If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best compact folding weight bench for a home gym is, then I’d recommend the Fitness Reality 1000 Super Max Weight Bench as the best one.
One of the biggest barriers to getting fit is having to go to a gym.
However, if you already have what you need readily available then it makes getting stronger that much more convenient and doable.
A helpful piece of equipment to start with would be a weight bench, but the ones at the gym can be a pretty hefty monetary investment.
That’s why we’ve put together a guide to choosing the best compact folding weight bench that’s simple to use and easy to store.
Here are the top compact folding weight bench we’ll be reviewing:
- Powerline by Body-Solid Folding Multi-Bench
- Gymenist Exercise Bench
- Fitness Reality 1000 Super Max Weight Bench
- Vanswe Adjustable Weight Bench
- Bonnlo Upgraded Adjustable Bench
How to Choose the Best Compact Folding Weight Bench?
When choosing the best compact folding weight bench, there are a few things to consider including price, how much space you have, and the types of exercises you’ll be doing.
Space
Some weight benches are smaller than others. So, you may want to keep that in mind when choosing the one that’s right for your needs.
If you’re in a smaller apartment and don’t have much room, then one of the more compact options may be more beneficial than a giant bench with all of the features.
Type of Workout
The types of exercises you’ll be doing will dictate the type of adjustable weight bench that you may want to look for.
If you’re just going to be flat-bench pressing then who cares if there’s an ankle pad attached.
However, if you’re going to want to do a full-body workout then you may want a few extra features.
What Are the Benefits of a Compact Folding Weight Bench?
Using the best compact folding weight bench can be a game-changer when it comes to your fitness and health goals.
They are convenient and offer a ton of benefits, for example:
- Great for small spaces or limited space, like if you’re in a small apartment
- Perfect for garage gym set-ups, and can be folded up and stored against the wall when not in use
- If you have a room in your house that you use as a gym, you can fold it up and store under furniture or some models you can stand up behind something or against a wall
- Traveling personal trainers can fit them into their cars for easy transport
- You can keep one in your closet or at work for a quick lunch break workout
Features Differentiate the Best Compact Folding Weight Benches
Ankle pads
This feature may not matter if you’re not using your workout bench for a variety of exercises.
However, they can be great tools for core and ab workouts, plus they add some stability to other exercise positions.
Some benches come with adjustable, detachable and cushioned ankle pads.
Type of Adjustment
There are commonly 3 types of adjustments for changing the incline of the seat or back pad.
These include, but aren’t limited to knobs, ladders, and pins.
Seat
Adjusting the seat can completely change the way you’re able to use the bench.
If you want the best compact folding weight bench then you may want to look for a seat that is adjustable in the up and down positions, at the very least.
Backrest Angles
The standard weight bench will allow for decline, incline, and flat bench settings. Most adjustable benches will have about 7 different angle positions.
Weight Capacity
It’s usually a good idea to check the safe weight limits of the bench you’re considering.
Especially if you’re someone who plans to lift heavy.
Most adjustable benches will support about 500lbs.
What’s the Best Way to Use a Compact Folding Weight Bench?
- Dumbbell workouts
- Bodyweight workouts
- Barbell workouts
- Support your body weight while lifting
- Lay on it with your chest or back during exercises
- Personal training, especially if you travel to clients
The Best Compact Folding Weight Benches Reviewed
Powerline by Body-Solid Folding Multi-Bench
The Powerline by Body-Solid Folding Multi-Bench offers 7 adjustable backrest positions including flat, incline, and decline.
The decline position goes as low as -18 degrees which is sufficient for decline pressing exercises.
Ladder style adjustments make it quick and easy to slide into place without having to worry about gripping a handle and trying to line up the holes in order to lock the legs into place.
This feature can really save you time during your workout and allow you to remain more focused on exercising.
It’s a compact and portable option with built-in wheels that make it super easy to transport, weighing only about 45lbs.
This compact folding weight bench is 57in long, 16in wide, and 18in tall. It also includes footpegs for you to place your feet on if you’re shorter in stature.
There are no ankle pads. So, that’s something to keep in mind if you may want to do some type of sit-up exercise using this bench.
One of my favorite things about this product is that there’s no assembly required. You can take it right out of the box and get to working out.
Some benches can get a little complicated when trying to put them together so this is a really convenient feature for someone who may not want to deal with the hassle of assembling parts.
This is a higher-priced workout bench, but the company offers a 10-year frame warranty and a 1-year warranty for any other issues.
Pros
- easy to move
- comes pre-assembled right out of box
- easy and fast to adjust incline and decline
- very stable and feels solid
Cons
- the decline may be faulty due to misalignment issues
- the manufacturer isn’t great
- may smell like chemicals
Gymenist Exercise Bench
The Gymenist Exercise Bench also comes pre-assembled and is ready to go straight out of the box.
It’s one of the more inexpensive options for compact folding benches, which makes it a great choice for someone who isn’t sure whether they’re ready to commit to buying and using a workout bench regularly.
You can adjust it to incline, flat, and decline positions with up to 6 different settings.
The seat can also be adjusted to 3 different positions. This can be a really helpful feature to complement the decline backrest positions.
Gymenist included a slidable back cushion to make the bench more comfortable. You can adjust it up or down to find the most comfortable position.
When folded, the dimensions of this bench are 34in long, 17in wide, and 10in tall, so it’s a smaller bench that may be suitable for kids and people who have smaller and shorter bodies.
Regardless of its compact size, it can still support up to 550lbs.
The cushioned ankle pad is a nice addition in that it will allow for more sit-up type exercises, as well as movements that require you to anchor your legs.
So, this feature makes it a little more versatile than some of the other options.
It also uses a pin adjustment system to a raise and lower the seat and backrest along the front and back legs.
