Which Weight Bench Should You Buy? Every HAJEX Bench Compared

After a set of dumbbells, a bench is the piece of equipment you will use most. It turns a pair of dumbbells into chest presses, rows, step-ups and seated presses, and it is usually the first thing people add to a rack or Smith machine. We sell eight benches, from light adjustable models you can put away after a workout to commercial benches and all-in-one stations. This guide compares them all so you can choose quickly.

Three kinds of bench

Light adjustable benches (X3, X4 and X1). Made for home use: easy to move, quick to adjust and simple to store. The X3 and X4 weigh about 10 kg, and the X1 adds more backrest positions, 3 heights and a leg developer.

Commercial benches (F39, FF39 and F38). Heavy frames built on 2 × 4 in steel tube. They weigh 66 to 95 lb, stay planted under heavy dumbbells and stand up to daily use by several people.

Workout stations (SR-01 and ST6655). An adjustable bench with its own barbell rack, preacher curl pad, leg developer and lat pulldown. A good fit if you want to bench press with a barbell but don't have a rack.

All eight at a glance

Ratings are shown as each listing gives them: the X3's rating is a maximum user weight, and the other ratings are total loads. Where the table says Ask us, contact us and we will confirm it for you.

Light adjustable benches

Bench X3

The X3 is our lightest adjustable bench at 9.5 kg (21 lb), with 6 backrest and 4 seat positions for sit-ups, incline presses and flat dumbbell work. The frame is 1.2 mm steel tubing with high-density EVA foam under a PU leather cover, and it supports a user weight of up to 270 kg (595 lb). It ships in a compact 81 × 22 × 35 cm box.

Best for: small rooms, beginners, and anyone who puts the bench away after training. See Bench X3

Bench X4

The X4 is built on 1.2 mm steel tubing with dense, supportive padding for chest, back, arm and core work. It weighs 10.7 kg (23.6 lb), measures 122 × 105 × 34 cm assembled and arrives in a 74 × 34 × 29 cm carton, so it is easy to carry up stairs or bring up in an elevator.

Best for: home strength training with a bench that is sturdy but still light enough to move. See Bench X4

Bench X1

The X1 is rated to 600 lb and built on an oval-tube steel frame. The backrest has 8 positions up to 180°, the bench sets at 3 heights and the leg developer adjusts to 4 positions. It weighs 35 lb, and two wheels make it easy to move.

Best for: home lifters who want more adjustment and a leg developer. See Bench X1

Commercial benches

F39 adjustable bench

The F39 is our heaviest-duty bench. Its steel frame is built on 2 × 4 in square tube, it weighs 95 lb and it is rated to 2,000 lb. It adjusts flat, incline and decline, the seat adjusts too, and rubber feet keep it steady and protect the floor. The pad is high-density foam with a water-resistant microfibre leather cover.

Best for: heavy dumbbell pressing, busy home gyms and commercial floors. See the F39

FF39 adjustable bench

The FF39 adjusts from flat to fully upright (90°), so it covers flat and incline presses as well as seated shoulder work. It is built on 2 × 4 in flat oval tube with a powder-coated finish, and the pad is wear-resistant, waterproof microfibre leather. At 80 lb it is solid, and a wheel lets you move it around the room.

Best for: dumbbell training from flat to seated, at home or in a commercial gym. See the FF39

F38 vertical back bench

The F38 has a vertical backrest, so you sit fully supported for seated shoulder presses, curls and other seated dumbbell work. Like the F39, it is built on 2 × 4 in steel tube with a powder-coated finish and a waterproof microfibre leather pad. It weighs 66 lb and measures 46.5 × 27 × 31 in.

Best for: a dedicated seated station next to your dumbbell rack. See the F38

Workout stations

SR-01 bench with rack and pulley

The SR-01 combines an adjustable bench with a height-adjustable bar rack, a preacher curl pad, a leg developer for leg extensions and leg curls, and a lat pulldown. It is rated to 661 lb (300 kg) and weighs 66 lb. The rack takes a 6 ft (1.8 m) barbell, and the bar and plates are sold separately.

Best for: starting barbell training without buying a separate rack. See the SR-01

ST6655 workout station

The ST6655 has 5 back pad positions from decline to upright, an adjustable bar catch so you can reach the bar from each position, and a width that adjusts to suit different users. It adds a preacher curl pad and handle, a leg developer, a lat pulldown and pegs to store your plates. The bench is rated to 600 lb and the bar rack to 880 lb (400 kg).

Best for: an all-in-one home setup with plate storage built in. See the ST6655

Want your weights in the same order? The Adjustable Workout Bench with Weight Sets pairs the SR-01 or ST6655 with cast iron, rubber bumper or rubber Olympic plates.

Which bench is right for you?

• Small room, or you put the bench away after training: Bench X3 or X4.
• A home bench with more adjustment and a leg developer: Bench X1.
• Heavy dumbbells, several users or a commercial floor: F39.
• Mostly incline and seated dumbbell work: FF39.
• A dedicated seat for shoulder presses and curls: F38.
• Barbell bench presses but no rack yet, or you want leg extensions and curls: SR-01 or ST6655.

Three checks before you order

1. The weight rating

Add your body weight to the heaviest weights you plan to lift, then leave a generous margin. A 180 lb lifter pressing a pair of 60 lb dumbbells already puts 300 lb on the bench, and getting on and off with weights in hand adds more.

2. The fit inside your rack or Smith machine

If the bench will slide into a power rack or Smith machine, measure the inside width between the uprights and compare it with the widest part of the bench, usually the feet. Check that the seat or leg developer won't catch on the frame as you slide it in. For example, the Smith Machine Z1 is 40 in wide inside its cage.

3. Where it will live

If the bench shares a room, weight matters. The X3 and X4 weigh about 10 kg and lift out of the way easily, while the commercial benches weigh 66 to 95 lb and are best left in place. The X1 and FF39 have wheels for moving them.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an adjustable bench?

A flat bench covers presses, rows and step-ups. An adjustable bench adds incline pressing and seated work, which most people use every week. We compare the two in flat bench vs adjustable bench.

Which bench works with a Smith machine?

Any bench that fits inside the frame with room to move. Measure the inside width and compare it with the bench, as described above. Our Smith machine comparison covers each machine in the range.

Do the workout stations include a barbell and plates?

No. The SR-01 and ST6655 come without a bar or plates, and the SR-01 needs a 6 ft (1.8 m) bar. To get everything in one order, choose the bench with weight sets, or add a bar from our barbell range.

Will the bench arrive assembled?

Benches ship boxed, and most need some assembly. Shipping is calculated at checkout from the weight and your region, and you can pick up for free at our Anjou (Montreal) warehouse by appointment.

What warranty do the benches have?

Every HAJEX bench carries a 12-month warranty against manufacturing defects.

Have a question about a specific bench? Contact us, or browse all benches.