NextRep Weight Bench Review: pros, cons, cost, and more (2025)

NextRep has been around for a few years, and from the looks of things, it’s a company that takes its fitness gear seriously. Founded by two powerlifters, these guys should know what they’re doing when it comes to weight bench design.

I’ve been reviewing weight benches from all price ranges for over a decade, and I’ll admit I’m not a huge fan of low-cost folding weight benches. Most of them are unstable and poorly made, making it tough to find a decent one. And the quality can vary hugely in this price range, so be careful.

Still, there are a handful of decent ones out there, and I can happily say that the NextRep Weight Bench is one of them.

It’s not a heavy-duty weight bench; you won’t find a proper heavy-duty bench in this price range. So don’t expect a commercial Bench to arrive on your doorstep, but it’s not a mile off. It’s a well-made dumbbell bench for beginners and intermediates.

Sturdy design and versatility are what sells the NextRep weight bench. The adjustable seat is a big plus. There are a few drawbacks, which I’ll talk about later, but overall, I feel the pros outweigh the cons of this bench.

It’s certainly a weight bench I want to take a close look at, and today will take a close look at everything the NextRep Weight Bench has to offer, including those drawbacks.

Also at the end of the review, I want to do a comparison with another impressive dumbbell bench I reviewed recently, the Barwing Weight Bench, as it will be interesting to see how these two match up.

First a quick look at the NextRep Weight Bench product specs!

Why Do We Like The NextRep Weight Bench?

I’ve already mentioned in the intro what sells this bench is its sturdy design. The wide stabilizers, and adjustable levelers make sure there’s no annoying wobble.

But also, you have high-density foam for the padding on the NextRep Bench, which I was really happy to see.

High-density foam padding is the gold standard for weight benches. It’s not too hard to be off-putting or too soft to cause stability issues. It’s just right, and it’s exactly what you want for a weight bench. It’s great to see on a bench in this price bracket.

Fast To Adjust Ladder Adjustment System

My favorite feature of this weight bench is the ladder adjustment system for the back pad. Ladder systems are much faster to adjust than the pull-pin systems found on many low-cost benches, even some heavy-duty ones.

Also, the pin pull type adjustment system isn’t as sturdy, and on low-cost benches, it can snap under heavy weight because the quality of the materials used for the pin and bar is low. So yes, on low-cost benches, try to avoid the pull-pin system for the back rest and opt for a ladder adjustment system

The ladder adjustment system is much faster to adjust sturdier and safer.

Click here to check price of the NextRep Weight Bench on Amazon

Only a Ful 90 Degrees For Seated Shoulder Press

Something that lets the NextRep Bench down slightly is the lack of an 80 degrees or 85 degrees for seated shoulder press.

There are only 90 degrees and 68 degrees for shoulders. The problem with 90 degrees is that you feel like you’re falling forward when shoulder pressing, and it doesn’t allow you to arch your back slightly. You need a slight decline, like 80 or 85, to be able to arch the back.

Arching your back very slightly when shoulder pressing allows you to fully engage your glutes and lower back muscles, which helps to create a more stable base from which to press. The more stable you are, the more power you have.

And the 68-degree option is too low to engage the shoulder muscles fully.

So yes, you have the 90 degrees, it’s better than too low, but still, it would have been nice to have seen the 80 or 85 degrees for seated shoulder presses.

4-Way Adjustable Seat For Incline Pressing

Many low-cost weight benches don’t come with an adjustable seat, which is a shame. An adjustable seat is one of the most important features to look for when choosing your weight bench.

An adjustable seat is going to stop your butt from slipping down the seat when incline pressing, it’s especially important when pressing heavy.

An adjustable seat creates a stable base from which to press, which is essential if you plan on pressing heavy and developing your upper pecs.

The NextRep Weight Bench includes a 4-way adjustable seat that’s more than enough positions for incline pressing.

Full FID (Flat, Incline, Decline) Adjustable Bench For Under $150

I remember the days when you couldn’t get hold of a well-made full FID bench for under $200. Even as recent as 5 years ago, it was tough to find a decent full FID bench for under $200

But in the last couple of years, I seem to be reviewing more and more of them, which is a good thing. Not all are as impressive as the NextRep Bench, but it is great to see the FID benches becoming much more affordable.