Pros
- very sturdy
- lots of back angle adjustments
- doesn’t shake, wobble or creak
- easy to transport, put into a car if you’re a personal trainer who travels to clients
Cons
- material starts coming off of seat after a few weeks
- the gap between the back part and the seat is too big
- the most recent manufacturer doesn’t have great quality control
Fitness Reality 1000 Super Max Weight Bench
Fitness Reality makes a pretty sturdy weight bench. Fitness Reality 1000 Super Max Weight Bench is made for larger people, which can be very accommodating for most.
As long as you’re under 6’4”, this should be a suitable bench for your workout routine. It also has one of the highest weight capacities on this list at 800lbs.
There is some assembly required, however, the tools are included. You just have to bolt the legs onto the base which doesn’t take long.
Folded, the bench dimensions are 51in long, 23.5in wide, and 9in in height.
Plus, it has wheels which makes it easy to relocate between rooms or locations throughout wherever you’re using it.
The ladder adjustment system also makes it quick and easy to change the angle of the backpad.
The bench is made with a triangular support structure which leads to better stability, and the tubular steel frame is powder-coated for extra strength.
In 2019, the company upgraded the seat and backrest sizes, adding about 2in to each. The backrest is 10in wide and 33.5in long.
While the larger seat is 15.3in wide and 14.5in long.
With 12 different positions, this folding weight bench has the most adjustable degree positions on this list.
You can adjust it from -20 degrees in a decline position and up to 80 degrees incline. There are also 2 leg adjustments.
When adjusted to the flat position, the bench is 17.5in tall.
In addition, it includes 3 adjustment positions for the detachable foot rest.
There are also extended legs at the base to stabilize the bench more and prevent it rocking while you’re using it.
Pros
- no movement or wobbling during use, even if you’re over 200lbs
- long enough that your head won’t hang off if you’re tall
- outstanding customer service
Cons
- some parts may have defects or come missing
- made cheaply, the wood used to support bench may crack with use
Vanswe Adjustable Weight Bench
One of the best things about the Vanswe Adjustable Weight Bench is that it’s easy to carry and super compact.
This is a great feature if you plan to transport it. It will easily fold up and fit into the trunk of your car, for example.
Just as easily, it can be slid under a bed or stood against the wall for simple storage.
When collapsed, it folds to a size of 9.8in in height, 15.7in wide, and 31in in length. The bench is about 19in tall when unfolded into the flat position.
The seat pad is 13.8in wide, and the back pad is 9.5-10.6in wide. It’s recommended for people up to 6’ tall.
There is minimal assembly necessary, which makes it easy to set up right out of the box. And it has a standard safe weight capacity of about 500lbs.
Made from high-grade steel, and powder-coated, it’s pretty resilient and sturdy. It also has 2.2in thick padding on the bench which makes it comfortable to lay on during exercise.
There are 7 back pad positions, which is generally standard. You can adjust it to 85, 65, 50, 30, 20, 0, and -30 degrees.
The seat is also adjustable to 5 different positions: 30, 20, 10, 0, and -30 degrees.
In addition to having an ankle/foot bar with removable and adjustable foam roller pads, you can adjust this feature to 6 different settings.
Not all benches come with padded ankle support so this is a fantastic feature.
This bench uses adjustment knobs that have to be screwed into place each time you change the angles, so it can be a bit of a distraction and is worth considering as far as adjustment convenience goes.
Pros
- very easy and simple to fold up and store
- good customer service support
- good cushioning
Cons
- adjustment knobs are very short and not really secure
- can be difficult to adjust angles
Bonnlo Upgraded Adjustable Bench
The Bonnlo Upgraded Adjustable Bench has a safe weight capacity of 660lbs. Its powder-coated steel frame contributes to the sturdiness of this bench.
While the high-density deluxe boxed upholstery makes it one of the more cushioned and comfortable options for weight benches.
There are 6 angles of adjustment including flat, incline, and decline positions. The seat also adjusts to 3 different positions.
The spring rod adjustment system makes it pretty easy to raise and lower the backrest and seat.
While the product is mostly pre-assembled, it includes other parts that you can add to the bench to enhance its features.
However, if you just want to get right to your workout then all you have to do is unfold it and tighten the bolts/nuts to ensure that it’s stable before using it.
With a detachable foot and ankle foam roller, your exercise options are increased which is a great feature for someone who likes to vary their workouts or train other people using the bench.
It also has rubber anti-slip pieces on the bottom support legs to keep the bench in place and protect your floors.
This is the only bench on the list that comes with a bonus gift, which is 2 exercise bands to further increase the versatility of your workouts.
Pros
- super easy to adjust incline/decline
- doesn’t wobble
- pretty lightweight and easy to move around
Cons
- not suitable for lifting heavy weights (100lb dumbbells)
- made with cheap materials
- not as simple to assemble as they lead you to believe
And the Winner is….
When it comes to the best compact folding weight bench for a home gym, the Fitness Reality 1000 Super Max Weight Bench meets most of the criteria and even offers some extras.
Fitness Reality’s compact folding weight bench is made to accommodate everyone, including larger framed people up to 6’4”.
In 2019, they updated their design to make the backrest and seat wider so it’s more comfortable and should hold most people effectively.
Plus it has the highest weight capacity, able to support up to 800lbs.
The backrest can be adjusted to 12 different angles using a ladder adjustment. Most benches have about 6-7 angles, so having the option of 12 different positions is a huge benefit.
Plus, the ladder adjustment makes it easy to manipulate the angle settings without having to fight with the equipment.
While the only thing this bench is lacking is a cushioned ankle pad, it does come with a detachable footrest that can be adjusted to 3 different positions.
Overall, as far as price and features are concerned, this is one of the best compact folding weight bench options that you can get for a home gym.
