How To Get Six Pack Abs

Review by nhbfreestyle:

I’ve had this home gym for a few months now and am finally submitting a review. I wanted to put some miles on it as well as see if the novelty would wear off before rating. Overall, I am still very satisfied and thrilled with the purchase. It’s been worth every penny not having to spend money on gym memberships, time, and gas (which = more $).

I did alot of comparisons before and after the purchase. I can honestly say – for the value, quality, versatility, and convenience – you just can’t beat it.

I chose this gym for the following main reasons:

1. Well built.

2. Comes with most of the main components (especially cables) already assembled. You will need a helping hand to lift, move and hold a section or two while you fasten them together. My 10 year old son was perfect for the job.

3. Most versatile – in terms of types of exercises (especially when you get creative and add certain attachments to it). Fully adjustable for fit and comfortability.

4. Iron stack (not cement blocks). Plus you can purchase and add more weight to the standard 160lbs that come with it.

5. Relatively small footprint. I had a leverage bench press machine (used only for chest exercises) that took up more space than this gym that practically works out your whole body.

6. Much easier than adding and removing free weight plates when changing exercises. On this machine it’s a matter of pulling and setting a couple of pins and clips and jumping right to the next workout. No lagging! Because of the ease resulting from the clever design, I find that it’s more fun and addictive to use.

7. Looks a lot nicer than most home gyms.

8. Allows me to be home with my family after work and still get in a great workout.

My friends love it and always get on it when they’re visiting.

Recommend if:

You want to stay healthy, develop strength, stamina and endurance, build toned muscle, and have a good physical appearance.

Bottom line is: I LOVE IT; I’m glad I got it, and would recommend it without hesitation. It’s a home gym and a great quality home gym. Don’t expect a super-heavy-duty industrial-grade one-excercise-specific piece of commercial-gym equipment.

PS> Instead of a rubber mat, I bought a six-piece foam puzzle mat set to put under it; and works just fine! Put money saved towards other fun attachments – like the rope attachment for tricep pulldowns!

Review by Dina Garabedian:

I have been researching home gyms for quite some time now. I quit my membership 2 years ago and purchased a bench and some bowflex dumbells.

Although this sufficed, it got very boring and I really missed the feel of gym equipment.

I looked at the bioforce contraption, it was better than the bowflex but still so cheesy. There is nothing like the feel of “real” weights.

I purchased this machine mainly because it was 90% built. It took us about 2 hours to put it together. Amazon delivered it in 5 days. I orderd the leg press through mercantila ( amazon did not offer it).

It does not take a lot of space up and is built so much better than any piece of junk you would find at sports authority.

I hope you find this review useful and best of luck on your fitness goals!!!!!!!!

Review by Bob R.:

I’ve been working out with weights for 15 years but have been out of the game for the last several due to personal reasons. A few months ago I was told by my Dr. that I need to lose about 25 lbs. so I decided to get back in the game after a 2 year hiatus. However, because of my very limited time and having 2 young children at home, I did not want to go back to the gym at this time. I’m away from my kids enough during my work day so I decided to set myself up at home. The problem was, as it is with most people, I have very limited space and certainly don’t have a large extra room I can dedicate as a home gym.

I bought this bench because the price was appealing and because I needed something that would fold up and take up less space since it’s being stored in our bedroom. I was actually surprised at how sturdy it is for a folding bench. The bench is solid and folds up and stores very easily in a small corner of our bedroom. The mid width is perfect for my 6′ bar. It will handle 6′ and 7′ bars but you won’t be able to use it with a bar less than 6′ long (the distance between the uprights is too wide for shorter bars). It’s very stable and wide enough that you don’t pinch your hands when re-racking the bar. It’s not as heavy duty, stable or wide as an olympic size bench but it’s less than half the price of a good olympic width bench and takes up much less space as well. And there are no folding olympic width benches available that I know of (not to mention I don’t have the room for a bench that wide). The uprights have a good range of adjustment heights and can be turned around to do squats. The adjustment pins seem a little thin to me but this isn’t a gym quality olympic bench and it is not rated to hold a dumptruck like those benches.

On the down side (and the only minor reasons that I did not rate it a 5), the back rest pad is spaced a little far away from the seat pad making for an uncomfortable gap under your lower back when doing flat presses. It’s not detrimental to the exercise as your lower back doesn’t touch the pad when doing flat presses anyway, you just need to make sure that you slide down far enough toward the leg developer so that your butt is fully supported by the lower pad. The backrest pad really could have been moved a little closer to the lower pad to close up this gap some and decrease the overhang of the pad at the top end (see comment about squatting). With inclined presses, it’s not an issue, only when laying flat on your back. Also, the top of the backrest pad extends a little to far past the uprights and is partially in the way when aproaching the uprights from the top end for doing squats. Ideally, you should pivot the backrest up and out of the way to use the bench for squatting, a minor inconvenience.

One other downside is that the owner’s manual does not tell you what the weight capacities of the bench are. This information is not posted on any web sites I visited when shopping for a bench either so I had to contact the manufacturer to get this information. Incidentally, the maximum weight for the uprights is 300 lb. and the maximum weight for the leg developer is 100 lb. I think the weight capacity for the leg developer is a little low but when using the heavier weights one could always do one leg at a time, effectively doubling the weight capacity per leg. I think this is a minor compromise considering the low cost of the bench.

Assembly was very easy and took only about 45 minutes. They even give you the tools you will need to assemble the bench. The assembly instructions were pretty good with only 1 or 2 minor discrepancies that anyone with any type of common sense could figure out. Bolt holes all lined up, the finish is very good and there are not a lot of parts to get lost.

Overall, I would rate this bench as an excellent buy. For people looking for a good quality stable bench for the home that does not cost a lot, takes up little space when stored and can handle a full 300 lb. load, this bench fits the bill very well. Of course if you are a serious bodybuilder who needs to squat 500 lb. you will need to look at full sized olympic benches and cages, but you should already know that. This bench was not designed to do the work and hold the weight of a full cage, but it doesn’t take up the whole room either. This bench was designed for the average person looking to get/stay in shape at home and it meets that goal very well. The average person working out at home typically won’t need to load more than 300 lb. on the uprights.

I would not hesitate to buy this bench again.

Review by Michael G.:

This bench is great for those without a lot of space. It folds up real nice and stays that way with a locking pin that pops in, plus a manually installed pin underneath that you can add also. It was easy to put together, comes with the tools you need (but use your own if you have them) and is a sturdy bench. I use mine with a 6-foot, 15-lb aluminum bar (200 lb load capacity) and together they make a perfect home workout center. Comes with leg extension/hamstring curl attachment which is easy to get on/off (but you need tools for the nut/bolt that holds it in place). Finish is a nice satin gold color (looks good) and quality of manufacture is good also. The supports are wide enough so that one person can load weights without the bar tipping.

Only two nitpicks: #1: the weight supports wobble some at the higher settings,and at the highest setting – for squats – it is just right for my 5’8″ frame; taller folks will bend down some to get under the bar.

#2: the gap between the seat and back support is too wide (on my bench, it is exactly 3 and 3/4 inches). It should really be no more than 2 inches. But although the large gap is a little annoying, it does not bother me. Taller/shorter people may be bothered by it, though.

Review by Livin’ In Paradise:

It would be nice if there were more than one size, because they tend to shift around on my ankles. I had to cut the cuffs off a pair of socks and wear them to protect my skin from the rubbing. But, I really like using these in the pool and if something happens to them, I would buy them again.

Review by Joy Bramble:

August 4, 2008

I first began doing this workout in December of 2007, well before I was familiar with the concept of functional training (that is, workouts the contain moves that mimic moves performed/strengthen the muscules used in every day activities). Now that I have incorporated Tracie Long Training functional training workouts into my regime, I realized when I did this great workout yesterday that it has some of the elements of functional training. While I wouldn’t term it a functional training workout, it is a very, very good, all-arond workout with a good mixture of basic (e.g., tricept kickbacks, squats, lunges), aerobically challenging (e.g., agility moves, mountain climbers, squat thrusts), and straight up strength and balance moves (e.g., pushups with lat rows). Patrick is fun/silly/giggly/engaging and the time flies by. He’s not a workout automiton; you can see him struggling to keep his balance the same as you. It’s a great workout to slip in periodically between heavy/serious weight training workouts or to do regulary if you prefer middle-of-the-road moderate weight workouts only. A hard core 17-year Firm vet who now, thanks to Jillian’s 30 Day Shred, works out daily, this and Patrick’s Hard Work Conditioning are welcome additions to my workout rotation.

Review by Joy Bramble:

This is a great all-arond workout with a good mixture of basic (e.g., tricept kickbacks, squats, lunges), aerobically challenging (e.g., agility moves, mountain climbers, squat thrusts), and straight up strength and balance moves (e.g., pushups with lat rows). Patrick is fun/silly/giggly/engaging and the time flies by. He’s not a workout automiton; you can see him struggling to keep his balance the same as you. It’s a great workout to slip in periodically between heavy/serious weight training workouts or to do regulary if you prefer middle-of-the-road moderate weight workouts only.

A hard core 17-year Firm vet who now, thanks to Jillian’s 30 Day Shred, works out daily, this and Patrick’s Hard Work Conditioning are wonderful additions to my workout rotation.

Review by Dr. Keith Shenberger:

This book is a superb introduction to the use of kettlebells. It is well illustrated and the exercises are all well organized and explained. I have been using kettlebells for 3 years now and this book has broadened my approach and added new and different approaches to my workouts. Bellomo shows in this book that he is an experienced master with this form of training. Highly recommended.

