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As an ISSA-certified personal trainer with a house gym setup of my very own, I feel there are a number of essential pieces of kit it’s worthwhile to achieve smashing your goals: a reliable barbell, a sturdy squat rack, and a high-quality weight bench (plus some bumper plates and dumbbells). When you don’t necessarily should go the adjustable route along with your dumbbells, investing in an adjustable weight bench is a brilliant technique to maximize your exercise options. In spite of everything, true FID benches (flat, incline, decline) assist you to train your chest, back, shoulders, and other goal areas from nearly any angle, which may go a good distance in helping you achieve your strength- and muscle-building goals.
In the case of the adjustable bench market, nonetheless, it’s not all the time easy to seek out an answer that satisfies all the necessities our Breaking Muscle team of certified personal trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, and CrossFitters search for — including construction quality, portability, and ease of use — and still provides great value. But because of some clever design work by REP Fitness, you may enjoy the pliability of a dozen ladder-style adjustments and the comfort of a gap-free lifting experience concurrently.
On this REP BlackWing adjustable bench review, we’ll break down how one among the industry’s most revolutionary manufacturers blended the very best features from its top models right into a beastly bench that’s built like a tank and performs like a boss.
Key Takeaways
- The BlackWing Adjustable Bench combines the ladder-style adjustments from the REP Fitness AB-5200 with the redesigned ZeroGap™ seat technology from the REP AB-5000 to provide you the very best of each worlds in a single well-built bench.
- The REP Fitness BlackWing is available in two different pad widths (12.2 or 14 inches), has a weight capability of 1,000 kilos, and meets International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) competition height standards, making it well-suited for powerlifters and broadly built athletes.
- Available in six colours, this zero-gap bench will be stored upright to depart more room on your power rack, weightlifting accessories, and other home gym equipment.
REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench Pros
- The BlackWing is ultra-versatile, as it could be utilized as a flat bench, incline bench, or decline bench. Not only can you utilize the ladder-style system on the back pad to select from 12 different angles, but you can too use the pop-pin adjustment on the seat pad to change between six angles starting from -10 degrees to 45 degrees.
- REP’s patented ZeroGap™ feature removes a possible distraction by ensuring you’ll never should take care of an annoying gap between the seat and back pads. This unique technology particularly turns out to be useful when performing a flat bench press, as you’ll be seamlessly supported from end to finish.
- This heavy-duty FID bench is built to last using 11-gauge steel for the frame and REP’s latest CleanGrip material for the padding. The Colorado-based company also deserves credit for giving the BlackWing a premium appearance with high-end finishes like stainless-steel knurled handles and laser-cut logos.
REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench Cons
- Although the BlackWing brings loads of useful features to the table, a $600 price tag might make it too expensive for some people. When you’re working with a tighter gym equipment budget, the REP AB-3000 is a rock-solid FID bench that costs nearly half the value.
- While it’s designed to be stored vertically, this adjustable bench doesn’t exactly earn top marks for portability. Tipping the scales at 131 kilos, the BlackWing requires some strength and patience to maneuver, which may change into bothersome if you happen to move your bench around often.
- The optional leg roller attachment felt more like an afterthought to our testing team, because it doesn’t appear to be created from the identical high-quality materials because the bench itself. Plus, while it performed adequately for sit-ups and crunches, it fell wanting expectations as a Nordic curl solution.
Our Breaking Muscle Team has ample experience trying out every position on a wide range of adjustable benches to perform lifts just like the bench press, overhead press, and flye variations. Assessing aspects equivalent to construction quality, portability, and padding, we developed a proprietary scoring system to rank critical components that make up an important bench.
REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench Rating
Our Breaking Muscle Team has ample experience trying out every position on a wide range of adjustable benches to perform lifts just like the bench press, overhead press, and flye variations. Assessing aspects equivalent to construction quality, portability, and padding, we developed a proprietary scoring system to rank critical components that make up an important bench.
