I am in need of a new weight bench and my options are limited. It is going in my basement which has somewhat low ceilings and my finances are tighter than I want. Can anyone offer any input on this unit that I am interested in?

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?vertical=FIT&cat=Fitness&subcat=Weight+Benches+%26+Sets&pid=00615629000&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

Get this one:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Fitness&pid=00615619000&vertical=FIT&subcat=Weight+Benches+%26+Sets&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

or this one (they are pretty much all the same):
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Fitness&pid=00664123000&vertical=FIT&subcat=Weight+Benches+%26+Sets&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Fitness&pid=00638540000&vertical=FIT&subcat=Weight+Benches+%26+Sets&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

I have a similar item to the second one (looks the same, but heavier duty. 560 lbs max instead of 310) and its worked pretty well for me for two years. I still haven't hit 310 lbs, except on deadlifts, and I rack those on the floor so you'd be fine for a while probably.

At the NordicTrack store they have the second one for $250 w/ a 300 lb olympic set if there's one near you that's closing. My basement is only 6'9" tall and it just fits down there (the high-pulley goes between the beams).

I am in need of a new weight bench and my options are limited. It is going in my basement which has somewhat low ceilings and my finances are tighter than I want. Can anyone offer any input on this unit that I am interested in?

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?vertical=FIT&cat=Fitness&subcat=Weight+Benches+%26+Sets&pid=00615629000&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

Isn't this a smith machine? You don't want a smith machine.

What is wrong with a smith machine?

After some thought I got the first link that you listed from Sears. I should be picking it up after work tonight. I started thinking about the smith machine and came to my own conclusion that being on tracks, its one more thing that can break and require fixing. I don't know what other's reasons are for not liking them, but that is the logic I used. Again, thanks for the input!

The real issue with smith machines is that they force the angle of the motion, and it can be an unnatural movement that could lead to injury. The freeweights will serve you much better.

Also, at the price, less moving parts is less chance for breaking.

Also, the rating of 310 lbs for the bench probably includes the user's own weight. So if you weigh 180 lbs, you'll max out the capacity of that bench with only 130 lbs on the bar. I was once considering a similar unit at Dick's that looked great (wasn't a Smith machine) but I passed when I found out how low-rated the bench was