Review by David Pulizzi:

Before kettlebell training became the latest trend in gyms across the country, Dave Bellomo had long been extolling its many virtues. How nice to see then that one of kettlebell training’s preeminent masters has finally penned a well-written, richly illustrated, surprisingly entertaining and–for both beginners and seasoned athletes–entirely helpful book on the subject. Whether your interest is in a particular sport or in general fitness, where kettlebell training is concerned, this is surely the best book currently on the market. With close attention to detail and occasional flashes of good humor, Bellomo lays out in clear, plainspoken language the definitive guide to a highly effective type of workout that has suddenly become very popular. For those wishing to do kettlebell training right, Bellomo’s book is ground zero. Highly recommended.

Review by Mark:

These are decent weights – carry case arrived damaged, it was replaced for us – the weights themselves are solid and easy to handle.

Caveat: a 40 pound set is not much weight – I figured it would be plenty for me as I’m just getting into this, but actually my wife’s outgrown them as well.

Thing is, the bar weighs 5 pounds, you get 15 pounds of assorted weight for each of the two bars, total 40 pounds, this allows you to set up from 5 to 20 pound dual dumbbells or a single up to 35 pounds – not quite enough to get there from here.

Plan on adding a few more 5 pounder or 10 pounders to it, is all – they are available separately so no big deal. I’ve set these bars up with 65 pounds of weights with no problem using 10 pounders.

The bars are good quality and have rubber washers to lock the weights in place.

For some exercises the 14 inch bars get in the way compared to simple hex dumbbells, and it does take a while to change weights between moves, but it’s tolerable, especially compared to blowing 0 on adjustable weights with plastic adjustment tabs, no less.

For the price, keep a couple sets around – you get more versatility in weight, and you get the ability to set up 2 sets for yourself at a time – allowing quicker workouts at the weight of your choosing without investing in a zillion separate dumbbells.

Would definitely do again.

Review by T. Wilson:

The quality is what you expect. They are your basic set of dumbbells. The carrying case will likely get damaged in shipment. Mine had a dented corner and broken latch.

But the case would be the least of my worries. Like the other reviewer, mine came with an incredibly strong gasoline scent and the bars are covered in this oily slightly sticky… substance. It leaves your hands smelling of gas even after a couple washes.

Review by Johnny Huynh:

I have been using these for over a year, and they seem very durable. However, take note that I do take care of them (i.e. I do not drop them onto the ground from high above; instead, I gently lower my hands to the ground before dropping them no more than 4-5 inches off the ground on in-door carpet). They do seem like they can be dropped on concrete just fine too though.

These seem to be constructed well on the outside, but the durability may vary from one set to another because the weights have some kind of powder in them, and a (in my case, well-constructed) plug keeps the powder in.

The clips work well. There are 6 total. Two of the clips are (barely) bigger (but bigger nonetheless) and very strong. These two clips do not slip at all handling the heaviest of weights on this weight set. I use these two clips on one dumbell handle. The other 4 clips are not as strong, but works about as well as the two larger ones when combined. I use 2 of these clips on each side (4 total) of the other dumbbell handle.

Review by J. Finkel:

First off, I ALSO did not receive 2 of the five pound weights. So, this ended up being a 100 pound weight set. Ideally you should be able to put equal weights on each side of a bar for proper balance and increase weight by 10 lbs. increments (or 5lbs. if you want to buy 2 1/2 lbs. weights). If you’re going to use the two dumbbells together, then you’re limited to properly placing exactly 20 lbs! The addition of the 2 missing weights would allow for 10 or 30 lbs, which is a vast improvement.

The bars are made of a sturdy metal, though fairly light and not likely to endure much abuse. The barbell weighs in at roughly 4 lbs and the dumbbells under 2 lbs. a piece. The barbell comes in two pieces which you must pound together on concrete and seems to handle all the weights that come with the set, but i’d be curious how much weight it can handle safely. I suppose if it came apart during a bench press, the weights would simply fall to either side of you harmlessly though. The barbell can fit up to 5 weights on each side and the dumbbells can handle 2 weights per side. The 6 included locking springs do a good job holding the weights in place. You can even tip the dumbbells fully to one side without any sliding.

The weights are a cheap but solid plastic with a plug holding in the fine packed chalky dust that fills these weights. There seemed to be some dust here and there when I unpacked the weights, but it wasn’t leaking out of any of the weights. The weights have a nice design on one side mimicking real metal weights but the other side is flat and makes it harder to pick up the weights with one hand than it should be.

Considering the current half-off sale and free shipping, this is just an unbeatable deal. I was tempted to give it 5 stars, but the missing weights are a real issue and I will have to buy some extra weights (though I probably would have bought 2 more 25 lbs weights anyway and maybe even 4 x 2.5 lbs). Honestly, given the price though, I think I’ll just buy a second set of these and find somewhere out of the way for the extra bars.

Review by 99problems:

I was amazed in the quality of this weight system it is worth the money and was delivered in less than 4 days right when I needed it. If I didn’t miss the delivery man would have been delivered in 2-3days ( make sure someone is home when its shipped to sign for pkg. the painting on the weight looks to be very durable and couldn’t have asked for more HIGHLY RECOMMEND this product.

Review by Jeff S.:

These weights came just as expected. I have been using them daily for several weeks now and am very satisfied. I especially like the built in handles. It makes them much better for various exercises.

Review by mom2boyz:

I purchased my Cap Barbell neoprene dumbbell 3#/5#/8# set from another online fitness store about 6 months ago. This set is a great starter set for toning and weight training at home.

These are good quality dumbbells (comparable to Troy brand) and are colored red, aqua and purple. Neoprene dumbbells are less damaging on flooring, don’t smell bad, and (because of their hex shape) don’t roll away. They are also easier to grip and more gentle on your hands (especially if you prefer to weight train without gloves).

I use these dumbbells almost daily and really like them.

Review by mom2boyz:

I purchased my Cap Barbell neoprene dumbbell 3#/5#/8# set from another online fitness store about 6 months ago. This set is a great starter set for toning and weight training at home.

These are good quality dumbbells (comparable to Troy brand) and are colored red, aqua and purple. Neoprene dumbbells are less damaging on flooring, don’t smell bad, and (because of their hex shape) don’t roll away. They are also easier to grip and more gentle on your hands (especially if you prefer to weight train without gloves).

I use these dumbbells almost daily and really like them.

Review by jimbo:

This set is solidly built, and it has a quality feel. Rubber washers are provided for the collar and the bar (one on each side of the weight stack) so the weights stay relatively tight once you screw the collars on (unlike some other screw-on collar sets out there). The knurling on the bar is about right, not too rough, but provides a good grip. (I’ve used some bars in the past that are cheaply machined and really chew up your hands – not a problem with this set) I also use the 1″ plates from this set on my Curl and Super Curl Bars – not much too report there, they work! Overall I am please with the quality and appearance of this set and would recommend it.

Review by Tesa Marlow:

The bar is lightweight and the set has a nice feel to it when loaded. It is perfect for home use with video workouts such as Jari Love or Cathe Friedrich. I would supplement this set with some 2.5 lb weights. The 10 lbs plates are a tad bulky, but at this price – who cares?

Review by Antonin Benak:

I bought this set of free weights as part of a regiment to get back into shape. In short, this is a great starter set, especially for those who have either never worked out or never owned a set before.

PROS- Easy to put together (yes it comes in pieces)

Once the bar is put together it will NEVER come apart

The plates are rust proof in case you have to leave your set outside (like me, just covere them up with a tarp when you’re done)

There is room for additional plates on the bar

CONS- Plates made of think vinyl/plastic material filled with sand (be careful not to crack them open)

Does NOT come with a bench (luckily I had my own)

The bar is only about 4 feet in length, which may not fit every style bench

The bar CAN rust if left in the elements (but this can be minimized with a tarp)

Review by A. Braden:

I was very happy with the fast shipping I received but was disappointed when I opened the box. I expected my weights to be PINK because I ordered the 10lb dumbbells (5lb each) but they were GRAY!!! Even on the dumbbell packaging it shows that the 10lb weights should be pink….

The workout “DVD” that comes with it was not a full sized CD at all. It is a small CD that is typical for computer use.. it’ll still work in a regular DVD player, however, it only enables you to enjoy “all features” if it’s used in a computer….I have yet to utilize the DVD because I just got it in the mail today but I’m sure it’ll work out just fine. I know I’ll enjoy the weights but I wish they were the color the packaging shows they should be.

Review by Mark:

These are decent weights – carry case arrived damaged, it was replaced for us – the weights themselves are solid and easy to handle.

Caveat: a 40 pound set is not much weight – I figured it would be plenty for me as I’m just getting into this, but actually my wife’s outgrown them as well.

Thing is, the bar weighs 5 pounds, you get 15 pounds of assorted weight for each of the two bars, total 40 pounds, this allows you to set up from 5 to 20 pound dual dumbbells or a single up to 35 pounds – not quite enough to get there from here.

Plan on adding a few more 5 pounder or 10 pounders to it, is all – they are available separately so no big deal. I’ve set these bars up with 65 pounds of weights with no problem using 10 pounders.

The bars are good quality and have rubber washers to lock the weights in place.

