BowFlex 5.1S Adjustable Weight Bench

Name: BowFlex 5.1S Adjustable Weight Bench
Brand: BowFlex
Rating: 2.6 (5 reviews)

The BowFlex 5.1S is a stowable FID (flat/incline/decline) adjustable weight bench built around a double-T footprint designed to eliminate wobble during heavy lifts. The back pad adjusts across six positions – 30, 45, 60, and 90 degrees, plus flat and a 20-degree decline – and the seat pan adjusts independently for exercise variety.

Its headline feature is a stowable design: the bench folds and stands vertically against a wall, cutting its floor footprint by more than half when not in use, and built-in transport wheels make it easy to reposition or roll into storage. It supports a combined 600 lbs (300 lbs user weight plus 300 lbs lift load), which comfortably covers casual and intermediate lifters but trails higher-capacity rivals aimed at serious powerlifters. Editorial reviewers rate the steel frame and stability highly, while Reddit owners have reported the back-pad locking pin failing under heavy incline load – a discrepancy worth knowing about before buying.

Buying guide

Best Adjustable Bench for Tall Lifters — July 2026 Best Adjustable Bench for Your Home Gym — July 2026

Weight	60-70 lbs (reported figure varies slightly by source)
Mobility	integrated transport wheels + vertical stowable storage
Warranty	30-year frame; 1-year parts and upholstery (manufacturer); optional 5-year Protection+ plan available
Dimensions	61.3" L x 28.1" W x 49.5" H
Bench width	28.5"
Weight capacity	600 lbs (300 lbs user weight + 300 lbs lift load)
Stowed dimensions	23.9" L x 28.1" W x 52.3" H
Back pad positions	6 positions: 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°, flat, and -20° decline

What is a Adjustable Bench?

What an adjustable bench is

An adjustable bench tilts from flat to incline (and often decline) so one bench covers flat press, incline press, shoulder work, and rows. It’s usually the second thing people buy after a rack and bar — and the piece you press heavy over, so build quality matters.

What actually matters

Pad gap. The gap between the seat and back pad at incline. A big gap lets you slide down under heavy incline pressing; the best benches minimize or close it (“zero-gap”). It’s the single most-cited bench complaint.
Weight capacity. Compare the rated capacity to your bodyweight plus the heaviest load you’ll press. 1,000 lb-class benches are common and leave margin.
Adjustment ladder & seat angles. More back-pad angles (often 6-7) plus multiple seat angles mean better positioning; a ladder-style adjustment is fast and rock-solid.
FID vs. flat-to-incline. FID (flat-incline-decline) adds decline; many home lifters never use it, so a flat-to-incline bench is fine and often cheaper.
Wobble, pad width & footprint. A wide, firm pad and a stable frame with minimal rock make heavy pressing safer; check the standing/folded footprint if space is tight.

Who it’s for

Anyone doing barbell or dumbbell pressing at home. A flat bench is enough if you only bench flat; otherwise an adjustable bench is the more versatile buy. Most home lifters are well served in the $400-$600 range.

How it compares

	BowFlex 5.1S Adjustable Weight Bench	Gold's Gym XR 10.1 Olympic Weight Bench with Weight Storage	Performance Series Adjustable Bench	Cap Barbell Deluxe Utility Weight Bench
GymRadar rating	2.6/5	2.56/5	2.97/5	3.0/5
Price	$329.00		$249.99	$112.99
Weight	60-70 lbs (reported figure varies slightly by source)		52 lbs	42-45 lbs (reported figure varies slightly by source)
Mobility	integrated transport wheels + vertical stowable storage		rear transport wheels + knurled carry handle
Warranty	30-year frame; 1-year parts and upholstery (manufacturer); optional 5-year Protection+ plan available		1 year (extended coverage available)	30 days
Dimensions	61.3" L x 28.1" W x 49.5" H		56" L x 25" W x 17.25" H	53" L x 27" W x 45-46" H (assembled)
Bench width	28.5"
Weight capacity	600 lbs (300 lbs user weight + 300 lbs lift load)		650 lbs (at any angle)	500 lbs flat, 400-410 lbs inclined (capacity includes user)
Stowed dimensions	23.9" L x 28.1" W x 52.3" H
Back pad positions	6 positions: 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°, flat, and -20° decline		7 positions, 0-85 degrees	7 positions, 0° flat to 90° upright

