What is the difference between the Elitefts 0-90 incline and collegiate benches?

[anthony6377]

Hey Guys,

Been lurking for awhile. I'm finally moving into a new house and putting together a basement gym. I've been researching extensively, but I can't figure out the differences between these two benches (note, I'm NOT talking about the E-Series bench; I'm talking about the '0-90 incline bench' that is on sale for $527.12...(sorry, I can't post a link even if I add spaces...just search '0-90 incline bench' on their site). As far as I can tell, it's identical to the Collegiate. The only difference I can think of is that the pad gap may not be quite as small. With that said, it's still advertised as "very tight and small."

I was going to shoot Matt an email, but I figured this would be a good opportunity to a) help someone else wondering the same thing (I did do a search and I couldn't find anything...if I missed a thread, I apologize in advance) and b) finally post .

Here are the specs listed on the site:

0-90 Incline Bench
Built with 11 gauge, 2"x3" tubing steel frame to last a lifetime. Pad is 12" wide x 40" long x 2 1/2" thick with Naugahyde covering available in multiple colors, including the black grip pad (must be requested).

Bench height is 17.5".

This tank of an utility bench weighs 115lbs.

Collegiate
2" x 3" x 11 guage contruction.
Small gap between pads
No pop-pin design; has no parts that can get loose and lost over time.
Very easy to adjust.
Picked up and moved from the front.
Pad is 12" wide.
Bench height is 17.5".

Thanks, guys.

[deiphid]

I don't have an answer... but for quick reference:

Elitefts 0-90 Incline Bench



http://www.flexcart.com/members/elit...id=167&pid=761


Elitefts Collegiate 0-90 Bench



http://www.flexcart.com/members/elit...d=167&pid=6588

[anthony6377]

Thanks. That makes things easier. I need to start posting more so I can do things like that myself.

[Keetman]

I don't see any differences. I have the collegiate and the one that's on sale looks just like it (minus the spotter stands). You might want to call them to find out. If you can get that bench for $700 or so shipped that's a pretty good deal. In the write up it even says:

Unlike others, we have made the space on the pad very tight and small. This keeps your glutes from falling into the gap.

That's a nice feature. I really like my bench and doubt I'll ever replace it. Its just perfect for me. It acts like a flat bench, but can be adjusted. Its just a tank.


0-90 http://www.flexcart.com/memberS/elit...id=167&pid=761


Collegiate http://www.flexcart.com/memberS/elit...d=167&pid=1380

[anthony6377]

I don't see any differences. I have the collegiate and the one that's on sale looks just like it (minus the spotter stands). You might want to call them to find out. If you can get that bench for $700 or so shipped that's a pretty good deal. In the write up it even says:



That's a nice feature. I really like my bench and doubt I'll ever replace it. Its just perfect for me. It acts like a flat bench, but can be adjusted. Its just a tank.

Yea, I figured I'd contact them if necessary. This sale came at a bad time...I'm putting the offer in on the house next week, so I didn't exactly want to drop $3000+ on equipment this week (also looking at the Collegiate rack). Getting the bench now may be a fair compromise.

Btw, as a Pitt alum, I'm pretty jealous of your setup.

[DamonB82]

What's with the difference in shipping price between those two identical benches? They've been doing funky stuff with their shipping.

[anthony6377]

What's with the difference in shipping price between those two identical benches? They've been doing funky stuff with their shipping.

The 0-90 Incline is $175; the Collegiate is $165.

[Keetman]

...Btw, as a Pitt alum, I'm pretty jealous of your setup.

Buy the black collegiate cage and bench.... bring it to my house and I'll swap you out.

[DamonB82]

The 0-90 Incline is $175; the Collegiate is $165.

Exactly....WHY is there a difference when the benches are the same?

[ICEcap2]

One has foot rest, I'm guessing for a spotter to use. So it will be heavier.

[DamonB82]

One has foot rest, I'm guessing for a spotter to use. So it will be heavier.

I'm looking at the two pictured and linked above, no spotter stands on either. To further touch on that, the collegiate bench with spotters is still $10 cheaper to ship than the 0-90 without spotters.......

[Keetman]

I'm looking at the two pictured and linked above, no spotter stands on either. To further touch on that, the collegiate bench with spotters is still $10 cheaper to ship than the 0-90 without spotters.......

I might have caused that problem, the one I linked to is the one with spotter steps. It is more.


The two benches originally linked to have no steps.... and with shipping there is $78 difference in price.


OP.... you're probably going to want to just buy the 0-90. I'd still call them to make sure, but there are no discernible differences in the ads.

[weisgarb]

I'm looking at the two pictured and linked above, no spotter stands on either. To further touch on that, the collegiate bench with spotters is still $10 cheaper to ship than the 0-90 without spotters.......

For others viewing the thread, Damon is referring the the collegiate without spotters, which is here.

Aside from color, the pictures of the two benches are identical. I wonder if the cheaper 0-90 is actually the bench shown, or if someone screwed up the pictures. As far as I can tell, the are the exact same bench, but with an $80 difference once shipping is accounted for.

