Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

(For latest update, see update below) I thought I would take a chance on this bench since it was so cheap, and I couldn't be more satisfied. It was packed well and went together in about 5 minutes. It is a testament to the effectiveness of this bench that even during the assembly stage I could already feel substantial gains in my lats. A quick mirror check confirmed this to be true. All the parts were there, and an Allen wrench was included. Just make sure you have a regular wrench for some of the bolts and some bourbon for overall health and well being. I hopped on for a few quick reps to test it out and found that it was incredibly solid - absolutely no wobble at all. My other FID bench has a tiny bit of wiggle that is a constant bother. With the indicated 600lb limit, this should be fine for heavy lifting for just about anybody. Unfortunately my compression socks were at the dry cleaners or I would have tested that limit. Maybe next time I'll update on the max capabilities. Finally, the padding was nice and thick and firm. I couldn't feel any bolts underneath, and it gave nice support - not too spongy. One thing I noticed was that the user limit was 300lb, but the max limit was 600lb. I don't know how the bench knows if you're a 400lb guy lifting 200 or a 200lb guy lifting 400, but you probably wouldn't want to get those two hypothetical scenarios mixed up. If you're 305 and want to a bit of iron hoisting, I would suggest doing a bit of cardio and maybe some sauna first to hit that 300lb limit. (Update: 09/30/2015) I see that some people have been having issues with the durability and/or stability of their units. Maybe some others have purchased lemons, but mine is still rock solid over a year later - no wobbles, no weld failures, and no problems with the stitching. The padding is also still very firm. This is with consistent 3-4x per week of use, unless it is holiday season where usage drops precipitously in honor of the festive spirits - both beer and bourbon. I still have yet to test that upper weight limit, but I'm getting the kangaroo leather inserts redone on my weightlifting gloves. Once those bad boys are back from the tailor and they are properly oiled and conditioned, I'll be ready to max out and give it a go.