Titan TITAN Series Adjustable Bench Review (2024): Major Stability at a Budget Price

In GGR founder Coop Mitchell’s honest reviews of strength training equipment, Titan Fitness has historically had some of the worst-rated benches that he’s reviewed. The title of best weight bench typically goes to companies like REP and Rogue Fitness, leaving Titan behind.

That is until Titan released its new (and self-titled) TITAN Series Adjustable Bench. This bench is made to compete with other high-end, heavy-duty competitors like the Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0, or the REP AB-5200 2.0.

But how does this adjustable bench stack up? Does it end Titan’s drought of less-than-stellar weight benches? And would it be a good addition to your current home gym equipment? Coop was able to try out this newest release from Titan Fitness, so we’ll be able to answer all this and more in our Titan TITAN Series Adjustable Bench review.

Fitness Testing Titans

Sure, I’m playing on the brand name here, but the team at Garage Gym Reviews really are titans: experts in the field of fitness equipment. Our team is composed of certified personal trainers, weightlifting coaches, CrossFit-L1 trainers, and competitive athletes, all living and breathing fitness daily. Our experience inside the gym helps us give you honest feedback on top strength equipment: weight plates, power racks, adjustable dumbbells, weight benches, and more.

For the Titan TITAN Series Adjustable Bench, GGR founder Coop Mitchell tested out the weight bench through several workouts, performing exercises such as a flat and incline bench press, as well as rows. Throughout testing he noted and ranked several aspects of the bench, including:

• Stability and construction
• Performance in use
• The foam and covering quality
• The pad gap
• The size and portability of the bench

TITAN Series Adjustable Bench

Titan Series Adjustable Bench

GGR Score: 4.5

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Product Highlights

• Adjustable bench
• Supports up to 1,000 lb (flat) and 600 lbs (angled) weight
• 9 back pad positions and 3 seat pad positions
• Made with 11-gauge steel tubing

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Free shipping
• 27 configurable positions
• Rear transport wheels
• Can store bench upright to save space

Cons

• 1-year warranty
• Only available in one color: black with red knobs
• Limited customer reviews

Bottom Line

The Titan Series Adjustable Bench can create 27 different positions with 9 back pad positions and three seat positions. The bench can support 1,000 pounds in a flat position and 600 pounds

A Quick Look at the Titan TITAN Series Adjustable Bench

Beginning in 2007, Titan Fitness was dedicated to providing quality equipment at budget-friendly prices. While they initially had issues with consistency of quality (check out our first comparison of the Titan T-3 and Rogue R-3 racks to get an idea), in recent years they’ve gone to ensuring quality throughout their pieces, through robotic welds and laser-cutting pieces.

In recent years, Titan has also shown some more innovation and quality in their products, all while still maintaining low prices. Pieces like the Titan Fitness SquatMax-MD and Titan Open Trap Bar have shown quality solutions for specialized equipment in the home gym space, all while keeping the value high and prices low.

The TITAN Series Adjustable Bench is no different. Moving forward, Titan Fitness wants to create three series of benches, each at a different price range:

• Performance Series
• Elite Series
• TITAN Series

Each series will have a flat, incline, and decline bench option. The TITAN Series is their high-end option, although the price isn’t quite a high-end price. Here are some of the nicer features on this bench:

• Knurled handle for lifting
• Nine back pad adjustments
• Three seat pad adjustments
• Red anodized knobs to adjust the ladder systems
• HeftyGrip vinyl covering

This bench is also stable. Made of 11-gauge steel and mimicking other top competitors, this bench has one major difference, and that is the bench frame is welded together—except for the back foot. “There’s so much rigidity and so little movement between the front and the back of the bench, that it is just so solid,” Coop adds.

Before You Buy

• The two main deterrents for purchasing this bench are that it’s not American-made and that the bench doesn’t have decline angles. If you’re looking for gym equipment made in the USA, or for a true FID bench, this isn’t the bench for you.
• The TITAN Series bench has a normal pad gap of 1.5 inches, but the hinge between the two pads is along the padding, making it uncomfortable if you lie onto the bench from the seat pad. However, Titan has made the back pad long enough to where you can do flat bench on it entirely, making this not a real dealbreaker.