I'd be interested in hearing the response from EliteFTS as well.

[anthony6377]

I sent Elitefts an email. I'll let you guys know what they say.

[CYMlift]

I have the collegiate bench w/o spotter steps and agree w Keetman, I love the bench. Well worth it. Unless they HAV changed things, I wonder if the 0-90 bench pic is wrong. I got my bench earlier this year and at that time the difference I found between the 2 benches was the pad gap is wider on the 0-90bench and the front seat did not raise. The pic now shows it does raise up. I think someone may have loaded an incorrect pic since they both look identical.

See my review on the collegiate bench and to see more pics of the bench since elite has very little pics of their products. It may give a better idea of the bench.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...llegiate+bench

[anthony6377]

I have the collegiate bench w/o spotter steps and agree w Keetman, I love the bench. Well worth it. Unless they HAV changed things, I wonder if the 0-90 bench pic is wrong. I got my bench earlier this year and at that time the difference I found between the 2 benches was the pad gap is wider on the 0-90bench and the front seat did not raise. The pic now shows it does raise up. I think someone may have loaded an incorrect pic since they both look identical.

See my review on the collegiate bench and to see more pics of the bench since elite has very little pics of their products. It may give a better idea of the bench.

That's what I was thinking, too, but the specs listed on the 0-90 are the same (but not verbatim...i.e. each description is unique). Additionally, the E-Series bench is as you describe and as is found in the comparison video on their website. If this is a mistake, what, then, is the difference between the 0-90 and the E-Series? The plot thickens.

Regarding your review, I've read it a couple times before I made this thread. It was very helpful.

[weisgarb]

I wonder if the 0-90 bench pic is wrong. I got my bench earlier this year and at that time the difference I found between the 2 benches was the pad gap is wider on the 0-90bench and the front seat did not raise. The pic now shows it does raise up. I think someone may have loaded an incorrect pic since they both look identical.

There's a significant difference between the collegiate and the E-series bench, and they even have an article with YouTube video discussing them here. I assume the E-series was the bench you were referring to (it has a traditional straight handle for moving it around, instead of the U-shaped handle on the collegiate).


E-series

I tried going to the Williams Strength website since they typically mirror what EliteFTS offers, but I can't find anything that seems to correspond with the bench we're confused about. They show the "old school" bench (OS-D090B), the E-series (Force bench, FWE-D090B), Collegiate (Deluxe, I-D090B-D), and Signature (S-D090B), but the 0-90 seems to be M.I.A.

[Cleveland33]

elite has a lot of products that look identical on the website but have different price points - look through the prowlers.

I think they use stock photos a little too liberally - and they could certainly stand to put the product specs out there.

[weisgarb]

I just heard from Matt at EliteFTS. He didn't address my question of whether the picture was correct (I'm certain it's not), but the cheaper bench has a larger pad gap.

The Collegiate will not have a gap between the two pads when it is lying flat, that is the main difference.

[anthony6377]

I just got a response back from Elite:

The difference is the Collegiate Bench does not have a gap in the pad when it is lying flat.

[anthony6377]

I just heard from Matt at EliteFTS. He didn't address my question of whether the picture was correct (I'm certain it's not), but the cheaper bench has a larger pad gap.

I wonder if the description on the 0-90 is correct or if that is also misrepresented. If it's correct, I'm curious just how much smaller the gap is on the Collegiate. One of the main draws for me was the small gap, but I've also gotta decide if the ~$80 is really worth it.

[CYMlift]

I wonder if the description on the 0-90 is correct or if that is also misrepresented. If it's correct, I'm curious just how much smaller the gap is on the Collegiate. One of the main draws for me was the small gap, but I've also gotta decide if the ~$80 is really worth it.

I'm glad my review helped some. As my pic's and measures on the collegiate bench, the gap is 1" for the hinge on the bench which is not really not set very deep compared to the top part of the bench cushion; therefore even if your butt is on the gap directly, there is not much to sink into (maybe 1/2" or so) and then you hit the hinge. it is quite minimal and is nice to have such a small gap.

I bet the 0-90 bench gap is probably at least 2" wide (other adjustable benches seem to have a standard gap of 3" or so).

I really like this collegiate bench and if it is only $80 difference, I would go for the collegiate. you are already spending a good amount of $$ for a bench, therefore you might as well get the one that is the better bench that you know you will probably like (very small gap) then gamble that the cheaper one will have a small enough gap that you may or may not like. I think you will have less regrets later on since you will unlikely look at the collegiate bench and say, "I should have gotten the 0-90 bench instead." more likely you will look at the 0-90 bench and second guess yourself and say, "maybe I should have gotten the collegiate."

When doubt between 2 products, get the better one as long as it does not totally break the budget. you generally will get what you pay for and I think for the amount you are paying, $80 is not a very large difference.

