Bench Advice Please! Inspire Fitness SCS vs Hoist HF-5165 Bench

funny- i have a cheap marcy- its works for for my needs

I dont know if i would spend $500 on a bench and then another $150 on a attachment- so i cant comment on that...
not the same type of isolation, but a what about a arm blaster? they sell them on amazon...

Have you reached out fitness avenue to see when they will have the following back in stock?
flat-incline-decline-bench-w-curl-attachmen

submalst wrote: ↑ funny- i have a cheap marcy- its works for for my needs

I dont know if i would spend $500 on a bench and then another $150 on a attachment- so i cant comment on that...
not the same type of isolation, but a what about a arm blaster? they sell them on amazon...

Have you reached out fitness avenue to see when they will have the following back in stock?
flat-incline-decline-bench-w-curl-attachmen

I own this one, for reference.

https://www.amazon.ca/Impex-MD859P-Delu ... B00245TWWG

The curl piece is broken and doesn't properly go in the slot anymore. The bench part has cracked, and the locktite in the screws are not holding the base anymore either. It's not really very heavy duty for what I do anymore, so I was looking for something more robust. The one you linked seems similar to the one I've got now which is my concern.

They both look solid. My only concern is how they will work for decline bench press with that solid bar holding your feet vs a soft, bigger pad.

I personally have this one:

https://www.spartanfitness.ca/products/ ... 54e2&_ss=r

Which is identical design to this one:

https://www.treadmillfactory.ca/xm-fitn ... ench-xm100

Both those are cheaper and also come with preacher curl and leg cur/extension attachments BUT they have the giant feet in the front which do get in a way a little bit when bench pressing so the ones you posted are better. Not sure if that's worth $150 to you. I just put my feet on top of the metal feet.

I've been using my bench since March 2020 around ~4 times a week and I've had no issues but admittedly I do not have the preacher curl attachment, only the leg curl attachment. The leg curl attachment for the Vo3 is also built to accommodate standard plates so I had to get a separate adapter. If I could go back I'd just get the XM one which already comes with adapter and I'm sure it would fit my bench too. I do think preacher curl is overrated and I like the arm blaster suggestion but I like having at least the leg curl/extension option until I splurge for a GHD which would be the better alternative.

EDIT: Also check classifieds as the XM bench comes in sets with rack and I've seen quite a few listed online.

If you are set on getting a preacher curl attachment, and don't mind spending the money, I'm sure both Hoist and Inspire are fine.

But an alternative to a preacher curl attachment is a simple arm blaster.
Here's a good article comparing the pros and cons of preacher curl station vs arm blaster:
https://www.alphamale.co/arm-blaster-vs-preacher-curl/
If after reading that, you are still set on getting a preacher curl station, then just spend the extra money and get one of the two you found (you'll be happier in the long-run).
But if the arm blaster sounds like a good alternative, then get the BOS FID bench and add a BOS arm blaster for only $30.

I'm a big fan of Bells of Steel equipment.
FYI, here's one old (five years ago) post in bodybuilding forum where someone asks about the BOS FID bench, and people say how can it be so much less expensive than the competition, and some pointed to minor spelling errors on the website as a concern.
The owner of Bells of Steel chimed in, and at that time, BOS was a "one-man operation", and he explains why he can provide a good price/quality equation. They have grown substantially since then with hundreds of positive reviews, and now have a temporary Toronto warehouse to supplement their Calgary HO, and plan to open a permanent Toronto showroom and warehouse later this year. Since you are in GTA, they will be a great option as you can pick-up locally.
https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthre ... 301&page=1

Thanks for all the feedback, and I'll look into the blaster. The more I think about it the more I'm thinking it's silly to spend $200+ more for the bench then another $150 for the add-on.

DarekP84312 wrote: ↑ They both look solid. My only concern is how they will work for decline bench press with that solid bar holding your feet vs a soft, bigger pad.

