive qualities like its commercial grade build and tripod foot design (which allows for optimal foot placement).

This weight bench is designed to meet the height standards of 16.9 inches set by the International Powerlifting Federation, and for a reasonable price. The 11-gauge steel used for the frame is professional quality, and may even be stronger than some benches at your local gym. It’s also rated up to 1,000 pounds to accommodate elite powerlifters — and since it is regulation height for competitions, you can properly prepare for your next competition with this bench. If you are looking for a commercial grade flat weight bench that can withstand heavy weight while also allowing for optimal foot placement, the REP Fitness FB-5000 is a great option to consider. That said, let’s dive more into the details.

Main Takeaways

• Since the FB-5000 meets the height standards set by the International Powerlifting Federation, those who compete can properly prepare for their next competition.
• The 11-gauge steel is commercial grade, and can hold up to 1,000 pounds.
• The tripod foot design provides optimal foot placement while benching.

REP Fitness FB-5000 Competition Flat Bench

REP Fitness FB-5000 Competition Flat Bench

The REP Fitness FB-5000 Competition Flat Bench is a great option for powerlifting competitors to consider. It$0027s made from 11-gauge steel, is rated at 1,000 pounds, and meets the height standards set by the International Powerlifting Federation.

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REP Fitness FB-5000 Competition Flat Bench Highlights

One of the best qualities of this bench is that it can be used by any level weightlifter from beginner to expert in their home gym. While it is not an adjustable bench, you are still able to get a lot of functionality out of it. And if you want an incline or decline, you can always place a weight plate under the front foot, or the wheels. It’s easily portable, does not take up too much space, and is highly stable and durable (thanks to the 11-gauge steel frame).

Another good feature is that it is cheaper than some of its competitors, something you might not expect considering the high quality. It’s 50.5 inches long, 21 inches wide, and 16.9 inches tall. There are two different padding options — the narrow pad is 12 inches wide, the wide pad is 14 inches wide, but both share the same length of 48 inches. This is going to allow you to store this bench in most places in your home gym, but with that being said, you are still going to need around eight square feet of space to properly work out with this bench.

Who Should Buy the REP Fitness FB-5000

• Powerlifting competitors who want to properly train from home. This bench meets the International Powerlifting Federation’s height standards.
• Anyone looking for a commercial grade flat bench — the FB-5000 is made from 11-gauge steel, and is rated at 1,000 pounds.
• Athletes who are very specific about foot placement while bench pressing will appreciate the tripod foot design here. 
• Folks who are looking specifically for a flat bench will like this build. 

Who Shouldn’t Buy the REP Fitness FB-5000

• While this bench is considered a "cheaper" option compared to other competition benches, it could still cost you nearly $300. There are cheaper weight benches out there, but they may not meet competition standards, or be made from the same high quality steel as the FB-5000.
• Anyone looking for an adjustable weight bench. The FB-5000 is flat and does not adjust.
• Folks who do not have eight square feet of space for this weight bench within their home gym.

Price

The FB-5000 is available in three different pricing options, which is driven by one of the five colors you can choose from, as well as the size of your padding. The red, blue, metallic black, and matte black frame, with the narrow pad, is going to cost you around $210, while the clear coat frame is around $280. If you were to get the wide pad, those prices are going to jump to around $240 and $310, respectively. 

If you are a little tight on space, or simply want to store your bench efficiently, REP Fitness offers a wall mount for you to hang your bench. This is going to cost you an extra $40 or so, but could be a great solution for some people who need assistance with storage.

In total, you could end up spending over $300 on this weight bench, but there are some out there that are $400. While you may be saving some money compared to those other brands, we still understand that this may be too expensive for you. If that’s the case, REP actually offers two cheaper weight benches, but it’s worth mentioning that one is made from 14-gauge steel instead of the 11-gauge you will find here — and they’re both rated at 700 pounds instead of 1,000 pounds. Because this is such high quality, and can withstand that heavy weight — we think the price is justified.

Overall Build and Quality

While the FB-5000 only weighs 62 pounds with the narrow pad, and 74 pounds with the wide pad, it’s actually quite sturdy. It’s made of 11-gauge steel, which is what you will often find in a mainstream gym. It’s rated at 1,000 pounds, which is great for powerlifters, and anyone who participates in competitions will love that it meets the 16.9-inch height requirement set by the International Powerlifting Federation. Since this bench does have a relatively small footprint, it should be able to fit in most home gyms.

