Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench Review (2024): A Commercial Gym Product Built for Home Gyms

Commercial gym equipment sometimes gets a bad rap, but that’s only because the weight benches and Olympic barbells found in those spaces are often being treated poorly or misused by hundreds of people a day. And yes, we’re actually defending commercial gyms—though we still think you should build a home gym. 

Our Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench review looks at a piece of fitness equipment you’ve probably seen at many commercial and hotel gyms, but may have a skewed idea of because you’ve only used it after someone neglected to wipe their back sweat off it.  

That’s not you, right? Right?! Ok, good. 

Home Gym Equipment Reviews That Hit the Nail on the Head 

In life, it’s best to trust the experts in any given field. That’s why you go to doctors for medical advice, lawyers for legal advice, and Garage Gym Reviews for home gym equipment advice. Our team of certified personal trainers, weightlifting coaches, and competitive athletes has decades of experience in testing and using every type of equipment there is, and professional expertise to back up our opinions.

And when it comes to weight benches, we’ve done exhaustive research on dozens of the best models. We look at everything from the vinyl padding to the legs’ stability, putting each one through countless bench presses and, on occasion, dragging them through the streets to test their durability. 

Hammer Strength Multi-Adjustable Bench

Hammer Strength Multi-Adjustable Bench

The Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench is a versatile and durable bench designed for both dumbbell and barbell exercises. The high-quality frame has a user weight capacity of 350 pounds and an overall load rating of 845 pounds.The Hammer Strength bench boasts a wide range of positions for a variety of exercises with both incline and decline abilities ranging from -10 to 75 degrees. Despite its sturdy build, LifeFitness claims the Hammer Strength bench is 33% lighter than its counterparts at just 85 pounds. The bench also comes with rubber transport wheels for moving around your home gym.Reviews of the Hammer Strength bench have been positive. Customers report that it arrived in a timely manner, assembles easily, and feels very sturdy and stable.

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A Quick Look at the Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench

Hammer Strength has been making strength training equipment since 1989, and much of their products can be found in more than 100,000 commercial gym facilities across the world. The Hammer Strength Multi-Adjustable Bench is a flat-incline-decline bench that comes with seven back rest positions and four seat adjustments. 

Although it’s heavy-duty, this bench is lightweight at only 85 pounds but can still withstand up to 845 pounds, which is perfect for most home gym owners.   

Our Tips

• Understand this bench has a maximum user weight capacity of 350 pounds, which is separate from its maximum training weight of 845 pounds.  

Is the Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench Worth It?

The Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench sells for $739, which makes it one of the more expensive weight benches on the market. Is it worth it? In a word, yes. It’s a well-built and highly-versatile piece of equipment that will last many years in your home gym, and if you’re worried about the price you should know there’s affordable financing options available. 

But in a few more words, there are much better value weight benches out there that perform just as well, if not better than this one. Here’s who we think should splurge for the Hammer Strength bench, and who might be better off elsewhere.  

Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench Specs

Let’s Get Hammered — Off Gains, Of Course  

There’s a reason why so many fitness facilities have the Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench and other Hammer Strength equipment in their gym—they’re high-quality and heavy-duty, plus have great versatility. I’ve used this bench for several bench press PRs, step-ups, dumbbell presses, and just about any other move that requires a weight bench. And even after being used by countless other people, the vinyl padding remains firm but comfortable, the powder coat stays smooth, and the frame is sturdy at every angle. 

But writing a review based off my experience in a commercial gym would be like judging a car after it’s been driven around by someone else, so that’s why we had Garage Gym Reviews founder and weight bench aficionado Cooper Mitchell try out the bench in his home gym.

“It has all of the quality features of Hammer Strength, but is a bit lighter and more compact,” Coop says. This bench is about 30 pounds lighter than Hammer Strength’s other adjustable benches, and several hundred dollars cheaper. 

One note is this bench is better suited for Coop’s 5-foot-9-inch frame than my 6-foot-3-inch stature. The back pad length is only 32.7 inches in length, and 11.5 inches in width. Myself, and other vertically-gifted online reviewers, have found ourselves a little cramped on this bench at times.

Back pad lengths vary greatly from brand-to-brand—for example, the Ironmaster Super Bench Pro has a 44-inch long back pad, and the REP Fitness AB-4100 has a 36-inch long back pad (flat benches can have pads as long as 50 inches), so you’ll want to do your research and find one that works for you. 

Bench Height

The Hammer Strength Multi-Adjustable Bench is 18.5 inches in height, which makes it just half an inch taller than the International Powerlifting Federation standard for weight benches. 

Even if you’re not practicing for a powerlifting meet, it’s usually a good idea to get an IPF-complaint bench because it allows most lifters to firmly plant their feet on the ground to get enough foot drive for their lift (though due to their construction, incline benches are always going to be a bit higher than flat benches). 

That said, we don’t think most people will notice the half-inch difference on this bench. 