Titan TITAN Series Adjustable Bench Video Review

Is the Titan TITAN Series Adjustable Bench Worth It?

In a word, yes. This bench is comparable to the other high-end benches on the market, like the Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0, REP Fitness’ REP AB-5200, or the REP Blackwing. And although this is a bit more stable of a bench than the competitors, the TITAN Series Adjustable Bench still comes in at more than $100 cheaper than the competitors, priced at just under $450. By contrast, Rogue’s bench is $595, and the REP AB-5200 2.0 is $550, or $30 more for the adjustable decline post.

RELATED: REP Blackwing Adjustable Bench Review

This isn’t a true FID bench, meaning it doesn’t have decline angles. If you want the decline angles, the REP AB-5200 2.0 will probably be your best choice. Also, if you’re a fan of American-made equipment, you might want to choose Rogue’s bench. However, if those aren’t factors for your ideal bench, then the TITAN Series Adjustable has the best value out of these benches by far.

Titan TITAN Series Adjustable Bench Specs

Using the Titan TITAN Series Adjustable Bench 

Although the name might be repetitive, the TITAN Series Adjustable Bench is one-of-a-kind right now when it comes to Titan benches—until their newer line of weight benches come out. Working out with the bench—through bench press, seated presses, and one-arm dumbbell rows—really starts to show its premium features, all for a low price. 

Aside from its heft and construction, Titan adds nice touches to give this bench a high-end feel, such as laser-cut logos, a knurled handle for maneuvering the bench, and sharp-looking red anodized knobs to cap the handles of the ladder system. These are the same knobs you’ll find in the SquatMax-MD belt squat machine. 

In his full video review, Coop adds about the anodized knobs: “I love when companies take things from other equipment they’re making and bring it into new equipment they’re making. It provides symmetry and a cohesive design across products—something that Titan has never really had.” He ranks the aesthetics a clean 4 out of 5, docking a point due to the lack of color options.

The adjustable bench has three adjustment angles for the seat pad, and the adjustable back pad can move through nine different positions, ranging from flat to 85 degrees. The bench felt super stable throughout the entire movement and at each and every angle. The 17-inch height while flat is the IPF-approved standard height, making it an ideal bench for powerlifters.

Construction and Stability

The bench frame is constructed of solid 11-gauge steel, allowing for up to 1,000 pounds on the bench while flat, and 600 pounds in its incline positions, although Coop thinks it could hold a little more. 

The main reason is because the entire frame—minus the back foot—is welded together, making for one of the sturdiest benches he’s ever used. He rates the stability a 5 out of 5, saying, “This bench is uber-stable at 120 pounds. It’s very stable while flat, very stable at an incline, and a lot of that comes from the welded gusset in the middle, and I absolutely love it. I think that was one of the best design choices Titan made here.”

The ladder system mimics that of the Rogue Adjustable Bench, with an outside channel to help with stability. One nice addition Titan made, however, is adding UHMW plastic to the channel, so that the ladder doesn’t have metal-on-metal contact, making for a more durable bench. It also makes for a satisfying feel and sound while adjusting angles, according to Coop.

The rails have a zinc finish, not stainless steel. While Coop would prefer stainless steel for more durability, the zinc will work fine, and it keeps the price point low. Overall, Coop rates the construction a 4.5 out of 5.

Portability

Although the bench is heavy, at 120 pounds, the bench has a knurled handle at the front and oversized wheels in the back to lift and roll the bench easily. The back of the bench also has UHMW plastic to balance and protect your bench and floor while storing vertically. Despite its heft, Coop still rates the bench a 5 out of 5 for stowability.

Foam Covering and Pad Gap

Bench padding and covering are very important for weight benches, although they can be overlooked often. For example, Coop’s favorite bench to use from Ironmaster has a lackluster padding that he’s looking to replace. But how does the TITAN Series bench fare?

