I bought this bench for the modularity and it delivered in that regard. However, functionally it falls short in a few ways. First - the vinyl is awful. It's so slick that it's practically a death trap doing any sort of heavy incline pressing. I find myself spending more energy stabilizing to stay against the bench, then I should on the incline position. Second, the bench is too narrow. I knew the dimensions when I purchased it but can't get past the narrow dimensions of it. It should be boosted to be at least 12inches in width. I've owned the bench for almost 1 year now. I kept my Rogue AB2 and have opted to use it for my heavier pressing motions. This bench still has its place but will not be good enough to be a standalone bench or if even a standalone adjustable bench for experienced trainers. For context - I'm 6'1" and 240lbs (40 years old, training for 25 years).
Prime markets the Shorty Adjustable Bench as an adjustable bench with decline capability and lists back pad adjustability from 0 to 85 degrees. What they do not clearly disclose on the product page or the decline attachment page is that safe decline use is limited to 30 degrees.
That is not a minor detail. This is an adjustable bench, and how far it safely adjusts is core functionality. It determines what exercises can and cannot be done on the bench and directly affects the product’s value compared with other decline benches on the market.
Only after I paid for and received the bench did I find a physical warning decal stating not to use it past 30 degrees of decline.
Prime has stated to me that they do not intend to clearly list this limitation on the product page for either the bench or the decline attachment. That is the real issue I have with doing business with them. Listing 0-to-85-degree adjustability while advertising decline functionality, but not clearly stating the 30-degree safe decline limit, creates a misleading impression about what the bench can actually be used for as well as what benches to compare to it to as benches that decline further (more than double) sell at a higher price point.
I contacted Prime because I purchased the bench, decline attachment, and wall mounts as one decline-capable setup. I asked them to either take back all purchases related to the bench at their expense, or provide a $200 partial refund. Prime’s final offer was about $68, or to take back and pay for shipping of only the decline attachment.
That does not resolve the issue. I would not have purchased this bench setup had the 30-degree safe decline limit been clearly disclosed on the product page before purchase. I am currently looking at buying a replacement bench because of this issue.
I strongly recommend buyers avoid this bench unless Prime clearly lists the actual safe decline limitation upfront. The distance an adjustable bench safely adjusts is not just a safety note — it is a core product feature.
Fantastic design, I love it.
Small but mighty
I think I got confused, because I thought most of the attachments comes with the bench. It was listed on the manual but does not say not included. I guess I was just disappointed that now I have to buy this attachment and spend more than a 1500 bucks to get all of the other attachments which to be honest is too steep of a price. 700 dollars for just the bench (kinda having buyers remorse). Well it’s my fault for not understanding what was included and what was not.
