Rogue Manta Ray Bench Review (2024): Is It Worth The Big Price Tag?

If you’re looking for the best weight bench on the market—one that offers stability, versatility, and a well-built design—the newest Rogue Fitness offering might be exactly what you’re looking for. It has a multitude of functions with flat and incline positions plus an optional foot catch for decline positions. 

In this Rogue Manta Ray Bench review, we’re going to cover all the specs and whether this pricey adjustable bench is worth the investment. It’s also very similar to Rogue’s Adjustable 3.0 Bench and the REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench—so we’ll be comparing all three later on. Let’s dive in. 

We’ve Tested More Than 40 Different Weight Benches

Our team of expert product testers here at Garage Gym Reviews are fitness industry professionals including elite-level strength athletes, competitive weightlifters, gym owners, and certified personal trainers. We have decades of collective industry experience that allow us to test and select the highest-quality products when it comes to anything from best power racks to the best pre-workout. 

We’ve also tested more than 40 weight benches (and have in-depth reviews on more than two dozen) from budget options like the one in this FLYBIRD Adjustable Bench review to standard flat benches like the one we tested for the Rogue Monster Utility Bench review. For the Manta Ray bench, OG product tester and founder of GGR, Coop Mitchell, had hands-on experience with the bench and used it for both pressing and rowing. 

Manta Ray Bench

Rogue Manta Ray Adjustable Bench

GGR Score: 4.4

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Product Highlights

• Incline and decline adjustable weight bench
• Made in the USA
• Patent pending
• Heavy-duty design
• Minimal pad gap

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Minimal 1” pad gap
• 10 different back pad angles
• 5 different seat angles
• Upright storage capability
• Premium wheels
• Handle for portability

Cons

• Expensive price tag
• Only available in black
• Foot catch for decline bench is $200 extra
• Assembly required

Bottom Line

The Rogue Manta Ray Adjustable Bench is a solid bench with both incline and decline capabilities. The Manta Ray offers 10 different back pad positions and five seat positions for incline flat and incline training. When it comes to decline training, the foot catcher is an optional add-on for $200.

A Quick Look at the Rogue Fitness Manta Ray Bench 

Rogue Fitness is an American-based strength and conditioning manufacturer known for some of the most rock-solid and best home gym essentials on the market. 

The brand offers a variety of weight benches including the Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0 (which we have tested and reviewed) and the popular Rogue AB-3, which can be retrofitted to include decline features. The Manta Ray is the newest bench from Rogue and offers a new ladder system to provide more incline and decline positions than the 3.0 bench.

Before You Buy

• Check out our guide on how to save money on Rogue Fitness equipment. 
• Without the additional foot catch, this is not a true FID bench (flat, incline, and decline). 
• The Manta Ray weighs 140 pounds, but the felt weight using the handle will be about 54 pounds. 

Rogue Manta Ray Bench Video Review

Is the Rogue Manta Ray Adjustable Weight Bench Worth It?

The Rogue Manta Ray bench is a valuable piece of equipment offering everything you need in one single bench including a minimal gap between the pads and over 50 configurations between the flat, incline, and decline angles. 

That said, it’s going to cost you. The Manta Ray is priced at $995 for the bench alone. The Manta Ray foot catch is an additional $200, which you’ll probably need if you’re buying this for decline training.

After shipping and tax fees, you’ll be spending nearly $1,300. It’s a stable bench, but it’s not for budget garage gym owners, this is for folks who want the best adjustable bench possible and don’t care how much it costs. For this reason, we give the Rogue Manta Ray a 3-out-of-5-star rating when it comes to value. 

For reference, the REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench offers many of the same FID bench features, but is priced around $600 with free shipping. 

Rogue Manta Ray Bench Specs

Using the Rogue Manta Ray Bench

When it comes to actually using the Manta Ray Adjustable Bench, it works like an adjustable bench should. However, Coop notes that because this is a premium product (with a high price tag), he’s apt to be more nitpicky. “The more something costs, the more critical we should be of it,” says Coop. 

That said, for overall use we give the Manta Ray a 3.5-out-of-5-star rating (with the premium price tag in mind).

For one, the decline options are not available to use unless you purchase an optional $200 foot catch. So that means if you don’t purchase the foot catch, you have a $995 incline bench and flat bench. 

