The Gikpal adjustable weight bench is a budget FID bench sold on Amazon.
It comes with a few accessories like a leg extension attachment, preacher curl pad, and resistance bands.
I see it as an option for beginner lifters who are looking to get their feet wet without spending too much on equipment.
In fact, I started my garage gym with a similar bench I bought off Craigslist and I got a lot done with it for a couple years.
Let’s check it out!
Unboxing
The weight bench came in a medium sized box.
It’s a foldable bench so that helps to reduce the cost of shipping and space that it takes up.
Once I opened up the box, all the contents were wrapped in plastic.
Here’s everything out of the box.
The weight bench comes folded in half and 90% assembled.
Other parts include foam pads for the leg extension attachment and the preacher curl pad.
This is what the bench looks like when folded in half.
It comes with a pair of resistance bands that can be connected to the legs via carabiners.
They’re very light bands so I just use them to warm up.
And here’s the Gikpal weight bench all put together.
Now I’ll deep dive into all the little details.
Specs
- Frame material: Alloy steel
- Weight capacity: 330 lbs
- Dimensions: 35.4″D x 11.8″W x 11.8″H
- Upholstery: Faux leather
- Backrest adjustments: 7 total adjustments (flat, incline, decline)
- Preacher curl pad adjustments: 3 angles
Features
Adjustable Backrest
This is an adjustable FID bench so I can make the backrest flat, incline, or decline.
I can adjust the backrest in 7 different positions to use it for multiple exercises at different angles.
To adjust the angle of the backrest, I just turn the black knob counter-clockwise.
Pull the pin and adjust the backrest to whatever angle I want and turn the knob clockwise until it’s tight.
Here I’m using it on the incline bench position.
I’m holding 72 lbs adjustable dumbbells on each side plus my weight of 160 lbs so the weight bench is supporting just a little over 300 lbs.
This is the highest setting that I can use for exercises like seated dumbbell bicep curls, lateral raises, or seated shoulder presses.
And this is the decline setting.
Related: Max Bench Calculator
Extended Headrest
A neat feature about the Gikpal adjustable weight bench is that the headrest can also be adjusted in length.
This is a good option for taller people so they can still get head support.
To adjust the headrest, I flip it up to get a better look at the bottom.
Right there you’ll see two black knobs.
And all I have to do is twist them to loosen them up and tighten them once I get the desired length.
Righty tighty, lefty loosey.
Adjustable Preacher Pad
The preacher curl pad is narrow so I can only use one arm at a time.
But it is adjustable in 3 angles.
From the side you can see right below the pad there’s a pin that lets me select the angle I wanna use.
When it’s at an angle it works like a preacher curl bench and when it’s more vertical it feels like an arm blaster.
Since the pad is narrow, I just use my adjustable dumbbells whenever I want to isolate my biceps.
The short pad kinda makes sense since the weight bench doesn’t have any place to rest a preacher curl bar.
Right below the preacher curl pad there’s a black knob where I can adjust the height of the pad.
Leg Extension
The Gikpal adjustable weight bench also comes with a leg extension attachment.
Here you can see the foam that goes under my knees.
It’s not AbMat foam quality but it does offer cushion to make the leg isolation exercises comfortable.
Then at the bottom there’s another pair of foam pads for my shin bones.
As you can tell from the narrow diameter of the weight horn, this is made for standard sized weight plates which I don’t have.
It also has a tiny spring collar to keep the weight plates from moving around when doing leg extensions.
Too bad I couldn’t really test this part out since I don’t have the right weight plates for it.
As far as the spring collar, it’s probably not even necessary since the weight horn is angled up.
The leg extension attachment is connected to the bench by two pins.
Top pin is the pivot point and the bottom pin locks the leg extension down.
Again, this bench is adjustable and budget friendly so you’ll see a lot of those pins used.
Resistance Band Hooks
Right below the leg extension attachment you’ll see a couple of hooks on the feet.
These are there to anchor down the resistance bands that come with the weight bench.
The weight bench doesn’t weigh much so I have to sit on it or stand on the feet to make sure it doesn’t move when using the bands.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Adjustable: Flat, incline, and decline backrest and preacher pad are adjustable to hit different angles
- Foldable: Folds in half to take up less space
- Attachments: Preacher pad, hooks for bands, and leg extension attachment give the Gikpal adjustable weight bench more versatility
- Stable: It’s surprisingly stable for a bench in this price range
- Inexpensive: At less than $140, it’s a decent bench for beginners and those in a budget (there’s usually a coupon available)
Cons
- Resistance bands: Very light resistance.
- Weight horn: Leg extension weight horn is for standard weight plates. I only own Olympic sized weight plates so I couldn’t test it.
Where To Buy
You can find the Gikpal weight bench on Amazon.
As of right now there’s an option to get a $30 discount when you click on the a coupon box next to the price.
It’s a budget bench so it’s not expensive to begin with but it never hurts to get a discount.
Click here to check it out.
Gikpal Adjustable Weight Bench Review
This is a good beginner’s bench that brings several attachments to add some variety to workouts.
I started with something similar when I first started building my home gym and I was able to accomplish a lot with it.
As I got stronger I had to upgrade but we all have to start somewhere.
It’s comfortable, adjustable, and can be folded in half to save space.
Check Out The Gikpal Weight Bench Here
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