The good: The Vectra is practically the industry standard for build quality, comfort and versatility. It simply does what it’s designed for perfectly. 

The bad: You could get a bargain-basement rowing machine for roughly the same price. 

MF verdict: It might seem expensive for a bench, but you'll have no wobble to worry about when you're doing heavy dumb-bell chest presses.

The good: A good, solid bench with seven possible positions of adjustment. It comes assembled in the box, and folds flat for storage. Strong, too. 

The bad: A 250kg capacity can't match the Body-Solid bench. 

MF verdict: For anyone on a low budget, the Powerline option does exactly what it needs to.

The good: The Powertec bench can hit every angle from a decline all the way up to a shoulder press. It’s also low to the ground, giving you a stable feel when you’re benching. A cross tube lets the bench work with either Olympic or regular bars, and optional leg curl and lift features make it extremely versatile. 

The bad: It isn’t the comfiest bench you’ll ever lie on. 

MF verdict: If you’re interested in getting your bench press numbers up but don’t want a Smith machine or multigym, this is the bench for you. 

The good: The perfect bench to fit under a Smith machine. Optional T-Bar and Preacher Curl attachments mean you can expand your workout setup when you’ve got more cash to spend. Its capacity of over 500kg means you’re unlikely to outgrow it.

The bad: There's no decline option. 

MF verdict: Second only to the Vectra for stability.