Are Flybird Weight Benches Good Or A Total Waste Of Money? A Comparison With Their Competitors

There’s no denying that Flybird weight benches are affordable, but are they any good? After all, the last thing you want is to think you’ve snagged yourself a bargain, only to realize it’s a hunk of trash. Not only is this hugely disappointing, but also a waste of time and money.

As a whole, not all of the Flybird weight benches are good. The FB149 is the only Flybird weight bench that offers good value for money and is very good overall. The other Flybird weight benches do not offer the same great quality as the FB149.

The Flybird FB149 can be purchased cheaply and quickly on Amazon.

Having been through the buyer phase myself (twice!), I can offer a lot of insight to help you avoid choosing the wrong weight bench as a beginner or intermediate.

This post will share my personal experience and research into the different Flybird benches as well as their closest competitors.

Metrics Used To Judge Each Flybird Weight Bench

I used these metrics to determine how good the Flybird benches are, as well as their competitors:

• Stability: based on the dimensions of the frame base and weight of the bench. A good weight bench has a wide base and heavy weight which makes it more stable.

• Weight capacity: based on the steel quality and stated weight capacity. A good bench has a weight capacity of 700-lbs or more.

• Comfort: based on the seat/backrest padding material, thickness, and outer lining. A good workout bench has a padding thickness of more than 1.5″ and lined with a synthetic material that provides grip.

• FID capabilities: based on the number of FID (flat/incline/decline) settings. A good adjustable weight bench has multiple angles to target different muscle groups.

• Ease of use: based on difficulty to assemble the bench and speed to adjust the FID settings. A good bench is easy to assemble and the angle adjustment mechanism is quick to use.

• Folding capabilities: based on the ability to be folded when not in use. A good bench can be foldable or unfoldable. Since folding function comes at the expense of weight capacity, it’s down to your personal preference.

• Warranty: based on the standard manufacturers warranty. A good gym bench should last a lifetime and have at least 10 years warranty.

• Total # reviews: based on the total number of Amazon and manufactuer website reviews. A good weight bench has at least a few hundred reviews which shows it’s been purchased a lot by other customers.

• % reviews >3 stars: based on the percentage of reviews that rated at least 3 stars. A good weight bench should score at least 80%, showing positive feedback from the majority of customers.

• % reviews >3 stars: based on the percentage of reviews that rated under 3 stars. A good weight bench should score under 5%, showing minimal negative feedback from the majority of cusotmers.

• Reddit opinion: based on general feedback from the Reddit community (positive, neutral, or negative). Redditors are usually more critical than the average consumer, so a weight bench can score a “neutral” and still be considered good (assuming other metrics are also positive).

How Good Are The Flybird Weight Benches?

The Flybird weight bench portfolio comprises 4 different models.

Here’s a Flybird bench comparison summary of the essential features for each bench:

Metric	Flybird Adjustable Bench FB149	Flybird Adjustable Bench FB139	Flybird Bench W/ Waist Pad	Flybird Foldable Flat Bench
Stability	26lb bench weight, 49.2″ x 15.7″ base.	21lb bench weight, 42.3″ x 15.1″ base.	21lb bench weight, 42.3″ x 15.1″ base.	21lb bench weight, 45.3″ x 12″ base.
Weight Capacity	700lbs	600lbs	650lbs	650lbs
Comfort	2″ low-density foam, Faux leather lining	1.8″ low-density foam, Faux leather lining	2″ low-density foam, Faux leather lining	2″ low-density foam, Faux leather lining
FID Capabilities	Flat, incline, decline	Flat, incline	Flat, incline	Flat
Ease Of Use	Easy assembly, Fast FID adjustment	Easy assembly, Slow FID adjustment	Easy assembly, Slow FID adjustment	Fully-assembled
Folding Capabilities	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Warranty	1 Year	1 Year	1 Year	1 Year
Total # Reviews	16,881	14,574	14,574	59
% Reviews >3 Stars	88%	88%	88%	91%
% Reviews >3 Stars	4%	4%	4%	2%
Reddit Opinion	Neutral	None	None	None

1) Flybird FB149 adjustable weight bench.

This is a mid-range weight bench, and in my opinion, the best out of all the Flybird benches.

In fact, I’ve been using this bench for over a year now, and I love it.

How good is the FB149?

Overall, the Flybird FB149 is a good bench for the price.

It costs slightly more than the other Flybird benches, but it’s also much better to use:

• Wide base and 26-lb frame. Makes this the most stable of all the Flybird benches.
• 700-lbs capacity. More than enough for most people. Great for dumbbell training.
• Good padding. Most comfortble and grippiest of all the Flybird benches.

One of my favorite things about the FB149 is the quick FID adjustment.

The spring-loaded automatic adjustment bolt allows you to quickly choose between flat, incline, and decline angles.

