Home gym · owner-verdict comparison

FLYBIRD Adjustable Bench vs PowerBlock Elite: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 67% of 12 FLYBIRD Adjustable Bench owners recommend it, vs 72% of 108 for the PowerBlock Elite.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

FLYBIRD Adjustable Bench

67%of 12 owners recommend
67% recommend · 0% neutral · 33% don't
Owners praise
  • Folds compact for easy storage
  • Holds up well over years of use
  • Lightweight and easy to move
Owners complain about
  • Feels wobbly and iffy at heavier weight
  • Flimsy feel, hard or uneven pads
  • Wide gap between seat and backrest
Full owner report →

PowerBlock Elite

72%of 108 owners recommend
72% recommend · 13% neutral · 15% don't
Owners praise
  • Compact and space-saving for a home gym
  • Fast, easy weight changes in a few seconds
  • Expandable weight range up to 90lbs
Owners complain about
  • Boxy, non-traditional shape limits some exercises and takes getting used to
  • Closed wrist-cage handle cramps big hands and thick wrists
  • Quality issues out of the box (warped or bent plates, scuffed paint)
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the FLYBIRD Adjustable Bench if
  • ✓Apartment and home-gym users short on space
  • ✓Beginners and light-to-moderate lifters
  • ✓Budget buyers wanting a compact foldable bench
Skip it if
  • Heavy lifters pressing around 275 lbs or more
  • Taller users who need a wider, more stable base
Get the PowerBlock Elite if
  • ✓Home-gym owners short on space wanting one adjustable set
  • ✓Lifters who want to swap weights in seconds, not fiddle with plates
  • ✓People training presses, curls, and lunges up to 50-90 lbs
  • ✓Buyers who value the multi-year warranty and expandable weight kits
Skip it if
  • Anyone who drops or throws dumbbells (clips and plates break)
  • Lifters with very large hands or thick wrists (cage feels restrictive)

What FLYBIRD Adjustable Bench owners say

“I had this bench before getting an Ironmaster. Gave it to a friend who used it until he decided to get a Rep.”
— @beesoffury on YouTube
“I love how it breaks down for storage. Overall a great bench to start out with.”
— @alexthompson9403 on YouTube
“I believe I saw a video of this bench collapse and almost kill a guy.”
— @MushookieMan on YouTube

What PowerBlock Elite owners say

“It's one of the best investments I have ever bought”
— @johnchiluiza2841 on YouTube
“the power blocks are the best option as it doesn’t require an additional casing to adjust the weights”
— @nickvoorhees2682 on YouTube
“they are really awkward and uncomfortable for a wide range of movements”
— @graham1034 on YouTube

FLYBIRD Adjustable Bench vs PowerBlock Elite: frequently asked questions

Is the FLYBIRD Adjustable Bench or the PowerBlock Elite better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 67% of 12 FLYBIRD Adjustable Bench owners recommend it, vs 72% of 108 for the PowerBlock Elite.

Who should get the FLYBIRD Adjustable Bench?

Owners point the FLYBIRD Adjustable Bench at apartment and home-gym users short on space, and beginners and light-to-moderate lifters.

Who should get the PowerBlock Elite?

Owners point the PowerBlock Elite at home-gym owners short on space wanting one adjustable set, and lifters who want to swap weights in seconds, not fiddle with plates.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the FLYBIRD Adjustable Bench is feels wobbly and iffy at heavier weight. For the PowerBlock Elite, it's boxy, non-traditional shape limits some exercises and takes getting used to.