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Flybird Fitness review: How does this weight bench set measure up to Bowflex?

Get a personal trainer's thoughts on these two brand's fitness equipment

Christine VanDoren
By
Flybird Fitness weight bench and dumbbells.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Looking to officially start your home gym, or do you just need some additional equipment? You’ve likely heard of the company Bowflex, but do you know about Flybird’s comparable — and much cheaper — weight bench set?

I’m a personal trainer, and I got the chance to try out Flybird’s adjustable weight bench and adjustable dumbbells. I want to share with you my honest opinion of my experience as well as how I view it in comparison to mainstream brands like Bowflex.

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What are the benefits of having home exercise equipment?

  • You can skip the commute to the gym
  • You don’t have to pay for a gym membership
  • Home gyms offer more flexibility for when you can work out
  • Quick workout sessions are even more possible
  • Home gyms are more private 
  • You get to control what equipment goes into your home gym

Overview of Flybird Fitness products

Weight bench

Flybird Fitness bench.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This Flybird Fitness weight bench comes with many attachments that allow you to target every muscle group in your own home gym. While going to the gym is beneficial for many reasons, some people may find that they can have an effective and challenging workout by just using this weight bench with the additional resistance of their choice.

Cost: $138.88

Pros:

  • Has over 145 reviews averaging 4.7 stars
  • Backrest length can be adjusted
  • Comes with straightforward instructions for assembly
  • Has a weight capacity of 700 pounds
  • Numerous exercises can be performed thanks to the attachments
  • Free same-day shipping
  • 1-year warranty

Cons:

  • A bit unsteady
  • Bench is a little on the shorter side
  • Could be difficult for some people to assemble
  • No vertical incline options

Adjustable 15 lb dumbbells

If you want to save space and not have to lug around numerous dumbbells when you go anywhere, these adjustable dumbbells could be exactly what you need!

Cost: $128.99

Pros:

  • More than 53 five-star reviews
  • Five sets of dumbbells in one (3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 lbs)
  • Saves on storage space
  • Easy to maneuver between the weights
  • Easy to grip

Cons:

  • A bit costly 
  • May break if handled incorrectly

Overview of Bowflex products

Weight bench

The Bowflex weight bench is a standard bench that is quite popular in home gyms. It allows you to perform numerous exercises to target all the muscle groups.

Cost: $349.00

Pros:

  • Has more than 317 reviews and averages a 4.7-star rating
  • Has six different adjustment angles, both incline and decline
  • Can be used for various exercises
  • Simple and compact design
  • Comfortable and supportive

Cons:

  • More costly
  • Some reviews state pieces broke after only a little use

Adjustable dumbbells

Greatly reduce storage and replace your standard dumbbells with the Bowflex 552 dumbbells. This home gym equipment allows you to switch between 15 different weight settings, making this a worthy purchase for many people.

Cost: $379

Pros:

  • More than 7,000 reviews averaging 4.8 stars
  • Takes up minimal space
  • Contains 15 different weight settings between 5 and 52.5 pounds
  • New members get a one-year free trial with JRNY
  • Free shipping

Cons:

  • Some reviews state that the dumbbell adjustments easily jam
  • Poor customer service

Is Flybird Fitness or Bowflex better?

Flybird Fitness bench.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When it comes to a comparison of the two companies and the benches and dumbbells they have to offer, it really comes down to the individual. There are certainly pros and cons of each, and considering all the products mentioned above have received at least 4.7-star ratings from numerous customers, I would say whatever choice you make is a safe bet.

When looking at the benches, the Bowflex choice is more than twice as expensive. The Flybird bench comes with additional attachments that allow you to do more exercises, but the Bowflex bench gives you more options for inclines. If I had to choose between the two, I would say the Flybird one is worth it, considering how much cheaper it is and how you can still do so much with it.

As for the dumbbells, the Bowflex option is almost three times more expensive than Flybird’s. They both are essentially the same product, with the only difference being that Bowflex offers three times the amount of weight options. This decision really comes down to how important the weight range is to you. 

When deciding between the two companies, I would choose the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells and the Flybird Fitness bench.

My honest experience with using Flybird Fitness products

Flybird Fitness bench.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

After using the Flybird adjustable bench and dumbbells, I would say that I’m a fan. It’s nice to be able to exercise at home without feeling like I’m missing out on a more effective workout at the gym.

The numerous attachments on the Flybird weight bench allow me to do even more exercises than with a normal bench, and the fact that I can adjust the decline and length of the bench comes in handy as well.

I did have a little bit of difficulty with setting up the bench, as I found the instructions kind of confusing, but I still got it put together rather quickly.

As for the dumbbells, they’re fantastic because the storage is so compact. I also love how easily I can switch between the weights. I would recommend that someone go for a set heavier than 15 pounds so they they have more resistance available when it comes to lower body exercises.

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Christine VanDoren
Christine VanDoren
Contributor
Christine is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist with an undergraduate degree from Missouri State University. Her…
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