For some exercises the 14 inch bars get in the way compared to simple hex dumbbells, and it does take a while to change weights between moves, but it’s tolerable, especially compared to blowing 0 on adjustable weights with plastic adjustment tabs, no less.

For the price, keep a couple sets around – you get more versatility in weight, and you get the ability to set up 2 sets for yourself at a time – allowing quicker workouts at the weight of your choosing without investing in a zillion separate dumbbells.

Would definitely do again.

Review by T. Wilson:

The quality is what you expect. They are your basic set of dumbbells. The carrying case will likely get damaged in shipment. Mine had a dented corner and broken latch.

But the case would be the least of my worries. Like the other reviewer, mine came with an incredibly strong gasoline scent and the bars are covered in this oily slightly sticky… substance. It leaves your hands smelling of gas even after a couple washes.

Review by M and G:

We own three sizes of this dumbbell, 8, 15, and 25 pound.

Pro:

+ Good looking

+ Seems well manufactured

+ Sturdy

+ Hex shape won’t let them roll around

+ Weights permanently affixed to the bar so won’t rattle

+ Coated weights are temperature nuetral when they make contact with skin, which will be nice in the winter

Con:

- Coated with an oil when arrived, definitely will need to be cleaned (the oil got into/aggravated my eye)

- Bar is a “bell” shape, so center is fatter than ends, for the bigger weight my hand tends to slip off the center and my hand ends up right against the rubber end

- Black color can mark floors or walls, but it doesn’t seem to do it much for me as I am careful and work out on carpet

Neutral:

> The 8-pound dumbell has a smaller diameter handle bar than the other dumbells… I like the bigger grip frankly, but hard to call it a con

Bottom line: recommended, bought an additional size after purchasing and using the weights I originally ordered.

Review by Lisa M. Trafton:

This is the perfect “in between” weight. Not too light and not too heavy to lift high reps bicep workout to Jari Love’s cd’s or Kelley Coffey-Meyer (my two favorites). The rubber coated ends save my floor from getting scratched and the grip is comfortable and non-slip.

Review by mom2boyz:

I purchased my Cap Barbell neoprene dumbbell 3#/5#/8# set from another online fitness store about 6 months ago. This set is a great starter set for toning and weight training at home.

These are good quality dumbbells (comparable to Troy brand) and are colored red, aqua and purple. Neoprene dumbbells are less damaging on flooring, don’t smell bad, and (because of their hex shape) don’t roll away. They are also easier to grip and more gentle on your hands (especially if you prefer to weight train without gloves).

I use these dumbbells almost daily and really like them.

Review by mom2boyz:

I purchased my Cap Barbell neoprene dumbbell 3#/5#/8# set from another online fitness store about 6 months ago. This set is a great starter set for toning and weight training at home.

These are good quality dumbbells (comparable to Troy brand) and are colored red, aqua and purple. Neoprene dumbbells are less damaging on flooring, don’t smell bad, and (because of their hex shape) don’t roll away. They are also easier to grip and more gentle on your hands (especially if you prefer to weight train without gloves).

I use these dumbbells almost daily and really like them.

Review by K. Schaub:

I purchased the PowerBlock dumbbells after returning the SelectTech dumbbells. The SelectTechs are cumbersome, the weight plates feel loose, and you have to dial two dials to select one weight. Furthermore, they are over 0 more expensive than the PowerBlocks.

On the plus side for the PowerBlocks:

1) They take up very little space for an adjustable dumbbell

2) They feel solid

3) While not cheap, they are much cheaper than the SelectTech dumbbells

4) You can do over the head tricep extensions using both weights or one using the handles on the bottom

5) Selecting the weights is a one step process for each weight

6) They are upgradable with a heavier handle option and a barbell option

On the minus side:

1) Alligning the pins to select the weight is a bit more difficult with the weights on the ground. The stand or a table top would alleviate this problem.

Overall, I’m pleased with the PowerBlocks and definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a quality, adjustable weight dumbbell.

Review by Patrick D. Goonan:

In general, I think these dumbbells are great. However, they can be a bit dangerous if you don’t do a safety check. For example, if you are not paying attention you can insert the pins at an angle. This creates a possiblity that a plate can come loose and hit you. Also, you can accidentally put the pin mechanism upside down, this creates the possiblity of an accident too.

I like that there is a back up system of an elastic cord and magnets holding the pin mechanism in place. I have found there is only a real danger on certain exercises and only if you don’t follow the instructions. Even then the odds are small anything will happen, but it’s something I want to warn people about because I have had some near misses.

I find the smaller version of these are better than the larger version. The large version can be cumbersome and a bit long for some exercises. However, I agree with the other reviews you can comfortably do a variety of exercises and the trade-off in terms of a slightly smaller range of motion on some particular exercises isn’t a big deal. For example, for upright rows I tend to prefer a short curling bar… ditto for overhead triceps extentions. However, using one dumbbell with two hands is possible and quite comfortable.

This is a solid well made product. I have owned mine for about a year and I think they are great. Over time, there can be an issue with friction between the plates, but I very thin layer of lubricant can help. For most people, this will only have to be done infrequently.

Review by W. Yee:

I guess there is a reason why it’s so cheap. Because it is cheap. You can tell the materials are cheap. Let me start off by talking about the shipment. I got the free delivery deal thing and even though it said 5-9 days. It actually came in 2 days after the order. Super fast 5/5 on that. But when it arrived, the box holding the weights was pretty smashed up its not usable and super dirty. Not sure where these shipments come from but boy are the weights and the box dirty as hell. There are sands or gravel or whatever inside the box with the weights. I decided to wash the weights and it started melting. Not really melting but black stuff started peeling off. I guess it’s because its rubber or whatever but small rubber ink thingys were peeling off. I don’t even know how to explain it. But after 30 mins of washing my tub looked like there was an oil spill. 1/5 there on the dirty job. After my weights dried I decided to try out the weights. Everything was fine until the spring clips. These clips are there to help hold the weights in place but boy are they hard to put on. and most likely super hard to take off too. could not had put it on myself without my friend helping. i originally wanted to do reps with all the weights on then slowly reducing the weights but it seems like its not possible because the spring clips are so hard to put on. maybe its just me but other than the spring clips and dirty shipment, the weights are a great set for its price. overall its a great set but i minus a few points for the dirtyness and the horrible spring clips. without the spring clips the dumbells are nothing more than normal 20lbs set because i can’t remove the weights and put on the clips without a 2nd person helping me. so it defeats the purpose of having a detachable dumbell bar + plates. I am thinking of buying a new pair of clips becuase these cheap clips are pretty useless. the weights are fine tho.

Review by Johnny Huynh:

I have been using these for over a year, and they seem very durable. However, take note that I do take care of them (i.e. I do not drop them onto the ground from high above; instead, I gently lower my hands to the ground before dropping them no more than 4-5 inches off the ground on in-door carpet). They do seem like they can be dropped on concrete just fine too though.

These seem to be constructed well on the outside, but the durability may vary from one set to another because the weights have some kind of powder in them, and a (in my case, well-constructed) plug keeps the powder in.

The clips work well. There are 6 total. Two of the clips are (barely) bigger (but bigger nonetheless) and very strong. These two clips do not slip at all handling the heaviest of weights on this weight set. I use these two clips on one dumbell handle. The other 4 clips are not as strong, but works about as well as the two larger ones when combined. I use 2 of these clips on each side (4 total) of the other dumbbell handle.

Review by J. Finkel:

First off, I ALSO did not receive 2 of the five pound weights. So, this ended up being a 100 pound weight set. Ideally you should be able to put equal weights on each side of a bar for proper balance and increase weight by 10 lbs. increments (or 5lbs. if you want to buy 2 1/2 lbs. weights). If you’re going to use the two dumbbells together, then you’re limited to properly placing exactly 20 lbs! The addition of the 2 missing weights would allow for 10 or 30 lbs, which is a vast improvement.

The bars are made of a sturdy metal, though fairly light and not likely to endure much abuse. The barbell weighs in at roughly 4 lbs and the dumbbells under 2 lbs. a piece. The barbell comes in two pieces which you must pound together on concrete and seems to handle all the weights that come with the set, but i’d be curious how much weight it can handle safely. I suppose if it came apart during a bench press, the weights would simply fall to either side of you harmlessly though. The barbell can fit up to 5 weights on each side and the dumbbells can handle 2 weights per side. The 6 included locking springs do a good job holding the weights in place. You can even tip the dumbbells fully to one side without any sliding.

The weights are a cheap but solid plastic with a plug holding in the fine packed chalky dust that fills these weights. There seemed to be some dust here and there when I unpacked the weights, but it wasn’t leaking out of any of the weights. The weights have a nice design on one side mimicking real metal weights but the other side is flat and makes it harder to pick up the weights with one hand than it should be.

Considering the current half-off sale and free shipping, this is just an unbeatable deal. I was tempted to give it 5 stars, but the missing weights are a real issue and I will have to buy some extra weights (though I probably would have bought 2 more 25 lbs weights anyway and maybe even 4 x 2.5 lbs). Honestly, given the price though, I think I’ll just buy a second set of these and find somewhere out of the way for the extra bars.

Review by Debbie:

The actual weights are as expected; however one of the top selling points for me was the storage case to enable portability & clean efficient storage. When the shipping box arrived it seemed too big for such a small item and did not properly secure the contents. With that said the internal black storage box for the weights was cracked & broken which doesn’t close. Quite useless. Reading prior reviews stating the same issue it begs the question if the reviews and comments are taken in to consideration by the supplier. Obviously they need to either not ship damaged product OR package it better so it’s not damaged during shipping. Difficult to determine the actual factor

Review by Shaun McParland:

The weights are great in serviceability and price. However the packaging the box was sent in was loose and the box became deformed. Since the weights are the relevant part this product is recommended.