[anthony6377]

I'm glad my review helped some. As my pic's and measures on the collegiate bench, the gap is 1" for the hinge on the bench which is not really not set very deep compared to the top part of the bench cushion; therefore even if your butt is on the gap directly, there is not much to sink into (maybe 1/2" or so) and then you hit the hinge. it is quite minimal and is nice to have such a small gap.

I bet the 0-90 bench gap is probably at least 2" wide (other adjustable benches seem to have a standard gap of 3" or so).

I really like this collegiate bench and if it is only $80 difference, I would go for the collegiate. you are already spending a good amount of $$ for a bench, therefore you might as well get the one that is the better bench that you know you will probably like (very small gap) then gamble that the cheaper one will have a small enough gap that you may or may not like. I think you will have less regrets later on since you will unlikely look at the collegiate bench and say, "I should have gotten the 0-90 bench instead." more likely you will look at the 0-90 bench and second guess yourself and say, "maybe I should have gotten the collegiate."

When doubt between 2 products, get the better one as long as it does not totally break the budget. you generally will get what you pay for and I think for the amount you are paying, $80 is not a very large difference.

Very good point and I'll probably end up going with the Collegiate. With that said, I just sent Matt a response asking him if he could elaborate a bit. I've yet to buy anything from him, but from my limited interaction he's nonetheless been very helpful, so I tend to value and trust his judgment. I'll let you guys know what he says.

[anthony6377]

On an unrelated note, I repped all of you who've helped me in this thread, but I'm not sure if it went through. If it didn't, let me know.

[Bench905]

I think they need to list more specs and update the descriptions. Very confusing for the consumer. Pictures look identical.

[anthony6377]

Alright, so the pad gap with the 0-90 is apparently 3 inches. Collegiate it is.

[Keetman]

Alright, so the pad gap with the 0-90 is apparently 3 inches. Collegiate it is.

For as much as you're already spending, I think you are making the right choice. There's only a $78 difference and they seem to be unclear on what it is they're selling concerning the 0-90. Like I said, the ad itself says there is a tight gap on the 0-90... a 3" gap isn't tight on a sucky weider bench, not sure who thought that was a good way to right up their ad. If I ordered a bench that reportedly had a tight gap and it came with a 3" gap I'd be pissed and want my money back.

You won't be regretting the collegiate.

[anthony6377]

For as much as you're already spending, I think you are making the right choice. There's only a $78 difference and they seem to be unclear on what it is they're selling concerning the 0-90. Like I said, the ad itself says there is a tight gap on the 0-90... a 3" gap isn't tight on a sucky weider bench, not sure who thought that was a good way to right up their ad. If I ordered a bench that reportedly had a tight gap and it came with a 3" gap I'd be pissed and want my money back.

You won't be regretting the collegiate.

Yea, I'd rather buy once, cry once. And like you said, $78 isn't a huge difference anyway.

I've been researching equipment for months. I'd love to buy the Collegiate rack during this deal, but timing just isn't right. So I'll have to compromise and just get the bench for now. Not a horrible compromise by any means. I actually toyed with the idea of getting a flat bench for now then adding an adjustable if needed, but reading old posts from you and other guys convinced me to go with the adjustable.

[Keetman]

Yea, I'd rather buy once, cry once. And like you said, $78 isn't a huge difference anyway.

I've been researching equipment for months. I'd love to buy the Collegiate rack during this deal, but timing just isn't right. So I'll have to compromise and just get the bench for now. Not a horrible compromise by any means. I actually toyed with the idea of getting a flat bench for now then adding an adjustable if needed, but reading old posts from you and other guys convinced me to go with the adjustable.

A lot of guys like the flat bench because of the cost, portability, and stability. Personally, I like options, but I have to admit I don't use the incline much. I guess it really comes down to what you have to spend and what you plan on doing with it. If you're going to get a high end bench, this is a great choice. Its simply big, comfortable, and stable.... very rockish. With the tight pad gap it acts like a flat bench. The only down size is, it seriously isn't "easy" to maneuver. Its heavy and long, so it has to be manhandled a little. This sucks because my wife avoids it some, but since she mostly spends time on the elliptical.... I don't lose much sleep over it.

[jormone]

But the original question remains: What is the difference?

http://www.flexcart.com/members/elit...rchPhrase=0-90


elitefts™ Collegiate 0-90 Bench
Elitefts DSWS-EFC-D090B
"This bench offers the shortest pad gap in the industry. "
$615.12 ($729.52 with spotter stands DSWS-EFC-D090BSS)
http://www.flexcart.com/members/elit...&m=PD&pid=6588


elitefts™ 0-90 Incline Bench
Elitefts DSWS-I-D090B
"Unlike others, we have made the space on the pad very tight and small."
$527.12
http://www.flexcart.com/members/elit...4&m=PD&pid=761


elitefts™ E-Series 0-90 Incline Bench
Elitefts DSWS-FWE-D090B
This bench has the 3" pad gap.
$483.12 ($550 with spotter stands DSWS-FWE-D090BSS)
http://www.flexcart.com/members/elit...&m=PD&pid=3232