Apex Adjustable Bench Review: Can One Bench Really Replace Half Your Gym?
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Check out the Apex Adjustable Bench here!
Most adjustable benches do one thing: They incline, go flat, and decline.
The Apex Adjustable Bench by The Tib Bar Guy does that… and then turns into a:
Leg extension machine
Leg curl machine
Belt squat station
Nordic curl bench
Hip thrust and split squat station
Chest-supported row setup
Ab bench
Pull-up & dip tower
Landmine base
and way, way more.
I spent an entire weekend at The Tib Bar Guy headquarters testing every attachment on this bench. This article breaks down how the bench performs, how each attachment feels, and whether it’s a smart buy for a home or garage gym.
Prefer watching instead of reading?
Check out my full 27-minute Apex Adjustable Bench review on YouTube: Watch the video here
Table of Contents
Bench Overview & Core Features
Leg Extension & Leg Curl Attachment
Nordic Curl Attachment
Belt Squat & Slant Board (“Beretta” Attachment)
Striker Pad – Chest Supported Row & Preacher Platform
Ab Trainer Attachment
Hip Thrust / Split Squat / Preacher / Tricep Attachment
Landmine Attachment
Pull-Up & Dip Station
Pros, Cons & Who This Bench Is For
Pricing & Value: Is It Worth It?
Final Thoughts
Bench Overview & Core Features
Before you think about attachments, the bench itself has to be solid. The good news is that the Apex Adjustable Bench feels like a true heavy-duty commercial-style bench comparable to its competitors from REP and Rogue Fitness.
Build & Stability
Roughly 105lbs per their website, making it a solid and stable bench.
Rated at a weight capacity of 1,000lbs
Heavy construction with 11-gauge steel
Includes knurled metal adjustment knobs, grippy vinyl, stainless steel adjustment indicators, and durable powder coat
Very stable for bench pressing, rows, and all of its attachments.
Moves smoothly through angles without clanking while minimizing noise.
It can stand vertically for storage using the handle and wheels.
If you’re benching anywhere from just a few dumbbells to 400–500+ lbs on the bar, this bench can handle it. I witnessed an ex-football player bench 600lbs with ease using the Apex Bench.
Padding & Dimensions
High-quality pad with a firm but comfortable feel. Again, very comparable to the more expensive competitors.
Bench height is 17 inches, and 55 inches when in standing storage mode.
Back pad length of 38.5 inches and width of 12 inches, making it long enough to support the upper back, shoulders, and head fully when sitting on the bench and performing seated exercises.
Seat pad length of 13.35 inches and a width of 12 inches, wide enough for any booty size.
Angle Options
Back pad has 17 adjustment angles, ranging from -10° to 85°
Seat/“butt pad” has 10 adjustment angles from -20° decline to 30° incline
Attachment Ports
This is the secret sauce of what makes the Apex Adjustable Bench so versatile.
You get multiple receiver ports at the front and back of the bench:
Attachments slide into these ports
Heavy, knurled knobs tighten them in place
Some accessories sit higher, some lower, to match the mechanics of the movement
This is what transforms the bench from “just a bench” into a modular training system.
Leg Extension & Leg Curl Attachment
Dedicated leg extension/leg curl machines are big, expensive, and rarely seen in garage gyms. We all want one, but usually do not have the space or money to get one.
The Apex Leg Extension and Curl attachment aims to give you that functionality without the footprint of a full machine.
Key Features
Connects to the Apex Adjustable Bench in just seconds
Plate-loaded design makes it easy to use the weight plates you already have at home
Adjustable pad height and lever length for users of all heights
Built-in handles for bracing
Option to attach a cable instead of plates for those interested in connecting it to your functional trainer.
Stores upright when not in use
Leg Extensions: Resistance Curve & Feel
A common complaint with plate-loaded extensions is a “dead zone” where the exercise doesn’t feel challenging until the middle or last part of the motion.
With this attachment:
You feel tension immediately from the bottom of the movement. This means full tension throughout the full range of motion for both the leg extension and curl.
The motion is smooth and consistent with no sudden stops or changes of flow
No grinding, sticking, or surprise resistance spikes
Leg Curls: No Dead Spot at the Top
Same story with leg curls: a lot of designs lose tension at the very top and the weight feels “weightless”. Not with this attachment.
With the Apex attachment:
You keep tension at the top of the curl instead of losing it.
Full tension and stretch at the bottom of the movement.
