REP Health BlackWing Adjustable Bench Assessment (2023)

As an ISSA-certified personal trainer with a house health club setup of my very own, I consider there are a couple of important items of apparatus that you must achieve smashing your targets: a dependable barbell, a sturdy squat rack, and a high-quality weight bench (plus some bumper plates and dumbbells). Whilst you don’t essentially need to go the adjustable route along with your dumbbells, investing in an adjustable weight bench is a brilliant technique to maximise your train choices. In spite of everything, true FID benches (flat, incline, decline) will let you prepare your chest, again, shoulders, and different goal areas from nearly any angle, which may go a great distance in serving to you obtain your strength- and muscle-building goals.

With regards to the adjustable bench market, nevertheless, it’s not at all times simple to discover a answer that satisfies all the necessities our Breaking Muscle workforce of licensed private trainers, power and conditioning coaches, and CrossFitters search for — together with building high quality, portability, and ease of use — and nonetheless offers nice worth. However because of some intelligent design work by REP Health, you’ll be able to benefit from the flexibility of a dozen ladder-style changes and the consolation of a gap-free lifting expertise concurrently. 

On this REP BlackWing adjustable bench evaluate, we’ll break down how one of many business’s most revolutionary producers blended one of the best options from its high fashions right into a beastly bench that’s constructed like a tank and performs like a boss.

Key Takeaways

• The BlackWing Adjustable Bench combines the ladder-style changes from the REP Health AB-5200 with the redesigned ZeroGap™ seat expertise from the REP AB-5000 to provide the better of each worlds in a single well-built bench.
• The REP Health BlackWing is available in two completely different pad widths (12.2 or 14 inches), has a weight capability of 1,000 kilos, and meets Worldwide Powerlifting Federation (IPF) competitors top requirements, making it well-suited for powerlifters and broadly constructed athletes.
• Out there in six colours, this zero-gap bench might be saved upright to go away extra room on your energy rack, weightlifting equipment, and different home gym equipment.

REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench Execs

• The BlackWing is ultra-versatile, as it may be utilized as a flat bench, incline bench, or decline bench. Not solely can you utilize the ladder-style system on the again pad to select from 12 completely different angles, however you can even use the pop-pin adjustment on the seat pad to change between six angles starting from -10 levels to 45 levels.
• REP’s patented ZeroGap™ function removes a possible distraction by making certain you’ll by no means need to take care of an annoying hole between the seat and again pads. This distinctive expertise significantly is useful when performing a flat bench press, as you’ll be seamlessly supported from finish to finish.
• This heavy-duty FID bench is constructed to final utilizing 11-gauge metal for the body and REP’s new CleanGrip materials for the padding. The Colorado-based firm additionally deserves credit score for giving the BlackWing a premium look with high-end finishes like stainless-steel knurled handles and laser-cut logos.

REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench Cons

• Though the BlackWing brings numerous helpful options to the desk, a $600 price ticket would possibly make it too costly for some folks. In case you’re working with a tighter gym equipment budget, the REP AB-3000 is a rock-solid FID bench that prices almost half the value.
• Whereas it’s designed to be saved vertically, this adjustable bench doesn’t precisely earn high marks for portability. Tipping the scales at 131 kilos, the BlackWing requires some strength and endurance to maneuver, which may grow to be bothersome in case you transfer your bench round typically.
• The non-compulsory leg curler attachment felt extra like an afterthought to our testing workforce, because it doesn’t appear to be constituted of the identical high-quality supplies because the bench itself. Plus, whereas it carried out adequately for sit-ups and crunches, it fell wanting expectations as a Nordic curl answer.

Our Breaking Muscle Staff has ample expertise making an attempt out each place on quite a lot of adjustable benches to carry out lifts just like the bench press, overhead press, and flye variations. Assessing components reminiscent of building high quality, portability, and padding, we developed a proprietary scoring system to rank important elements that make up an awesome bench.

REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench Score

Our Breaking Muscle Staff has ample expertise making an attempt out each place on quite a lot of adjustable benches to carry out lifts just like the bench press, overhead press, and flye variations. Assessing components reminiscent of building high quality, portability, and padding, we developed a proprietary scoring system to rank important elements that make up an awesome bench.

Right here’s how the REP BlackWing scored in every class:

REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench In-Depth Assessment

Although it’s definitely not essentially the most budget-friendly bench, the BlackWing undoubtedly delivers rock-solid worth. REP rigorously crafted a high-end piece of health club tools that stands out for its versatility, sturdiness, and construct high quality. Regardless of a hefty price ticket and a reasonably large footprint, we firmly consider it’s a worthwhile funding for critical lifters seeking to stage up their dwelling health club setup. 

Value and Worth

REP priced the BlackWing at about $600, increased than their different adjustable bench fashions. For comparability, the most recent model of the AB-5200 begins at $549.99, whereas the AB-5000 is on sale for $449.99, as of this writing. Remember the fact that the extensive pad choice prices an extra $20, and the leg curler attachment is bought individually for about $110.

From a competitor standpoint, the Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0 — which does have a small hole between the seat pad and again pad — usually prices about the identical ($595) because the BlackWing. In the meantime, the TITAN Collection Adjustable FID Bench by Titan Health is often priced at $529.99 however solely has a weight capability of 600 kilos.

Though the BlackWing could not match everybody’s finances, it nonetheless brings nice worth. Not solely do you get a real FID bench that has a seemingly infinite array of adjustment prospects, however you additionally get REP’s patented ZeroGap™ seat expertise. As somebody who’s all about getting essentially the most bang on your muscle-building buck, I believe the BlackWing boasts greater than sufficient strengths to justify its higher-end price ticket. Our testing workforce rated it 4.5 out of 5 stars for value and worth.

Development High quality

“Steady” is the phrase that instantly got here to thoughts for our testing workforce when making an attempt out the BlackWing. REP used premium supplies to provide a top-notch bench that feels greater than able to withstanding all of your exercises for years to come back. Constructed from 11-gauge metal, the BlackWing’s body is a rock-solid piece of engineering, offering wonderful stability and general assist.

REP devoted ample consideration to the finer particulars, too. As a substitute of utilizing plastic adjustment knobs like they do on the AB-5000, they opted for stainless-steel on the BlackWing. A knurled, stainless-steel deal with not solely makes the bench simpler to maneuver because of its wonderful grip-ability, but it surely additionally provides to the BlackWing’s premium aesthetic. 

REP additionally improved the person expertise by together with knurled handles for adjusting the incline and utilizing laser-cut numbers on the body so you’ll be able to simply see which angle you’ve gotten the again pad set to. In the meantime, grooved rubber toes give the bench added stability by preserving it firmly anchored to the ground. Plus, you’ll be able to select from 5 body colour choices (metallic black, white, crimson, blue, military inexperienced, or matte black) to make sure your bench matches in with the remainder of your private home health club setup. 

Each the seat pads and again pads come coated in REP’s new CleanGrip vinyl, which our testing workforce believes is one of the best materials the corporate has used thus far. Further grippy and simple to wash, it’s precisely the kind of vinyl lifters search for, as a grippy materials can forestall you from sliding round on the bench and feeling unstable and unsafe.

As somebody who makes use of an adjustable bench for every part from dumbbell chest flyes to rows to overhead presses, I consider nothing is worse than laying down on one which feels slippery or has tears in it. The thick, matte vinyl REP used on the BlackWing is the kind of design resolution that helped this bench earn all 5 stars for building high quality.

Supply and Meeting

With free transport on all orders, REP makes the ordering course of somewhat extra budget-friendly. Our testing workforce didn’t encounter any supply points, which speaks volumes about how properly the bench was packaged and dealt with.

Assembling the BlackWing did take a while (round 20 minutes). Our product testers, who’ve assembled tons of of items of health club tools, think about this to be on par for a totally adjustable bench. Nonetheless, REP didn’t embody any instruments to help with this course of. To deliver your BlackWing to life, you will have to have a ratchet and sockets available, in addition to somewhat little bit of endurance to place all of the items in place.

