Marcy Adjustable Exercise Utility Bench (SB-261W Reviewed)

Marcy Exercise Utility Bench Reviewed 

Main Features Of The Marcy Bench

The main feature of the Marcy bench is its ergonomic design. It's made to be compact yet multi functional, so even though it doesn't take up much space, there's a wide range of different exercises you can do with this think. It's best for building up muscles in the abs, back, shoulders, and chest, and it's small enough to use within a power rack or cage. 

The bench is made up of a powder coated steel frame which has high density padding in white and black upholstery. This steel powder coat protects it from scratches and rust, and the alloy steel construction is durable yet lightweight (just 27 pounds). It can handle a total of 300 pounds of weight. 

Its back pad can be adjusted to 4 different angles - including flat, decline, military and incline degrees - and the seat can be adjusted to 3 positions as well. The foam rollers are great for keeping the lower body in place, and they're covered in high-density padding for added protection and comfort. 

Packaging & Assembly

The assembly was pretty much straightforward thanks to the included manual. You might need a pair of stronger arms to tighten all the screws with a wrench, so if you don’t consider yourself a strong person, I’d suggest inviting a buddy over to help you out.

Price Guide 

This bench falls in the under $100 pricing category, so it's an excellent choice for anyone on a budget. Because it's a cheaper piece of equipment, it doesn't offer the same high weight support as more expensive benches, but 300 pounds of weight support is plenty for most people. 

Thinking about a higher priced model? Check out our review of the Bowflex 5.1S

My Experience with The Marcy Exercise Utility Bench

Frame & Adjustability

Thanks to the adjustability of the solid frame, which is the first thing I noticed, I can safely say that you can do basically any weight bench-combined exercise with the Marcy, including: 

I felt quite stable when I sat on the bench. However, I do believe that this bench is only capable of handling 300 pounds of weight (just as Marcy says), so if you plan to do some heavy lifting, you might want to consider a bench with a higher weight capacity. 

The adjustment system is easy to use, so you won't have to spend too much time changing the position of the back or seat pad. However, just realize that this bench only offers 4 different back positions, whereas some higher-priced models have 10+ adjustments. 

Comfort

Considering the affordable price tag, I was actually pleasantly surprised by how comfortable this bench was to use. The padding is soft enough on the backside, but also firm enough to keep the body feeling safe and stable. 

The roller pads are quite small, but they're still comfortable and do a great job of keeping the lower body secure. 

Height & Weight Limitations

When it comes to user height and weight, the Marcy bench does have some limitations. Since the weight support is only 300 pounds, this bench isn't ideal for extreme bodybuilders or anyone who's into heavy lifting. However, it's a great beginner to intermediate level bench, and it's especially ideal for small home gyms. 

In terms of height, I'd say that overly tall people might have some issues using the Marcy. The bench is specifically designed to be compact enough to easily fit within power racks and cages, so it's not ideal for users over 6' in my opinion. 

Marcy Weight Bench Pros & Cons

Comparing The Marcy With Similar Weight Benches  

One of the best ways to do your due diligence for selecting the best weight bench for you is to compare it with similar models. There are 3 that are very similar in functionality and design to the Marcy weight bench:

Who Can Benefit From The Marcy Weight Bench?

There are a lot of good things to say about the Marcy weight bench. It's versatile, compact, affordable, and extremely sturdy considering the price. However, because it's designed to be compact and lightweight, it's not the best choice for taller individuals, and it's not suitable for heavy lifting. 

In the end, the decision is up to you, but considering the price, I’d say it’s definitely worth adding to your home gym.