3 Best Standing or Sitting Preacher Curl Benches for Your Home Gym
Looking for a preacher curl bench for your home gym?
Then you came to the right spot…
A preacher curl needs the help of a good bench, but how do you choose the right one when there’s so many options to choose from? There are standing benches, sitting benches, adjustable benches and a whole world of price differences!
But not to worry…
As a gym owner, I’ve purchased my fair share of preacher curl benches so I know exactly what to look for to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.
In this article I’m going to share with you the top 3 preacher curl benches that are perfect for home gyms.
A quick summary…
If you’re short on time and want the answers quickly, here’s my opinion on the top 3 preacher curl benches…
- Preacher Curl Bench V3 by Titan Fitness – Best Mix Between Affordability & Quality
- Reflex Standing Preacher Curl – Best For Those Who Want Top Quality
- Titan Preacher Curl Station – Best Budget Option
**For a further in-depth review of the benches, so you can understand how I got to those conclusions, follow the rest of the review article below…**
My take on the 3 best preacher curl benches (specifically for home gyms)
Using the information guide above, I’ve put together a list of the three best ranked preacher curl benches on the market.
I’ve qualified each of the positions with my justifications, because the reality is it’s not easy to rank these three, because they all have different strengths and weaknesses, so you can feel confident you’re getting the best preacher curl bench for your needs.
So let’s dive in…
#1 Pick – Preacher Curl Bench V3 by Titan Fitness – Best Overall Option (Great Mix Between Quality & Affordability)
- Well constructed, simple machine
- High max weight capacity
- Great price
- Includes bolts to secure it down
- Tight footprint
- Well padded seat and arm pads
If I were to choose a preacher curl bench, this is the one I’d go with.
It’s affordable, high quality, and has just about everything I could possibly want in a preacher curl bench.
Let me explain.
The first thing that stands out with the Titan V3 preacher curl bench is the build quality – it’s super solid and it far exceeds its bargain price. The pad is thick and dense, making performing curls on it really comfortable. The stitching on the seats is well done and the fixings are tight – there are no squeaks and quality worries. I’m not surprised by this, because Titan generally produces excellent equipment.
The seat is adjustable, which is an expected feature, but useful nonetheless. The upper padding for the arm isn’t adjustable, nor is the bar position. This is a slight shame but honestly, it’s not a feature that is especially important and it’s only usually seen in preacher curl benches at 4 or 5 times the price of this one.
The upper load limit is 250LBS, it’s built from 2 x 3 inch 11-Ga Steel and (matching benches that are far more expensive) and has holes in the feet to bolt the bench into the floor if you require.
It is a relatively tight bench with a 31.5 inch x 38 inch footprint, so is good for those with smaller gyms.
Whilst it might lack the bells and whistles of the premium end of the market, it comes in at a much cheaper price point and still maintains all of the most important features of a good preacher curl bench.
Pros
- Well constructed, simple machine
- High max weight capacity
- Great price
- Includes bolts to secure it down
- Tight footprint
- Well padded seat and arm pads
- Adjustable seat
Cons
- Bench can’t adjust
- Bar position doesn’t adjust
Verdict
In a world where you can spend much more money on a bench and not get much more for your money, I have to put the Titan V3 preacher curl bench as the best one of the lot. Combining build quality, usability and price, it’s a solid option and well worth the (very reasonable) price. A bargain, and my top pick.
#2 Pick – Reflex Standing Preacher Curl – Best Quality (Not For Those On A Budget)
- Highly adjustable machine – multiple points of movement
- Premium build quality and materials
- Suits a wide range of users
- Tight footprint
- Well padded seat and arm pads
In my second choice, I’ve gone from the value to the premium end of the market. The Reflex standing preacher curl is the opposite of the Titan – it’s feature heavy, adjustable everywhere and powder coated to give it a premium quality finish. This thing just screams quality.
All of that comes at a price however – it’s the most expensive preacher curl bench of the three by a long way.
If you have multiple users of the bench then this is a great option – the bar saddle, lifting angle and bar height are all adjustable, so it’s truly personalizable. You can adjust the whole thing to suit your size and preferred lifting position. These are the kind of luxuries you can have if you’re willing to pay for them.
Being a standing bench it has a smaller footprint than a lot of others, perfect for smaller gyms. So far, all I’ve done is list positive after positive, so why is it number 2? The answer is it’s down to price. The Reflex standing preacher curl bench is utterly fantastic, but it costs over 1100 bucks, and that’s a lot of money. If however you want the best quality and you’ll pay any price, go with this one – it’s a beauty.
If you’ve got the cash, have a lot of people (of different sizes) who use your gym and are really insistent on having a standing bench, it’s the one to go for. If these points aren’t that important and you want to spend 75% less, go for the Titan preacher curl V3. What you lose in functionality, you make up for in savings.
There’s no reviews of the Reflex benches, but I’ve used them and they’re exactly what you’d come to expect from Rogue – well built, premium functionality and they’d be an asset to any gym. That’s why it made the list, despite the lack of community reviews.
Pros
- Highly adjustable machine – multiple points of movement
- Premium build quality and materials
- Suits a wide range of users
- Tight footprint
- Well padded seat and arm pads
Cons
- Price – it’s the most expensive on review by a huge margin
Verdict
In complete transparency, I’ve struggled with this one. On one hand, I think it’s an outstanding bench – really well made and offers a level of customization that other benches just don’t get near. However, it’s so much more expensive than some of its competition that you’d have to give it real thought as to whether or not you should buy it. If you do pull the trigger however, rest assured you’re buying a fantastic bench.