General, we scored this bench a 4.5 out of 5 stars for supply and meeting.

Dimensions

Positively on the bigger aspect, a totally assembled BlackWing measures 59.5 inches lengthy, 25.8 inches extensive, and 17.2 inches tall, placing it firmly inside the IPF competitors normal. Weighing in at 131 kilos, it’s additionally fairly heavy in comparison with a few of REP’s different benches. For instance, the AB-5000 is 20 kilos lighter, and the AB-5100 ideas the scales at 95 kilos.

In the meantime, the BlackWing comes inventory with 12.2-inch-wide pads that may be upgraded to 14 inches for an extra $20. Whereas the usual choice compares favorably to one thing just like the Titan Collection Adjustable Bench (which comes with a 12-inch-wide pad), the BlackWing is 1.2 inches wider than the Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0. For extra sizable athletes, having that choice is an enormous profit from a consolation and efficiency standpoint, as a wider again pad will present extra assist. Nonetheless, needless to say the 14-inch-wide pads are not compliant with IPF guidelines, because the width can’t exceed 12.6 inches.

The design of the entrance and rear toes add to the general stability of this heavy-duty bench. The entrance foot measures 14.8 inches extensive, which provides higher anchoring and appears to be the inspiration behind the BlackWing’s title. All in all, we scored this bench 4 out of 5 stars for dimensions, with the burden being one of many solely drawbacks.

Padding

Skinny padding can result in skinny endurance for lifters. In spite of everything, nobody needs to lie down on a bench and really feel as if the metallic body is digging into their again. Fortunately, the BlackWing has thick cushioning that places our workforce of testers in a snug place to execute all of their lifts.

Furthermore, the padding is wrapped in dense CleanGrip vinyl that appears and feels higher than different sorts of vinyl REP has used on their benches. Not solely is the matte black materials additional grippy, but it surely’s additionally a breeze to wash. So, even in case you’re breaking a critical sweat in your storage health club, you received’t have to fret about your bench struggling any floor injury so long as you wipe it down after your final rep.

From a padding perspective, we scored the BlackWing 5 out of 5 stars.

Footprint and Portability

Based mostly on its dimensions, the BlackWing has a reasonably sizable footprint of 10.7 sq. toes. In actual fact, at 59.5 inches lengthy, it’s properly forward of different REP benches and is likely one of the longest adjustable benches available on the market. Whereas the AB-5200 is simply an inch shorter, the AB-5100 is 5 inches shorter than the BlackWing, with the AB-5000 falling proper within the center at 57 inches lengthy.

These dimensions, together with weighing 131 kilos, make the BlackWing a bit tough to maneuver round and retailer vertically with out a little little bit of effort. Nonetheless, our testers appreciated the knurled deal with and rollers for serving to take a number of the burden off. If you wish to retailer the BlackWing vertically, you’ll must have not less than 3.1 sq. toes of house to accommodate it. Fortunately, the bench’s closed ladder system additionally assists with the storage course of, because it prevents the arm of the again pad from sliding misplaced when the bench is positioned upright.

General, being able to cut back the bench’s footprint by over a 3rd is an enormous profit for dwelling health club homeowners with restricted house. Nonetheless, due to its giant footprint and heavy body, the BlackWing scored 4 out of 5 stars for footprint and portability.

Efficiency and Ease of Use

Is the juice definitely worth the squeeze with the BlackWing? Based mostly on our testers’ experiences, it met the bar from a efficiency standpoint. REP hit a house run with its new adjustment techniques, making it easy to slip the seat backwards and forwards utilizing the Zero-Hole function that’s made their AB-5000 mannequin significantly well-liked.

Noticeably lighter and fewer cumbersome than its predecessor, our workforce was impressed with the best way REP carried out the distinctive spring-loaded pop-pin and ratcheting system to make clean and safe changes to the seat pad. Although just like the system used on the AB-5000, they felt it was a transparent improve and simpler to make use of.

