The Top 5 Ab Benches
How’s your six-pack these days? Is it like a micro-crafted double IPA, or more like a sixer of Coors Light with two cans missing? You can lay on the living room carpet and do some crunches every morning, but that’s mostly going to lead to a bad back and a gross carpet. What you need, then, is something to focus your workout efforts directly on your core and maximize the time and energy you’re about to dedicate. Enter the ab workout bench. How do you know which bench is right for you? Have you thought about size, versatility, storage? Of course not - that’s why we’re here. We did a million crunches – or at least it felt like it – to round up the five best ab benches on the market.
Fitness Reality X-Class
Rated X For X-cellent
With a large assortment of ab benches to choose from – most of which offer the same in terms of functionality – it wasn’t easy to decide upon the best overall bench. But fitness Reality X-Class edges out the competition for a variety of reasons: it has three incline adjustments and a whopping 14 thigh support positions; a 650-pound maximum weight capacity with a height range up to 6-foot-4-inches; and a double-stitched and padded bench cover with moisture and sweat-resistant vinyl cover. On top of that, the bench is extra-wide at 8.5 inches, and with front and rear stabilizing legs that are a full two-feet long, you know this bench won’t collapse in the middle of your sit-up. Simple put, this one’s a great value.
Pros:
- Push up and dip handlebars
- 4-inch thick roll pads
- Built-in wheels for easy transportation
Cons:
- Does not fold for storage
- Assembly required
XMark Fitness Adjustable Decline Beach
X Marks the Spot
For people looking to take their ab workouts to the next level, the decline bench is the best way to go. But before you start going completely vertical on your wall, get the XMark Fitness Decline Bench, which features twelve graduating levels of decline on a nearly four-foot post (for a maximum decline of nearly 45 degrees). Made with a durable 11-gauge steel frame and a 3×2-inch back support, the bench is stable with weights up to 500 pounds, making it a gym-caliber home fitness product. Note that this bench does not go flat, nor does it incline; it’s made solely for decline ab exercises.
Pros:
- Rear transport wheels for easy moving
- Bullhorn handlebar for easy mounting
- Simple assembly
Cons:
- Ankle pads not positioned for tall people
- Sturdiness makes it quite heavy
SWIUSD Multi-Workout Bench
More Abs, Less Dough
If you’re looking for utility, simplicity, and durability, look no further than the SWIUSD Multi-Workout bench. Built with a heavy-duty steel frame with a powder-coated, scratch-resistant surface, the bench is suitable for every ab exercise you’ve got to throw at it. The foot pedals are adjustable to three positions, while the bench provides five different levels, allowing you a huge variety of combinations. At the end of your workout, the ab bench folds into one of three different shapes, making it easy to store no matter what your storage situation looks like.
Pros:
- Vinyl covering on the padded back panel
- Reinforced foam pad for back support
- Anti-skid pads won’t scratch floors
Cons:
- Not particularly suitable for tall people
- Sits just over a foot off the ground
Goplus Adjustable Sit Up Bench
The Best Curve For Your Curves
The decline curve ab bench is gaining popularity for two reasons. First, the ergonomic, curved design mirrors the natural curvature of your spine more than a flat bench does, preventing strain and potential injury. Second, a decline bench puts your upper body on a downward slope, providing a greater workout on your lower pectoral muscles. The model we prefer is the Goplus, with its iron tube frame, wide-padded bench, and six foam-padded bars. With a fold-up feature for easy storage, the Goplus is the perfect ab bench for fitness enthusiasts looking to strengthen abs, back, and chest.
Pros:
- Available in blue and red
- Height adjustable to 22.5 inches
- Max weight capacity of 441 pounds
Cons:
- 12-inch wide bench
- Small for people over 6-foot
Marcy Adjustable Roman Chair
Never Used By Actual Romans
The Roman chair is that ab bench you see in the gym all the time that you just walk away from because it looks like it’ll tip over. But the truth is, the Marcy Adjustable Roman chair provides one of the best ab workouts imaginable. With its hyperextension bench and adjustable leg anchor, you can perform exercises that specifically target your core, the lower back, hamstrings, and glutes. What’s more, the Roman chair works on arms, delts, and the upper back. And no, it’s not going to fall over – with its durable steel construction and two assist handles on either side of the seat, the Marcy Roman chair is made to be stable.
Pros:
- Powder-coated finish prevents corrosion
- Works for tall people
- Easy assembly
Cons:
- Bench is not adjustable
- Hand support rods are short
Frequently Asked Questions
I’ve heard that you only get six-pack abs from dieting and not from doing a ton of crunches. Is that true?
They’re both true. To get six-pack abs, you have to do the exercises to create the muscles, then you have to take the layer of fat off the muscle so you can see them. Just losing weight and having a skinny belly won’t do it, in just the same way you don’t magically get biceps when your arms are skinny. Conversely, you can have abs the size of cantaloupes down there, but if they’re hidden by 300 pounds of Pizza Rolls, no one will ever know.
I’ve got a weight bench. Can’t I just use that as an ab bench?
Only to a limited extent. Ab benches are designed differently than weight benches in two important ways. For one, most are able to adjust their horizontal tilt, allowing you to use the weight of your own body to increase the intensity of the exercise. Secondly, they have a combination foot-rest/foot-grip, which gives you a greater range of ab exercises and helps to focus the effort on your core.
Jace says I should do crunches to get my abs ripped. But Brogan and Riley are all like, “Bro, it’s all about side planks.” Who should I believe?
We say believe your doctor. Whether you’re beginning, intermediate or advanced in your fitness regimen, the most important thing you can do is talk to your doctor before making any change to your plan. Your bro Jace got his Phys-Ed degree after three minutes at the YouTube School for People Who Know Things & Stuff. Your doctor has a different degree entirely.
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