RELATED: Ironmaster Super Bench Pro V2 Review

Coop really likes the bench pad used on the TITAN Series Adjustable Bench. At 2.5 inches thick, the padding is covered in their HeftyGrip vinyl, which is grippy and keeps you in place. According to Coop, the HeftyGrip vinyl is almost the exact same as REP Fitness’ CleanGrip vinyl. “I put the bench pads side by side; I can’t tell any difference between them,” Coop says. 

The padding is essentially a duplicate of the Rogue Thompson Fat Pad, which is Coop’s preferred pad vinyl, although the HeftyGrip (and CleanGrip) are a close second, receiving a 4.5 out of 5 for its covering.

When it comes to pad gaps, less is more, which is why REP’s Zero-Gap adjustments are popular, even if the seat adjustment systems can be bulky. The pad gap between the back and seat pad is fairly normal at 1.5 inches, but the hinge at the gap is Coop’s main call-out for the Titan bench. 

RELATED: REP Fitness AB-5000 Zero-Gap Adjustable Bench Review

Coop explains, “The bushing roller that hinges the pads sticks up above the pads, so when you use the bench with the pad gap while the bench is flat, starting at the seat pad, you’ll feel that bushing roller sit above the pad every time you roll back. It feels awful.”

However, this isn’t a dealbreaker, as the bench’s back pad is oversized at 40 inches long, so it’s big enough for most people to flat bench on entirely. During a flat bench press, you won’t need to have your hips on the seat pad, avoiding the bushing entirely. Ideally, we’d like the hinge to just be lower, but with the design of the bench, it shouldn’t be an issue for most people.

TITAN Series Adjustable Bench vs Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0 vs REP AB-5200 2.0 

Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0

Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0

GGR Score: 4.5

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Product Highlights

• Made in the USA
• 10 back pad adjustments
• 3 seat positions
• Little gap
• Great pad
• 3×3 11-gauge steel construction

Pros & Cons

Pros

• A lot of adjustment options for a ladder-style bench 
• There’s barely a pad gap at most angles, and sometimes there’s none 
• Very stable and portable 
• Made in the USA
• Heavy duty and made to last

Cons

• All the parts are in separate boxes, so assembly can take a while 
• Other benches, though maybe not quite as good, may provide a better value 
• Not an FID bench as there is no decline position

Bottom Line

The Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0 is one of the brand's best benches to date. Yes, its price tag is a little steep, but if you have the money, you get a lot of bang for your buck.

REP Fitness AB-5200 2.0

REP AB-5200 2.0 Adjustable Weight Bench

GGR Score: 4.5

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Product Highlights

• Adjustable weight bench with an optional adjustable post that makes it a full FID bench
• 6 different color options for both frame and rails
• Standard or wide pad options
• Closed ladder adjustment system for back pad and seat pad
• 57.6” L x 25.8” W x 17.5” H
• Weight capacity of 1,000 lbs

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Option to convert to FID bench
• Vertically stores
• 6 color options for both frame and rails
• Heavy-duty construction
• Knurled stainless steel handle on ladder system
• Free shipping

Cons

• Pricier for a weight bench
• Wide pad option is not made for IPF standards

Bottom Line

The REP Fitness AB-5200 2.0 takes one of their more popular benches and upgrades its customization. The most obvious new feature is the option to upgrade the bench with an adjustable post, allowing the weight bench to be a full flat-incline-decline bench with three decline angles. Additionally the AB-5200 has color options for the bench frame, as well as accent colors for the adjustment rails, creating a heavy-duty bench with a lot of unique customizations.

We’ve been talking about the similarities of this TITAN Series bench with Rogue’s and REP’s benches, so let’s take a look at them and how they all compare.

By structure, these benches are nearly identical. Coop even mentions that the Titan bench almost looks like a carbon copy of the Rogue bench, notably with its black color with metallic rails on the ladder system. All benches are long and heavy, adding to their stability, and the benches all have a minimal pad gap—with Rogue’s bench coming in a little smaller at 1 inch.