Most significantly, the BlackWing supplied a steady platform for our testers to carry out every part from spider curls to chest-supported dumbbell rows. Having a sturdy bench that may go from a flat place to being tilted again to -8 levels in a matter of seconds with none hiccups ought to offer you peace of thoughts and loads of confidence heading into your exercise. The BlackWing obtained all 5 stars for its sturdy efficiency and user-friendly design.

Incline Ranges

As a real FID bench, the BlackWing offers you the choice to coach on a flat bench, on an incline, or at a decline. By incorporating a closed ladder-style adjustment system, REP made it potential to select from 12 completely different again pad angles ranging between -8 to 85 levels. Moreover the ample angle decisions, the testers additionally loved the added sturdiness of getting the adjustment arms positioned contained in the ladder rail. This helped scale back any wobble that might have occurred at incline angles, and in my expertise, this can be a frequent problem with cheaper benches.

As well as, REP designed the seat pad to have the ability to go from -10 to 45 levels. That kind of vary separates the BlackWing from different adjustable benches just like the AB-3000, which has 5 seat pad changes, and the Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0, which solely has three angle decisions for the seat pad (0, 15, and 30 levels).

General, that is the place the BlackWing really shines essentially the most. Whether or not you wish to get stronger on the incline press, develop your delts from an upright place, or construct your decrease chest on a decline, you’ve gotten the last word device to get the job achieved. We scored the BlackWing 5 out of 5 stars on this space.

Out there Attachments

You’ll be able to take your BlackWing expertise to new heights in case you’re prepared to pay the appropriate value. For about $110, you should purchase the non-compulsory leg curler attachment that was particularly designed to suit with this ultra-versatile, ultra-stable adjustable bench. Nonetheless, it’s best to mood your expectations about simply how purposeful the attachment is.

Though our testers had been keen to check the curler’s capacity to carry out Nordic curls, they had been in the end left upset by the expertise. Between skinny foam and an absence of a toe kick plate, the curler proved to be lower than supreme for executing this brutal hamstring train. Plus, even with the 14-inch-wide model, our testers discovered the again pad to be too skinny for the BlackWing to be a real Nordic bench.

That stated, the attachment isn’t a complete bust, as you should use it to develop your belly muscle groups with sit-ups, crunches, and different core workout routines. Finally, although, the curler didn’t obtain the identical consideration to element from REP because the star of the present. In comparison with the BlackWing itself, the supplies used on the curler — like using plastic knobs over stainless-steel — felt a notch under. For these causes, this bench obtained 4 out of 5 stars on this class.

Guarantee

REP Health features a 10-year guarantee on bench frames, together with a one-year guarantee on sewn gadgets. Whereas that provides you a strong window to make the most of the BlackWing and nonetheless be coated, the coverage isn’t fairly nearly as good as a few of REP’s rivals.

Rogue, for instance, gives a restricted lifetime guarantee on frames that voids if a product has been broken attributable to negligent or defective use, alteration, upkeep, storage, or dealing with by the person. Plus, it offers a three-year guarantee on sewn gadgets — a two-year leg up on REP.

In the meantime, Power USA stands behind its frames with a lifetime guarantee, together with a 10-year coverage on shifting components and one yr of protection for upholstery and attachments. This is applicable to tools used completely in non-public indoor dwelling settings, reminiscent of basements and garages.

So, though REP’s guarantee coverage is strong, it falls wanting a few of its rivals. Due to that, we scored the BlackWing 4 out of 5 stars on this class.

REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench Specs

From its IPF-compliant top to its stainless-steel finishes, the BlackWing gives many engaging options in a single well-built package deal (or bench, on this case). REP designed this bench to deal with heavy masses over and over by using high-quality supplies that should not have any hassle holding up over time. Listed below are the whole specs for the BlackWing, beginning with a full breakdown of its dimensions and ending with a better take a look at its compatibility with attachments. 

