Customer Reviews

Bowflex SelectTech Adjustable Bench Series 5.1

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I bought the Select-Tech 552 dumbell set w/stand, so I needed a bench to go with it. I saw this was the 'matching' bench and had good reviews, so I went with it without much shopping around. I think I paid $150 with no tax or shipping. As I did not shop around, I don't know if this is a good 'value' compared to other brands.

As far as the bench itself, it is very sturdy. No wobbling while you are using it - this is a big plus. It also looks very nice and obviously matches my other equipment.

The adjustment options are nice to have, but to me they are mostly unnecessary. I only use it in the flat position and one incline position. I can't imagine what one would do with all the other positions, but maybe someone who is more sophisticated in their work out could utilize them.

The leg attachment, again, is very sturdy. I didn't buy it for sit-ups, nor would I recommend this to someone who wanted it solely for sit-ups, but if you want a bench primarily for lifting that gives you a sit-up option, this will work just fine.

As to the negatives... This was mentioned by another reviewer, but there is a opening in the bench where it folds up. It is really in a bad place (atleast for me, I am 6' 3") - right on the small of the back. It is uncomfortable and seems like it could cause injury. I am able to get around it by scooting my rear as close to the end of the bench before I lay back. Still, it seems like this could have been designed better.

The assembly was simple and consists primarily of using washers and bolts. On mine, on the bottom end, the welds were in the way of one of the holes I needed to put a bolt/washer through. The washer would not sit flat and it was very difficult to get this one tight.

Another complaint would be that the wheels are useless the way they are positioned - you will just end up dragging it from one place to another. And the bench does not fold up for storage, so it may not be the most compact bench to tuck away when not in use.

Overall, I would recommend the bench and I would buy it again, but it is far from perfect. If you shop around you may be able to find a better option for your individual needs. Hopefully my insight helps with your purchase decision!

I was looking for a decent bench to go along with my SelectTech dumbbell set and have found the 5.1 to be the best for the price. The construction is very sturdy and it took me about a half hour to put together. Contrary to one of the other reviews here, the bench travels from a decline position (with an excellent feature that allows the seat to be raised, preventing any back pain) to a 0, 30, 45, 60, and 90 degree incline. The detachable leg support allows for crunches and situps, one of my basic requirements. Construction and functionality-wise, this bench reminds me of the higher quality equipment I've used at health clubs but this is actually better due to the detachable leg support.

One complaint I have is that when I move the bench, the bench has to be lifted high in order for the wheels to catch the floor, otherwise, I end up dragging the bench on the legs. It's not that big of a deal now that I know this needs to be done. Overall, I am extremely happy to have purchased this bench.

If you're looking for a versatile workout bench to do your decline, incline, and flat bench presses, this bench is an excellent choice. I'm very happy with the quality of the construction, and it's as sturdy as most benches I've used in commercial gyms. The back can be adjusted from the decline position for situps/decline bench press to a full upright 90 degrees which is great for doing shoulder presses. The seat also has 2 adjustable positions, flat and decline. I like to workout with free weights most of the time and this bench allows me to do just about any exercise I need that requires a bench. The total assembly time took about an hour total, and was very easy. Although it's pricier than some of the other benches on Amazon, I think it's worth it.

My bench was unfortunately defective right out of the box. (The wheels on the rear stabilizer were completely bent by about 20 deg, so they could not roll at all.) My assembly instructions were apparently also incomplete, because when I called customer service to request a repair part, they told me I should first send in the registration form from the last few pages of my instruction book, which I did not have. Finally, they just let me fax in a copy of my sales receipt, and I was supposed to receive a replacement part in 6-10 days. After 6 weeks, I still have not received a thing. I have called back and started the whole process over again, and we'll see if it's any different this time.

This is a very nice bench by any standards and as other reviews mention, it is very easy to put together. The instructions are well-written, the diagrams clear and the whole thing is well-engineered and heavy duty construction. It is also veasy to adjust and doesn't have a lot of little parts. It is virually identical to the Bowflex 3.1 bench, just with more positions.