In comparison, “Many true FID benches actually go down and negative 15 degrees or so from the standard without having to add a foot catch,” says Coop. The REP BlackWing Bench is one example of a true FID bench.

Secondly, while we like the ladder-style adjustment system on the Manta Ray, Coop has one call out about it: “The ladder system has more play than I’d expect for the price point,” he says. 

The Manta Ray has a gap on either side of the pin when resting in any given setting on the ladder. While a minor detail, Coop notes that at this price point it’s surprising to see any side-to-side play. 

In use, this won’t be a major issue because you’ll be applying pressure to the back pad with your bodyweight during pressing or rowing movements—but it could be noticeable if you need to make an adjustment and or move your shoulders back mid-set. You may get side-to-side feedback if you make such adjustments. 

For redeeming factors while in use, Manta Ray has 10 different back pad angles and 5 different seat positions; you’ll have nearly 50 different possible configurations to choose from. “Basically more than anybody would ever need, but it allows you really dial in the position for any one,” says Coop. 

RELATED: Dumbbell Bench Press

Plus all the numbers are laser cut so you can easily find the position of your choice without guessing which angle you’re using. 

Heavy But Still Portable

One of the first things that stands out about the Manta Ray—when reviewing the specs or picking it up for the first time—is that it’s heavy. 

“This bench is a tank,” says Coop. “Weighing in at 140 pounds, this is one of the heaviest, if not the heaviest benches on the market.”

However, Coop used a luggage scale attached to the front handle of the bench to quantify how much weight you’ll feel in your hands when tipping the bench up and using the transport wheels. With this test, Coop found that the felt weight is only 54 pounds. In comparison, the REP Fitness BlackWing bench was 64 pounds in felt when picking it up from the front handle.

While the overall construction is heavy, this will still be manageable to maneuver when needed. We give the Manta Ray a 4-out-of-5-star rating for overall footprint and portability. 

Even though it’s heavy and has a decent footprint (at almost 5 feet long and just over 2 feet wide), this bench stores in an upright vertical position. 

There is a UHMW plastic coating on the back side of the frame to keep the pad and frame from contacting the ground. There are also transport wheels for increased portability.

Construction and Durability 

When it comes to the overall construction and durability, we give the Manta Ray a 4.5-out-of-5-star rating. In true Rogue fashion, this is overbuilt. The Rogue Manta Ray is a premium bench made from heavy-duty, thick 7-gauge steel (which adds to the overall weight and heaviness). For perspective, most heavy-duty squat racks only use 11- or 14-gauge steel. 

This is one of the reasons this bench is so expensive. It’s almost unnecessarily durable.

It features an MG black powder coat finish which is glossy (not a typical textured, matte-finish) and is “the same stuff Rogue uses on racks, which is really well done,” Coop notes.

“Plus, the welds are really well done—the stability on this bench partly comes from a welded frame. There is a welded full-arced frame that then bolts to the back legs,” explains Coop. 

Another quality construction feature is an internal ladder system with UHMW plastic throughout on both the back ladder adjustment system and the seat pad. Basically, Rogue revamped the ladder with a laser cut design versus bolting on a ladder to the sides of the frame. 

Coop’s biggest callout on the overall construction is the round, injection molded handle on the front of the bench. “I don’t like it,” says Coop, questioning why Rogue would use plastic when such a small feature could have been a knurled handle. This is where the half points got knocked off.

Designed for Stability

With the weight of a 140-pound adjustable bench, you’ll find quite a bit of stability during any pressing, pulling, or isometric drills. Coop even notes that when the bench is set in any given position, it’s solid enough to make you feel like it’s fixed in that position. 

With the solid weight alone, we’d give this a decent rating, but with the added design choices to the footings, we’re giving the Rogue Manta Ray a 5-out-of-5-star rating on stability.

The footings to the Manta Ray give the bench additional stability. The back supports are wide and offer about 25 inches in length to keep you from tilting while on the bench. 

Additionally, the front foot is designed with a wide, extended steel plate that offers more stability than a traditional square post. This extra fin on either side of the post is also where the Manta Ray name came from. This design helps prevent any side-to-side wobble you might get from a tripod-design bench. 