In comparison, the other Flybird benches are cumbersome to adjust, and their decline function is almost unusable.

Another great feature about the FB149 is the folding capabilities.

Both the bench and footrest folds up perfectly and this allows you to stow it away when it’s not being used.

The other Flybird benches can also be folded.

But their footrests are non-collapsible, causing them to stick out awkwardly.

My only major issue with this bench is the seat height.

It sits 20″ from the ground, and this makes it unsuitable for people under 5’6″.

Who’s the FB149 good for?

This bench is perfect for beginners and intermediates alike.

It’s affordable, comfortable, stable, and provides many functional features.

Most importantly, it’s ideal for people who have limited space.

If you’re looking for a good weight bench for under $150, this is the best in my opinion.

It’s perfect for beginners/intermediates to do dumbbell training and build their first 20-lbs of muscle at home.

It can also be used for barbell training, but I wouldn’t use it to lift more than 400-lbs.

2) Flybird FB139 adjustable weight bench.

This is another mid-range bench from Flybird and costs slightly less than the FB149.

I swapped my FB139 for the FB149.

How good is the FB139?

Despite all the Flybird weight benches getting good reviews, these aren’t justified for the FB139 in my opinion.

Yes, it’s cheap and foldable like all the Flybird benches.

The padding isn’t terrible either.

But it has several issues:

• Narrow base and 21-lb frame weight. Makes it unstable especially when lifting heavy weights.
• 600-lb weight capacity. It’s the lowest out of all the Flybird weight benches
• Decline function is badly designed. It’s almost unusable.
• Cumbersome adjustment and folding mechanism. It comprises 3 small removable pins that are fidgety and can be lost.
• Footrest doesn’t collapse. It sticks out even when the bench is folded. This makes it less stow-able.

FlyBird - Adjustable Workout Bench

Therefore I cannot say this is a good weight bench.

Whilst it’s affordable, it’s not that much cheaper than the FB149 and certainly doesn’t provide as good value for money as the FB149.

Who’s the FB139 good for?

The first reason why you would get this bench is if you really can’t afford the extra 10 bucks for the FB149.

Most of us can and should.

The second reason why you would get this bench is if you’re under 5’6″.

One good thing about this bench is the seat height.

It only sits 16.5″ from the ground.

And this means people with short legs can still get a good foot-floor connection in exercises like the bench press.

It’s ok to use this bench for light to moderate dumbbell training.

3) Flybird adjustable bench with waist pad.

This is essentially the same design and construction as the FB139.

And whilst I’ve not tested it, the reviews match up to my impressions based on the fact that this is essentially a re-packaged FB139.

How good is the Flybird bench with waist pad?

Just like the FB139, this is one of the Flybird weight benches that are not-so-good.

All the negatives of the FB139 also apply to this weight bench

FLYBIRD Foldable Weight Bench COMPARISON: Best Cheap Fold Away Adjustable Workout Bench Home gym

But my biggest gripe with this bench is with the waist pad.

It’s supposed to provide lower lumbar support and relieve stress from your lower back.

But to me, it’s more of a gimmicky feature than a functional one.

As Home Gym Reviews says, your back barely even touches the pad during use.

So you’re essentially paying more than the FB139, for nothing.

Who’s the Flybird bench with waist pad good for?

No one in my opinion.

If you’re not gonna get the FB149, then the FB139 is the second choice.

You’ll save yourself 10 bucks and essentially get the same bench.

But for the majority of people, the FB149 is the best option.

4) Flybird foldable flat weight bench.

This is a new mid-range flat bench from Flybird and the cheapest of all the Flybird weight benches.

I’ve not tested this so my opinions are based on reviews and specs.

How good is the Flybird flat bench?

There aren’t many reviews for this bench.

From what little reviews there are, they seem to be positive.

But I’m not convinced.

I’m concerned about two specs in particular:

• Narrow base and 21-lb weight. As with the other 2 not-so-good Flybird weight benches, this bench has a narrow base and also very light. This screams low-stability to me.
• 650-lb weight capacity. This isn’t great for a flat weight bench (most handle 800-lbs and more). Additionally, my past experiences tell me to always subtract 150-lbs from the stated capacity unless verified by a user.

Who’s the Flybird flat bench good for?

This is only good for casual lifters or if you’re training for general fitness.

The specs don’t look good enough for anyone trying to build muscle at home.

For an extra 40 or so bucks, I’d much rather just go with the FB149.

If you’re interested in a flat bench, there are much better alternatives than the Flybird flat bench. Check out my other article to see how much a flat weight bench should cost!

How Good Are Flybird Weight Benches Vs Competitors?

Now let’s see how good the Flybird weight benches are compared to their competitors.