Shaun

Review by Jannica:

If I were writing this review just on the weights/dumbbells, I would have given 5 stars. The weights are great, and their color is unique, and their grip great. Also, their unique shape makes exercises such as skull crushers, hammer curls, and front shoulder raises easier to grab the dumbbell by the top. However, I am rating this product as a whole, that means with the stand included. First of all, the stand is weak and plastic with two metal clips that slide into it to hold the weights. If you ask me, it is just for looks, and not to move the “dumbbell tree” around with, even though that handle on top looks rather deceiving. Do not pick this tree up by the handle or your toes will hurt as the weights come rolling off! Other than the stand, these weights are great! Get a new stand if you can !

Review by CT Text for Less:

If you’re buying this because you think either a) a stand would be nice or b) a DVD would be great or c) you like posters – go buy something else.

-Stand is not as cool as it seems

-The dvd is only 5 or 10 minutes long, featuring a random blonde in front of a pool not really doing too many exercises.

-The poster is okay, but you can bring out any [...] article and get the same

The weights have a comfortable grip and come in cool colors but I wish I hadn’t bought these.

You probably won’t need the 3lb ones anyways, so I imagine it would’ve been cheaper if I had just bought my own dumbbells at Walmart individually.

Review by Kurt A. Johnson:

With the recent birth of my new daughter, I wanted to get back into shape, so she wouldn’t think of me as “old fat Dad.” Well, my loving wife got me this weight set, and I am very pleased with it. The kit consists of two dumbbell handles with collars (about 3.5 lbs. when put together), eight 2.5 lb. weights, and four 1.5 lb. weights. The plates fit on the dumbbells quite easily, and the nut-like collars ensure that they won’t fall off.

I am very happy with these weights. It is quick and easy to change the weight of each dumbbell, and when it is together, it stays together, rather than the plates rotating and threatening to unscrew the collars. Also, the plastic container holds the plates and handles nicely and when the pieces are stowed away, it makes a nice small package for storage.

I have had these weights for a year now, and am quite happy with them. If you or someone you know wants to do some light weightlifting to get back into shape, then I highly suggest that you get this set. Looks great and works great!

Review by Jeffrey Guillaume:

If you take the time to read his seller profile, you’ll see plenty of unsatisfied buyers such as myself who have waited forever for our purchases, and receieved no communication from the seller! I bought this dumbbell set, it did not come cheap after shipping, but I really liked how it came in a case, plus the pieces looked nice. After 2 weeks of no confirmation of delivery and no contact from the seller until the last minute, I finally received my item and they were nothing as shown in the picture, nor as described! My shipment only came with 34lbs, not 40, and there was NO CASE!!!!

It came with NO CASE, they were all put in little plastic bags and some of the dumbbells had some grease-like substance on it. The plates looked NOTHING as pictured, they were black and were made from some cheap plastic. This was by-far the WORST experience I’ve ever had, since I’ve been using Amazon for the past couple years. If I was you, I wouldn’t even gamble on buying whatever this guy sells. BUYER BEWARE!

Review by Mark:

These are decent weights – carry case arrived damaged, it was replaced for us – the weights themselves are solid and easy to handle.

Caveat: a 40 pound set is not much weight – I figured it would be plenty for me as I’m just getting into this, but actually my wife’s outgrown them as well.

Thing is, the bar weighs 5 pounds, you get 15 pounds of assorted weight for each of the two bars, total 40 pounds, this allows you to set up from 5 to 20 pound dual dumbbells or a single up to 35 pounds – not quite enough to get there from here.

Plan on adding a few more 5 pounder or 10 pounders to it, is all – they are available separately so no big deal. I’ve set these bars up with 65 pounds of weights with no problem using 10 pounders.

The bars are good quality and have rubber washers to lock the weights in place.

For some exercises the 14 inch bars get in the way compared to simple hex dumbbells, and it does take a while to change weights between moves, but it’s tolerable, especially compared to blowing 0 on adjustable weights with plastic adjustment tabs, no less.

For the price, keep a couple sets around – you get more versatility in weight, and you get the ability to set up 2 sets for yourself at a time – allowing quicker workouts at the weight of your choosing without investing in a zillion separate dumbbells.

Would definitely do again.

Review by T. Wilson:

The quality is what you expect. They are your basic set of dumbbells. The carrying case will likely get damaged in shipment. Mine had a dented corner and broken latch.

But the case would be the least of my worries. Like the other reviewer, mine came with an incredibly strong gasoline scent and the bars are covered in this oily slightly sticky… substance. It leaves your hands smelling of gas even after a couple washes.

Review by Johnny Huynh:

I have been using these for over a year, and they seem very durable. However, take note that I do take care of them (i.e. I do not drop them onto the ground from high above; instead, I gently lower my hands to the ground before dropping them no more than 4-5 inches off the ground on in-door carpet). They do seem like they can be dropped on concrete just fine too though.

These seem to be constructed well on the outside, but the durability may vary from one set to another because the weights have some kind of powder in them, and a (in my case, well-constructed) plug keeps the powder in.

The clips work well. There are 6 total. Two of the clips are (barely) bigger (but bigger nonetheless) and very strong. These two clips do not slip at all handling the heaviest of weights on this weight set. I use these two clips on one dumbell handle. The other 4 clips are not as strong, but works about as well as the two larger ones when combined. I use 2 of these clips on each side (4 total) of the other dumbbell handle.

Review by J. Finkel:

First off, I ALSO did not receive 2 of the five pound weights. So, this ended up being a 100 pound weight set. Ideally you should be able to put equal weights on each side of a bar for proper balance and increase weight by 10 lbs. increments (or 5lbs. if you want to buy 2 1/2 lbs. weights). If you’re going to use the two dumbbells together, then you’re limited to properly placing exactly 20 lbs! The addition of the 2 missing weights would allow for 10 or 30 lbs, which is a vast improvement.

The bars are made of a sturdy metal, though fairly light and not likely to endure much abuse. The barbell weighs in at roughly 4 lbs and the dumbbells under 2 lbs. a piece. The barbell comes in two pieces which you must pound together on concrete and seems to handle all the weights that come with the set, but i’d be curious how much weight it can handle safely. I suppose if it came apart during a bench press, the weights would simply fall to either side of you harmlessly though. The barbell can fit up to 5 weights on each side and the dumbbells can handle 2 weights per side. The 6 included locking springs do a good job holding the weights in place. You can even tip the dumbbells fully to one side without any sliding.

The weights are a cheap but solid plastic with a plug holding in the fine packed chalky dust that fills these weights. There seemed to be some dust here and there when I unpacked the weights, but it wasn’t leaking out of any of the weights. The weights have a nice design on one side mimicking real metal weights but the other side is flat and makes it harder to pick up the weights with one hand than it should be.

Considering the current half-off sale and free shipping, this is just an unbeatable deal. I was tempted to give it 5 stars, but the missing weights are a real issue and I will have to buy some extra weights (though I probably would have bought 2 more 25 lbs weights anyway and maybe even 4 x 2.5 lbs). Honestly, given the price though, I think I’ll just buy a second set of these and find somewhere out of the way for the extra bars.

Review by 99problems:

I was amazed in the quality of this weight system it is worth the money and was delivered in less than 4 days right when I needed it. If I didn’t miss the delivery man would have been delivered in 2-3days ( make sure someone is home when its shipped to sign for pkg. the painting on the weight looks to be very durable and couldn’t have asked for more HIGHLY RECOMMEND this product.

Review by Jeff S.:

These weights came just as expected. I have been using them daily for several weeks now and am very satisfied. I especially like the built in handles. It makes them much better for various exercises.

Review by mom2boyz:

I purchased my Cap Barbell neoprene dumbbell 3#/5#/8# set from another online fitness store about 6 months ago. This set is a great starter set for toning and weight training at home.

These are good quality dumbbells (comparable to Troy brand) and are colored red, aqua and purple. Neoprene dumbbells are less damaging on flooring, don’t smell bad, and (because of their hex shape) don’t roll away. They are also easier to grip and more gentle on your hands (especially if you prefer to weight train without gloves).

I use these dumbbells almost daily and really like them.

Review by mom2boyz:

I purchased my Cap Barbell neoprene dumbbell 3#/5#/8# set from another online fitness store about 6 months ago. This set is a great starter set for toning and weight training at home.

These are good quality dumbbells (comparable to Troy brand) and are colored red, aqua and purple. Neoprene dumbbells are less damaging on flooring, don’t smell bad, and (because of their hex shape) don’t roll away. They are also easier to grip and more gentle on your hands (especially if you prefer to weight train without gloves).

I use these dumbbells almost daily and really like them.

Review by jimbo:

This set is solidly built, and it has a quality feel. Rubber washers are provided for the collar and the bar (one on each side of the weight stack) so the weights stay relatively tight once you screw the collars on (unlike some other screw-on collar sets out there). The knurling on the bar is about right, not too rough, but provides a good grip. (I’ve used some bars in the past that are cheaply machined and really chew up your hands – not a problem with this set) I also use the 1″ plates from this set on my Curl and Super Curl Bars – not much too report there, they work! Overall I am please with the quality and appearance of this set and would recommend it.