The pads are comfortable on the thighs and ankles
There are handles to brace your upper body
Who This Is For
Garage gym owners who want true hamstring and quad isolation
Lifters who are tired of loading their spine with heavy squats and deadlifts
Clinicians and rehab professionals who want a compact machine-style option
This attachment, by itself, solves a significant problem: how to perform leg extension and curl exercises without dedicating half a room to a large machine, while also isolating your quads and hamstrings by offloading your spine.
As a garage gym owner, this is big for me. Leg day is one of my favorites, but after squats and deadlifts, my back and central nervous system are usually so fatigued that it becomes hard to get more leg work by continuing to load your spine. I have always wanted a leg extension and curl machine, but as mentioned before, space and money are big reasons why it never existed in my gym.
With the Apex Adjustable Bench and the leg Extensiopn/Curl attachment, now that’s possible.
Nordic Curl Attachment
Nordic hamstring curls are one of the most effective posterior-chain exercises to help beef up your hamstrings and for injury prevention. If you know me, you know I am big into nordic curls as I post them almost daily on my Instagram page
What You Get
Attachment that locks into the bench near the butt pad
Adjustable roller position for different leg lengths
An optional wider add-on pad that adds 4 inches to the width for even more comfort on the knees.
In Use
The setup feels solid. For myself, who performs Nordic curls with weights and in the decline position, it handles Nordic curls very well, and I feel stable throughout the whole motion.
Your knees have enough cushioning, especially with the adjustable pad.
You can incline the bench to make Nordics easier for those starting Nordic Curls
Additional Uses
Lat pulldown Attachment to secure you under heavy weights
Seated Cable Row Attachment
If you’re a sprinter, soccer player, football player, or just someone serious about hamstring strength, this attachment gives you a dedicated, safe Nordic station without another full machine.
BarretTa Belt Squat & Slant Board
This might be the most eye-catching part of the Apex Adjstable Bench Ecosystem
The Apex Bench allows for a full belt squat attachment making leg day even more fun and challenging.
Why Belt Squats Matter
Belt squats let you:
Train your legs hard without loading your spine
Get a more quadricep mind-muscle connection than with traditional back squats
Can perform heavy squats safely
Extra versatility to your leg day training
For lifters with low back issues or those doing high-intensity squatting, this is huge.
What you get
A long lever arm at 66 inches
Plate-loaded pin that can hold approximately 8 weight plates depending on the thicxkness of each plate
Fully adjustable handle for support and leverage that can be adjusted vertically and forward and back
Included kickstand to set up before you start squatting
Included spacers to make loading/unloading plates easier
Includes the adjustable belt.
Weight capacity: 450lbs.
A cool detail: the lever acts at the end of the bench, which creates a longer lever arm and more effective quad loading than you might expect just by looking at it.
Exercises You Can Do
Belt squats
RDLs
Calf Raises
Reverse Lunges
The Barrett Belt Squat attachment is one of the most unique I have seen. It feels great on the quads, and while I only loaded 3 45lb plates during my testing, I got an insane quad pump that back squats usually do not provide. It allows you to put more emphasis on the quadriceps to help with muscle size and strength gains. Pair it with the Hybrid Board, and you can get more range of motion and unlock more exercises.
Hybird Board
The Apex Hybrid Board is an advanced slant board that can be used in conjunction with the Barreta Belt Squat or as a standalone slant board for various other exercises.
Why Use a Slant Board
Increased squat depth, allowing for more range of motion, leading to more strength and muscle size gains
Can help improve ankle range of motion
Exercises You Can Do
Pairs perfectly with the Barreta Belt Squat, as mentioned above, featuring a detachable squat plate that allows for increased depth during belt squats.
Goblet Squats
Heels Elevated Squats with a 20° slant angle
Calf Raises with a 20° slant angle
Tibialis Raises: Has two fully adjustable tibialis raise bars to strengthen your anterior tibialis muscle.
and more
Striker Pad – Chest Supported Row & Preacher Platform
This attachment converts your bench into a chest-supported row station, which is one of the best ways to train your back without overloading your low back. It has easily become one of my favorite attachments for the Apex Adjustable Bench.
Main Uses
Barbell and Dumbbell chest-supported rows
Single-arm rows
Seal-row style positions (legs back, chest on pad)
I-Y-T raises for shoulder health and warm-ups
One-arm preacher curls
Pad for seated cable rows
and way more.
The pad angle is adjustable, allowing you to tweak how horizontal or vertical you want your torso.
If you want a strong upper back and don’t want your low back doing all the stabilizing, this piece is incredibly valuable.
Barbell rows are great, but the heavier your rows become, the more stress on your low back, and you sometimes even lose the “feel” in your middle back. Using a chest-supported row like the Stryker pad allows you to take your mind off your low back and focus fully on the quality of the movement.
Ab Trainer
Simple but very functional. This allows you to level up your ab training.
