Brandon Cole's Reviews (18)


(5.00)
2/28/2026
I've owned this piece for about 4 months and have been very happy with it! There are a ton of really cool options on the market for combo units like this, and I would have likely gone with a fringe sport walrus, the ATX variant, or a version that has a functional trainer trolley for max versatility. The two things that made my mind up for this piece was the overall height and a true, seated low row. My basement joists sit at 82" with right around 88" in-between joists this is one of the few options that had an overall height short enough to sit in between! I'd previously been using a REP Ares 2.0, but had to use a decline bench and position a rack mounted foam roller to achieve full ROM. Not a huge deal, but it was annoying enough that I started looking at stand alone units. I can now get full ROM with all my attachments, which has been great to just snap them in and go! I do think if I had pull down attachments with multiple carabiners or long length between attachment at the handle (such as shorty/longy bar with d handles attached, or ROT8 handles with attachment bar) I'd probably still bottom out. For reference I am 5'10 with longish arms. This piece is regularly used by a buddy that is 6'1" with no issues. Secondly, a true seated low row is just really nice to have, compared to decline bench and foot plate on the Ares. The ROM is about the same with the foot pegs, as the Ares at full foot plate extension, but I have found a couple yoga blocks against either gets me the extra stretch I want at the bottom of the movement. Overall, if you have the space, this is a great buy for anyone wanting dedicated functionality and limited ceiling height. Build quality is good, no concerns there. I will note, if the weight stack shifts slightly horizontal, it will rub just enough to make a noise on the weight stack shroud mount. This is easily fixed by pulling the plates just a bit to re-center them. Only happened twice so far. Would buy again!
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(5.00)
2/28/2026
Super pleased with this piece and the compact foot print! My ceiling height is 82" Max, and this comfortably fits in the basement and leaves room for the pull up bar to sit upright. The trolleys are very smooth and I have plenty of height for ez curl bar push downs and even triceps rope if I bend a little at the hips/knees. The pull is very smooth! In fact, it is as smooth as any well-maintained functional trainer at a commercial gym. The 2.5 pound adder weights are a huge plus for me, and are super handy for lateral raises, facepulls, curling, or any other movement where incremental changes make a huge difference. The spacing is fairly narrow, even compared to other functional trainers of similar height. This may be an issue for some, but I personally haven't had any issue getting adequate stretch with bench supported or standing variants of cable flies. No regrets at all, I would happily purchase this piece again!
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(5.00)
2/28/2026
Great pair of spotter arms and are very competitively priced. I use the 4000 series version on my rack for traditional spotting purposes, as well as a ba holder for open trap bar shrugs and standing EZ bar curls. They are well built and I haven't had any safety concerns or complaints. Great compliment to any compatible rack. Of note, minimum height will be limited on the front posts of any rack using the Ares 2.0 system due to the trolleys storing at the bottom. If you need a relatively low height, it may be worth it to you to spend the extra on a low profile arm.
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(5.00)
2/28/2026
Good pair of solid D handles! Not the most primo option of the market, but for being included with my REP functional trainer, and REP Ares 2.0, I'm not going to complain at all! Handle thickness feel good and the knurl isn't to aggressive, or to light, in my opinion. They have performed well enough that I've managed to hold off on the temptation to buy/try a more expensive option.
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(4.67)
2/28/2026
Big fan of my PR 4000! This was the first purchase for my home gym and I've used it for almost every gym session the last two years. I purchased the 80" version (82" ceilings), 6 post and 41" rack depth. For a while, I regret not getting a shorter depth for more space efficiency, but since adding the REP smith attachment, I've found the extra space to have allowed me to still use my spotter arms inside the rack for my front uprights, while still leaving room to install my smith and use it comfortably towards the back. Given the option, I would opt to get a PR 5000, only due to the greater number of attachments that are available for 1 inch. Thankfully is hasn't been an issue from rep, as the vast majority of their ecosystem is in both 5/8 and 1 inch, but if you plan to venture to outside companies, this could be an issue for you. While, the closer hole spacing at bench height is nice, I haven't heard of many people complaining about the spacing for standard spacing on 1" racks. Given the relatively minor price difference between the 5000 series and 4000 series, the cost savings don't really seem worth the limitations imposed, especially for what will be the center piece in most home gyms. No problems with build quality, finish, or durability, all have been great!
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(4.67)
2/28/2026
Solid attachement that works as advertised. Smooth rotation and good knurling. My only complaint is the bends are fairly passive and I would prefer slightly more aggressive bends for certain movements. If it wasn't for that minor preference issue, I wouldn't have a need to look anywhere else. It gets regular use in my gym, 2-3 times per week!
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(4.67)
2/28/2026
I've had this bench for about a month now, and am very happy with it! I previously used a REP AB 3000 2.0 FID and this was an improvement for me personally. The upright storage feature is super nice and it tucks nicely within my rep x pepin dumbell stand or my functional trainer, opening up precious floor space, when needed. I also find it to be "lighter" to move around the gym and easier to maneuver. I'm not certain, but I think it may be due to how its balanced and the placement of the handle. On that note, touches like the knurled handles feel very premium and look great! The bench pad is grippy and is plenty wide. Adjustments are easy and light! Another big area of improvement for me is the narrowing of the seat pad vs the widening with the AB 3000 2.0. I found it annoying to widen my stance significantly to get around the seat pad,when sitting down for flat or incline work. The only downside I can see is lack of decline position (which I never used anyways) and it doesn't have the large ecosystem that some of the newest benches do. That being said, if your not interested in having all those different attachments and just want a solid, comfortable, easy to maneuver bench, I think this is a great pick!
Performance
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(5.00)
2/28/2026
I have owned and used these dumbells for close to a year and have been very happy with them! The weight changes are quick and updated pop pins for the adder weights look and feel great! I own the 85 lb set and this has been sufficient for all of my accessory lifts, but admittedly I'm not s super strong guy. They feel very well balanced, and the knurling feels good in the hand with just the right amount of bite for me. There is some rattling with certain movements, but the plates feel very secure and it's minimal enough I don't personally find it annoying at all. I have found that the finish on the plates will scuff, especially where the adder pin rubs on the innermost plate, but it certainly doesn't hurt function. I have these paired with the rolling dumbell stand and have been super happy with the pairing. While I've found myself missing certain dedicated pieces from a commercial gym, a full set of dumbells isn't one of them, and I find them to be more than quick and efficient enough for drop sets, or use between multiple lifters. One final note, I haven't experienced the issue with plates getting wedged/stuck that other users have, but I am extra careful to but them back in squarely, so I don't have to deal with that potential problem. Your mileage may vary of course. Overall, highly recommend!
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