Review by Tesa Marlow:

The bar is lightweight and the set has a nice feel to it when loaded. It is perfect for home use with video workouts such as Jari Love or Cathe Friedrich. I would supplement this set with some 2.5 lb weights. The 10 lbs plates are a tad bulky, but at this price – who cares?

Review by Antonin Benak:

I bought this set of free weights as part of a regiment to get back into shape. In short, this is a great starter set, especially for those who have either never worked out or never owned a set before.

PROS- Easy to put together (yes it comes in pieces)

Once the bar is put together it will NEVER come apart

The plates are rust proof in case you have to leave your set outside (like me, just covere them up with a tarp when you’re done)

There is room for additional plates on the bar

CONS- Plates made of think vinyl/plastic material filled with sand (be careful not to crack them open)

Does NOT come with a bench (luckily I had my own)

The bar is only about 4 feet in length, which may not fit every style bench

The bar CAN rust if left in the elements (but this can be minimized with a tarp)

Review by A. Braden:

I was very happy with the fast shipping I received but was disappointed when I opened the box. I expected my weights to be PINK because I ordered the 10lb dumbbells (5lb each) but they were GRAY!!! Even on the dumbbell packaging it shows that the 10lb weights should be pink….

The workout “DVD” that comes with it was not a full sized CD at all. It is a small CD that is typical for computer use.. it’ll still work in a regular DVD player, however, it only enables you to enjoy “all features” if it’s used in a computer….I have yet to utilize the DVD because I just got it in the mail today but I’m sure it’ll work out just fine. I know I’ll enjoy the weights but I wish they were the color the packaging shows they should be.

Review by Morrell Deedes:

This is a surprisingly sturdy, lightweight bench to use for dumbbell exercises. Not only is it affordable, but it is easier to put together than the average treadmill. The manual’s instructions for putting the bench together are clear and easy to follow, and it offers good advice on how to get started coming up with an exercise routine. The bench’s backrest is adjustable (a hard-to-find but important feature), so you can do the full range of dumbbell exercises.

Customers should know before buying that the bench is designed to support a maximum user weight of 250 lbs with a combined dumbbell weight of 100 lbs. So, although you cannot use this bench for lifting massive weights, it is ideal for people who are just starting out or who are focusing on fitness instead of extreme bodybuilding.

Review by J. Jurist:

Easily assembled, compact and sturdy. Great ab bench, dumbbell chest bench, and good for back work. Leg bars make isolation curls a little difficult, but otherwise a solid product.

Review by Shane Schofield:

This is a good weight bench. I use mine for bench press, tricep extensions, and,with addition of ankle weights, leg extensions. Ie is very solid despite its light weight. I weigh 300lbs. It also serves as a nice bench to sit on. very comfortable.

Review by A.J.:

This bench was easy to assemble, and, once put together, the bench was solid, i.e., it didn’t wobble. The padding is good and the overall quality is good. The only downside I have seen from the bench so far is that it could use a wider base for doing exercises like dumbell flies… This could be considered a good thing, though: you have to use your core and bring the weights up evenly. This could also be due to that fact that the bench sits on thick carpeting. For and free shipping, I have no complaints.

Review by Customer:

It only took me about two hours to set the whole thing up, and it’s very comfortable and perfect for a beginner to weight training. I gave it a four though because the tools included to set it up were sub par at best, I had to use my own tools to construct it if I didn’t want to spend 5 hours haha. Also, the written directions were somewhat lacking, but the pictures were amazing help.

Review by Bob R.:

I’ve been working out with weights for 15 years but have been out of the game for the last several due to personal reasons. A few months ago I was told by my Dr. that I need to lose about 25 lbs. so I decided to get back in the game after a 2 year hiatus. However, because of my very limited time and having 2 young children at home, I did not want to go back to the gym at this time. I’m away from my kids enough during my work day so I decided to set myself up at home. The problem was, as it is with most people, I have very limited space and certainly don’t have a large extra room I can dedicate as a home gym.

I bought this bench because the price was appealing and because I needed something that would fold up and take up less space since it’s being stored in our bedroom. I was actually surprised at how sturdy it is for a folding bench. The bench is solid and folds up and stores very easily in a small corner of our bedroom. The mid width is perfect for my 6′ bar. It will handle 6′ and 7′ bars but you won’t be able to use it with a bar less than 6′ long (the distance between the uprights is too wide for shorter bars). It’s very stable and wide enough that you don’t pinch your hands when re-racking the bar. It’s not as heavy duty, stable or wide as an olympic size bench but it’s less than half the price of a good olympic width bench and takes up much less space as well. And there are no folding olympic width benches available that I know of (not to mention I don’t have the room for a bench that wide). The uprights have a good range of adjustment heights and can be turned around to do squats. The adjustment pins seem a little thin to me but this isn’t a gym quality olympic bench and it is not rated to hold a dumptruck like those benches.

On the down side (and the only minor reasons that I did not rate it a 5), the back rest pad is spaced a little far away from the seat pad making for an uncomfortable gap under your lower back when doing flat presses. It’s not detrimental to the exercise as your lower back doesn’t touch the pad when doing flat presses anyway, you just need to make sure that you slide down far enough toward the leg developer so that your butt is fully supported by the lower pad. The backrest pad really could have been moved a little closer to the lower pad to close up this gap some and decrease the overhang of the pad at the top end (see comment about squatting). With inclined presses, it’s not an issue, only when laying flat on your back. Also, the top of the backrest pad extends a little to far past the uprights and is partially in the way when aproaching the uprights from the top end for doing squats. Ideally, you should pivot the backrest up and out of the way to use the bench for squatting, a minor inconvenience.

One other downside is that the owner’s manual does not tell you what the weight capacities of the bench are. This information is not posted on any web sites I visited when shopping for a bench either so I had to contact the manufacturer to get this information. Incidentally, the maximum weight for the uprights is 300 lb. and the maximum weight for the leg developer is 100 lb. I think the weight capacity for the leg developer is a little low but when using the heavier weights one could always do one leg at a time, effectively doubling the weight capacity per leg. I think this is a minor compromise considering the low cost of the bench.

Assembly was very easy and took only about 45 minutes. They even give you the tools you will need to assemble the bench. The assembly instructions were pretty good with only 1 or 2 minor discrepancies that anyone with any type of common sense could figure out. Bolt holes all lined up, the finish is very good and there are not a lot of parts to get lost.

Overall, I would rate this bench as an excellent buy. For people looking for a good quality stable bench for the home that does not cost a lot, takes up little space when stored and can handle a full 300 lb. load, this bench fits the bill very well. Of course if you are a serious bodybuilder who needs to squat 500 lb. you will need to look at full sized olympic benches and cages, but you should already know that. This bench was not designed to do the work and hold the weight of a full cage, but it doesn’t take up the whole room either. This bench was designed for the average person looking to get/stay in shape at home and it meets that goal very well. The average person working out at home typically won’t need to load more than 300 lb. on the uprights.

I would not hesitate to buy this bench again.

Review by Michael G.:

This bench is great for those without a lot of space. It folds up real nice and stays that way with a locking pin that pops in, plus a manually installed pin underneath that you can add also. It was easy to put together, comes with the tools you need (but use your own if you have them) and is a sturdy bench. I use mine with a 6-foot, 15-lb aluminum bar (200 lb load capacity) and together they make a perfect home workout center. Comes with leg extension/hamstring curl attachment which is easy to get on/off (but you need tools for the nut/bolt that holds it in place). Finish is a nice satin gold color (looks good) and quality of manufacture is good also. The supports are wide enough so that one person can load weights without the bar tipping.

Only two nitpicks: #1: the weight supports wobble some at the higher settings,and at the highest setting – for squats – it is just right for my 5’8″ frame; taller folks will bend down some to get under the bar.

#2: the gap between the seat and back support is too wide (on my bench, it is exactly 3 and 3/4 inches). It should really be no more than 2 inches. But although the large gap is a little annoying, it does not bother me. Taller/shorter people may be bothered by it, though.

Review by housewifeman:

This is a small bench and low to the ground. I am 5’10″ 170lb and my son is 6’2″ 222lb and we both use it easily, so the smallness is an asset for our limited area but the size does not limit any exercises. We use dumbbells a lot and this bench is perfect for those exercises. Easily adjusts in seconds and is sturdily built. We already have a bench that is attached to our weight machine and I thought this new bench would get limited use but its portability/movability and its ease of adjustment have made it our main bench. We also put the back at a high angle and use it for dumbbell preacher curls. Extremely happy we got it!

Review by Barrett Withers:

This is a super bench for the price. It has 4 different height adjustable positions and each leg can be either folded or reclined to a different angle to further incline or decline this bench. Also both legs can be folded to make a great floor bench for floor presses as well or to simply be tucked away until your next workout. This is a great product that came already put together right out of the box. If all of best fitness’s products are of this quality then they’ve got a new full time customer.:)

Review by Patrick D. Goonan:

This is a very nice bench by any standards and as other reviews mention, it was very easy to put together. The instructions are well-written, the diagrams clear and the whole thing is well-engineered and heavy duty construction. The manual says it can hold a 300lb. person plus 300lbs. or weight and I don’t doubt that at all. It is also very easy to adjust and doesn’t have a lot of little parts. It took me about 50 minutes to assemble it and I went very slowly.