Here’s how the REP BlackWing scored in each category:
| Factor | Rating (out of 5) |
| Price and value | 4.5 |
| Construction quality | 5 |
| Delivery and assembly | 5 |
| Dimensions | 4 |
| Padding | 4.5 |
| Footprint and portability | 4 |
| Performance and ease of use | 5 |
| Incline levels | 5 |
| Available attachments | 4 |
| Warranty | 4 |
REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench In-Depth Review
Breaking Muscle team member adjusting the REP Fitness BlackWing Bench.
Though it’s actually not probably the most budget-friendly bench, the BlackWing undoubtedly delivers rock-solid value. REP fastidiously crafted a high-end piece of gym equipment that stands out for its versatility, durability, and construct quality. Despite a hefty price tag and a reasonably large footprint, we firmly consider it’s a worthwhile investment for serious lifters seeking to level up their home gym setup.
Price and Value
REP priced the BlackWing at about $600, higher than their other adjustable bench models. For comparison, the newest version of the AB-5200 starts at $549.99, while the AB-5000 is on sale for $449.99, as of this writing. Consider that the wide pad option costs a further $20, and the leg roller attachment is sold individually for about $110.
From a competitor standpoint, the Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0 — which does have a small gap between the seat pad and back pad — normally costs in regards to the same ($595) because the BlackWing. Meanwhile, the TITAN Series Adjustable FID Bench by Titan Fitness is often priced at $529.99 but only has a weight capability of 600 kilos.
Although the BlackWing may not fit everyone’s budget, it still brings great value. Not only do you get a real FID bench that has a seemingly limitless array of adjustment possibilities, but you furthermore mght get REP’s patented ZeroGap™ seat technology. As someone who’s all about getting probably the most bang on your muscle-building buck, I feel the BlackWing boasts good enough strengths to justify its higher-end price tag. Our testing team rated it 4.5 out of 5 stars for price and value.
Construction Quality
“Stable” is the word that immediately got here to mind for our testing team when trying out the BlackWing. REP used premium materials to provide a top-notch bench that feels greater than able to withstanding all of your workouts for years to return. Constituted of 11-gauge steel, the BlackWing’s frame is a rock-solid piece of engineering, providing excellent stability and overall support.
REP devoted ample attention to the finer details, too. As an alternative of using plastic adjustment knobs like they do on the AB-5000, they opted for stainless-steel on the BlackWing. A knurled, stainless-steel handle not only makes the bench easier to maneuver because of its excellent grip-ability, however it also adds to the BlackWing’s premium aesthetic.
REP also improved the user experience by including knurled handles for adjusting the incline and using laser-cut numbers on the frame so you may easily see which angle you will have the back pad set to. Meanwhile, grooved rubber feet give the bench added stability by keeping it firmly anchored to the ground. Plus, you may select from five frame color options (metallic black, white, red, blue, army green, or matte black) to make sure your bench suits in with the remainder of your own home gym setup.
Each the seat pads and back pads come covered in REP’s latest CleanGrip vinyl, which our testing team believes is the very best material the corporate has used so far. Extra grippy and straightforward to wash, it’s precisely the sort of vinyl lifters search for, as a grippy material can prevent you from sliding around on the bench and feeling unstable and unsafe.
As someone who utilizes an adjustable bench for all the pieces from dumbbell chest flyes to rows to overhead presses, I feel nothing is worse than laying down on one which feels slippery or has tears in it. The thick, matte vinyl REP used on the BlackWing is the sort of design decision that helped this bench earn all 5 stars for construction quality.
Delivery and Assembly
With free shipping on all orders, REP makes the ordering process a bit of more budget-friendly. Our testing team didn’t encounter any delivery issues, which speaks volumes about how well the bench was packaged and handled.
Assembling the BlackWing did take a while (around 20 minutes). Our product testers, who’ve assembled tons of of pieces of gym equipment, consider this to be on par for a totally adjustable bench. Nonetheless, REP didn’t include any tools to help with this process. To bring your BlackWing to life, you will want to have a ratchet and sockets readily available, in addition to a bit of little bit of patience to place all of the pieces in place.
Overall, we scored this bench a 4.5 out of 5 stars for delivery and assembly.
Dimensions
The REP Fitness BlackWing Adjustable Bench allows for six seat pad adjustments.
