The BowFlex 5.1S is a stowable adjustable bench for people who care more about reclaiming floor space than owning the most overbuilt bench possible. It has been around long enough to have a large owner-review history, and its main advantage is simple: it folds into a much smaller footprint when the workout is over.
Who It’s For
- Apartment, bedroom, or shared-space gyms where storage is a major constraint.
- People who want decline, flat, incline, and upright positions in one established bench.
- Buyers who prefer a recognizable long-running product over a random marketplace bench.
Who Should Skip It
- Skip it if your priority is maximum rigidity for heavy barbell benching.
- Skip it if you do not need the stowable design. There are stronger values when storage is not the main problem.
- Larger or very strong lifters may prefer a wider, heavier bench with a higher manufacturer rating.
Specifications
- List price: $499, with frequent promotional pricing
- Weight: About 60 lb
- Manufacturer rating: 600 lb combined user and load
- Open dimensions: About 61.3 x 28.1 x 49.5 inches
- Stowed dimensions: About 23.9 x 28.1 x 52.3 inches
- Positions: 6
- Back positions: -20 degree decline, flat, 30, 45, 60, and 90 degrees
- Mobility: Transport wheels
- Frame warranty: 30 years
- Parts and upholstery warranty: 1 year
- Return window: 30 days
Main Strengths
- Stowable design: The bench becomes dramatically shorter when stored, which is the whole reason it earns consideration.
- Full basic angle range: You get decline through upright without a complicated attachment system.
- Manageable weight: Around 60 lb is easier to move than premium adjustable benches.
- Long owner history: Hundreds of reviews give you more real-world evidence than many newer starter benches.
- Long frame warranty: The 30-year frame coverage is unusually strong for this type of bench.
Actual Owner Feedback
BowFlex currently shows a 4.6 out of 5 rating from more than 300 reviews, with more than 90 percent of reviewers recommending the bench. Owners commonly praise the stowable footprint, adjustment range, assembly, and overall usefulness for home workouts.
Main Drawbacks
- Independent owner feedback is more mixed than the official review average, especially around stability under heavier work.
- The pad gaps and entry-level feel bother some buyers.
- The 600 lb combined rating is enough for many home users but lower than the ratings on serious rack-focused benches.
- At full list price, the value is much harder to defend than when BowFlex is running a substantial sale.
Buying Recommendation
I would buy the 5.1S when storage is the problem and the sale price is good. At full $499 pricing, you are too close to better long-term benches. When it is heavily discounted, the combination of stowability, known brand support, and six useful positions becomes much more compelling.
Alternatives
- Keppi Bench 500: Much cheaper if you just need a folding starter bench.
- GIANT 2X Adjustable Bench 2.0: Better if you can leave the bench assembled and want a more serious long-term lifting bench.
Where It Is Featured On Dante’s Gym
The BowFlex 5.1S is the lower-cost storage alternative to the wall-mounted PRx option in my Best Weight Benches for Home Gyms guide.
My Experience With It
I have not personally used this exact bench. This page is research-verified using BowFlex’s current product information, official owner reviews, and independent owner feedback. I am not presenting that research as firsthand testing.
