The NEW Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench

Last updated on September 6th, 2024 at 04:11 pm

This was the TOP vote getter in the Q1 and Q2 2023 Review Pipeline Voting… and Prime has sent it my way! The new Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench has a lot going on with the addition of some attachments. It also likely has MORE things coming down the pipeline very soon!

I’m STOKED to get another piece of Prime awesomeness in the gym and let you all know what I think.

Transparency Note

I’ve worked with Prime Fitness for multiple years now on the Garage Gym Competition. They are one of the coolest companies to work with for a number reasons, and they seem to like working with me as well. They sent me their Super Squat Bar awhile back, and now have sent me the Shorty Adjustable Bench and all the fixings for free. As always, I hope I can be transparent and truthful in my review.

Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench Overview

The Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench weighs in at a BEEFY 100lbs. It has laser cut numbered ladder adjustments from 0 to 90. The front seat also declines and inclines multiple angles. It has wheels and a handle to help move it. The bench has a simple aesthetic with the two tone colors separating the base from the bench itself.

From first view, this bench looks like the majority of adjustable benches on the market. Where it takes a turn and ups the ante is with the attachment options.

Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench Attachments

We’ve got a few areas where we make these work, depending on what we are working with, so let me walk you through what I’ve got right now.

Back Pad Rails

You’ll see that you have holes that run from top to bottom. You snag the two pads and they pop in place. Set your bench, and you’ve got an incline DB curl that functions like using a Biceps Bomber. You can press your elbows or triceps into the pad, and really focus on the bicep concentration.

Third, you can toss on the DB rack with the addition of the preacher curl pads and you have a full preacher bench at your disposal. If you happen to like preacher curls better with an ez curl bar, no problem, they’ve got extra pieces to elevate the bar for ya.

So Many Accessories

Right out the gate we have multiple options for biceps, some good stuff for back, and the obvious DB bench, shoulder presses, you name it on the Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench. I personally really like that this bench looks and performs like a solid adjustable bench, with a super creative attachment function added in.

• Preacher Curl Pad Bench Attachment
• 45 Dumbbell Cradle Bench Attachment
• Elbow Pads Bench Attachment
• Decline Attachment Bench Attachment

Prime has hinted at having a leg curl/extension attachment on the way that is supposed to work with their Prodigy Line Single Stack and Rack… And potentially adding in a back extension option as well. They have also told me they have a vertical storage solution for the Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench in the works.

Prime just released their new Wall Mounted Storage option for the Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench.

I think with the way they have things lined up with multiple attachment spots, we could see this expand over the years with new items in a number of categories. And keep in mind what I just showed you is what they told us we could use it for. I haven’t even spent enough time with this bad boy to get creative yet.

Things I’m Looking For in the Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench

Prime’s stuff is often considered premium, thus expensive. What I want to see with more expensive items, is do they check ALL of the boxes. The fit and finish, the function, creativity, you name it. If this is a copy cat of every other adjustable bench on the market but costs twice as much, no thanks. But if we have unique features, an easy to use system of attachments, an aesthetically pleasing bench that functions well for me and my wife, now we are in business. So the Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench is going to have to compete with some heavy hitters.

Other Options On The Market

For a simple adjustable bench, you have an ever increasing list of benches available. I recently reviewed the Above Genius Adjustable Bench which was a surprisingly solid SUPER budget friendly bench. Definitely the opposite side of the spectrum from this Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench.

For benches that take attachments, we don’t have a ton of options. I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, I honestly don’t have any interest in benches that don’t take attachments for my gym (we sold the Above Genius shortly after finishing the review). Leg curls and extensions are STAPLES in my space. I’m not spending $800 on a new flashy Rogue bench that is a little nicer than their last $600 bench, but doesn’t do anything but be an adjustable bench. This is where the Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench got my engines revving.

Bells of Steel Buzz-Saw Heavy Duty Adjustable Bench

This is the first adjustable bench that takes attachments from one of the big boy home gym companies. REP and Rogue have ignored this entirely so far, so kudos to Bells of Steel. Compared to the Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench, the BoS Buzzsaw looks fairly entry level, it is an import bench, and the attachment functionality looks similar to what we’ve seen from other benches over the years (a post out front).

HOIST HF-5165 7 Position F.I.D.

I reviewed the HOIST HF-5165 7 Position F.I.D. in early 2023. It was my replacement bench for my Powertec Levergym for awhile. It was much more robust and well built than the previous Powertec model I owned. But that price tag is absurd, it is fairly long, and overall just an OK bench for the price.

Powertec Workbench FID

I owned a previous model of the Powertec bench, and I hated it. That said, their newer model appears to be MUCH better. And if you want something that works with the Powertec Levergym, that is honestly your best bet regardless of whether the bench is any good or not. I will still put this in the same bucket as the HOIST, for what you get, this bench isn’t anything special for the price. It just works exceptionally well with the great Powertec Levergym.

Inspire Fitness SCS Bench

Our current FID bench, used with the Inspire FT2, is the Inspire SCS Bench. It takes attachments, and unlike the rest of the benches mentioned, it connects via cables to the FT2 so you can load up the Leg Extension/Curl with either plates OR the FT2 stacks. This is the current winner for that reason alone. But if you don’t have the FT2, this bench falls into the same categories as the others. Expensive and just ok.

Ironmaster Super Bench

In my opinion, the Ironmaster Super Bench was the original rockstar of home gym adjustable benches. For some reason they were the only ones making a GOOD bench that also took GOOD attachments. And their attachment line was pretty stacked. Their new V2 Pro model looks to be an even better bench for those looking to have a one and done bench in their life. I think the win for the Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench is that their bench looks and feels like a normal adjustable bench. The Ironmaster is truly a one of a kind design.

Sign Up For More

That is a wrap on the quick thoughts and details for the Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench.

I’ll have a full review on the Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench in the future. I’m currently waiting for them to release the Leg Extension / Leg Curl attachment, as that is what I believe is the most crucial of bench attachments. So reviewing an attachment bench, without that one attachment, seems wrong.

Myself, my wife, and my daughter will play around with the Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench to see what we like, what we don’t, and share our thoughts. If you have something specific you’d like answered, let me know. Have a request for Prime? I talk directly to them, so let me know and I’ll see what we can do.

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