I’ve already explained why I feel the FB149 is the best Flybird bench, so I will use it as the representative Flybird to compare with the competitors.

For the sake of fair comparison, I’ll only be analyzing adjustable weight benches and not flat benches.

Flybird vs budget competitors:

Metric	Flybird Adjustable Bench FB149	Budget Competitor #1 Figolo Adjustable Bench	Budget Competitor #2 Magic Fit Adjustable Bench
Stability	26lb bench weight, 49.2″ x 15.7″ base.	24lb bench weight, 44.9″ x 17″ base.	Bench weight unstated, 54.7″ x 16.9″ base.
Weight Capacity	700lbs	600lbs	550lbs
Comfort	2″ low-density foam, Faux leather lining	Pad thickness unstated, Faux leather lining	Pad thickness unstated, Faux leather lining
FID Capabilities	Flat, incline, decline	Flat, incline, decline	Flat, incline
Ease Of Use	Easy assembly, Fast FID adjustment	Easy assembly, Very slow FID adjustment	Easy assembly, Very slow FID adjustment
Folding Capabilities	Yes	Yes	Yes
Warranty	1 Year	None	1 year
Total # Reviews	16,881	1,681	2,782
% Reviews >3 Stars	88%	80%	85%
% Reviews >3 Stars	4%	10%	7%
Reddit Opinion	Neutral	None	None

A budget adjustable bench is less than $90.

Being a mid-range adjustable bench, the FB149 would be expected to crush its budget competitors.

And it does.

Just the reviews alone say a lot.

The Flybird’s closest budget competitors not only have a smaller total volume of reviews but there’s also a higher percentage of negative reviews.

Cheap benches are unstable, uncomfortable, and have a much lower weight capacity compared to the Flybird.

They also have poor quality padding which is thin, easily warps, and some reviews even mention chemical smells.

These budget benches also feature the same fidgety 3-pin folding/adjusting mechanism as the FB139.

Furthermore, some of these benches don’t even come with a warranty.

If you can spend an extra 40 bucks on the Flybird FB149, I highly recommend you do so!

Check out my other article for 11 benefits of a weight bench for gaining muscle!

Flybird vs mid-range competitors:

Metric	Flybird Adjustable Bench FB149	Midrange Competitor #1 Fitness Reality 1000 Bench	Midrange Competitor #2 PasYou Adjustable Bench
Stability	26lb bench weight, 49.2″ x 15.7″ base.	35lb bench weight, 59″ x 23.5″ base.	26lb bench weight, 55″ x 15.7″ base.
Weight Capacity	700lbs	800lbs	500lbs
Comfort	2″ low-density foam, Faux leather lining	1.8″ low-density foam, Faux leather lining	1.5″ high-density foam, Faux leather lining
FID Capabilities	Flat, incline, decline	Flat, incline, decline	Flat, incline, decline
Ease Of Use	Easy assembly, Fast FID adjustment	Easy assembly, Fast FID adjustment	Moderate assembly, Moderate FID adjustment
Folding Capabilities	Yes	Yes	Yes
Warranty	1 Year	1 Year	1 Year
Total # Reviews	16,881	8,568	6,208
% Reviews >3 Stars	88%	93%	90%
% Reviews >3 Stars	4%	3%	4%
Reddit Opinion	Neutral	Neutral	None

A mid-range adjustable bench costs between $90-180.

All Flybird benches are considered to be mid-range benches.

In my opinion, the Fitness Reality bench is the closest competitor to the FB149.

So how do they compare?

Although the Fitness Reality is more stable and has a higher weight capacity, there’s one major issue that put me off.

The footrest.

Unlike the FB149, the Fitness Reality footrest is unpadded.

As a result, it digs into your shins.

This issue is further compounded by the poor decline design of the Fitness Reality bench.

The backrest goes so far back that your back overarches.

Together, this makes for an extremely uncomfortable lifting experience, especially in decline angles.

A potential positive for the Fitness Reality bench is that it has a lot of incline settings.

But in my opinion, these are redundant.

Even though the Flybird has fewer incline angles, it’s still more than enough for most people to effectively hit all regions of the chest.

Finally, the Flybird has almost twice the volume of total reviews compared to the Fitness Reality.

Since both benches are similarly priced, I had to go with the Flybird FB149.

Check out my other article for more details on the reasoning behind my choice for the best Flybird weight bench!