#3 Pick – Titan Preacher Curl Station – Best Budget Option
- Excellent price point – the cheapest by miles
- Solid build quality that belies its price point
- Adjustable seat and bar saddle
- Tight footprint
- Well padded seat and arm pads
The third spot in this review was a toss up between two – the Titan Preacher Curl Station and the Reflex Preacher Curl with adjustable arm. The Titan won out on account of sheer value. Do I think it’s a better made Preacher curl bench than the Reflex? No. I do however think the $139.99 price tag and immediate availability is a huge advantage over the $937 and 24-32 week lead time for the Reflex bench.
When two benches are compared there’s not a huge amount of difference. They’re built from the same 11 gauge steel. They’re both adjustable at the seat and bar saddle height. They’re both able to cope with a heavy bar (250LBS). For the extra money with the Reflex you get an adjustable angle on the arm pad. You also get a bigger seat and an overall bigger bench. It’s more aesthetically pleasing too. The question you have to ask yourself is how important are these points? In my opinion, not very – they don’t dramatically improve the user experience, certainly not enough to pay so much more.
The Titan bench does everything you need for less than 140 bucks. How important are preacher curls to you? Important enough to drop another $800 on? Personally, I’d suggest you keep the costs down on your preacher curl bench and use those savings elsewhere. If preachers are a big part of your workout, perhaps you’ve got a decision to make.
Buying the Titan gives you a legit preacher curl option, it saves a lot of money and it’s a small footprint bench, leaving you more room for other equipment. Unless you’re a specific bodybuilder, I’d look at bigger bang for your buck equipment with the money you save.
Pros
- Excellent price point – the cheapest by miles
- Solid build quality that belies its price point
- Adjustable seat and bar saddle
- Tight footprint
- Well padded seat and arm pads
Cons
- Lack of arm pad angle adjustability
- Small seat
Verdict
I don’t think the Titan Preacher curl bench is an outright baller bench, but as a value proposition it’s outstanding. It shares many of the same features as the premium end of the market, it is adjustable in important places and is very well made. For such a low price point, it’s an excellent addition to your home gym. The reviews are solid too…
Why do I need a preacher curl bench?
Preacher curls are interesting – as a personal trainer and gym owner, I consider them a ‘cherry on the cake’ exercise – an added extra, or a finishing touch if you prefer. The vast majority of the bicep work I do with my clients will come in the form of row variations, pull ups, chin ups, hammer curls, concentration curls etc, with preachers being the extra variety that’s beneficial.
There’s also a use for preacher curls if you’ve had elbow injuries because there’s less requirement to fully flex the elbows. You also maximally contract the biceps brachii in the exercise, so it can be a very specific approach to bicep training. It also allows you to lift with the shoulders in a different position to most bicep exercises.
Put simply, you need to have a preacher bench to do preacher curls. Without a suitable resting point for your arms, preacher curls are impossible, certainly at a worthwhile weight.
Standing or sitting – which preacher curl bench do I need and why?
So there’s essentially two types of preacher curl bench – sitting and standing. Whilst there’s not much in the way of difference between the two approaches to the lift in terms of results, there’s a definite difference in price of the two machine types.
Given the preacher curl is designed to isolate the biceps specifically, as long as the arms are in the right position and the range of motion is right, everything else that is going on with the body is kind of a moot point – we’re dealing with an isolation exercise here.
In my opinion, you need to consider a few different points depending on your circumstances…
Build quality
This is always number one in my eyes – if you buy cheap, poor quality equipment you often end up replacing it quickly. Anything on this list will be solid, but if you’ve got your eyes elsewhere make sure the pads are good quality, the fixings are tight and the frame is well made. Most quality frames are made from 11 gauge steel as standard.
Users
Are you using it alone or will there be multiple users? If you’re on your own, adjustability needn’t be a big concern (as long as the lifting position is comfortable). If multiple family or friends are using your preacher curl bench, you’ll want the extra adjustability. Generally speaking you’ll get more adjustability from a standing bench. You’ll also pay a premium for it though.
Budget
Standing benches come in at a much higher price point usually – in some cases 5X more expensive. If you need to stand, be prepared to pay a lot more. There’s also the brand premium – do you have loyalty to a brand or are you willing to sacrifice loyalty for a significant cost saving?
Space
Footprint is a big deal if your home gym lacks the space. Standing preacher curls are significantly smaller in terms of footprint, so it’s something to consider. If you’ve got the extra space, you could save money with the seated preacher curl bench.
3 Most Important Things To Look For When Purchasing A Best Standing or Sitting Preacher Curl Benches
- Consider Affordability and Quality: When purchasing a preacher curl bench, consider the balance between affordability and quality. The Preacher Curl Bench V 3 by Titan Fitness is a great option that offers both.
- Invest in Top Quality: If you want top quality, consider investing in the Reflex Standing Preacher Curl. This is a premium product with unrivaled adjustability.
- Look for Budget Options: If you’re on a budget, look for options like the Titan Preacher Curl Station. It’s remarkably cheap, but well-built and has good features.
Preacher Curl Benches – Final Thoughts
As with any fitness equipment there’s a range of products, features and prices. I’m a big believer in you spending the money on what’s important to you, which is why this article features three benches of different price points. I’ve given you different options depending on where preacher curls sit in your requirements.
If they’re really important to you, the Reflex standing bench is truly exceptional and should be considered. If they’re somewhat important, but not enough to spend big cash on, the standard Titan preacher curl bench will do an excellent job at a low price. Finally, if you sit between those, the Titan preacher V2 will be perfect.
Pick any of these three and you won’t go wrong…
- Preacher Curl Bench V3 by Titan Fitness – solid bench, good price
- Reflex Standing Preacher Curl – the premium bench, excellent if you have the cash
- Titan Preacher Curl Station – simply outstanding value