Definitely on the larger side, a totally assembled BlackWing measures 59.5 inches long, 25.8 inches wide, and 17.2 inches tall, putting it firmly throughout the IPF competition standard. Weighing in at 131 kilos, it’s also quite heavy in comparison with a few of REP’s other benches. For instance, the AB-5000 is 20 kilos lighter, and the AB-5100 suggestions the scales at 95 kilos.
Meanwhile, the BlackWing comes stock with 12.2-inch-wide pads that will be upgraded to 14 inches for a further $20. While the usual option compares favorably to something just like the Titan Series Adjustable Bench (which comes with a 12-inch-wide pad), the BlackWing is 1.2 inches wider than the Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0. For more sizable athletes, having that option is a giant profit from a comfort and performance standpoint, as a wider back pad will provide more support. Nonetheless, bear in mind that the 14-inch-wide pads usually are not compliant with IPF rules, because the width cannot exceed 12.6 inches.
The design of the front and rear feet add to the general stability of this heavy-duty bench. The front foot measures 14.8 inches wide, which provides higher anchoring and appears to be the inspiration behind the BlackWing’s name. All in all, we scored this bench 4 out of 5 stars for dimensions, with the burden being one among the one drawbacks.
Padding
Thin padding can result in thin patience for lifters. In spite of everything, nobody desires to lie down on a bench and feel as if the metal frame is digging into their back. Luckily, the BlackWing has thick cushioning that puts our team of testers in a cushty position to execute all of their lifts.
Furthermore, the padding is wrapped in dense CleanGrip vinyl that appears and feels higher than other sorts of vinyl REP has used on their benches. Not only is the matte black material extra grippy, however it’s also a breeze to wash. So, even if you happen to’re breaking a serious sweat in your garage gym, you won’t should worry about your bench suffering any surface damage so long as you wipe it down after your last rep.
From a padding perspective, we scored the BlackWing 5 out of 5 stars.
Footprint and Portability
Based on its dimensions, the BlackWing has a reasonably sizable footprint of 10.7 square feet. In reality, at 59.5 inches long, it’s well ahead of other REP benches and is one among the longest adjustable benches in the marketplace. While the AB-5200 is just an inch shorter, the AB-5100 is five inches shorter than the BlackWing, with the AB-5000 falling right in the center at 57 inches long.
Those dimensions, together with weighing 131 kilos, make the BlackWing a bit tricky to maneuver around and store vertically without a bit of little bit of effort. Still, our testers appreciated the knurled handle and rollers for helping take a few of the burden off. If you should store the BlackWing vertically, you’ll must have not less than 3.1 square feet of space to accommodate it. Luckily, the bench’s closed ladder system also assists with the storage process, because it prevents the arm of the back pad from sliding misplaced when the bench is placed upright.
Overall, having the power to scale back the bench’s footprint by over a 3rd is a giant profit for home gym owners with limited space. Nonetheless, due to its large footprint and heavy frame, the BlackWing scored 4 out of 5 stars for footprint and portability.
Performance and Ease of Use
Breaking Muscle team member performs a dumbbell row on the REP Fitness BlackWing Adjustable Bench.
Is the juice well worth the squeeze with the BlackWing? Based on our testers’ experiences, it met the bar from a performance standpoint. REP hit a house run with its latest adjustment systems, making it easy to slip the seat backwards and forwards using the Zero-Gap feature that’s made their AB-5000 model particularly popular.
Noticeably lighter and fewer bulky than its predecessor, our team was impressed with the way in which REP implemented the unique spring-loaded pop-pin and ratcheting system to make smooth and secure adjustments to the seat pad. Though just like the system used on the AB-5000, they felt it was a transparent upgrade and easier to make use of.
Most significantly, the BlackWing provided a stable platform for our testers to perform all the pieces from spider curls to chest-supported dumbbell rows. Having a sturdy bench that may go from a flat position to being tilted back to -8 degrees in a matter of seconds with none hiccups should provide you with peace of mind and many confidence heading into your workout. The BlackWing received all 5 stars for its strong performance and user-friendly design.