How It Works
Slides into one of the bench ports and locks in place
Provides a rolling pad and foot/leg support for sit-ups
You can flip the attachment around for leg raises and other ab variations
The bench angle is adjustable, so you can make the movement easier or harder
Knurled handles near the bench adjustment mechanisms double as foot platforms to help you mount the ab setup if the incline is higher.
This attachment gives you a dedicated core station without needing a separate ab bench. When compared to the Rogue AB-3 Bench, it feels just as stable, as comfortable, and comes at a fraction of the price.
I like this attachment because we’re usually limited to just sit-ups and crunches on ther ground, but this attachment now allows for a further challenge by increasing the range of motion. I tested this at a 60-degree incline, and it was very challenging, but felt stable the whole time.
Apex Matrix Machine
This is one of the most versatile attachments in the whole system. It unlocks over 10 different exercises with just a single piece of equipment.
The Apex Matrix Machine is a two-piece equipment that attaches to the head of the bench. You can separate the two attachments to use the one needed for your exercise.
Exercises It Unlocks
Hip thrusts with a round pad that has the option to stay stable in one position, or turn a screw to allow it to rotate during hip thrusts.
Bulgarian split squats. The perfect height to allow for comfortable split squats with enough comfort on the ankle and clearance space for the foot.
Sissy-squats to isolate the quad muscles for a big quad pump. This one is one of the most exciting exercises I performed.
Preacher curls can be performed using single-arm or double-arm versions, with either dumbbells or a barbell. One of my favorites and a great way to isolate the biceps. It even comes with a small barbell holder to place your bar at the end of your set.
Overhead tricep extensions with enough cushion for your back to rest on so that you can focus solely on the triceps instead of your back position.
and more
Landmine Attachment
No serious garage gym should skip a landmine. No more needing to jam your barbell into the corner of your gym.
Features
Slides into the bottom port and locks securely
Has plastic lining to protect your barbell sleeve
Rotates freely in multiple directions
Allows full vertical and horizontal movement
Landmine Exercise Options
Landmine presses
Landmine rows
Landmine RDLs
Split squats
Rotational core work (landmine twists)
Meadows rows
Landmine squats and lunges
If you already love landmine training, this is a very clean way to integrate it into your bench system without drilling into walls or racks.
Power Tower
The final attachment turns the Apex into a pull-up and dip tower.
Pull-Up Setup
Main attachment plus extender piece for height
Multiple grip options:
Wide
Neutral
Closer/parallel
Reverse grip
Knurled center section for grip
Height window so you can remember your preferred setting
It’s been tested at heavy loads and rated at 400lbs (well above what most users will weigh), so pull-ups with added weight are not a concern. For example, I weigh 170lbs, and if I add a challenging 45 lbs, or even 100lbs, I am still in the clear.
As some people have stated in comments on my YouTube video and Instagram videos, they seem to be concerned that the pull-up bar is too shaky and won't hold up. Although it shows very small motion, I can tell you it is very stable and will definitely hold up. At no point did I feel unsafe.
Dip Station
Remove the top extender and keep the main frame, and you’ve got:
Dip bars
A station for leg raises and knee raises
For shorter lifters (I’m around 5'5"), the dip handles are a bit high, so you may want:
A plyo box
A step
Or a platform to step up onto before starting your dips
Once you’re in position, the station feels solid and secure.
The dips felt great, but as mentioned before, the dip station might be a bit too high for some users, so a box or step is needed. This is one of my main cons of this attachment. Other than that, it’s a great piece.
UPDATE: A great thing is that The Tib Bar Guy takes feedback very seriously. After a few testers and I provided feedback on this, The Tib Bar Guy has updated me that they are working on a small step-up platform attachment to make getting into the dip station much easier.
Pros and Cons
Pros
The Apex Adjustable Bench has a lot going for it, starting with the fact that it is simply a great bench. It is heavy, stable, comfortable, and built to handle serious weight. Even if you never bought a single attachment, it already does everything you need an adjustable bench to do. It inclines up to 85 degrees, declines down to -10 degrees, has solid padding, and supports well over a thousand pounds. For many people, that quality alone is a major selling point.
The biggest pro of this system is the attachment ecosystem. Being able to add small, modular attachments means you can dramatically expand your training without filling your gym with huge machines. Most home or garage gyms struggle with space, and this bench solves that. Each attachment has a very small footprint, can be stored upright, and takes up far less room than traditional machines. You can now have leg extensions, leg curls, belt squats, Nordics, preacher curls, chest supported rows, and more, all without dedicating a full corner of your gym to each one.