Pad Gap

Every adjustable bench is going to have a pad gap, or a space in between the seat and back rest, when it’s in the flat position, unless we’re talking about the REP Fitness AB-5000 Zero Gap, which has a special mechanism to eliminate that gap. 

I can’t say how wide the pad gap is on the Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench, but it’s significant. And Coop agrees with me. “When it’s flat, it’s annoying,” he says. 

“Ten years ago, it would have been the standard but with so many benches featuring hardly any gap, I have become spoiled,” he adds. “For most, they wouldn’t notice it, but I would prefer it if it was smaller.”

Same, Coop. Same. 

Footprint and Portability

At 52.5 inches in length and 22.2 inches in width, the Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench is just around the average size for an adjustable weight bench. 

There are two rubber transport wheels and a handle for easy portability, and since it only weighs 85 pounds, it should be easy for just about anyone to move around the home gym when needed. 

But there’s one feature both Coop and I wish this bench had, especially considering its price point: A stand-up feature for better stowability. We wouldn’t recommend standing this up as is, as there’s a risk it might fall over.  

Aesthetics

The Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench only comes in one color: Black. Don’t get us wrong, it looks nice, but so many companies these days are offering benches in multiple colors to help you match the look of your power rack.  

Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench vs REP Fitness AB-3000 FID 

4.30

Great Value FID Bench

REP AB-3000 FID Adjustable Bench

The REP AB-3000 FID Adjustable Bench is a great addition to a home gym for its versatility. FID stands for flat, incline, and decline. This bench allows you to hit multiple muscle groups in one compact design. It offers a thick, firm, 2.5-inch pad finished with textured vinyl for added comfort.The REP AB-3000 FID features a seat with a ladder and pin design. It has five adjustable positions, and, unlike other seats, this offers a wide, non-tapered base for more comfort and stability.The back of the bench features seven position options ranging from a negative 20-degree decline to an 85-degree incline. The ladder design on the bench is made with bare steel for durability and helps prevent paint chipping.This bench has a minimal gap at 1.75 inches between the seat and back which is beneficial when using it for flat benching. It has a 1000-pound weight limit for maximum weight tolerance. It is also a 15-minute easy assembly with video instructions. 

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I asked Coop if he thought the Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench was a wise purchase, and this was his response: “I do think there are better value benches out there, but I don’t think this would be a waste of money or a bad choice.”

If you’re someone who’s focused on value but still wants a bench similar to Hammer Strength’s, we recommend the REP Fitness AB-3000 FID. It’s a flat-incline-decline bench that comes with 12 total adjustment positions (Hammer Strength’s has 11), a thick 2.5-inch pad, and the lone decline option is -20 degrees, which is deeper than Hammer Strength’s -10 degrees (we’re not sure how much that will matter to most people).

And you get all that for $319, more than half of what you’d pay for Hammer Strength (and you get free shipping). We will say REP’s benches aren’t nearly as durable as Hammer Strength’s, and this bench is not made in the USA. 

Both are a great choice, it just depends how much money you’re willing to spend on a bench. 

Financing, Warranty, & Returns

Hammer Strength offers financing options for its adjustable weight bench, starting at $62 a month with Affirm. You can see if you qualify at checkout. 

The Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench comes with a 10-year warranty for the frame, and 90 days for the upholstery. 

You have 30 days from the date of delivery to return the Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench for a full refund, minus a 20 percent restocking fee. To return an item, you must either call customer service at (800) 527-6065 (hit prompt 5, then prompt 2) or email consumerorders@lifefitness.com. 

Ordering and Assembling the Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench

The Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench ships mostly in one piece, and assembly is as simple as screwing in the rear frame into the main frame. 

Customer Reviews

The Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench has a 4.9 average rating with seven reviews as of this writing, and hardly a negative thing said about it. The only complaint came from a reviewer who stated the pad width was a bit too narrow for their 5-foot-11.5-inch frame. 

Final Verdict of Our Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench Review Review

The Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench is a tank, and if you’re thinking about getting it for your home gym, we think it’d be money well spent. Are there better values out there? Yes, but that doesn’t mean this is an unwise investment. 

Again, if this bench can be used by hundreds of people a day (many of whom don’t care to look after it) and can still perform well, it will excel in your home gym. 

Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench Rating

Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench

Our Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench Review looks at a piece of equipment you’ve probably seen in a commercial gym, and lets you know if it’s good for home.

Product Brand: Hammer Strength

Product Currency: $

Product Price: 739.00

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
3.83

Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench FAQs

Anthony O'Reilly, CPT, CNC

Anthony O'Reilly is a NASM-certified nutrition coach and personal trainer whose work has been featured in Muscle & Fitness and BarBend, and previously was an award-winning reporter and photographer for newspapers on Long Island and Queens, NY. After spending most of his life overweight, he dropped 80 pounds and took control of his health and fitness. Outside of work, he still enjoys Little Debbie cakes but offsets them with rigorous hikes and workouts. He's an avid Manchester United supporter, through thick and thin.

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