Everybody wants a six-pack. Well-defined, tight abs are the highlight of any physique.

Do you want to look good on the beach? Maybe you’re a competitive bodybuilder.

Or, perhaps you want to look trim and lean. Regardless, a bench designed for ab work can help you get there.

In this guide, we will review the best sit up bench on the market. Ready? Let’s get started!

In a Hurry? Here is our top pick:

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Best sit up bench

1. REP Fitness AB 3000 FID Adjustable Bench – The Best Overall
2. Bowflex 5.1s Weight Bench – Best Space Saving
3. Stamina Pro Ab/Hyper Bench – Best For Multiple Ab/Back Exercises
4. Marcy Utility Slant Board – Best Value
5. XMark Adjustable Decline Ab Bench – Best Decline Adjustments
6. Fitness Reality X-Class Ab Bench – Best For Women
7. Rogue AB-3 Adjustable Bench – Best Incline/Decline Combinations
8. Belone Sit Up Bench – Best Curved Bench
9. CAP Strength Utility FID Bench – Best For Beginners
10. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-BH6502 Sit-Up Bench

Reviews – The Best Sit Up Benches

REP Fitness AB 3000 FID Adjustable Bench – The Best Overall

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Here’s our pick for the best overall sit up bench. The REP Fitness AB 3000 FID Adjustable Bench features 7 positions. This bench has a weight capacity of 1000lbs. It has a solid steel frame and a thick padding on the bench. Also, the pad and leg support covering consists of a “grippy” material. 

This helps users stay in place even when you sweat. Another benefit of this bench is a minimal gap between the back and seat. There’s an angled grip handle near the footpads to aid mount and dismount. Finally, the REP Fitness AB 3000 FID Bench has transportation wheels for easy moving.

PROS

• Holds Up To 1000lbs
• There’s 7 Total Flat, Decline And Incline Positions 
• The Covering Features A “Grippy” Material To Keep You In Place During Training

CONS

• May Be Difficult For Some Users To Assemble

Bowflex 5.1s Weight Bench – Best Space Saving

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Here’s a bench with 1 decline, flat, and 4 incline positions. The Bowflex 5.1s Weight Bench consists of heavy duty steel. It has a 600lb weight capacity. The seat is adjustable so users can do sit ups at various positions. 

Also, there’s a padded leg brace to hold users secure during use. Finally, the Bowflex 5.1s has an easy push and lift button that allows the bench to be moved. You can then store the bench can then be against a wall or in a corner. By using this option, users decrease the bench footprint by 50%.

PROS

• Holds Up To 600lbs
• There Are 6 Total Positions – 1 Decline, 4 Incline, And Flat
• Feature A One-Click Button That Allows The Bench To Easily Lift Up For Storage

CONS

• There’s No Transport Wheels For Easier Moving

 

Stamina Pro Ab/Hyper Bench – Best For Multiple Ab/Back Exercises

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Here’s an ab bench that adjusts to 4 levels. The Stamina Pro Ab/Hyper Bench also has an adjustable foot/thigh pad. There are pivoting lower-leg foam rollers. This bench features steel construction. 

Also, the bench is thickly padded and has long hand grips. Finally, the Stamina Pro Ab/Hyper Bench folds for easy storage. This bench has a user capacity of 250lbs. 

PROS

• Fully Adjustable Bench – Foot Pads & Thigh Support Adjusts
• Steel Construction
• Folds For Storage

CONS

• Some Users Find That Incline Positions Are Not Securely Held In Place

Marcy Utility Slant Board – Best Value

Here’s our pick for the best value-conscious sit up bench. The Marcy Utility Slant Board features heavy-duty tubular steel construction. It adjusts to 4 incline positions. The thigh support and leg pads are adjustable. 

There’s a foam headrest at the bottom of the board for comfort. The simple design allows several ab exercises as well as sit ups. The Marcy Utility Slant Board is well-padded and folds flat for storage. Finally, the user weight capacity is 250lbs.

PROS

• Features 4 Positions
• Sturdy Steel Tubing Construction
• Holds Up To 250lbs

CONS

• The Leg Pads May Not Be Comfortable For All Users

 

XMark Adjustable Decline Ab Bench – Best Decline Adjustments

This bench is adjustable to 12 decline positions. As you progress in your sit ups, you can increase the decline level. This makes the exercise consistently harder. 