Pricing is also a major advantage depending on how you look at it. While a typical leg extension and curl machine can cost $2,000 to $3,000 and take up a ton of space, many of the Apex attachments cost under $500. That means you can get the same functionality for a fraction of the price and a fraction of the size. For someone who has always wanted machine-style isolation work but never had the room or didn’t want to spend thousands of dollars, this bench makes it possible.
Another pro is the flexibility to build your setup over time. You do not need to buy everything at once. You can buy the bench by itself, which is already great, and then pick attachments only when you need them. If you already have a power rack with pull-ups and dips, you can skip the pull-up station. If you really want leg extensions or belt squats, you can get those first. This lets you customize your setup based on your training style rather than buying a huge all-in-one machine that forces you into everything at once.
Cons
The biggest downside is the upfront cost compared to a basic bench. At around $499, the Apex Bench is priced competitively for its quality and well worth the price, but it is still higher than cheaper benches you can find online. If someone is shopping strictly for the lowest price possible, this will not be the best option.
Another con is that while the attachments save space and money compared to full machines, the total cost can add up if you try to buy everything. Some people online look at the full ecosystem and say, “Now I have to spend $2,500 on attachments.” However, the key is remembering that you don't need every single attachment. Only buy the ones that fit your training. If you already have a pull-up bar, you do not need the pull-up station. If you don't care about the Nordics, you don't need the Nordic attachment. It is a pick-and-choose system meant to be customized, but some people may still find the overall potential spending intimidating.
Another consideration is that although each attachment has a small footprint, you still need to store them somewhere. They are space-efficient, but you will need a wall, shelf, or corner to keep them organized. For most home gym owners, this is still far better than storing giant machines, but it is something to be aware of.
Who This Bench Is Perfect For
Garage gym owners who want machine-style training without filling a room with equipment
Home gym lifters who want maximum versatility from minimal square footage
Clinics and PT/rehab settings that need isolation, belt squats, and versatility on a budget
Lifters with spine issues who benefit from belt squats, leg extensions, and curls over heavy back squats all the time
If you’re someone who wants to maximize your training while minimizing your footprint, this bench is made for you. The Apex starts as a rock-solid adjustable bench that already does its job exceptionally well. It inclines, declines from -10° all the way up to 85°, supports well over a thousand pounds, and has the right pad length and width for any lifter. But the real benefit is what happens when you add the attachments. For garage gym owners or anyone short on space, these smaller modular pieces let you expand your training without buying full machines that take up half your room. Whether you want true isolation work like leg extensions and hamstring curls without loading your spine, or you want more variety with preacher curls, chest supported rows, hip thrusts, or even pull-ups and dips, the Apex lets you level up your gym with minimal space. As someone who has always wanted leg extensions and curls in my own gym but never had the room, this solves that problem. And beyond home gyms, this setup is also a great option for physical therapy clinics looking for a high-quality bench that can grow over time with additional attachments, giving you far more versatility without the footprint of multiple machines.
Pricing & Value: Is It Worth It?
Exact pricing can change over time, especially as new attachments or bundles are released. Instead of listing numbers that may go out of date, here’s how I’d think about value:
A solid adjustable bench alone can run hundreds of dollars
A dedicated leg extension/leg curl machine can be $1,000–$3,000+
A commercial belt squat, slant board, preacher bench, and pull-up tower add even more on top
With the Apex Adjustable Bench + attachments, you’re essentially:
Paying a fraction of what all those machines would cost together
Saving a massive amount of space in a home or garage gym
Getting more exercise variety and progression options out of one system
Recommendation:
Check the current price and bundle options directly on The Tib Bar Guy’s website, and compare it to:
The cost of a high-quality adjustable bench
One or two machines you were thinking of buying separately
In most cases, especially for garage gym owners, this system will prove to be a better value.
🏋️♂️ Interested in the Apex Adjustable Bench?
You can view current pricing and bundle options on The Tib Bar Guy’s site: Check out the Apex Adjustable Bench here
Final Thoughts
The Apex Adjustable Bench by The Tib Bar Guy starts as a rock-solid adjustable bench.
What makes it special is everything it becomes once you add the attachments:
A true leg extension/leg curl station
A belt squat and slant board platform
A Nordic curl bench
A hip thrust, split squat, preacher, and tricep station
A chest-supported row bench
A core station
A pull-up and dip tower
A landmine base
For garage gyms, small home gyms, and even clinics and performance centers, it offers a huge amount of training options in a relatively compact footprint.
If you want to see everything in motion, you can check out my full 27-minute video review on YouTube.
If you’re more of a reader, I hope this article gave you a clear, no-BS look at what this bench and its attachments can actually do.