Incline Levels
As a real FID bench, the BlackWing gives you the choice to coach on a flat bench, on an incline, or at a decline. By incorporating a closed ladder-style adjustment system, REP made it possible to select from 12 different back pad angles ranging between -8 to 85 degrees. Besides the ample angle decisions, the testers also enjoyed the added sturdiness of getting the adjustment arms positioned contained in the ladder rail. This helped reduce any wobble that will have occurred at incline angles, and in my experience, it is a common issue with cheaper benches.
As well as, REP designed the seat pad to have the opportunity to go from -10 to 45 degrees. That sort of range separates the BlackWing from other adjustable benches just like the AB-3000, which has five seat pad adjustments, and the Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0, which only has three angle decisions for the seat pad (0, 15, and 30 degrees).
Overall, that is where the BlackWing truly shines probably the most. Whether you should get stronger on the incline press, develop your delts from an upright position, or construct your lower chest on a decline, you will have the last word tool to get the job done. We scored the BlackWing 5 out of 5 stars on this area.
Available Attachments
You’ll be able to take your BlackWing experience to latest heights if you happen to’re willing to pay the correct price. For about $110, you should buy the optional leg roller attachment that was specifically designed to suit with this ultra-versatile, ultra-stable adjustable bench. Nonetheless, you must temper your expectations about just how functional the attachment is.
Although our testers were desperate to test the roller’s ability to perform Nordic curls, they were ultimately left upset by the experience. Between thin foam and an absence of a toe kick plate, the roller proved to be lower than ideal for executing this brutal hamstring exercise. Plus, even with the 14-inch-wide version, our testers found the back pad to be too thin for the BlackWing to be a real Nordic bench.
That said, the attachment isn’t a complete bust, as you need to use it to develop your abdominal muscles with sit-ups, crunches, and other core exercises. Ultimately, though, the roller didn’t receive the identical attention to detail from REP because the star of the show. In comparison with the BlackWing itself, the materials used on the roller — like the usage of plastic knobs over chrome steel — felt a notch below. For those reasons, this bench received 4 out of 5 stars on this category.
Warranty
REP Fitness features a 10-year warranty on bench frames, together with a one-year warranty on sewn items. While that provides you a solid window to utilize the BlackWing and still be covered, the policy isn’t quite pretty much as good as a few of REP’s competitors.
Rogue, for instance, offers a limited lifetime warranty on frames that voids if a product has been damaged attributable to negligent or faulty use, alteration, maintenance, storage, or handling by the user. Plus, it provides a three-year warranty on sewn items — a two-year leg up on REP.
Meanwhile, Force USA stands behind its frames with a lifetime warranty, together with a 10-year policy on moving parts and one yr of coverage for upholstery and attachments. This is applicable to equipment used exclusively in private indoor home settings, equivalent to basements and garages.
So, although REP’s warranty policy is solid, it falls wanting a few of its competitors. Due to that, we scored the BlackWing 4 out of 5 stars on this category.
REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench Specs
From its IPF-compliant height to its chrome steel finishes, the BlackWing offers many attractive features in a single well-built package (or bench, on this case). REP designed this bench to handle heavy loads over and another time by utilizing high-quality materials that should not have any trouble holding up over time. Listed below are the whole specs for the BlackWing, starting with a full breakdown of its dimensions and ending with a more in-depth have a look at its compatibility with attachments.
Dimensions
The REP BlackWing measures 59.5 inches long, 25.8 inches wide, and 17.2 inches tall for a complete footprint of 10.7 square feet. This 131-pound FID bench has a seat pad length of 15.6 inches with a 38.2-inch long back pad that’s available in two different widths (12.2 inches or 14 inches). So, whether you’re a broad athlete who needs wide pads or someone on the smaller side who needs the usual size, the BlackWing will be tailored to your body type.
Looking below, the front foot is 14.8 inches wide, with the rear foot measuring 10 inches wider. The front handle is 6.9 inches long with a diameter of 25 millimeters.
Materials
REP spared no expense when it got here to the BlackWing’s construction. Made with 11-gauge steel, this bench is built to take a pounding — and proceed performing. Plus, REP smartly swapped the AB-5000’s plastic adjustment knobs for stainless-steel ones that look (and feel) like a transparent upgrade.