The XMark Adjustable Decline Ab Bench has a padded locking leg holder. There’s a single straight handle to help mount or dismount. 

Also, it has a 14-gauge steel frame. The padding is extra-thick, and there are wheels for easy transport. Finally, this bench has a 400lb user weight capacity. 

PROS

• 12 Incline Positions
• Holds Up To 400lbs User Weight
• Features Transport Wheels

CONS

• The Foot Position May Feel Awkward For Some Users

Fitness Reality X-Class Ab Bench – Best For Women

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The Fitness Reality X-Class Ab Bench is our pick as the best for women. It’s designed to fit the height ranges of average women users. This adjustable sit up bench has 1 flat and 3 decline positions. 

Also, the thigh pads have 14 height positions. The Fitness Reality X-Class Ab Bench has thick padding and features a tapered design. The vinyl covering uses reinforced stitching for durability. 

Also, it has transportation wheels for easy moving. Finally, the user weight load for this bench is 650lbs.

PROS

• User Weight Capacity Up To 650lbs
• Flat/Decline Bench – 3 Decline Positions
• Wheels Allow Easy Moving

CONS

• May Not Be Ideal For Taller Users

Rogue AB-3 Adjustable Bench – Best Incline/Decline Combinations

Here’s a bench with 9 backrest positions and 6 seat positions. The Rogue AB-3 Adjustable Bench features more than 50 seat and backrest combinations. That’s more than any other bench in this guide.

Also, there are rubber feet for stability. Plus, there’s dual knee/leg pads for security while training. This solid steel sit up bench also has a telescoping foot pad assembly. It hooks up easily and you can remove it for decline work. Finally, there are wheels for easy moving.  

PROS

• There Are 50 Available Seat And Backrest Combinations
• Telescoping Foot Pads – Removable For Decline Work
• Transport Wheels For Easy Moving

CONS

• There’s No Mention On The Rogue Website Of Maximum User Weight Capacity

Belone Sit Up Bench – Best Curved Bench

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Here’s our pick for the best sit up bench with a curved design. This provides good back support by conforming to the back’s natural arch. The Belone Sit Up Bench is a complete training bench. It has large bars on the end for pushups and other exercises. The curved backboard is well-padded and height-adjustable. 

There are resistance bands that come with the bench. This allows quite a few additional exercises. The padded leg supports also have a long handle that allows various sit up variations. Finally, the foldable bench has a weight capacity of 500lbs.  

PROS

• Exclusive Complete Training Bench
• Holds Up To 500lbs
• Curved Backboard

CONS

• The Bands May Not Provide Enough Resistance For Users

CAP Strength Utility FID Bench – Best For Beginners

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This bench is our pick as the best for beginners. It’s an ideal first bench for a home gym. The CAP Strength Utility FID Bench has a suggested weight capacity of up to 500lbs. Yet it has been tested up to 1250lbs in the flat position. 

This bench consists of 12 and 14-gauge steel tubing. This is a simple design featuring firm foam padding and foam leg pads. It has several decline and incline positions, plus flat. This works well for various sit ups and other exercises.

PROS

• Tested To 1250lbs – Suggested Load Capacity Is 500lbs
• Features Steel Tubing Construction
• Good Bench For New Users

CONS

• Some Users Feel It Wiggles Too Much During Use

Sunny Health & Fitness SF-BH6502 Sit-Up Bench

This is a smaller bench than others in this guide. It’s a strict sit up bench, not an overall utility bench. The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-BH6502 Sit Up Bench features a lightweight steel frame. 

It’s not adjustable, but it is set at an angle. Still, the leg pads are adjustable. This bench has a user weight capacity of 300lbs. Finally, the smaller, lightweight design allows for easy moving and storage.

PROS

• Shorter Sit Up And Ab Work Only Bench
• Holds Up To 300lbs
• Adjustable Footpads

CONS

• May Be Too Small For Some Users

Buying Guide – How To Choose The Best Sit Up Bench?

What Is A Sit Up Bench

A basic sit up bench has a slight decline with two padded attachments to put your legs through. A good example of this is the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-BH6502 Sit Up Bench. Most of the other benches in this guide are utility flat/incline/decline benches.

