I am a newbie to lifting and soforth and I have decided to change my lifestyle and start to get in better shape.

I have been looking at Weight Benches and found the Weider 145 Weight Bench:

(This is for illustration purposes only - I actually live in Australia and this pic is the only one I could find)
Weider 145 (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2625107&cat=49039&type=21&dept=4125&path=0%3A4125%3A4134%3A49039)

I am only a student so I dont have too much money to spend, but I would like to know if this would be suitable for me. Is it a good 'starting off' bench?

I have seen many other which I would like, but all out of my price range :d_frown:

I was also wondering about what barbel I should be getting? Everyone keeps telling me to get Olympic size ones, but the storepeople say there is not much difference between them..

I must admit that I am getting a bit confused when I go into fitness stores..

Thanks!

I just did a little looking around and saw
http://www.trulyhuge.com/gymplans.htm

http://www.theministryoffitness.com/mof/library/articles/article11.htm

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/homegym/20simhomgymp.html

Making your own stuff might give you the most bang for the buck. If you make your own squat cage you could probably make it into a combination squat cage/lat pulldown/ chin/dip station.

Here's a guy who made his own stuff.
http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/magazine03/homegym.htm

that bench is abosolute crap

Torkm,

I'm sorry to say it, but hobo is right. My tip when looking at fitness stuff: stay away from Weider. What other brands and products do you have in your area? Also, ask to see manuals so you can see how much weight a particular bench can hold.

You would probably do good looking at a half-rack and bench combo or something similar.

Ill be staying away from that bench then! lol Thanks guys

The only other benches that I have seen are from York, I have most probably seen others but since I need to look at the price range first, I have been disregarding the rest..

Im going to have a look at another store today and Ill report back on my findins ;)


Thanks goofnut - Im not too good with powertools, but I think I could use some of those ideas.

what is your price range?


I wish when i had started i bought quality first. I should have just bought a powertec utility bench and dumbells and a few plates for the leg developer and added more as i went

i dident do that though i bought a golds gym bench which i regret and now im finally buying quality stuff whenever i can afford it

I can spend around $500 currently..

Since I will need to buy a barbel and weights I would put my price range around $300.

I have been lookinh for powertec equipment, but Im am finding that I will need to import such a thing from overseas to Australia.

What golds gym bench did you buy? I bought a Tracker 550 and it is also made by Icon Fitness. It uses heavier grade steel though. With anything by Icon, you need to look at how much it can support.