PowerBlock Sport Bench Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am certainly a Powerblock fan after I received my Classic 45lb powerblock dumbbells. So without hesitation I ordered the Powerblock Sportbench expecting the same high quality, attractive design, and durability the company has put into their dumbbells. Here is a list of Pros and Cons for people considering purchasing this adjustable bench and dip attachment. (I'm a very detailed person, as you can see)

Pros
1) The weight bench sustains up to 550lbs of weight. I had to call Powerblock to confirm this since it does not say otherwise.
2) Seat cushions are very comfortable and the leather seems like it will not easily crack or tear during the life of the bench.
3) Plenty of incline to flat choices.
4) Bottom seat adjusts down to support your body when doing upright and inclines.
5) Metal base is VERY strong, yet easily picked up to move without needing the extra handle and wheel kit ($60).
6) Adding the dip attachment is a nice feature, but there is a negative side to this in the con list. ($70)
7) Backrest is very wide and should support a wide range of body types.
8) Only assembly required is to attach the rear bottom support bar which will take you less than 5 minutes with a socket wrench.

Cons
1) The bottom portion of the seat has a slight wobble because the tilt feature is nothing more than a pin that slides back to lower the seat down.
2) The backrest does give a little left to right movement because of how the bar does not lock into place. Dont worry, because of the construction it would never pop out of place during workouts.
3) No decline option. I would never use it, but it was a little surprised for the price you did not have the option.
4) Dip attachment has more wobble than i would like. The dip attachment holds up to 250lb (Impressive), but it does have almost irritating wobble when using it. Although, it does force you to use more muscle to stabalize yourself. I would complain more, but I got the attachment for $15 on eBay!
5) Overall stability. This is the main reason why i did not give a perfect 5 stars. The bottom back bar is wide enough, but i just wish the front would have been the same width. I'm confident this will not affect your workout saftey, I just normally use the benches at the gym that are bolted to the floor and feel solid as a rock. Also, I'm using it on carpet and it would probably be better on harder floors.

Conclusion

This is an excellent quality bench for the price and the top notch brand name like Powerblock. I wanted to give this 5 stars (I love Powerblock), but i would have liked a little more stability with a wider front base. It is also notable that you can not have the bottom seat flat with the backrest in a complete 90 degree upright position. When you are upright the bottom seat still has to be at the tilted position. This is still very comfortable and probably safer, that is why this was not included into the cons list.

Final word: I do not regret this purchase, and I would probably order it again if given the change. Every bench in this price range will have a few little quirks, but I still wouldnt hesistate to recommend this bench to any of my friends!

UPDATE 4/15/09: I have moved the bench from carpet to hard laminate floor with a mat and the stabilty is a ton better! However, i have noticed when you have the bench in the flat position it is actualy slightly declined.

Click Here to see more reviews about: PowerBlock Sport Bench

Product Description:
Take your PowerBlock dumbbell workouts to the next level with the sturdy Sport Bench. Made of 2-by-3-inch, 14-gauge tubing, the bench is sturdy and versatile, with a five-position backrest that varies from flat to military position (with 30-, 45-, and 60-degree adjustments in between). In addition, you can adjust the seat pad downward when in the incline positions, ensuring that you won't slip forward while lifting. Best of all, the separate seat and back pads offer tapered upholstered cushions, helping you sit comfortably while performing bicep curls, shoulder presses, dumbbell chest presses, or leg lifts. The bench--which offers no removable parts and comes mostly assembled--measures 50 by 18 by 21.5 inches (W x H x D) when flat.