“It doesn’t really get in the way—you can tuck your feet to the side, behind, or on top without much worry,” says Coop about foot position for optimizing leg drive while benching. 

Pad Gap and Material 

According to Coop, one of the most notable features on the Manta Ray Adjustable Bench is the construction of the bench padding. “Rogue took my favorite vinyl material seen on the Rogue Thompson Fat Pad and added it to the Manta Ray,” says Coop. 

But what’s so special about the vinyl? It’s a unique textured Grabber Vinyl that is quite grippy and doesn’t allow any slipping or sliding under heavy weights—perfect for big benchers or powerlifters. For this reason, the Manta Ray gets a 5-out-of-5-star rating for everything related to the foam and covering. 

“The foam is also the perfect amount of comfort to firmness ratio. I absolutely love these pads,” Coops says about the 12-inch wide pad.

Additionally, there is a minimal 1-inch pad gap, which earns the Manta Ray a 5-out-of-5-star rating in this category. This small gap is ideal for anyone who dislikes the feeling of your glutes being wedged in the pad gap while flat benching in a power rack with a barbell or with a pair of the best adjustable dumbbells. 

This is one of the thinnest gaps on the market (aside from the REP Zero Gap System on the BlackWing) and even thinner than the ultra-sturdy adjustable bench we tested for our Stray Dog Bench review. 

Conveniences and Comfort

With the nearly $1,000 price tag, we thought it would be best to highlight some of the additional features you’ll see in the Manta Ray. 

Firstly, you’ll be able to stand this up in a vertical position for storage with a UHMW plastic coated stand-up foot, but Coop mentions with the heavy weight of the bench you might not want to put in the storage position or take it out of storage as the first thing you do in your home gym.

“Warm up before standing this up, please,” says Coop.

RELATED: Best Warm-Up Exercises 

Additionally, there are no stickers at all on the Manta Ray. Everything is laser-cut or embossed so none of the markings will fade or get stripped off with wear and tear. There are also premium transport wheels, which Coop thinks are the best out of any bench on the market.

Rogue Manta Ray Vs Rogue Adjustable 3.0 vs REP BlackWing

Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0

Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0

GGR Score: 4.5

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Product Highlights

• Made in the USA
• 10 back pad adjustments
• 3 seat positions
• Little gap
• Great pad
• 3x3 11-gauge steel construction

Pros & Cons

Pros

• A lot of adjustment options for a ladder-style bench 
• There’s barely a pad gap at most angles, and sometimes there’s none 
• Very stable and portable 
• Made in the USA
• Heavy duty and made to last

Cons

• All the parts are in separate boxes, so assembly can take a while 
• Other benches, though maybe not quite as good, may provide a better value 
• Not an FID bench as there is no decline position

Bottom Line

The Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0 is one of the brand's best benches to date. Yes, its price tag is a little steep, but if you have the money, you get a lot of bang for your buck.

REP BlackWing

REP Fitness Blackwing Adjustable Bench

GGR Score: 4.6

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Product Highlights

• Heavy-duty FID adjustable bench
• 12 different angle adjustments with back pad
• 6 adjustable angles for seat pad
• Comes in standard and wide widths
• Compatible with optional leg roller attachment
• Vertical storage
• 11-gauge steel frame
• ZeroGrap technology ensures no gap between back and seat pad at every angle
• Pads made with new CleanGrip material

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Wide bench option
• Multiple color options
• Compliant with IPF competition height standards
• 1,000-lb weight capacity
• Vertical storage
• Heavy-duty materials

Cons

• Pricey compared to other adjustable benches
• Some reviews said ZeroGap adjustments were tedious

Bottom Line

REP Fitness has continued to innovate with the Blackwing Adjustable Bench. Continuing to improve on previous benches, the Blackwing is a compact weight bench with a variety of adjustable angles for both the seat and back pads; plus, it stores vertically. The ZeroGap adjustments ensure there is no gap between the two pads at any angle, and the adjustments have been simplified since its first iteration. Although a bit pricey, the innovation and high-quality materials used make this bench worth a look.

Our expert product testers at GGR all agree that the Manta Ray is a high-quality adjustable bench, but it’s likely not worth the extra cash in comparison to the Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0 or the REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench. Both comparable adjustable benches start around $600 with options to purchase additional features. 