It is true that there are only four positions you can use on this bench, but for most people that is plenty. Also, it is a perfect product to use with a dumbbell workout. If you go this route, I recommend either Pair of Personal PowerBlock Adjustable Dumbbells – 5-45 Pounds in 5 Pound Increments or PowerBlock SportBlock Dumbbell Set. These adjustable dumbbells are rugged, less expensive than other brands and the safest that I know of.

Some other details about the bench… the material is a medium thick vinyl and mine came with a 1 inch tear. I did not consult customer support yet, but I will update this review to reflect my experience of them when I do. I think a better material and padding would improve the product overall, but at this price point I think it’s plenty rugged.

If you get this bench, you can eventually get a power rack that can be used with your bench and as a squat/deadlift rack. One that I like is Phys-x Half Rack 10418, but you there are others depending upon your needs.

If you are new (or old) to this type of training, I recommend Build Muscle Lose Fat Look Great: Everything You Need to Know to Transform Your Body and Starting Strength. These are probably the ONLY two books most people will ever need on strength training, building mass, etc. They are BOTH dense with great information systematically laid out. I have other suggestions on my listmania lists, check my profile if you are interested. I also reviewed most of the adjustable dumbells on available on here.

Review by Michael Avitabile:

I considered this bench among many others and chose it for it’s sturdy, attractive design and the reasonable price tag. There aren’t many features of this bench other than what you see; in fact, there probably aren’t any beyond what is shown. I’ve purchased other benches in the past with a more abundant array of features, and I have been let down by both their effectiveness and the weak design of the bench itself. It almost seems like you’ve got to be willing to sacrifice the quality of the bench in order to gain some of these extra features. I prefer to have a solid bench with less features, and thus I chose this model, and have been very satisfied by doing so.

The incline and decline feature is VERY simple and I prefer it over to retractable pin style of incline/decline that is common in many other benches. Assembly was easy and seemingly impossible to do incorrectly, and the end result really does look stunning. I have used this bench for a variety of dumbbell exercises and stretches and have not run into any problems or shortcomings. The leg brace is a nice substitution for an inclining seat, though in all honesty I would probably prefer the seat to have some movement.

Overall, I am very satisfied and I highly recommend this product for anyone looking to do basic to moderate exercise from home.

Review by Asilverguy:

Got this bench for my teenager, so he could do some basic workouts. Box came very quickly, all parts intact. Everything was clearly labeled and took about 90 minutes to put together( I used a ratchet set in addition to the wrenches supplied). The bench has all the basic element you need. However my complaints are these: the benches/pads are mounted on very cheap and flimsy particle board, so if you are a big guy..order another bench.

Second: the arm curl attachment is basically useless, being that it is mounted poorly and doesn’t allow for proper arm extension. If you want to do seated exercises with the bench up, it is designed to hold up and support you with on slim metal pin that slides in the back.

Finally, this bench is not for tall people..I mean over 5’9″…you have to slide way back to use the leg extensions machine,and wind up sitting in the space between two pads.

This bench is suitable for home use, with light weights. However, for heavier lifting, higher weights and bigger guys, get something more substantial.

Review by BookWorm:

This baby is NICE. I read so many assembly horror stories on other fitness equipment, that I was almost dreading the arrival of this.

(I’m a pushing-50 woman, so don’t think a woman can’t put this together)

It came today, and it wasn’t “SOME assembly required”, it was “ALL assembly required”. But I had it done in 1 hour and 15 minutes, with no missing parts, no misaligned holes, no bloodshed, heck, I didn’t even have to cuss at it!

It’s a good thing I’ve never been one to follow directions exactly, because the first one was “With the help of an assistant…”.

Well, I didn’t have one of those. The only assistant I needed was my step stool to lean the uprights against while I attached a cross piece, and then I was good to go, as it was freestanding after that.

The directions were extremely clear, the packaging of the parts was excellent, everything sealed and clearly labeled. The overall packaging was great. It even had the wrenches, but they are the cheap cut-out kind, use your own, if you have them, if not, these will work, just not as comfortably.

Since I won’t be loading it with the kind of weight a man would, I can’t speak to how much it will take, but it is sturdy enough for me.

I’ll try to remember to update later after it has some miles on it.

UPDATE 4/28/10: I do agree with “asilverguy” who said the arm curl is basically useless. I thought maybe I was just too short for it. I prefer curls with barbell and dumbbells, anyway, so it’s not a huge loss as far as I am concerned. But if that feature is important to you, you may want to reconsider.

Review by Greg B:

Pros:

It’s very versatile for workouts

Sturdy

Well balanced

Price!

Relatively small

Cons:

Is pretty stiff when trying to adjust

When you are putting on the backrest make sure you dont tighten the screws too hard, the metal threading inside isnt too strong and now I only got 3/4 screws holding it in.

Overall:

Well worth the price and great for at home.

Review by Frank A. Racioppi:

The weight bench was easy to assemble out of the box and the instructions were specific enough to stay on track. Once assembled, the bench is solid, easy to use and adjust. It’s a good value.

Review by CFH:

This Marcy “Classic Standard Bench with Arm Curl” is exactly what we were looking for in a home weight bench. My son and I wanted to start a weight lifting program to compliment the martial arts training we recently started and selected this bench because of the built in arm curl attachment and leg attachemnts. Here are my observations:

+ Sturdy; I am 5’10″ 230lbs and feel very secure on the bench

+ Easy to Assemble; took two of us (both mechanically inept) about one hour to completely assemble, included all of the hardware on a well marked card and only required us to provide an adjustable wrench

+ Versatile; the bench is adjustable to three position which allows different muscles to be worked and the Arm Curl and Leg attachments add additional functionality

The included “Basic Weight Training Booklet” is just about useless, but there are many on-line resources with good information so it isn’t a big issue.

Highly Recommended!

CFH

Review by B. Fanning:

I have been planning on buying a bench for a few months and finally decided to buy one and I thought this was the best choice taking into consideration it had a lat bar. Its pretty good for a beginner, but kinda cheap. The lat bar and arm curl can’t hold much weight, but I wasn’t expecting much anyway for 0. It is more comfortable than some benches, but could be better. The assembly was a bit of a pain. It took me about a total of 6 hours to assemble, taking into consideration I am not very mechanically inclined. The lat bar is designed for standard weights, but the arm curl supports both standard and Olympic. For 0 it was a pretty good buy, but if you are a person who works out often, I would recommend spending a little more and buying something better.

Review by Kriget:

Easy to assemble. The bench press part is good. The leg curl/extension is okay. lat tower bit disappointing but usable. Overall functions well good for a beginner to advanced user but not for heavy lifting.

Review by Matthew Siebert:

I looked through this entire book while at a bookstore recently and it is better than average.

Pros:

-101 exercises

-FULL COLOR photos / high grade paper

-Fairly comprehendible

-Shows starting and ending positions on most exercises

Cons:

-Everyone in this book appears to be on steroids, this may be intimidating to new people

-The nutrition and supplement sections are severely lacking

-Not all the exercises have a starting and ending position. Someone new to working out would have a hell of a time figuring out how to properly do a cable crunch based on the description and one picture.

-Some of the descriptions are lacking a bit

In conclusion this is a good reference guide for a fitness enthusiast, but I wouldn’t recommend this to someone without general knowledge. The full color photos make this stick out from other books and it’s relatively small (so it’s easy to take to the gym). I’ll buy this when it goes down in price.

Review by Self Help & Exercise:

This has to be one of the best exercise books I have purchased. It has easy to follow pictures along with exercise routines at the back that make it easy for anyone to begin working with weights or to improve on their current routine. A must have in your library!

Review by :

I thought some readers might benefit from the perspective of a beginner/intermediate weight trainer. I use this magazine for little more than getting ideas for new exercises so that my routine doesn’t get stale. In that sense, Muscle and Fitness is a treasure trove of information on new and interesting ways to work out. Some of the routines are inappropriate for beginners or even intermediate lifters, but the principles remain the same. There is a great emphasis on proper form and a general disapproval of lifting heavier weights than you are capable. Exercises are well described with examples of proper form and thorough explanations provided by professionals. As a previous reviewer said, these professionals sometimes contradict one another, but as in any profession, opinions differ and all that can be done is to present the information and allow the reader to judge what is best for them.Having said that, there is bad with the good. There are an enourmous number of multi-page ads for supplements, often posing as articles. Some of these are of dubious benefit and often make outrageous claims. 90% of these are useless for the general user (I have no interest in spending outrageous amounts of money to build muscle while I sleep) though I imagine a professional would be interested in anything that might help them gain a slight competitive edge. In my opinion there are too many ads which tend to distract from genuine articles. There is also great emphasis on building mass and losing fat – if you are thinking about subscribing to this magazine you should be far more concerned about the “muscle” aspect than the “fitness”.So, in conclusion, there is some good and some bad. You may be better off just buying two or three of these magazines if you are only looking for ideas to add variety to your workouts. After a while the articles start to repeat themselves.

Review by A. Pittman:

Muscle and fitness is a decent magazine. its like most all else out there. a bit slim, but good articles beyond just working out.

theres not magically gonna be a new bodypart that appears in a future magazine. you can only train the bodyparts you have. so all the posts saying “its the same articles, big chest, huge arms, etc”

those are the ones that might wanna start reading the articles a bit more than “judging a book by its cover…..or title spot”

reason being, i;ve read this since the beginning of highschool and am now a college graduate for three years now. over 10 years of reading this magazine and yea… its the same bodyparts mentioned in a certain rotation…

HOWEVER EACH ARTICLE HAS SHOWN DIFFERENT METHODS FROM MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

its like baking a pie people…. apple pie consists of crust, install the apples, bake,then eat.

however not every apple pie is made nor tastes the same.

if more people would quick bickering over the bodyparts covered (which are limited being that humans havent changed much over the past hundred years as far as bodyparts are concerned) and pay more attention to:

1) the nutrition studies

2) different methods and tips from various people to work a part

3) new breakthroughs in supplements and nutrition.

