Tired of heading to the gym for weight workouts? Turn to the Power Pro Olympic bench from Phoenix Health & Fitness, a full Olympic-size bench that offers incline, decline, and flat bench positions. The Power Pro is not a "cheater" by any definition, with uprights that measure 42 inches apart on the inside for serious stability. The bench is also extremely versatile, with deluxe lat tower and arm curl attachments, along with a leg lift station with its own curl bar. As a result, you can work out virtually any muscle group in the comfort of your own home. And thanks to the heavy-duty 3-inch steel uprights and main frame, you needn't worry about the bench buckling to the pressure any time soon. In fact, the Power Pro is tested to the following weight limits: 300 pounds for the bench, 400 pounds for the uprights, and 150 pounds for the leg lift and lat tower (the bench isn't recommended or guaranteed for use over these limits). Other details include a built-in squat rack in the rear, three Olympic weight plate adapters and spring clips, and adjustable uprights that conform to multiple uses. The Power Pro, which measures 88 by 83 by 60 inches (W x H x D), also carries a 90-day warranty on labor and a one-year warranty on the frame.
Specifications: - Heavy duty, 3.0 inch steel uprights and main frame
- Full Olympic size; uprights are 42" apart on inside dimensions
- Adjustable uprights and seat back includes decline position
- Deluxe Lat Tower and Arm Curl included
- Leg Lift with Curl Bar attachment
- Built-in squat rack in rear
- Built-in storage stands for Preacher Curl and Lat Tower
- Three Olympic weight plate adapters and spring clips included
- Dimensions: 88" L x 60" W x 83" H (mounted on bench)
About Phoenix Health & Fitness Established in 1998 as a wholesale distributor of fitness equipment, Phoenix Health & Fitness offers a complete line of high-quality
exercise equipment to the in-home and light commercial markets. Working with a state-of-the-art computer system, the company can offer "just in time" delivery and other critical services while living up to its standards of reliability, consistency, honesty, and urgency. Phoenix Health & Fitness develops many of its new concepts and products in conjunction with its sister company, Reflex Design, and enjoys a reputation for delivering quality products in a timely manner.
Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
I did a lot of research before purchasing this bench because:
1) The pictures show both the lat and preacher extensions in their *storage* locations, so I wasn't able to see how they were usable from the pictures on the interwebs.
2) Comparable benches start in the $400-$500 range, and this sells for about half that...
3) The fact that it accommodated both Olympic and Standard weights was mysterious.
I've been using it for ~2 weeks now, and I can comfortably say that I would purchase it again. The lat and preacher extensions both fit in the usual location (into the upright that the leg extension comes off of), and work great. The product ships with Olympic "sleeves" and standard-sized plate poles (on the leg extension for example), so you're supposed to slip the sleeve over the poles (and your standard bar if you have one) if you want to use it with Olympic plates. As I have standard weights, this was great for me. I can't comment on how it performs with the sleeves, although others have suggested it's not quite perfect.
As for the low price? The bench is of seemingly good/high quality, but Phoenix (the mfg) definitely skimped on aesthetics *not* function when producing this. Here are my gripes:
* The paint they used is some kind of bubbled-looking powder coat (or so...) and it likes to flake off in places where you're sliding plates on and off of it. So, no big deal, vaccuum it up and move on...
* One of the uprights was welded 1/4" too low and I couldn't fit a washer when assembling. Washer omitted, works fine.
* The numbered assembly steps in the instructions are incomplete (you end up with left-over parts) but the exploded view of the bench is complete. So for a few of the minor parts (like the rubber stopper for the lat bar, and various caps for the ends) you'll need to refer to the exploded view.
* Assembly takes a considerable while. I would leave a good 3 hours.
* Mine shipped with an "Other side up" label affixed to the wrong side of the cross-bar that connects the two bench uprights to the leg extension upright. The pictures clearly indicated which side in fact had to face up, however.
So, the overall impression that I have is that this is a quality bench that definitely gets the job done, but that some of the minor details are keeping it from selling for more. That's great for me, because I have a perfectly functional bench at half the price, and I don't care about the details above. In fact I'm leaving the "Other side up" label for effect.
