Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

1. ASSEMBLY GUIDELINES: Assembling this is NOT like assembling a piece of Ikea furniture. This kit does not include the tools you need to complete the job and if you've never turned a wrench before, you're gonna have a bad time. I'm moderately handy and was able to put it together in just under 40 minutes. The tools needed to assemble this easily are: 13mm, 14mm, 17mm x2, 19mm(or 3/4")x2 wrenches or sockets, and a knife. Two adjustable wrenches would work, but won't be nearly as easy. If you have no tools and can't borrow any from a friend or neighbor, go ahead and budget in an extra $10-$15 to get the basics you need to put this together. There was one review about the nuts being the type that can't tighten all the way. They are like that by design; they have a little plastic thing that keeps them from spinning freely, so you have to use a wrench to tighten them. This keeps them from loosening on their own and keeps the bench together/stable over time (they are higher quality nuts). The knife is for opening the packages and trimming away any wood in the way of the screw holes on the back of the bench. One last tip about assembling this thing: for each section, start all the bolts and nuts BEFORE you crank them down tight. If something doesn't fit, it's because it isn't lined up correctly and you need the thing to be wobbly so that you can wiggle everything into place and get all the bolts started before you crank everything down. This was most important for getting the back support all put together. This technique is really one of the basic keys to putting stuff together without troubles and should be done with everything. 2. Stability and Size: I'm 6'1" weighing in at 170lbs. The exercises I've seen other benches struggle with the most are weighted incline situps. I grab a 20lb plate, hold it behind my head and do situps left, center, right. Benches tend to twist to the left/right on those situps and it is most unsettling. This bench did not twist at all! So, I can now do that exercise much more comfortably. The bench is small, but it supports my head and is narrow enough that I can get nice and low with my presses. A bigger bench gives me a little more confidence, but I'm sure I'll work up to that with this little guy, too. 3. Folding and Storage: I'll add a picture of it folded and of the pin that lets it fold. This area was the only area that the bench disappointed me in. I was hoping it'd fold somewhere in the middle to get shorter, rather than just flatter. When it is folded, it is still the full length, it is just flat. Either way, it still fits in my closet with my weights and sandbags. Without looking in the closet, you'd never know I have a gym in my 700 sq. ft. apartment. All-in-all I'm very pleased with this product. It was packaged well and only took 1 day to arrive (I live in a beach city near LA, so my proximity to it's source explains that). It is sturdy and fits in my closet, exactly what I was looking for!