The SF-BH6502 is a sit up bench only. You can use every other bench in this guide for various exercises. You can use every other bench in this guide for all types of exercises. Still, they all are designed for various sit ups. These benches will have various angle levels. They are longer and usually have wheels for easy moving.

The bottom line is that you can use any bench that offers decline/incline settings and has leg supports for ab work.

Flat Or Curved Sit Up Bench

There are two types of available backboard designs:

Curved

There’s only one curved backbench in this guide. The Belone Sit Up Bench has a curved backboard to better fit the body’s natural arch. This supports the back during exercises. This makes a curved bench ideal for users with back injuries or back discomfort.

Flat

For other exercises or use in a power rack, a flat bench makes more sense. Unless you have back concerns, a flat bench is the standard type of sit up bench.

What To Look For When Considering A Sit Up Bench

If you’re in the market for a sit up bench, keep the following in mind.

Portability And Size

A sit up bench should be big enough for any size user. At the same time, it needs to be easy to move. As noted, most of the benches have transport wheels. Some, like the Stamina Pro Ab/Hyper Bench, folds for storage. Others, like the Bowflex 5.1s Bench, stand up for easy storage. This feature reduces the footprint of the bench by 50%. 

Easy To Use

A sit up bench should be easy to use. That means it should be easy to adjust to different incline or decline levels. Footpads should also be easy to adjust. Many benches have a long handle to help with mounting and dismounting. Finally, as noted, any sit up bench should be easy to move if needed. 

Construction

A sit up bench consists of the frame and the seat/backrest pads. The frame should be steel or steel tubing. It’s important to check the user weight capacity of the sit up benches you’re considering. Choose a bench that can hold several hundred more lbs than you weigh. As users gain experience and strength, they may add resistance. This can be a 10-25lb plate, or a weighted vest. All of this should be considered when considering weight capacity.

Material And Padding

Every sit up bench in this guide is well-padded. They are all made of dense foam for support. The footpads are also dense foam. One bench, The REP Fitness AB 3000 FID Adjustable Bench, uses a type of fabric that provides a good grip. This helps hold you in place while you train.

Flat/Incline/Decline Adjustments

Look for a bench with at least one decline position and several incline positions. You should consider a bench that puts your head in various decline positions. The front of the bench, where you hook your legs, will be at an incline. You will be performing a sit up towards the front of the bench. The steeper the angle, the harder the sit up. You’ll get stronger with time. You’ll want a bench that can adjust to your current experience level. 

Benefits Of A Sit Up Bench

Here are a few of the benefits of a sit up bench. 

Supports Core Strength

A good sit up bench builds core strength as well as ab strength. Depending on the bench, you can do several ab movements. These also work your core. Many sit up benches are also used for lower back work. One example of this is the Fitness Reality X-Class Ab Bench. 

Supports Sit Ups With Other Exercises

Many of the benches in this guide can be used in a power rack. This opens up use for other exercises. The REP Fitness AB 3000 FID Adjustable Bench is a good example. If you’re a serious trainer, one good all-around bench is the way to go. This way, you can use it for your sit ups. For example, once you’ve done your ab work, use it for bench presses. 

Allows The Use Of progressive Resistance

Progressively adding resistance to an exercise is one of the keys to ongoing progress. On most exercises, you would add weight to the bar. On a sit up bench, you would increase the angle, making it steeper. Some sit up benches, such as the Rogue AB-3 Adjustable Bench. This bench has 9 backrest adjustments and 6 seat adjustments. 

Conclusion

Have you decided to add a sit up bench to your home gym? No doubt sit ups make a big difference in your ab development. This guide will help you make the right choice.

The best place to begin is with our best overall, the REP Fitness AB 3000 FID Adjustable Bench. This bench holds up to 1000lbs. It adjusts to 7 positions. It features material on the backboard and seat that provides a good grip. This helps hold you in place during exercise.

Do you want a curved design due to back problems? If so, the Belone Sit Up Bench features an adjustable curved design. It’s also a complete training bench that includes resistance bands. Plus, there are large bars on the end for push ups.

Do you want a simple sit up bench that’s space-saving? The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-BH6502 Sit-Up Bench is the smallest sit up bench in this guide. It’s designed only for sit ups, and sit up variations.

There’s no doubt, a good sit up bench can add a lot to your training program. Use our guide to choose the best sit up bench for your needs. Now go develop those abs!