There is one main reason to go with each of these benches, so you’ll have to determine which factor is most important to you. First, the best value at this level of quality and price range is the TITAN Series Adjustable Bench. It comes in $100 less than REP’s offering, and about $150 less than Rogue’s bench, and that’s before adding shipping to Rogue’s bench.

However, if you’re looking for a true FID bench, for flat, incline, and decline benching, the best option is the REP AB-5200 2.0, with an optional adjustment back post that’ll allow for three decline angles up to -8 degrees.

Finally, Titan and REP import their fitness equipment, so if you’re wanting American-made products for your home gym, then the Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0 is your best bet. “Ultimately, you’ll have to decide if decline features or made-in-the-USA products are worth the extra $100 to $200. But if you don’t care about decline or if it’s imported, the Titan bench is the king,” Coop adds.

You can check out our full thoughts on these adjustable benches in our REP AB-5200 Adjustable Bench 2.0 review and our Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0 review.

Customer Experience

There are multiple ways to contact Titan Fitness listed on their website—contact form, email, phone, and through a live chat.

As with the vast majority of Titan Fitness products, the warranty on the TITAN Series Adjustable Bench is one year. For some fitness equipment, like Olympic barbells and squat racks, one year is a pretty low warranty period, but for a bench, it’s not too bad—although there are better warranty periods on the bench frame. With that said, Titan does offer extended protection for two or three years, through Mulberry.

Titan Fitness has a 30-day return policy on unused equipment in the original packaging. Be mindful, however, as you’ll be responsible for shipping costs, as well as a 20% restocking fee. These policies lead us to rate the warranty and returns a 4 out of 5.

Ordering and Assembling the Titan TITAN Series Adjustable Bench

The TITAN Series Adjustable Bench can be ordered directly from Titan’s website, and they offer free shipping on all items online. Financing options are available through BreadPay, starting with interest-free rates.

The majority of the adjustable bench comes pre-assembled, leading Coop to rate the delivery and setup a 5 out of 5. Most comparable benches require a decent amount of assembly, but the TITAN Series Adjustable Bench only requires adding the back leg and pads to the frame, making assembly a breeze compared to competitors.

Customer Reviews

Because the TITAN Series Adjustable Bench is a new release, there aren’t any reviews available on the Titan Fitness website yet. As these reviews come in, we’ll be sure to update this with what other customers are thinking about this bench.

Final Verdict of Our Titan TITAN Series Adjustable Bench Review

With a low price point of $450, the Titan TITAN Series Adjustable Bench has the most value out of the higher-end benches on the market. It excels in stability over other competitors, and aside from the annoyance of a pronounced bushing in the pad gap, it’s a stellar adjustable bench. “Seriously, Titan Fitness killed it here with this bench. I hope their other stuff coming out is like this, because they did so much right on this,” Coop adds.

There may be some reasons for a person to go with a competitor, such as wanting American-made equipment over imported fitness pieces or needing a true adjustable FID bench that can decline as well. However, if those two things don’t concern you, then the TITAN Series bench is a high-quality choice with fantastic value.

Titan TITAN Series Adjustable Bench Rating

Titan TITAN Series Adjustable Bench

Has Titan just released a premium adjustable bench with a killer value? Read more in our Titan TITAN Series Adjustable Bench review.

Product Brand: Titan Fitness

Product Currency: USD

Product Price: 449.99

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
4.5

Titan TITAN Series Adjustable Bench: FAQs

Caine Wilkes, OLY, CNC, USAW-L1

Caine Wilkes is an Olympian, placing 9th in weightlifting at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A former gym owner, he also has more than 15 years of experience coaching other athletes in weightlifting, CrossFit, and functional fitness.

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In GGR founder Coop Mitchell’s honest reviews of strength training equipment, Titan Fitness has historically had some of the worst-rated benches that he’s reviewed. The title of best weight bench typically goes to companies like REP and Rogue Fitness, leaving Titan behind.That is until Titan released its new (and self-titled) TITAN Series Adjustable Bench. This bench is made to compete with other high-end, heavy-duty competitors like the Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0,  » Read more about: Titan TITAN Series Adjustable Bench Review (2024): Major Stability at a Budget Price  » Read more