4) and perhaps the other nicknacks sections of new products outside the gym world

more people would learn more and less people would be out of shape in this country.

if you actually wanna read a magazine for articles different methods and nutrition studies, this is a decent one.

if you are one of the idiots who just look at pictures or article titles and ASSume its all the same and T&A then come to the conclusion without thouroughly reading, that the magazine is bad, go for a picture book instead.

Review by merlot:

i teach fitness classes at a major national chain. this book is excellent. great ideas, wonderful pictures and tips. no diets (which i don’t always like to have mixed with my fitness/exercise books). it’s pure exercise moves using barbells, dumbbells, bands, stability balls and machines with good variety on each. if you workout at home only without a gym this probably won’t work for you but if you’re a gym person this is a great book. i should mention that i really like the diversity of fitness models. that’s something you don’t always see in fitness books but i really appreciate it. this book is like having a personal trainer! i’m going to use it to select some exercises before i go to the gym then when i get there i’ll just do the routine i planned for myself. again, i have lots of exercise experience but i still find this book to be a fresh edititon to my fitness book collection. if you like muscle & fitness hers magazine you’ll really like all the workouts in one easy to ready, and pretty, book. good job!!!!

Review by I am Samantha…….:

I just picked this book up at B&N yesterday and for some of the very reasons previously listed by the other two posters. I love all of the great ideas it has to offer and the diversity of the women in the book. I also love the fact that all the pictures depicting the poses are in COLOR. It even provides exercise routines which includes the number of sets and repetitions along with tips on what or what not to do. For those of you who don’t have a gym membership don’t fret it offers plenty of exercises you can do at home utilizing dumbbells, barbells, medicine balls, resistance bands, your furniture, a step apparatus, a workout bench, and an exercise ball.

So there’s something for everyone at any level. I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited about exercising since there are 101 fully color illustrated exercises to choose from.

I wish that I had ordered it from Amazon because I could have saved money but I’m still happy I got the book.

Review by Michael L. Touna:

I have a few workout books and this one is a good companion. I love that it offered some new exercises i hadn’t tried before. The charts are easy to understand and follow. What’s very helpful is all the exercises in the book are indexed in the back with full descriptions. They don’t show photos for all the exercises, but it’s easy to comprehend, and I’ve already added some new routines to my workouts. Book is definitely worth the i paid.

Review by James M. Coffey:

A well-organized guide for the man determined to get in shape the correct (i.e., old-fashioned) way: a gym routine that addresses all major muscle groups – using weights. Great photographs and the perfect size to take along to the gym.

Review by LatinJazzJunta:

101 Fat Burning Workouts & Diet Strategies is exactly as the title says. This book is a small library of workout information for anyone wanting to burn fat. Following this program, YOU WILL MELT FAT OFF OF YOUR BODY! Not only that, but the muscle building exercises will give your body a toned and lean look. I have read several books on weight lifting and fat burning but this book surpasses every other book I have read on building muscle and losing fat. This book is great for people that want to get right to it! No fluff, no boring stories, no extensive articles on the science- just what works! The style of this book is like this: “Here are workouts for every part of your body, whether you are beginner, intermediate, or advanced at working out. Then, how to lift weights to burn fat. Next, how to chisel your midsection. Next, CARDIO. Ouch, rough but absolutely necessary in burning fat but this book presents several ways to make your cardio more interesting. Next, HIIT! Next, what to eat, how often to eat, what not to eat!” By the end of the book, if you follow the program, you will make the people in your gym look ridiculous! I absolutely recommend this book to anyone that is getting into working out. I didn’t give it a perfect score because a few of the exercises are not illustrated. That is a positive and a negative. Positive because it makes the book leaner and easier to carry. You can look up the exercises on the internet or through some other laboriously large muscle bound book! Negative because absolute beginners might not know how to do a barbell bench press. Most of the more uncommon movements ARE pictured. Most people that have some experience in weightlifting will navigate through this book fine.

Again, if you had to buy just one book to build muscle and lose fat, THIS should be your book. I have recently begun following this program, as of November 2009. Check out my progress at [...] I have also found that supplements are very helpful. One supplement is an antioxidant drink that has given me more energy, focus and stamina than I have ever had before. It doesn’t give you boost & crash; it gives you sustained energy and it contains 80% juice. It is called Emv and you can check it out at [...] God bless…

Review by Godoy Laelson:

EXCELLENT !! All what you need to know is there , easy to follow and clear explained !VERY GOOD BOOK !

Review by Susanna Hutcheson:

The muscles fascinate me. And when I plan my workouts, I like to plan them according to the needs of my muscles. For example, if my back is bothering me, I try and plan exercises that will soothe and strengthen my back muscles and not further injure them.

If I want more strength in my upper body, I want to train the muscles that will help me accomplish this in the fastest, most efficient manner. That’s why I find this book so helpful.

The book shows you all of the muscles that a person uses in most all compound and isolated weight bearing exercises. Also you’ll find the muscles used in yoga and stretching, fitness in general. So it’s a book for everyone.

Exercising without knowing what you’re doing, what muscles you’re working, is not a good idea. It’s more fun and more productive when you understand what muscles you’re working and exactly how to work them to get the most benefit. That’s why you need this book.

There are other books on muscular anatomy. But I find this one to be the best.

You’ll discover how often and for how long you’ll need to workout to accomplish your own unique goals. You’ll also learn how to deal with injuries. I was a bit surprised, however, that the book failed to give modifications for many of the exercises. Unfortunately, most books of this type have the same failing. I guess it’s expected the reader will know the modifications. Fortunately, I do. I hope you do to. If not, you need to invest in a book that shows the different modifications for those with injuries or limitations.

I suggest you read at least the first part of the book. Then you can skim the rest if you like. But carefully read the information about the muscles and exercises you’re going to do. It’s not a book you’ll necessarily want to read cover to cover. And, you won’t necessarily need to.

But you will want to refer to it often. So always keep it handy. Keep in in your gym bag or your workout room and use it when planning your workouts for the week.

The exercises in the book are mostly using your own body weight or simple free weights. Only a few use machines. So you can select the ones you want and for which you’re equipped.

This is an excellent reference and I highly recommend it to you.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson

Review by Janine Tacey:

It’s a great resource for me. I am a woman who goes to the gym for fitness and strength training. Even though the gym provides a trainer, who has explained these things to me, the great illustrations in this book really help me to visualize how the muscles work and I now understand and can work them even better.

Review by C. Curry:

I know that overall men’s fitness should include sex (and lots of it) but I tire of hearing it from a magazine whose main focus should be fitness, wellness, and health. I’m not purposing to eliminate it completely, because as we all know sex sells, I just saying minimize it! I can read all about sex in Playboy! I would suggest buying Men’s Health- it’s a better read.

Review by Shane P.:

I’ve been a longtime subscriber to Men’s Fitness. As one of the other reviewers said, this magazine used to be better. It still has a great deal of workout, diet and fitness information, but it’s not as good as it once was. I think the magazine is losing its focus a bit as each issue does seem to have more and more about sex, pornography, etc.

The only reason I give it 4 stars is because a lot of the workout and fitness information is still very useful (otherwise I would give it fewer), but I used to feel this magazine was worthy of 5 stars.

Review by Mohamed F. El-Hewie:

It is hard not to give this book five stars. The author has labored hard and honestly to present deep, extensive, and insightful information on a specialized subject, on which few people could even scratch its surface. Not only his hard labor that earns him credit, but also his open mindedness and intimate association with physical training has that rendered his work believable. This book will survive its author, as one of the best references on planning strengthening routines. Needless to say, its cover design is simple, thoughtful, and smart.

The drawbacks of the book are few, as follows.

1- The book is not encyclopedic as its title suggests. It offers extensive analysis and theories on how to mass muscles but it completely omits spinal integrity, stretching, warming up, and arranging exercise sequence based on progressive load rather than body part.

2- The paragraphs of the book are gloomy and dense without a catching focus or emphasizing key issues. That conceals many insightful information amidst circumstantial text.

3- The author plunges into training essentials without giving any idea about his credentials, achievements, or his objectives of writing the book.

4- The author teamed up with exercise performers of mediocre technical skills. Body curvature is definitive in sorting out skillful athletes from others. Those photographed in the book are not good models (in my opinion).

The highlights of this book project follow.

Chapter 1, “Core Concepts”, describes physical strength along 7 dimensions, the 3 types of muscle contraction, and the 6 principles of strength training. It does so in convincing as well as challenging manner.

Chapter 2, “Training Variables”, is encyclopedic in its analysis of exercise choices, order, sets, type of resistance, and rest breaks.

Chapter 3, “Training Cycles”, though only 6 pages, it offers invaluable analysis of periodization of load for various goals of hypertrophy, strength, power, and peak performance. That is heavy stuff.

Chapter 4, “Strength Training Equipment”, is a filling up chapter on training gadgets.

