I'm going to be buying a utility bench and power rack, and I wanted to get some help on which piece of equipment to buy. My budget would be like $350 on a power rack and like $200 on a utility bench.
I've finalized on which power rack I want to buy. I'm going with the Powertec power rack. The best price I've found online for the Powertec power rack is $369.99 SHIPPING INCLUDED.

http://www.afitnessequipment.com/afitnessequipment/html/PtPowerCage.html

Now what I might do is have Mega Fitness price match that and buy from them.
The only help I was looking for with the power rack was if anyone knows of a better price?

Now for a utility bench, I was going with the Powertec, but after reading posts saying there is a good gap between the seat and back, I'm not leaning towards it anymore. I've found a few different options I could go with. One bench for a low price at Jesup Gym Equipment, and three different benches at New York Barbells.

Jesup Gym Equipment Powerline Flat/Incline/Decline Bench $110.00
http://www.jesupgym.com/homeequip.htm
New York Barbells C5950 F.I.D. Bench $199
http://newyorkbarbells.tv/5950.html
New York Barbells C59501 F.I.D. Bench $219
http://newyorkbarbells.tv/59501.html
New York Barbells C99965 F.I.D. Bench $169
http://newyorkbarbells.tv/99965.html

I guess for all the benches I just want to get some opinions on which bench you like best for combining with the Powertec power rack.

Thanks

If you don't want the lat option for the powertec (which, by the way, works great and works with the bench with no problems in incline/decline/flat), any of those will do probably, but I'd stay away from Bodysolid Powerline. their powerline has a 1 year warranty. Kind of bad indication, but I'm sure it'd work, although I've heard bad things about bodysolid benches.

The only thing I'd worry about are wheels (unless you like ripping up your floor and bench's feet, and whether the bench will fit well with your power rack.

I think they'll work, I have a powertec bench/rack

The powertec bench, although it has a gap, it can be easily filled by a roll of carpet or towel. All FID benches have a gap, although the powertec has the biggest.

Bought this exact setup in '99. Lifetime guarantee and I've never had a problem. I dont see my bench lised on their website.

http://www.bodysolid.com/BSStrength/FreeweightSystems/WPR78/WPR78.html

http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=7383

New York Barbells C99965 F.I.D. Bench $169
http://newyorkbarbells.tv/99965.html

This is the bench I just received last week. Of course I havent gotten to use it much yet. It does feel very sturdy under my 305lb arse.

The main selling points for me were:

1000lb capacity
Lifetime warranty on everything.
Price

Also, I dont know if you noticed but it doesnt incline to 90 degrees in the animated pic for it. But in reality it does in fact incline to a 90 degree angle along with five other positions. The main seat also inclines.

It does have a gap in the seat which is at its greatest when level. The gap is about 2 1/2" wide compared to 4 1/2" for the powertec bench.

Paying an extra $50 for the other TDS bench seems a bit much for one extra position and the different positioning method. But thats the only difference I see between the two. Maybe the higher priced one has a higher weight limit? They dont say.

Feel free to ask if you have any questions about this bench.

Thanks for the replies.

I'm going to drop that Powerline bench and decide on one of the NYB benches.

The only differences I find between the C-5950 bench and the C-59501 bench is having wheels. Both benches show to have 7 total positions. The C-99965 bench shows to have 5 positions but vezke, you say there is in fact another position, which is the full 90 degree angle.

vezke, do you have a power rack? If you do, which power rack, and how well does that bench work with it?

I guess I'll be deciding on either the NYB C-59501 or C-99966 FID bench.

Yeah...the Body Solids "Powerline" is basically uuuuhm...I'm trying to think of a nice word for "crap". :lol: It only has a one year warranty.
Here's (http://www.pro-fitness.com/double.htm) a bench I kind of fell in love with after I had already bought mine. The design just gets you in deeper in your rack for incline movements. Most benches, with the way they are designed, are going to force you to have to do your incline barbell movements off of the front of your rack. Oh well...hind sight is always 20/20.
If you browse through these guys sight, you'll probably find at least 4 or 5 pieces that you'll fall in love with.

I emailed newyorkbarbells about the two benches. The C-99966 bench does in fact have a 90 degree angle position, and also has a smaller gap between the seat and back pads from the C-59501 bench. I think my decision is made now, to go with the C-99966 bench, being both benches seem similar but this one is less money.

Definitely has a 90 degree angle.

Dont have a power rack yet so I'm not sure how well it would fit in a cage. Kino has a good point though about only being able to do inclines on the front of the cage. You may be able to straddle the rear bar of the rack to do inclines inside. But Im not sure.

Also, if you havent already purchased that rack then check out the following site. Looks like they are selling it for 333.05 shipping included and coupon applied. The coupon code is POWER5 and takes 5% off.

http://www.egymequipment.com/powerrack.html

Never heard of or dealt with that site.

Here's another if that one dont work out. It offers it for $299.00 but probably doesnt include shipping.

http://store.yahoo.com/bigfit/powerrack.html

I haven't purchased the power rack yet, thanks for posting those sites.

Here I go again...

I just came across a power rack on NYBB website that looks to be a really good rack.
http://www.newyorkbarbells.tv/8510.html
The power rack system, not with any of the lat attachments.
To me this rack might be better than the powertec rack, it looks to have more holes.
I wanted to get some opinions between this rack and the powertec rack. Anything?

Thanks

Other than the stylish black color of the Powertec, the NYBB is as good except for a 1000lb capacity instead of a 1500lb like the powertec.

I've figured it out. The Powertec bench works better when it comes to incline/decline in the Powertec rack because the back pad cantilevers over the rear feet so inclines work. However, the NYBB benches would work as well really, and better if you have the lat attachment in the back. both power racks have extra room for the feet of the bench.

I'd suggest getting the same brand bench/rack for 2 reasons:

1: matchin', stylin' colors
2. guaranteed to fit well

I can give you my own guarantee the NYBB bench'll work with the powertec, but I won't give you money lol.

One thing nice about the powertec bench is it has much more adjustment angles.

I'd probably go with the NYBB 99965/with wheels and the rack you were looking at, as they match colors and the rack has more holes which is helpful.

The powertec has 22, the NYBB has 26.

id go with the powertec rack and utility bench

the powetec rack is the strongest and a few less holes is not big deal because youll never use all of them anyway. Also, the powetec rack includes the dip attachment, the nybb one costs extra. Many people do not know it, but powertec sells a lat attachment that you can attach to your rack as seen in the power rack system. its sold as a part for the power rack system for 250$ the power rack system is the rack + the lat attachment

id go with the powertec bench because it would be a real eyesore to have the white bench with the black rack and also the gap isnt that big of a deal. also, the bench can adjust to more levels than the nybb one. im not sure about nybbs policy but powertec is a lifetime gaurntee

Thank you for the helpful replies, I appericiate it.
Its all up to me to just make a decision now.

id go with the powertec bench because it would be a real eyesore to have the white bench with the black rack and also the gap isnt that big of a deal. also, the bench can adjust to more levels than the nybb one. im not sure about nybbs policy but powertec is a lifetime gaurntee

eyesore definitely. NYBB is lifetime warranty.

And the bench really works fabulously with a roll of spare carpet stuffed in the gap.

I have the lat attachment for the powertec, and it works really, really well. very smooth, and comes with three attachments, and is olympic, without sleeves.