Flybird vs premium competitors:

Metric	Flybird Adjustable Bench FB149	Premium Competitor #1 REP Fitness AB3000	Premium Competitor #2 Rogue AB-3
Stability	26lb bench weight, 49.2″ x 15.7″ base.	95lb bench weight, 54″ x 24″ base.	117lb bench weight, 68″ x 12″ base.
Weight Capacity	700lbs	1000lbs	1000lbs+
Comfort	2″ low-density foam, Faux leather lining	2.5″ high-density foam, Neoprene lining	1.8″ high-density foam, Neoprene lining
FID Capabilities	Flat, incline, decline	Flat, incline, decline	Flat, incline, decline
Ease Of Use	Easy assembly, Fast FID adjustment	Moderate assembly, Fast FID adjustment	Moderate assembly, Fast FID adjustment
Folding Capabilities	Yes	No	No
Warranty	1 Year	10 Years	Lifetime
Total # Reviews	16,881	863	98
% Reviews >3 Stars	88%	92%	100%
% Reviews >3 Stars	4%	3%	0%
Reddit Opinion	Neutral	Positive	Negative

A premium adjustable bench is one that’s $200+.

As you would expect, premium benches are generally superior to the Flybird benches.

The more expensive ones are as close to a commercial gym bench as you’ll get at home.

They’re much more stable, comfortable, and durable (most offer long warranty periods).

But obviously, they cost a lot more too.

The REP Fitness AB3000 is almost twice the price of the Flybird FB149 but it’s awesome.

One thing you should be aware of, however, is that premium adjustable benches are rarely foldable.

That’s because they favor weight capacity over foldability.

So should you choose the Flybird or a premium bench?

Here’s my advice:

If you have the spare cash, are committed to training, and have room for a premium bench, then go for it.

It will likely last you a lifetime.

But if you don’t have the space/cash, and you’re a beginner or intermediate, the Flybird will do you just fine!

Check out my other article to find out if Flybird is a good brand!

Are Flybird Weight Benches Good Value For Money?

In my opinion, not all of the Flybird weight benches offer good value for money.

The FB149 is great and you do get your money’s worth (and more).

But the FB139, Flybird bench with waist pad, and Flybird flat bench don’t provide nearly as much value.

These 3 benches can offer some value for absolute beginners who have just started weight training.

But for anyone who intends to progress with their training and keep on building muscle, then just spend a little bit extra for the FB149.

Combine the FB149 with a pair of heavy adjustable dumbbells, and you’ll have everything you need to gain 20-lbs of muscle at home (and more).

If you’re interested you can check out my full FB149 review here.

Good Exercises To Do With The Flybird Weight Benches

All the Flybird benches are ideal for dumbbell training.

Only the FB149 is suitable for barbell training due to its higher weight capacity and stability.

Here are some of my favorite Flybird weight bench exercises:

• Flat dumbbell bench press. Mid pecs and triceps.
• Incline dumbbell bench press. Upper pecs and triceps.
• Decline dumbbell bench press. Lower pecs and triceps.
• Chest fly. Mid-pecs.
• Incline chest fly. Upper pecs.
• Decline chest fly. Lower pecs.
• Dumbbell pull-over. Upper pecs and lats.
• Seated shoulder press. Deltoids.
• Single-arm row. Back, rear deltoids, and biceps.
• Incline reverse fly. Trapezius and rear deltoids.
• Decline sit-ups. Abdominals.
• Split-squats. Quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves.
• Half-pistol squats. Quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves.

Adjustable dumbbells are a cost and space-efficient way to perform these exercises at home.

I use and recommend the Powerblock Elite series.

They aren’t the cheapest dumbbell out there, but definitely provide some of the best value for money.

They replace up to 28 pairs of dumbbells (saving you space) when the addon kits are fitted and are also some of the most affordable premium selectorized dumbbells.

They’re versatile, easy to use, and come with the famous Powerblock customer support (with a 5-year warranty).

If you’re on a tight budget, then Yes4All spinlock dumbbells make a cheap but good alternative.

They’re heavy but you won’t get as many weight increments as the Powerblocks.

Some people also prefer to use a bench with resistance bands instead of dumbbells.

If this is something that appeals to you, then I use and recommend the Undersun Fitness bands.

They can be used with the Flybird bench to perform a range of fly, pull, press, and squat movements that target the entire body.

They cost a bit more than the budget ones, but they have a lifetime warranty and great reviews.

Having gone through multiple sets of cheap bands that snap easily, I would advise you to stay well away from the budget models.

Best Flybird Bench Recap

Conclusion

Whilst they’re all affordable, not all of the Flybird weight benches are good in my opinion.

Having researched and tested a few of them, I can highly recommend the Flybird FB149.

This is the bench I currently use and one of the most affordable and functional weight benches for home weight training.

As for the other Flybird benches, I would advise you just spend the extra 40 or so bucks for the much better FB149.

It’s totally worth it!

You can get it slightly cheaper on the Flybird website, but they charge for shipping and the overall price works out slightly more expensive than Amazon.

What do you think about the Flybird benches?

Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading guys!

Peace Out,

Kal

(Biochemistry BSc, Biomedical Sciences MSc, Ex-Skinny Guy)