Chapter 5, “Tactics for Building Muscles mass”, is a 33 page long article of dense text. It deals with various arrangements of weekly splits, body-part and whole-body training splits. Here is where the author shows his best work as well as his opinionated bias. It is the best chapter in the book because each exercise is accompanied by a labeled anatomical sketch, next to three exercise photos, next to a table entailing exercise goal, order, and set number. Thus, you could identify each muscle by its label, see how to exercise it, and then read on how to achieve that. That where the author’s academic background advances his presentation. The author’s bias is clear in his preference of isolated exercises of muscles regardless of spinal integrity.

Chapter 6, “Programs for Building Muscle Mass”, is another 33 page rich chapter. Here again the author’s excellence is vividly illustrated. It discusses supersetting, compounding, high intensity setting, various repetitive setting, negatives, controlled setting, forced setting, pyramidal setting, circuiting, exhausting, antagonistic setting, and multiple daily training. The 50 and 100 repetition sets annoy me to the extreme. It is unscientific and impractical, if not harmful.

Chapter 7, “Training Cycles for Building Muscle Mass”, is overreaching and biased, yet motivating. It describes programs for beginners, intermediates, and advanced for various goals of sizing and strengthening and individualizing body image. Its drawback is its adherence to the 10 and 15 reps, omission of coordination and balance, and following main stream of isolating exercises that undermines spinal integrity (my passionate topic). Mechanically sound training should enhance spinal stability before emphasizing peripheral strength of off-center joints.

Chapter 8, “Tactics for Maximizing Strength”, emphasizes Powerlifting compounding of heavy load at low repetitions for peaking strength through squat, bench, deadlift, abdominals, and pulls.

Chapter 9, “Programs for Maximizing Strength”, details the strengthening of chapter 8 through managing the rate of achieving tension, from static to ballistic, the direction and duration of achieving tension.

Chapter 10, “Training cycles for gaining Maximal Strength”, further details the previous two chapters along the time cycling of training load.

Chapter 11, “Chest”, describes various modalities of training the pectoralis major. Form here to the end of the book, the author shows exhaustion and limits discussion to “start” and “move” of each exercise. The One-Arm Dumbbell bench press, page 229, is both harmful and useless.

Chapter 12, “Shoulders”, describes various modalities of training the Deltoid along the same theme of previous chapter. Again, three of the one-arm dumbbell exercises of Deltoid are also harmful and useless as well.

Chapter 13, “Back”, describes various modalities of training the lats, rhomboids, and teres major. It is done better than chest and shoulders yet with one flaw. It tangentially touches on the spinal muscles in back extension and stiff-legged deadlift. No mention of goodmorning or barbell pulls.

Chapter 14, “Trapezius”, poorly describes how to train such awesome muscle. It entails few lousy shrugging exercises while the Clean, Snatches, and Pulls are omitted. The Y-raises by dumbbells in prone position are wasteful to time and effort.

Chapter 15, “Triceps”, describes commonly known exercises of the triceps, in addition to unique ones and a bad one too. The reverse-grip bench press defies anatomy and could inflame the elbows and wrists.

Chapter 16, “Biceps”, is flawless, as expected in many American books geared towards the Biceps excellence.

Chapter 17, “Forearms”, in addition to common exercise of the forearms, it has two lousy ones. The weight plate pinch and farmer’s walk are wasteful.

Chapter 18, “Quadriceps”, shows the poorest aspect of the book. The crossing of the arms in front squats, the Smith machine squat, the incomplete squatting, the forward leaning during squatting are few of many flawed techniques in that chapter. The Zercher Squat, page 328 is forbidden and harmful since the bar is shelved on the forearms. The step-up and jump squat are my favorite.

Chapters 19, “Hamstrings and Glutes”, and 20 “Calves”, are wasteful since it describes low yield exercises.

Chapter 21, “Abdominals”, describes seated, lying down, and standing exercise of the front muscles of the torso.

Chapter 22, “Whole Body”, describes the high yield exercise in a superficial and incomplete manner. None of the photographed guys seem to be able to do any snatch, clean and jerk, or full overhead squat. Moreover, condoning the dumbbell push-up and row, page 376, is a big mistake. Its spectacular outlook does not justify its harm.

Mohamed F. El-Hewie

Author of

Essentials of Weightlifting and Strength Training

Review by Jim J:

First I am not formally educated in this subject but I try to follow those who are such as Stoppani, King,etc… I have been reading and training for 12 years and this, hands down is the best and could be the only book of it’s kind in my library.

What it is: A comprehensive look at wt. training techniques that are used today and how to manipulate them, all in laymen’s terms. It cover’s everything you need to design routines or follow his for the rest of your life.

What it is not: A this is the “Miracle” routine you’ve been waitmg for book. Nor is it random routines that you see in magazines endorsed by enhanced athletes.

If you want a practical and scientific book that is a great read than this is for you whether you are a bodybuilder or power lifter, novice or pro.

Review by Franklin Joyner:

I have had this book for about 9 months now. I recently completed the intermediate program and made great gains. I followed the nutritional advice given in the book and gained 20 pounds. 20 Pounds may not sound like much, but it is a total body transformation when you go from 169 to 190…and it is all muscle.

The workouts are designed in such a way that you stress your muscles very hard and then have ample recovery time to get bigger and stronger.

I ran a marathon and a week after finishing it I started this book. So I basically started from scratch.

Starting I could bench press 40 pound dumbbells for a max 8 reps. After the six month intermediate workout I lifted 80s for 8 reps.

Shoulder press went from 65lbs barbell press for 5 reps to 120lbs for 5 reps.

Squat was the biggest improvement. Started at 65 for 10 reps. Finished at 185 for 10 reps.

The best exercise there is in my opinion I never knew about before this book. It is the DEADLIFT. The deadlift made me bigger and stronger overall than anyother exercise. And it focuses on a common weakness for most people, the LOWER BACK.

Deadlift start was 65 for 5 reps. Finish at 225 for 5 reps.

The key to this book is that it takes you through a cycling approach. By taking you through stages with varying sets, reps, and exercises, you muscles are always in a state of shock and always responsive to the workouts.

I am doing the intermediate workout again. After I complete it a second time I will advance to the advanced workout. You will never need another book for fitness. This is the best book I have EVER read and APPLIED for an extended period of time. The authors have done a wonderful job with writing. Again, the workouts are great and because of the cycling approach the author takes with the workouts, you can continure to do them and never have to switch to another program.

I got very good results from following this book exactly as the authors prescribed. I am continuing to make gains in strength and size by following this book. Ian King and Lou Schuler have put out what I consider the best book ever on the topic of getting strong and gaining size. The bottom line is that you WILL get injury-free results if you follow this book.

Review by GymGoddess:

On the plus side, this is probably the best book I’ve ever read on the subject of weight training. On the down side, boy, there is so much to each work out that it is overwhelming.

I’ve been weight training for over 5 years and have used Body for Life and a number of the Men’s Health training books. This volume, far and away, has the greatest number of new exercises to be used each week. In the intermediate program, e.g., there are 3 separate workouts to be alternated. Perhaps if someone has a half an hour a day to review the exercises, another 40 minutes to do them (and to tote the handsome volume to the gym), these are reasonable….but for someone who has other responsibilities, kids, job, home, this is a fairly time and concentration intensive program.

That being said, I would certainly endorse this book for anyone who wants a genuinely serious, long term program. Too often, the Men’s Health “Bibles” are limited programs, leaving the lifter who is committed with wondering “what next”. This book provides enough variety and different routines to make it a great long term investment.

Review by Vincent Mancini:

Whether you are going through the rigors of the P90X work-outs, looking to lift or pull at your own pace, looking to augment any other work-out approach, this Strength Bands System by Bodylastics is amazing and easy to use. This particular set allows for couples to use at the same time and allows for somebody to have multiple bands set up prior or on the fly.

I’m using them with P90X. I made the mistake of buy other bands that are basically permanent in their weight. With this Strength Bands System by Bodylastics, I have extremely sturdy and versatile bands. And this particular array of bands makes it easy to have two different strength bands ready to go without changing a thing. Even if I had to change the strength, the ease at which makes them easy to buy these cords.

One of the best thing about the Strength Bands System by Bodylastics, it allows you to attach multiple bands to one set of handles. So, unlike other systems where you have to hold multiple cords with multiple handles to increase the weight/strength, Strength Bands System by Bodylastics allows you to attach multiple bands/cords to one handle.

Lastly, the quality of these cords over those that I bought and sampled at Fitness Outlets is like night and day. While the reputable name bands are well-made and perform as they claim, the Strength Bands System by Bodylastics out-perform these other brands in every category you can think of.

With Strength Bands System by Bodylastics, there are different sets or packages. This particular set I believe is the high-end (which means it doesn’t differ in quality but in quantity and multiples). So look for the right set for you and remember, as you go from set-to-set, each colored band or cord is of the same high quality and versatility.

I love these bands. This set came with a gym/travel bag. I can’t wait to take them w/me on a trip. One just has to carry around about 4lbs of bands and such to get the equivalent weight of a set of dumbbells.

Review by Ryan M. Woods:

I bought these for use with P90X. I was highly skeptical they would do anything. I’ve been going to a gym for about 10 years now, and have played around with the bands they have. They were garbage. These are definitely not. Probably the best home equipment I have ever bought. They do take some getting used to, and some exercises are better than others, but overall they are awesome. I think they are worth it simply because of how well they simulate a pulldown machine, allowing you to do lat pulldowns and triceps pushdowns without having a huge machine in your house. Plus, I travel a lot for work and these can be brought with me. A major plus. Highly recommended!