Features

Since the FB-5000 is a flat bench, it doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as an adjustable bench does. However, the features it does have are pretty prominent. The tripod foot design is unique in that it allows you to achieve optimal foot placement while bench pressing. Plus, the handle on the front of the bench paired with the wheels on the back make it easy to slide around your home gym. 

Tripod Foot Design

A problem a lot of people have when bench pressing is dealing with the legs of a bench keeping you from gaining good footing. With the tripod foot design of the FB-5000, that issue is virtually eliminated. The front foot takes up minimal space, allowing you to position your feet exactly where you want them. This is not only going to provide more comfort, but may also allow you to achieve optimal foot drive while bench pressing. 

Adjustability

Since this is a competition weight bench, it is strictly flat and not adjustable. While you can definitely find an adjustable bench if that’s what you’re looking for, it’s not guaranteed that those are going to meet the IPF competition standards like the FB-5000 does.

Portability

If you own a power rack and are looking for a weight bench to pair with it, you’ll likely need one that you can move if you want to do any back squats. Luckily, this bench weighs less than 75 pounds, and it has a set of wheels and a handle that make moving it painless. The wheels are also housed by metal which may help protect them better if you’re moving your bench often. In our time with the FB-5000, we noticed it’s a little difficult to reach the handle, but the reach wasn’t drastic.

Color Options

The FB-5000 is available in five different colors — red, blue, metallic black, matte black, and a clear coat. While all of REP’s coatings are pretty sleek, the clear coat really stole the show for us. 

Product Specs

While the dimensions of the FB-5000 are relatively small, you still want to map out your space before adding this to your home gym — you’ll need just under eight square feet. This is a very durable bench made from commercial grade 11-gauge steel. The four-inch thick padding is made from a non-slip vinyl, which may help keep you in place while lifting. And one of the greatest things about this bench is that it can support up to 1,000 pounds of weight. 

Padding

The padding on a weight bench isn’t always top of mind, but let’s be honest, nobody wants to be uncomfortable while lifting. We found the four-inch thick padding of the FB-5000 to provide a good amount of comfort while lifting. It also gave us great traction as we began to sweat since it’s made from non-slip vinyl. 

Materials

The 11-gauge steel used for the frame of the FB-5000 makes it durable enough to last at least a couple decades. 11-gauge steel is the type of quality you can expect to find at a professional gym, which makes this one of the sturdiest benches out there. The padding is made from non-slip vinyl, so you don’t have to worry about sliding around if your sessions get sweaty.

Dimensions

Because there are two different pads for you to choose from, the dimensions will vary slightly — however, the size of the frame remains the same. The FB-5000 is 50.5 inches long, 21 inches wide, and 16.9 inches tall. The narrow pad is 12 inches wide and the wide pad is 14 inches wide, but they are both 48 inches in length. While the footprint isn’t necessarily large, it still requires around eight square feet of space, which could be a deal breaker if you’re trying to cram a bench into, say, a studio apartment space.

Weight Capacity

REP Fitness designed the FB-5000 to support up to 1,000 pounds of weight, which includes your body weight. This is top-tier compared to other weight benches, and is rare at this price point.

Warranties

The FB-5000 comes with a 10-year warranty on the bench frame, and a 30-day warranty on the padding.

Places to Buy

You can buy the FB-5000 through the REP Fitness website and Amazon Marketplace.

Company Information

REP Fitness aims to produce high quality equipment at an affordable price. They offer their customers a full refund on all products within the first 30 days of purchase. To learn more about their policies, you can call them directly at 720-420-1731, or send an email to [email protected].

Final Word

The REP Fitness FB-5000 is a top-tier weight bench for good reason. It’s made of 11-gauge steel, which is the same commercial quality you’ll find in mainstream gyms. If you compete in powerlifting competitions, this is a great option to consider if you want to prepare from home — not just because of the quality, but because it meets competition standards. While this bench does not adjust, it can handle up to 1,000 pounds, which is a rare find in a weight bench. And even though the handle placement may not be ideal for everyone, we really love the tripod foot design.

The FB-5000 was designed as a cheaper alternative for athletes who want a competition weight bench. With that being said, you could still spend over $300, which is not a small chunk of change. There are some cheaper weight benches out there, but they may not meet the International Powerlifting Federation competition standards, and likely won’t be made of the same durable, commercial grade steel. Overall, we think the weight capacity and 11-gauge steel build make this a solid option for those looking for a reliable weight bench to implement into their workout routine. 

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