RELATED: REP BlackWing Adjustable Bench Review

The Rogue Manta Ray is constructed from heavy-duty 7-gauge steel while the other two benches are made from 11-gauge steel, which is still a quality and durable thickness for a weight bench.

If you’re looking for a true FID bench, the REP BlackWing is the best option with the ability to decline 15 degrees without the need for an additional foot catch. However, if you weren;t planning on purchasing the foot catch and just want a great bench for your home gym, the Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0 is a solid option that we appreciate and use here at GGR. 

RELATED: Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0 Review

Customer Experience 

When it comes to the overall customer experience, Coop gives Rogue Fitness a 5-out-of-5-star rating. Although Coop’s experience with Rogue has been overwhelmingly positive, he thinks it’s worth mentioning that it may take a while to get a response from customer service due to the high demand and popularity of the brand.

You can contact Rogue via live chat on the contact page, general inquiry form, or by calling (614)-358-6190.

Returns

When it comes to returns, Rogue offers a standard 30-day return window. If you plan to return your Rogue product, make sure it’s unused and in new condition. You’ll also need to return it in the original packaging. You’ll be on the hook for return shipping and Rogue won’t refund you the original shipping fees, either.

Warranty 

Like many other fitness equipment brands, Rogue offers varying warranties depending on the product and will also void the warranty if you treat equipment with neglect, abuse, or misuse. 

For the Manta Ray Adjustable Bench, there is a limited lifetime warranty on the frame and structural welds and a 90-day warranty policy on the upholstery. 

Financing Options 

At checkout, you’ll have the option to use PayPal for a speedy experience or use PayPal’s Pay Later option or Affirm for financing options. Both financing options have short loan terms available where you can pay back within a short period of time with no incurred interest. Both third-party options have monthly payment plans, too.

It’s also worth noting that Rogue partners with Rigquipment Finance to offer lending solutions and consulting for gym owners buying between $5,000 to $250,000 of gym equipment. You can see more about that service on the Rogue Financing webpage. 

Customer Reviews

We’re typically a little suspicious when we come across all 5-out-of-5-star reviews on a brand’s website (or Google reviews) but sometimes it’s just because the product is either really good or really new. I think this Rogue Manta Ray is probably a little bit of both. 

At the time of writing this review, the Rogue Fitness website features 12 customer reviews. All customers are pretty much elated with their purchase and all write glowing 5-star reviews. People do mention how heavy it is, and one person even comments that with the foot catch it’s a whopping 160 pounds.

Final Verdict of Our Rogue Manta Ray Bench Review

At the end of the day, Coop doesn’t see the value in the Manta Ray. “I like the bench with the vinyl, how stable it is, the front foot and the internal ladder system, but when you add everything up and compare it to everything else on the market, it just falls flat,” he says. 

While our product testers agree that it’s a rock-solid bench, the price is just a little too hard to swallow for what it is, especially with the $200 optional foot catch. While it’s optional, it’s the only way the Manta Ray can be used in a decline setting. 

Rogue Manta Ray Bench Rating

Rogue Manta Ray Bench Rating

Will this pricey adjustable bench blow your socks off? Find out in our in-depth Rogue Manta Ray Bench review.

Product Currency: USD

Product Price: 995

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
4.4

Rogue Manta Ray Bench FAQs

Lauren Strong, CPT

Lauren is an NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer working with clients of all ages and skill levels. She specializes in coaching the squat, bench, and deadlift and enjoys introducing beginners to barbell training. Before becoming certified, she worked in marketing roles after graduating from the University of Maine with a BA in Journalism. Writing for Garage Gym Reviews blends her two passions: writing and lifting. Lauren spends her leisure time in the kitchen, reading fiction, and taking nature walks. She's also an avid downhill skier, learning how to ski when she was just two years old. She lives in Maine with her husband and two cats.

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If you’re looking for the best weight bench on the market—one that offers stability, versatility, and a well-built design—the newest Rogue Fitness offering might be exactly what you’re looking for. It has a multitude of functions with flat and incline positions plus an optional foot catch for decline positions. In this Rogue Manta Ray Bench review, we’re going to cover all the specs and whether this pricey adjustable bench is worth the investment.  » Read more about: Rogue Manta Ray Bench Review (2024): Is It Worth The Big Price Tag?  » Read more