Quick Overview
The Flybird Adjustable Bench is a budget-friendly home gym weight bench. It’s far and away the most popular in its class on Amazon and has some good specs at this price point. With flat, incline, and decline capabilities and an 800 lb weight capacity, it’s a solid choice for budget shoppers.
Who It’s Right For
- Those looking for an FID weight bench
- Budget shoppers
- Beginners and recreational lifters
Things to Consider
- Taller in the flat position
- Lower weight capacity than some
- Not ideal for tall users (6’3″+)
If you’ve ever searched for a weight bench on Amazon, you’ve definitely come across the Flybird Adjustable Bench.
They’ve attracted over 24,000 reviews from home gym owners looking for a budget-friendly option.
I’ve owned and tested dozens of benches, from ultra-budget to uber-expensive. And while higher-end benches have better features and performance, not everyone needs to drop hundreds (or thousands) of dollars.
That’s where benches like this one from Flybird make sense.
To be clear, this isn’t the best bench I’ve ever used – not even close, really.
But it has some nice qualities and impressive features for a shockingly low price, making it my top recommendation for those looking to spend as little as possible.
In this review, I’ll cover everything you need to know about the Flybird Adjustable Bench. I’ll share the pros and cons and compare it to the popular REP AB-3000 2.0.
Let’s dig in.
Flybird Adjustable Bench
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The Flybird Adjustable Bench is an ultra-affordable flat, incline, and decline bench with good overall specs at a great price.
When I first researched this bench, I was blown away by how many reviews it had. As of this review, it has 2x more than the next closest bench and more than 10x most others.
I knew I had to try it for that reason alone.
What made this bench so much more popular than the others? Was it performance? Price? Or just good ‘ole marketing.
After using it, I realize it’s probably a combination of the three.
Aside from the price, there are some things I really like about this bench, including the folding design, decline angles, and adjustable supports for leveling.
And yet, there are other things I don’t care for, like the pad size, bench height, and leg attachment covering.
This bench serves a clear market, but does it fit your needs? Let’s have a look at the specs and jump into the review.
Specs
- Weight: 28.5lbs
- Total Length: 45.5″
- Total Width: 14.2″
- Total Height: 18.8″
- Adjustment Type: Ladder
- Back Pad Angles: -35, -10, 0, 23, 37, 51, 85
- Seat Pad Angles: 0, 12, 23
- Back Pad Length/Width: 30″ / 10″
- Seat Pad Length/Width: 15.6″ / 11″ & 15″
- Pad Gap: ~2″
- Weight Capacity: 800 lbs
- Construction: Steel
- Other Features: Removable leg rollers and foldable design
- Assembly Time: 5 minutes
Design and Construction
The Flybird Adjustable Bench is a no-frills weight bench with a simple but clever design. They don’t state a steel gauge, but this bench comes with an 800 lb capacity, which is more than most in its class, and it weighs less than 30 lbs.
While the construction is good overall, it’s not as durable or strong as higher-end benches. Despite that, the bench is reasonably stable and capable of handling most exercises. It begins to experience some wobble when lifting heavy, especially with lateral stress on movements like dumbbell pullovers, but I’m generally impressed for the money.
Two of the biggest benefits of the bench include decline angles and a foldaway design for easy storage. Let’s take a look at these and more of its core features.
The Frame
The first thing to note about the Flybird Bench frame is the height. At 18.8″ high, it’s higher than most others, which may be problematic for shorter lifters. I typically recommend benches between 17-17.5″ because users can generate better leg drive.
For this reason, some people may find using the leg rollers helps when pressing in the flat position.
The front and rear supports both measure 14″ long, which has pros and cons. The front is wider than many benches, which improves lateral stability on that end. However, it may interfere with foot placement for some lifters.
The rear support is actually narrower than most benches, reducing lateral stability on that end. I appreciate the space savings but would like to see a slightly wider rear base.
A unique feature of the Flybird bench is that it includes dials on each end of both support bases. By turning the dial, you can raise or lower the corners in case your floor isn’t completely level. I really like this addition and believe other benches could benefit from a similar design.
The Adjustment Mechanism
The Flybird Adjustable Bench uses a pop-pin adjustment mechanism for the seat and back pads. It’s a straightforward system that takes only a few seconds to change. While it’s not as fast as a ladder adjustment, it’s similar to a telescoping spine bench.
The back pad offers seven angles: -35, -10, 0, 23, 37, 51, 85. I like the decline angles, but besides the 85-degree incline, the others are somewhat non-traditional. That doesn’t make them ineffective, but you likely won’t find an exact match to some benches you may be accustomed to. The same can be said of the seat angles, which are 0, 12, and 23 degrees.
Despite this, I think ease of use is arguably more important for most buyers of this bench. And in that regard, I’m quite pleased.
Product Suggestion
Adding markers on the seat and back supports via vinyl stickers or laser cutouts would make it easier to identify the working angle.
The Pads
The pads on the Flybird bench aren’t great but are consistent with other benches in this budget class. The back and seat pads are around 1.75″ thick and are fairly comfortable. The foam isn’t as grippy or dense as more expensive benches, but it works fine for basic strength training.
While the seat pad is 11″ wide, the back pad is only 10″. Most higher-end benches have a 12″ wide back pad for shoulder stability, though some taper down to 10″. I personally prefer a 12″ pad for traditional bench pressing, but 10″ is great for accessory movements like pec flys and more.
