Looking for a weight lifting bench...

[Alchemy]

Hi, I was looking for some advice on purchasing a bench for weight lifting. My first option is the V-fit 05L Bench, which costs £50, my second is the V-fit 05LF Bench and Fly, which costs £60.

They're basically the same, except the 05LF has a pec dec. My brother can lift more than 40kgs on his chest, but I'm only starting out on my chest so it seems like a good option. I have tried doing my chest before using dumb-bells, but it didn't work out too well, I had an awkward strain-like pain in my arms, and my chest wasn't fatigued. So the bench with the pec dec would be good for me, my brother would be willing to purchase it if the pec dec was detachable so he can use dumb-bells without the useless (for him) pec dec being in the way when using the bench.

Any help much appreciated.

 

[ExRayTed]

The problem I have with the V-Fit range is they are very poorly built and don't hold much weight at all.

Even though you are only just starting and if you intend to take it remotely seriously ,you will be making massive gains in the amount of weight you can lift in the first 6 weeks.For example my first bench was 40kg after I started training..8 weeks later it went up to 80kg.

If you bought a cheap bench you'd need to replace it very quickly and the bargain you thought you'd got won't be quite the great buy you thought it was

Now to address the pec-dec and lack of fatigue in your chest situation

In order to gain muscle size you need to be able to lift heavy weights.Strength is gained by compound exercises that use more than one body part to perform.Flat bench press,incline bench press and close-grip bench press are all excellent in this regard.

Pec-dec,dumbell flys,cable crossovers etc are isolation exercises and as such will only shape and isolate muscle that is already there.They won't build the strength needed to build the muscle in the first place.Also bear in mind that you can get almost exactly the same effect from a pec-dec by doing dumbell flys.

So firstly,build a routine based on compound movements first.A very good example of a beginners program can be found *Here*

Secondly,Read The Stickies

And thirdly try looking *Here* for a decent bench..you'll be thankfull you spent a little extra in the long run believe me.

 

[Alchemy]

Thanks for the reply, just a shame I didn't see it before I purchased the V-Fit, it arrived this morning but I'm considering sending it back. It came with a ridiculous amount of missing parts, I just e-mailed customer services and this is a copy/paste of the missing items list from that e-mail.

Missing items -

Item no. 17 Quantity - 2

Item no. 18 Quantity - 1

Item no. 19 Quantity - 1

Item no. 46 Quantity - 2

Item no. 26 Quantity - 17

Item no. 29 Quantity - 6

Item no. 22 Quantity - 6

Item no. 23 Quantity - 19

Item no. 25 Quantity - 12

Item no. 24 Quantity - 2

Item no. 48 Quantity - 2

Item no. 49 Quantity - 4

Absolute disgrace as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Alchemy]

One more thing mate...Do you know of a fairly cheap bench (£60-£100) that is literally just a bench that has a rack that will allow me to bench press? Something that can hold quite a lot of weight would be nice too.

Thanks.

 

[red11]

I got my bench from a famous catalogue company, I'm not sure if I can name them but I won't anyway.

But look up item:

302/2683 (The bench I have, can hold plenty of weight 200KG)

I've just noticed that they now stock V-Fit benches, so the York benches have gone up in price.

 

[ExRayTed]

One more thing mate...Do you know of a fairly cheap bench (£60-£100) that is literally just a bench that has a rack that will allow me to bench press? Something that can hold quite a lot of weight would be nice too.

Thanks.

Sorry to hear about the V-Fit bench mate..pretty horrible when something like that happens to something you've been looking forward to.

Anyhow..finding a good basic bench nowadays is far from easy.Lat towers,fly attachments,preacher curl and leg extension are popular with the masses so sell well,despite being next to useless for nearly all beginners.

Try This for around £110..it has fly attachments but you could take them off.The bench itself will hold 200kg on barbell so it should last for a while.

If you wanted to go a little more expensive you could try This for around £130 or This for £145

I know these benches are a little over your budget but you should look at it as an investment..they will last you for years and save you money in the long run.

Some more sites to browse are Here and Here

I've bought equipment from all 3 sites and haven't had any problems.

Good luck in your choice

 

[Alchemy]

Great stuff, thanks very much bench guru.