I personally have this one:

https://www.spartanfitness.ca/products/ ... 54e2&_ss=r

Which is identical design to this one:

https://www.treadmillfactory.ca/xm-fitn ... ench-xm100

Does it wobble at all with dumbbell exercises? How is the sit up function? Any other complaints? Apparently it's 11 gauge steel rated for 330lb user plus 330lb weight. I just worried those legs would stick out. Any other concerns with using it?

Avenger wrote: ↑ Does it wobble at all with dumbbell exercises? How is the sit up function? Any other complaints? Apparently it's 11 gauge steel rated for 330lb user plus 330lb weight. I just worried those legs would stick out. Any other concerns with using it?

I don’t own dumbbells over 20 lbs but I use it for incline, decline, and flat bench, shoulder press, side raises, skull crushers, leg curls, and leg extensions every week. It has been rock solid and very stable. Some people complain about the gap between seat and back pad but it never bothered me and I think it’s almost necessary design for something that does decline, incline and flat. I think if you’re a hardcore power lifter and bench 400+ then maybe a dedicated flat bench would be a good idea but for everything else I have no complaints.

Edit; one design flaw is that with the leg curl attachment I have to keep the seat at a slight incline and set the attachment a little higher or full size 45lb Olympic plates hit the floor when all the way down. I got used to it though and it hasn’t been a problem since I figured out how to set it up.

Just an update. I ended up buying the Gearforfit G1 Adjustable FID Bench which is a rebranded Rep AB-3000. It's got a smaller footprint, the height is 17.5 inches, and it's 86lb. I'll figure out another way to do preacher curls. I'm happy so far as it seems solid and very well built.

Avenger wrote: ↑ Hi everyone, I was hoping for some advice on a sturdy bench to replace my cheap Marcy/Impex one.

I was hoping for a solution that could incorporate a preacher curl attachment which is what led me down this road, but given it will likely increase costs by about $200, I think it might be more effective to do these exercises another way.

Which of the two would you choose? It seems they are both going to cost the same $549 Canadian.

(https://www.spartanfitness.ca/products/ ... -fid-bench)

(https://www.flamanfitness.com/inspire-f ... bench.html)

The preacher curl add-on is slightly less expensive from Inspire, but otherwise both seem to be very similar. Are there any key considerations I am missing here that warrant buying either the Inspire or Hoist over the other?

Alternatively I'm thinking of getting the Bells of Steel FID Commercial 3.0 bench for $349 and figuring out another way to do preacher curls.

https://www.bellsofsteel.com/product/fl ... ine-bench/

Any feedback on something better that includes a preacher curl option in the Toronto area would be appreciated.

Just an update. I ended up buying the Gearforfit G1 Adjustable FID Bench which is a rebranded Rep AB-3000. It's got a smaller footprint, the height is 17.5 inches, and it's 86lb. I'll figure out another way to do preacher curls. I'm happy so far as it seems solid and very well built.

After a long wait & research, I just pulled my trigger on Ironmaster Super Pro bench considering their adjustments options versatility & low height, etc.

nowhere2010 wrote: ↑ After a long wait & research, I just pulled my trigger on Ironmaster Super Pro bench considering their adjustments options versatility & low height, etc.

Nice, where did you purchase that from? I am quite happy with my Gearforfit (Rep Fitness AB-3000) bench. I also recently bought a separate Parabody curl bench I am quite happy with.

Avenger wrote: ↑ Nice, where did you purchase that from? I am quite happy with my Gearforfit (Rep Fitness AB-3000) bench. I also recently bought a separate Parabody curl bench I am quite happy with.

Placed online order directly in their US site as seems they got some new stock after a very long time.
My main reqs are :
-max 18" tall from ground
-Leg Support (for decline) & Leg curl attachments are must for me as i ve a limited space & need to manage with bench
-Also got Dips extension with bench which is great so no need to buy a separate Dip station
I was not very sure Rep fit benches meet all these reqs for my price
To add, i tried a few benches before & not comfortable with that gap between seat and back especially for Flat.