The biggest problem for some may be that the back pad is only 30″ long. Although I love this length for chest-supported rows, taller lifters will likely have issues on bench press since their head may extend over the pad, particularly on incline movements. Flybird doesn’t recommend this bench for people over 6’2″.
Another thing to point out is the gap between the seat and back pads in the flat position is around 2″. This is fairly common for budget benches and may cause some discomfort if you accidentally set up or slide into the gap when pressing.
The Leg Attachment
The ability to use decline angles is one of the biggest benefits of the Flybird bench. You can easily accomplish this by using the provided leg roller and attaching it under the seat.
I love how you can remove the leg roller entirely, which some benches don’t offer. For example, not everyone likes this attachment when using the bench in flat or incline angles.
I also like how Flybird offers four angles for the leg roller, making it more comfortable for different user heights and preferences.
However, in my experience, the size and foam are downsides. The attachment is stable enough, but I’d like to see wider coverage across the shin. I’m also not a fan of the exposed foam, which has an odd texture and is more susceptible to holding moisture.
Product Suggestion
Adding a vinyl wrap to the leg roller would feel more comfortable, increase durability, and reduce moisture/germs.
Storage and Mobility
I have mixed feelings about this bench when it comes to storage and mobility. On one hand, I like the foldaway design for saving space. When folded, it only takes up 14″ wide x 14″ deep x 32″ tall. However, it doesn’t stand perfectly vertical unless you rest it against a wall.
You also can’t simply stand it vertically when in an unfolded position. This is a feature I appreciate on more expensive benches, but it’s not a deal breaker in my eyes. Some benches can’t be stood or folded, so it’s nice to at least have one.
Mobility is generally lacking because this bench doesn’t have wheels on the rear support. It’s a major benefit on heavier benches, but considering this bench weighs less than 30 lbs, it’s not very difficult to move around.
Delivery and Assembly
This bench was shipped FedEx to my house in a single box. A nice benefit is there isn’t much assembly required. It arrives in its folded position, meaning you only need to remove a single pin before using it.
You can expect around 5 minutes from unboxing to lifting, making it considerably shorter and easier than beefier benches.
Price & Warranty
The biggest reason to consider this bench is the price. As of this review, you can buy it for as low as $112 shipped to your house. If you’re a budget shopper who doesn’t need a 1,000+ lb capacity bench, this one is hard to beat for the money.
The bench comes with a 1-year warranty on the frame and 30 days on the pad, which is decent at this price. More expensive benches will certainly have longer warranties, but others in this class carry similar ones. Flybird also offers a 30-day return policy with no questions asked.
User Reviews
When you search for an adjustable weight bench on Amazon, you’ll find a wide selection, many of which have up to a couple thousand reviews.
The Flybird Adjustable Bench has a staggering 24,000 reviews as of this article. I’m excited that so many people are investing in their home gyms, but I’m also amazed.
This bench averages 4.6/5 on Amazon and 4.8/5 on Flybird’s website. As you might expect from an ultra-budget bench, most users love the price and overall functionality for what you pay.
The biggest criticisms were it being too tall in the flat position and not having the quality/long-term durability of heavier-duty benches.
Flybird Adjustable Bench vs. REP AB-3000 2.0
The REP AB-3000 2.0 is one of the most popular budget benches on the market – it’s my personal favorite in this class. It’s more expensive than the Flybird, but it may be a worthy upgrade for some users. Let’s see how they compare.
The biggest difference between these two benches is that the REP AB-3000 is built with heavier & stronger materials, giving it a bigger weight capacity of 1,000 lbs (vs. 800 lbs). It’s also more durable and comes with a much longer warranty of 10 years (vs. 1 year).
Another difference is that the AB-3000 uses a traditional ladder adjustment on the back pad, although it uses a pop-pin mechanism on the seat. The ladder is easier to use and faster to adjust.
Both benches offer decline capabilities, but the Flybird bench offers an extra decline setting. However, the AB-3000 has an extra back angle and two extra seat angles, making it more versatile overall.
The REP bench also has a beefier leg attachment with vinyl-wrapped foam and six angle adjustments. Lastly, the AB-3000 sits 17″ off the ground for better leg drive and accommodates taller lifters better than the Flybird.
One downside of the REP bench is it doesn’t fold or stand vertically, so it’s not as good for tight spaces. It’s also more expensive by as much as $200 as of this review.
If you just need a basic bench at an ultra-budget price, I think the Flybird Adjustable makes a lot of sense. However, if you have some extra money to spare and want a more durable and versatile bench, the REP AB-3000 2.0 gets my vote.
Read More: REP AB-3000 2.0 Review
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely affordable
- Most reviewed adjustable bench with solid ratings
- Flat, incline, and decline settings
- Foldable design for saving space
- Easy to operate
Cons
- Flat bench height may be too tall for some
- Not as heavy-duty as more expensive options
- Not ideal for tall lifters
Final Thoughts
The Flybird Adjustable Bench is an ultra-budget option and ideal for beginners, recreational lifters, and budget shoppers.
It has an impressive weight capacity for its class, and I like its ability to decline. I’m also impressed with its fast adjustments and folding frame for saving space.
However, the pad quality and size are lacking, and the overall durability isn’t as strong as more expensive benches.
If you’re looking for a basic adjustable bench under $150, this is my top choice. But I recommend higher-end options if you want maximum performance and longevity.