I find the four positions on the 3.1 adequate for a good workout, but more angles are always better. This is especially true if you are injured or feeling strained. 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. I think a better material and padding would improve the product overall, but at this price point I think it's plenty rugged. I'm very happy with the quality/cost ration.

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. Get a good one though, this is not something you want to skimp on especially if you are looking to build significant mass.

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.

I would hope that this is specific to the bench I received, but I wouldn't know as Bowflex has yet to respond to my email (over 1 week ago) telling them about it and asking for how to fix.

Anyway, I assembled the bench and found it to be a total wobblefest - not in terms of the legs which I assembled, but the upper bench frame itself, which comes pre-assembled. I figured the factory must not have tightened it properly, so I tried to do it..only to find that the screws used are a slip type that do not allow any tightening...so they just keep spinning with no effect on stability/tightness.

This thing is an injury waiting to happen - no one in their right mind would use any kind of weight on this bench or else risk ligament injury due to a sudden shift while using it.

I have had many benches, all have been solid, this is by far and away the worst bench I have ever seen. I will post a video review shortly to 'show' how bad it is if Bowflex keeps refusing to even reply to my request for a way to fix or have it replaced.

My roommate had the 3.1 bowflex bench and got restationed in Guam so I had to break down and buy a bench. I went with the 5.1 because it has 0/30/45/60/90 degree settings versus the 3.1 which has 0/45/90. The benchs look the same but I think this one is sturdier. Has adjustable feet to level it out, and it also has a two-position adjustable seat which the 3.1 DID NOT HAVE. I like using different inclines and you can use them for support on other things besides bench (curls, offset shoulder work, etc). I honestly paid the extra $70 for the 60° setting because my shoulders have seen a lot of damage over the years and 45° give me less results at more risk of injury. So if you're looking for a reason as to WHY you should spend the extra money, it's simple: adds 30 & 60 degree inclines and an adjustable seat (MUCH BETTER and more versatile than 3.1). Oh and I've used many benches in lots of gyms of fitness stores over the years--this bench fits my frame well with good support under my back without hindering shoulder blade motion (like the benches at my gym). Also the adjustment is easy (on the way up, you just lift the head of the bench and it jumps to each setting, drop it to set it in place). The decline setting is OK, good for chest, not for abs--get a separate ab bench with adjustable decline angles or buy some inversion boots and hang from you're pullup bar. Oh and the leg attachment is removable on both benches--sometimes it gets in the way, pops out with a pin in about 3 seconds.

I'm very impressed with the sturdyness and the high quality build on this bench. It was purchased primarily for use with the Bowflex Selectech Dumbells. We are also using it for situps and my wife has a few excercises she uses also. What I like the most about the 5.1 bench is being able to quickly and effortlessly move the bench to the next position. My friend tried this bench out just once and ordered one. Best price found on a new 5.1 bench was on Amazon at $199.00 with the free super save shipping. This is an awesome bench. Highly recommend.

Having owned and consistently used this bench for over two years, it's about time I reviewed it.

I also have the matching SelectTech dumbbell set, and use them with the bench religiously 3 to 4 times a week. The bench has held up well, showing few signs of wear.

Initially assembly was straight-forward, but not painless. The hole tolerances and placement weren't exact, so getting everything together was a little time consuming.

Once together, as others have mentioned, it has a wide variety of bench and leg adjustments that work well. The vinyl covering looks brand new still. Once issue I came across was the two rubber end caps on the support brace for the incline. They quickly fell off, and I've had to re-glue them a few times. An easy fix.

The gap where the bench folds can be somewhat irritating, but I actually just use a small hand-towel rolled up and wedged in there for flat and slight incline exercises, and that makes it much more comfortable.

Everything else has held up well, the vinyl, foam, metal, welds, etc. still look fine.

While there is a premium cost associated with the Bowflex name, this is still a good buy. I would definitely purchase it again, and would recommend it for home use.

The bench is what I expected. I bought it to go along with my Bowflex 552 dumbbells. The bench seems very well built. I like the fact that you can adjust the seat to an angle and use it as an ab bench. The padding is comfortable and it is a nice looking bench. Overall I am pleased with the product but I think the price was a bit steep for a bench.