What’s great about an FID bench is that you can flat press, incline press and decline press which means you can target all areas of your pectorals. And with the NextRep Bench you have the all important adjustable seat for support when incline pressing. Nicee.

Can The NextRep Weight Bench Handle 1000lb?

NextRep claims their bench has been tested at 1000lb, and I’m sure it can handle that type of weight load a few times.

But we need to remember this isn’t a heavy-duty weight bench; it’s not commercial grade. It’s a lightweight folding bench that weighs 29lb, a long way off heavy duty.

It’s a dumbbell bench. I wouldn’t recommend a lightweight folding bench for heavy barbell lifting inside a power rack. A lightweight bench  is best suited to beginners and intermediates who are tight on space and looking for a well-made folding weight bench.

I wouldn’t risk lifting super heavy on a low cost bench everyday they just don’t have the build quality. Serious lifters will need a more heavy duty bench.

The NextReap bench is an excellent choice for dumbbell lifting at home. Its lightweight foldable design makes it easy to move from room to room and store.

A more realistic daily weight capacity for a 29-lb well-made folding bench would be 300lb user weight and 300lb weight load, which is a combined 600lb max capacity—more than enough for most people’s needs.

Easy Assembly

Most of the NextRep Weight Bench comes pre-assembled. All you need to do is tighten a few bolts, etc. Tools and clear instructions are provided. As it’s fairly light, you should be able to assemble the bench on your own.

Alternatives

BarWing Adjustable Weight Bench

BarWing is another fairly new company, but these guys have impressed me with the high quality of their gear. I reviewed their dumbbell bench a few weeks ago. I was surprised at just how good this bench is for the money.

Firstly, just like the NextRep Bench, the Barwing Bench is surprisingly sturdy for a lightweight bench. It feels much more expensive than its $150 price tag.

It also has those handily adjustable foot levellers to help keep the bench stable on uneven floors, and just like the NextRep bench, the Barwing bench also has wide stabilizing feet front and rear. It’s another very sturdy bench, which is impressive considering the price point.

Still, we must remember that the BarWing Bench is also a lightweight dumbbell bench. It weighs just 30lb, so it’s not a heavy-duty bench made for serious lifters. It’s another well-made, versatile dumbbell bench that folds to less than half its original footprint.

Also, the padding is just right with the Brawing weight bench. It uses 2″ high-density foam padding, which is perfect for any weight bench. It’s not too hard or too soft—just right. The padding covering is pretty good, too, made from hard-wearing PVC.

With the Barwing weight bench, you get 11 back pad positions, a couple more than the next Rep Benchh, and 7 seat positions. It’s a full FID bench with flat, incline and decline. Great for all your pressing needs.

However, just like the NextRep Bench, there is no 85-degree angle for seated shoulder presses, there are just 90-degree and 73-degree angles.

With the Barwing bench, you have the pull-pin system for the back pad, which is a shame. It is slower to adjust than a ladder adjustment system and is not as sturdy.

Still, overall, the Barwing Bench is a well-made dumbbell bench. It’s better than most of the competition in this price range, but for me, the pull-pin adjustment system for the back pad lets down an otherwise very impressive low-cost bench.

To Sum Up

The NextRep Adjustable Bench certainly didn’t disappoint. It’s sturdy, well made, and doesn’t feel cheap. There’s no annoying wobble, which is what’s most important when choosing a low-cost bench, and it folds with ease.

What I liked most about the NextRep Bench has to be the ladder adjustment system. It is one of the only benches under $150 to boast a ladder adjustment system.

The NextRep Weight Bench includes more than enough back pad positions for all your pressing needs and a 4-way adjustable seat so you have a stable base to press from when incline bench pressing.

It looks cool, too. The black and bright yellow create a strong visual contrast. It’s a bench that grabs your attention.

There’s not much I can find to fault about the NextRep Bench its that good for the price point. Just a shame there’s not an 80 or 85 degrees angle for the back pad, but it’s not a deal killer