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Flat folding weightlifting benches are a great addition to compact home gyms. They provide tons of exercise options and can be stored in a very small space after use. There are quite a few bad benches out there you want to avoid though. Let’s take a look at the best options.
These benches provide great value for money. They aren’t the absolute best but are the best for specific situations.
How We Picked The Best Benches
Best Folding Flat Benches
Best Value: FlyBird Folding Flat Bench
A folding flat bench with a 1000-pound load capacity and a reasonable price. If that’s what you’re looking for, this is the best choice. It’s simple but strong and effective. FlyBird makes a lot of affordable yet good benches that provide great value for money.
There are two versions of this bench, a shorter one with 600-pound capacity and a longer one with 1000-pound capacity. Most people should opt for the longer version since that is a ‘standard’ length bench. The shorter one will only work if you’re 5’6 or shorter.
The legs are a bit narrow on this bench so it’s not the most stable under a lot of side-to-side movement but in most cases, it’s not a problem. It’s not a great bench for step-ups and similar exercises because of this.
Sturdiest Flat Folding Bench: Finer Form Flat Bench
If you need the sturdiest flat bench possible, this is the way to go. Just look at the construction of this bench and you’ll see it’s built like a rock. This thing has thick steel tubing, the folding mechanism is beefy, and the stabilizing legs are wide.
It’ll last a long time and support your way to heavier weights over time.
It also has a 3″ thick, supportive pad which is covered with durable upholstery. This is better than most other similar benches and means it’ll be better for heavy lifting. It’s also more comfortable.
Smallest Folding: Paradigm Health Flat Folding Bench
This bench is a bit different since both the legs fold but it also folds in the middle. This means it’s thicker but much shorter when folded. That makes this a very compact bench which is easy to put pretty much anywhere.
The build quality and finish are actually surprisingly good for how cheap this bench is. The upholstery is not the best but the frame and folding mechanism are solid.
The fact that it folds in the middle does mean the load capacity is somewhat limited at 500 pounds but if you just want to do light exercises, that’s plenty. It’s not meant for big lifts, it’s for people who want a bench to do their daily workout at home and then put the bench away under the bed or in a closet.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Folding Weight Bench
When buying a folding weight bench, there are several important factors to consider to ensure you make the right choice for your home gym. Here are some key factors to keep in mind:
Folding vs Normal Flat Benches
Folding benches are great for compact storage but they do have some downsides. Their weight capacity is generally a bit lower because the folding mechanism introduces a weak point to the frame. While most folding flat benches have plenty of weight capacity, this can introduce a little bit of wobble to the bench, especially under high loads.
If you’re moving really heavy weights, a fixed bench is preferable. However, if you need the folding mechanism, these benches are a good choice, just be aware of the limitations. They are never going to be as stable as a fixed bench.
Also, be aware that folding adjustable benches exist. They generally have lower load limits but add more exercise options. They’re not as compact to fold up though.
