York Barbell 45071 Adjustable Fitness Bench
The York Barbell company, which was founded by the legendary Bob Hoffman, has been around since 1932. You would assume any fitness company that has been around more than 80 years has a pretty good idea what goes into making first-rate exercise equipment and in the case of York Barbell you would be right. One of their most widely known workout benches is the Adjustable Fitness Bench.
The price of a middle-market pair of lifting shoes is all it takes to bring home the York Fitness Bench. This amazing piece of fitness tech is lightweight, easy to store and versatile from the word go. It can easily be adjusted on the fly into any FID (flat/incline/decline) position and keeps you a snug 22” off the floor. In this article, we will review this quality bench so you have the information you need to make an informed buying decision.
Has a solid steel design which is made to last
Extra thick cushioning which can prove beneficial for people with lower back problems
Adjustable design for various exercises and muscle groups
Wheel rollers and handle for easy movement
The bench does not fold beyond the horizontal level
Features
Cushioning
The extra-thick cushioning helps to make many exercises much more comfortable to perform and more effective, for exercises such as the lateral chest extensions. How often have you stopped doing a great chest exercise because the bench you were using was either unstable or did not have enough cushioning to keep you comfortable without doing it?
Adjustability
Who Can Use This Bench
There is a stereotype that men will use the bench for pounding heavier weights while women will find it useful for lighter exercises. This may be true, but it is definitely not the rule. The York bench will work great for any kind of exercise as long as the total weight of the user and the weights they are using does not go over 480 pounds.
If your fitness goal is to build a bigger chest or shoulders, this bench will give you enough support so reaching your goal will be much easier. It works great in any home gym and can be used by everyone in the family. The steel tubing construction is solid enough to provide a safe and stable surface. This bench can also be a good option for people with back problems. If you work sitting at a desk or if you spend many hours every day on your feet, there is a good chance you are developing some lower back issues. The extra cushion thickness will give you an increased comfort level.
What To Look For
Probably the first thing you want to look for is the maximum load capacity the bench is loaded for. Make sure it is going to be able to handle your body weight, the amount of weight you will be working out with, and a little wiggle room for the weight you might gain as you increase your muscle mass.
It is imperative that you are aware that when it comes to the maximum load, you should always take your body weight into account. For example, if your current weight is at 200 pounds and you know that you are strong enough to press your own body weight, you are going to want a bench that will be able to withstand at least 400 pounds of maximum weight. Keep in mind though that the main focal point of your fitness training is build up strength and muscle, so you will probably actually need a bench that is around 100 pounds heavier.
The utility benches may be cheaper but they are not highly rated, mostly because they have lots of parts that are moving. They have a lot of points which are stressed and because of this which will limit the amount of weight the bench can handle. If you want a bench with a higher rating you can only achieve that through high-quality construction. It needs to be built with strong, durable welds and a minimum number of moving parts.
The next thing you should take a look at is the height of the bench. The height of the bench is a major factor to consider when buying a bench. If the bench is high for your body type, you will struggle with getting your feet to place firmly on the ground, which will limit your ability to push down through the floor when you bench. You will also not achieve a proper and safe lower back arch. If you get a bench that is too low, it will not let you sit in a proper position, so you won't be able to exert the right amount of force when you are pressing overhead.
How thick and firm the padding is will be another important consideration when you are choosing a weight bench. Getting the right bench that works best for you to achieve your goals is vital. There is a great pointer that we recommend. If you can push your thumb down in the middle of the padding and can feel the wooden base, then the padding is too soft.
You will also want to take a look at the bench width. The overall width of your bench can impact your exercise execution and performance. If the bench happens to be too wide it can restrict your movement with your lats, which may prevent you from being able to fully extend your resistance as your elbows move below your body. This can limit you on the weight you will be able to lift and also hinder your range of motion that you will be able to achieve. The width of your bench should give you the ability to have your lats extend easily over the sides of the bench.
About York Barbell Company
Hoffman starting creating barbells and moved on to other fitness equipment. He was huge in promoting weightlifting and even supplied barbells to the military during World War II. When the war ended, demand for his barbells increased due to the soldiers returning after being exposed to the weightlifting. The York Barbell name has always been a huge part of the weightlifting culture. Bob Hoffman began pioneering a lot of today’s accepted exercise philosophies. The York Barbell Company corporate office is also the home of the official Weightlifting Hall of Fame in Pennsylvania.
The Final Word
Hoffman starting creating barbells and moved on to other fitness equipment. He was huge in promoting weightlifting and even supplied barbells to the military during World War II. When the war ended, demand for his barbells increased due to the soldiers returning after being exposed to the weightlifting. The York Barbell name has always been a huge part of the weightlifting culture. Bob Hoffman began pioneering a lot of today’s accepted exercise philosophies. The York Barbell Company corporate office is also the home of the official Weightlifting Hall of Fame in Pennsylvania.