Meanwhile, the seat and bench pads are covered in the corporate’s latest CleanGrip matte vinyl, which is thicker and seems more durable than previous vinyl produced by REP.
Weight Capability
The REP Fitness BlackWing has a weight capability of 1,000 kilos. This is identical rating because the AB-3000, which we consider the most effective values for a budget-friendly home gym bench. However, the REP AB-4100 only has a weight capability of 700 kilos.
Compatible Attachments
REP designed an optional Leg Roller Attachment specifically for this bench. You’ll be able to insert the attachment into the built-in receiving post on the BlackWing’s back frame to perform core exercises, decline presses, and Nordic hamstring curls.
Consider that the attachment will not be included if you purchase the bench. The leg roller is sold individually for about $110.
REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench Customer Reviews
It’s no surprise that the BlackWing has garnered almost unanimous 5-star reviews on REP’s website based on its specs, versatility, and performance. Although several users highlighted how heavy the bench is, the impressive construct quality and skill to have a zero-gap lifting experience stood out as overwhelming positives.
Described as “exceptional” and “amazingly sturdy” in separate reviews, the BlackWing’s high-end finishes and high quality details make it a house run within the eyes of nearly everyone who provided feedback on REP’s website.
REP BlackWing vs. Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0
The Rogue vs REP adjustable bench battle comes all the way down to a number of key aspects. From a price perspective, the BlackWing is correct on par with Rogue’s Adjustable Bench 3.0, which costs slightly below $600 for the usual model. Nonetheless, that figure jumps to $695 for the chrome steel version — nearly $100 greater than the $600 BlackWing.
Still, you get more flexibility with REP’s newest bench, as you may change between 12 back pad angles in comparison with just 10 for the Adjustable Bench 3.0. While each benches assist you to set the seat pad angle at 0, 15, and 30 degrees, the BlackWing offers more versatility with three more angles (-10, 8, and 45 degrees).
One major difference to think about is whether or not you like your gym equipment to be made within the USA. In that case, you’ll need to go together with Rogue, as REP manufactures a majority of their products in China. Still, that’s not necessarily a knock on the BlackWing (or any of REP’s benches), as we’ve consistently found them to be well-constructed and well-performing.
Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0
- Dimensions: 17.5” H x 52” L x 11” W
- Weight capability: 1,000 kilos
- Materials: 11-gauge steel, vinyl cover, rubber feet
- Warranty: Limited lifetime on the frame
Check Price
Final Verdict: Is the REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench Value It?
When you value versatility, it’s hard not to place the REP BlackWing at the highest of the very best adjustable bench list. With 72 potential mixtures and nil gaps, you may get creative along with your workouts and never should worry about not feeling fully supported. Plus, although the leg roller attachment lacked the identical polish because the bench itself, it still gives you much more exercise options.
After all, the BlackWing’s $600 price tag puts it more within the premium bench category than the budget-friendly one. But between its excellent construction and skill to do anything you would ask for (and more), it’s value paying a bit of more for a really unique adjustable bench which may just be REP’s finest design work so far.
FAQs
Which REP bench is the very best?
There are several worthy contenders, including the REP AB-5000, which provides you the ZeroGap feature and many adjustment options for around $450. Nonetheless, in case your budget allows, the BlackWing is the very best bench REP produces, because it provides probably the most flexibility and support and is crafted with quality materials that look great and will last.
Should I get an adjustable weight bench?
When you like to alter up your angle of attack and maximize what you may do with dumbbells and a barbell, investing in an adjustable weight bench is the technique to go. Having the pliability to perform flat, incline, and decline versions of various exercises immediately opens the door to a more creative, dynamic workout.
What should I search for in an adjustable weight bench?
Key aspects to think about include the dimensions of the gap between the back and seat pads (too large could make the bench feel unstable), the variety of back and seat pad angles, and the way easy it’s to make adjustments. Concentrate as to if the bench has a pull-pin or ladder adjustment system, because the latter is usually more durable. You’ll also need to ensure there’s sufficient padding to offer a cushty and supportive platform for lifting.