2.6/5 · 5 GymRadar reviews

Reviews by source

Expert	2.6/5	5 reviews
Youtube	3.7/5	3 reviews	3 videos considered with usable transcripts, net generally positive with real caveats. Home Gym Reviews (Pkfl4uAXmvA) calls it 'still a good bench' but flags a durability worry about the pad cracking under heavy use and actively recommends checking Titan/REP FID benches in the same price range first. BuyRightProducts (3LWWD8D4W4M) gives a balanced pros/cons review and concludes it's a smart choice for home-gym users 20-45 who want durability and versatility without going premium, but not for serious powerlifters. UTECHPIA (oYPcZw2KNpQ) is strongly positive in a hands-on demo -- 'a fantastic bench,' 'a great solid bench,' 'a perfect addition to any gym.'
Reddit	2.0/5	2 reviews	2 threads with substantive, product-specific sentiment (via pullpush.io archive), both negative. r/homegym 'FID Bench - got a Bowflex 5.1s Stowable as a gift': commenters describe 'fatal flaws' in the bottom leg supports, with one offering to take the bench off the OP's hands entirely. r/homegym 'Picked up the Flybird Pro Bench on Black Friday': a former owner who upgraded away from the 5.1S calls it 'a garbage bench. Don't buy it. Literally anything was an upgrade,' reporting the pull/pin locking system failed mid-set on an incline press and dropped the bench into decline.

The Bowflex 5.1S is a stowable FID bench that splits opinion sharply between editorial reviewers and everyday owners. Editorial coverage (Garage Gym Reviews 3.8/5, GarageGymPro 4.6/5, several YouTube reviewers) calls out its double-T footprint stability, six adjustment angles, and vertical-storage design as standouts — versatility and functionality are the strong dimensions. Build quality is the weak spot and the most contested one: reviewers praise the sturdy steel frame, but Reddit’s r/homegym community reports the pin/locking mechanism failing under load mid-set and bulky leg supports getting in the way, echoing GymRadar’s own independent rating of 2.6/5 (n=5) — a stark contrast to the glowing editorial scores. Value is reasonable at its typical $280–$330 street price, but the 600-lb capacity trails rivals like the REP AB-3000 2.0 and Bells of Steel benches that offer 1,000 lb.

+Versatility: Six back-pad adjustment angles from 30° decline to 90° upright cover flat/incline/decline work in one unit (manufacturer, Garage Gym Reviews)
+Functionality: Double-T footprint with 28.5" width eliminates wobbling during heavy lifts (YourWorkoutBook)
+Functionality: Stows vertically against a wall, freeing floor space in small home gyms (manufacturer, GarageGymPro, YouTube: Home Gym Reviews)
+Value: Street price of roughly $280-$330 undercuts many premium FID benches (YourWorkoutBook, manufacturer)
+Build quality: 30-year frame warranty backs the steel construction (manufacturer, Garage Gym Reviews)

−Build quality: Reddit owners report the pin/locking mechanism failing mid-set under incline load, dropping the bench into decline unexpectedly (r/homegym)
−Build quality: GymRadar's independent rating (2.6/5, n=5) runs far below editorial scores, suggesting real-world satisfaction lags the reviews (GymRadar)
−Functionality: Roughly 3-inch gap between the seat and back pad in flat position is uncomfortable for shorter or taller lifters (GarageGymPro, YouTube: BuyRightProducts)
−Versatility: 600-lb capacity trails rivals like the REP AB-3000 2.0 and Bells of Steel benches that reach 1,000 lb (Garage Gym Reviews, YourWorkoutBook)
−Functionality: Angle adjustments are described as time-consuming compared to ultra-premium models (Garage Gym Reviews, YouTube: BuyRightProducts)

$329.00

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