Again Faster Competition Flat Bench 2.0 review: a beasty bench for big lifts

A weight bench with a 450kg capacity can only be a solid weight bench, right? That’s exactly what the Again Faster Competition Flat Bench 2.0 is. It’s a tank, designed for lifters who want to go big, with a ‘go hard or go home’ attitude.

While this sort of weight capacity isn’t necessary for us average folk— only the top powerlifters— something is comforting in knowing that a bench can hold the weight of a horse on its pad.

Still, this weight bench has many great features that you’d look for in the best weight bench: stability, comfort, grip, practical design and durability, making it a great addition to your home gym setup. Especially with its decent price point. In this review I dive into its build, its pros and cons, as well as how I found training with it the past month.

Again Faster competition flat bench 2.0 review: price and availability

The Again Faster Competition Flat Bench is available to buy now from Again Faster for the recommended retail price £195. However, this review features the Competition Flat Bench with the upgraded wide pad, which you can purchase for an additional £50. The width of this pad is 35.5cm, whereas the standard bench pad is 30.5cm. This means the wide pad just falls outside of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) bench specifications— a width of 29-32cm.

Again Faster competition flat bench 2.0 review: specification

• Dimensions: 123cm (L) x 35.5cm (W) x 42cm (H)
• Weight: 27kg
• Pad thickness: 10cm
• Max weight capacity: 450kg
• Wheels: Yes

Again Faster competition flat bench 2.0 review: setup

The weight bench was delivered already assembled which, on the one hand, was great because it meant I could start testing it straight away but, on the other, meant I didn’t get to experience whether the setup was straightforward or a bit of a job.

I checked this out with the man who delivered the bench (and assembled it himself), who informed me it would take the average person anywhere between 20 to 30 minutes. I also had a quick look through the bench's 4.9-star reviews online and found no comments surrounding the setup. One person said to ensure you have a good tool to hand and avoid using a multi-tool. Overall, the general consensus seems it’s not too tricky.

Again Faster competition flat bench 2.0: Design and build quality

A weight bench that can withstand up to 450kg is undoubtedly going to be a solid piece of kit and the Again Faster Competition Flat Bench is no exception. It has a heavy-duty 11-gauge steel frame construction for unwavering support, and when I gave it a good shake it remained fixated to the floor.

The thick 10-inch pad is dense, yet extremely comfortable; I found my back didn’t disintegrate into it as it can do with cheaper benches but, equally, it didn’t feel like I was lying on the floor either. It’s finished in a grippy textured coating that has been sewn on— always a good sign of high quality— so there’s no chance of slipping around mid set. The wide 35.5cm pad offers plenty of room to really dig your back and shoulders into, so you feel completely supported when using heavier loads.

It has a three-foot design, so you have lots of space to place your feet into their optimal lifting position and no trouble arching your back (if you need to). These all have rubber caps on the end to keep the bench firmly to the floor when driving through the feet.

The brand’s initials have been laser cut into the steel frame, and there’s a metal cut out of their name at the end of the bench— it’s subtle, but looks cool.

Again Faster competition flat bench 2.0 review: Portability

The bench is equipped with large wheels and a thick rubber coated handle for easy maneuvering. I found it very easy to move around, particularly because the wheels are in perfect alignment with the base of the legs, meaning you don’t have to lift the bench up ridiculously high in order to make contact with the wheels. However, at 27kg it is a bit of a unit and I did find it a tad heavy but, hey, it’s just an extra arm workout.

Again Faster competition flat bench 2.0 review: my experience

Both myself and my partner put the bench to the test mainly performing exercises with dumbbells, like bench press, shoulder press and more. I’ve been doing a mixture of strength/hypertrophy training for several years now whereas my partner has been doing powerlifting and competing for a decade.

We both agreed this bench has a lot of positives. It’s extremely comfortable, grippy and the support you get from the width of this bench is solid, particularly for pressing. It’s also a good height for your feet (we’re both quite short around 5ft 5) so you can easily engage your legs for that extra drive on bigger lifts. At 122cm long, it’s a good length too, even for taller lifters.

Where we butted heads a little was over the width. As my frame is smaller than my partner's at times, when pressing, the width of the bench would come into contact slightly with my triceps. It didn’t completely prevent me from getting full range of motion, but it was very close. Whereas my partner didn’t have this problem and thought it perfect for his frame. As mentioned earlier, the wide pad is an add-on buy so, the solution is that you just don’t get it and stick with the regular 30.5cm width pad.

I was also a fan of the minimal branding. I think it makes the bench look more timeless and easier to integrate into your home gym if you have lots of kit from other brands.

Again Faster competition flat bench 2.0 review: verdict

Again Faster’s competition flat weight bench 2.0 is a beasty bench. With a mighty 450kg weight capacity, this is a bench that's best suited for those who plan to lift big, or are looking for extra stability from the upgraded wide pad. It’s got fantastic grip, is comfortable, durable and its three-leg design allows lifters the freedom to get into their desired foot position. To top it off, it looks good and is a decent price.

Beginners, or those who don’t plan to lift heavy, could look to opt for a cheaper model, like the Strength Shop Flat Bench V2, or if you want to be able to hit your muscles from multiple angles, consider Again Faster’s Team Plus Adjustable Bench.

While powerlifters will appreciate many of the features this bench has, it’s important to remember the upgraded wide pad doesn’t meet IPF standards. Obviously this won’t bother everyone, but for those who want a bench identical to the ones used in comps, just buy this bench without the upgraded wide pad.