Dimensions

The REP BlackWing measures 59.5 inches lengthy, 25.8 inches extensive, and 17.2 inches tall for a complete footprint of 10.7 sq. toes. This 131-pound FID bench has a seat pad size of 15.6 inches with a 38.2-inch lengthy again pad that’s out there in two completely different widths (12.2 inches or 14 inches). So, whether or not you’re a broad athlete who wants extensive pads or somebody on the smaller aspect who wants the usual dimension, the BlackWing might be tailor-made to your physique kind.

Wanting under, the entrance foot is 14.8 inches extensive, with the rear foot measuring 10 inches wider. The entrance deal with is 6.9 inches lengthy with a diameter of 25 millimeters.

Supplies

REP spared no expense when it got here to the BlackWing’s building. Made with 11-gauge metal, this bench is constructed to take a pounding — and proceed performing. Plus, REP well swapped the AB-5000’s plastic adjustment knobs for stainless-steel ones that look (and really feel) like a transparent improve.

In the meantime, the seat and bench pads are coated within the firm’s new CleanGrip matte vinyl, which is thicker and appears extra sturdy than earlier vinyl produced by REP.

Weight Capability

The REP Health BlackWing has a weight capability of 1,000 kilos. This is similar score because the AB-3000, which we think about among the finest values for a budget-friendly dwelling health club bench. However, the REP AB-4100 solely has a weight capability of 700 kilos.

Suitable Attachments

REP designed an non-compulsory Leg Curler Attachment particularly for this bench. You’ll be able to insert the attachment into the built-in receiving put up on the BlackWing’s again body to carry out core workout routines, decline presses, and Nordic hamstring curls. 

Remember the fact that the attachment is not included once you buy the bench. The leg curler is bought individually for about $110. 

REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench Buyer Opinions

It’s no shock that the BlackWing has garnered virtually unanimous 5-star critiques on REP’s web site primarily based on its specs, versatility, and efficiency. Though a number of customers highlighted how heavy the bench is, the spectacular construct high quality and talent to have a zero-gap lifting expertise stood out as overwhelming positives. 

Described as “distinctive” and “amazingly sturdy” in separate critiques, the BlackWing’s high-end finishes and effective particulars make it a house run within the eyes of nearly everybody who supplied suggestions on REP’s web site.

REP BlackWing vs. Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0

The Rogue vs REP adjustable bench battle comes down to some key components. From a value perspective, the BlackWing is true on par with Rogue’s Adjustable Bench 3.0, which prices slightly below $600 for the usual mannequin. Nonetheless, that determine jumps to $695 for the stainless-steel model — almost $100 greater than the $600 BlackWing. 

Nonetheless, you get extra flexibility with REP’s latest bench, as you’ll be able to change between 12 again pad angles in comparison with simply 10 for the Adjustable Bench 3.0. Whereas each benches will let you set the seat pad angle at 0, 15, and 30 levels, the BlackWing gives extra versatility with three extra angles (-10, 8, and 45 levels). 

One main distinction to think about is whether or not you favor your health club tools to be made within the USA. In that case, you’ll wish to go along with Rogue, as REP manufactures a majority of their merchandise in China. Nonetheless, that’s not essentially a knock on the BlackWing (or any of REP’s benches), as we’ve persistently discovered them to be well-constructed and well-performing.

Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0

• Dimensions: 17.5” H x 52” L x 11” W
• Weight capability: 1,000 kilos
• Supplies: 11-gauge metal, vinyl cowl, rubber toes
• Guarantee: Restricted lifetime on the body

Check Price

Closing Verdict: Is the REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench Price It?

In case you worth versatility, it’s arduous to not put the REP BlackWing on the high of one of the best adjustable bench checklist. With 72 potential mixtures and nil gaps, you will get inventive along with your exercises and by no means have to fret about not feeling totally supported. Plus, though the leg curler attachment lacked the identical polish because the bench itself, it nonetheless offers you much more train choices.

After all, the BlackWing’s $600 price ticket places it extra within the premium bench class than the budget-friendly one. However between its wonderful building and talent to do something you would ask for (and extra), it’s price paying somewhat extra for a really distinctive adjustable bench which may simply be REP’s best design work thus far.

FAQs