Freak Athlete ABX Review: The Most Versatile Adjustable Bench (6 Months Later)

Freak Athlete ABX adjustable bench in a home gym

This product was tested in-house by Michael at the Jungle Gym Reviews.

A normal bench handles pressing, but the appeal of something like the ABX is that it can also cover chest-supported rows, leg extensions, leg curls, and other accessory work without adding separate machines.

The Freak Athlete ABX is designed to solve that exact problem. It's a 10-in-1 adjustable bench that boasts a multi-angle headrest, an auto-adjusting seat gap, and a massive ecosystem of attachments.

I've been testing the ABX for six months, and it has definitely earned a spot in my top two adjustable benches that I am recommending to most people right now. It goes from being a good bench to a very good multi-use station, and I consider it to be one of the most valuable centerpieces most home gyms can have.

Quick Takeaway

At $599.99 for the base bench, the ABX is more expensive than a standard adjustable bench. But the ABX isn't just a bench — it's a modular machine. The integrated multi-angle chest support pad completely changes how you can do rows and flys, and the attachment ecosystem (especially the leg developer) is fantastic. If you value versatility over everything else and want one piece of equipment that replaces multiple machines, the ABX is one of the best options on the market.

Quick Specs

Price: $599.99 (Base Bench)

Bench Type: FID (Flat/Incline/Decline with attachment)

Product Weight: 96.3 lbs

Footprint: 51.4" L x 25.2" W

Pad Width: 11.8"

Back Pad Angles: 0, 15, 22, 30, 37, 45, 52, 60, 67, 75, 85 degrees (11 positions)

Seat Pad Angles: 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 degrees (5 positions)

Headrest Angles: 8+ positions (folds all the way down)

Weight Capacity: 900 lbs

Storage: Vertical

Where to Buy

You can check the current price directly through Freak Athlete below.

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My Real-World Experience

I've been using the ABX in my garage gym for six months. I've used it for standard flat benching, incline pressing, and extensively as a chest-supported row station. The biggest takeaway from my testing is that the versatility is real — it's not just a gimmick. The ability to fold the headrest down and lock it into different angles makes this bench uniquely useful for back and rear delt work.

The Killer Feature: The Multi-Angle Headrest

Freak Athlete ABX multi-angle headrest in chest support position

The main reason this bench is so popular — and the reason I recommend it — is the integrated multi-angle headrest, which functions as a chest support pad.

This pad folds down out of the way for normal pressing movements, but it can be locked into multiple angles for chest-supported rows, incline dumbbell flys, and bicep curls.

Freak Athlete built this thing to be incredibly durable. The steel on either side of the headrest is over a quarter-inch thick. I actually stood on it in a previous video to demonstrate the strength. When you're using it for a chest-supported row, you want it to feel super safe and secure because you're putting your entire body weight on it. The ABX delivers.

Officially, there are four angles for the headrest. But because the steel is so thick, you can actually use the pop pin underneath to create micro-adjustments. It won't be fully locked in until you put your weight on it, but once you do, it's not going anywhere. This effectively gives you eight angles. And because the headrest angle changes when you adjust the main ladder, the possibilities are almost endless.

Angles and Adjustability

Speaking of the ladder system, this is an area where the ABX offers more options than most of the competition.

Most adjustable benches offer seven back pad angles in roughly 15-degree increments. The ABX offers 11 angles in 7-degree increments (0, 15, 22, 30, 37, 45, 52, 60, 67, 75, 85).

This is actually really nice, especially when you're doing incline benching. Sometimes 45 degrees is too high, and 30 degrees feels too low. Having the 37-degree option is fantastic. It doesn't cost manufacturers anything to cut a few more notches into a ladder system, and Freak Athlete was smart to do it.

Stability and Build Quality

The ABX uses an X-shaped base design rather than a traditional triangular base. Freak Athlete did a really nice job with this, because it provides stability not only left-to-right, but also front-to-back. This matters when you're doing dynamic movements like decline sit-ups, or if you're a heavier lifter.

If I put my whole weight on the bench and try to shift it left to right, it's very stable.

There is a little bit of play in the ladder system itself — more than you'll find on some other premium benches — but that's just the nature of ladder benches. It doesn't translate to left-to-right instability, and I've never felt unsafe using it.

The Attachment Ecosystem

Freak Athlete ABX with leg developer attachment for leg extensions

The ABX is marketed as a "10-in-1 machine," and the attachments are what make that possible.

Freak Athlete offers a wide variety of attachments: - Leg Developer ($400): For leg extensions and hamstring curls. This is the major focus of the home gym space right now, and the ABX handles it beautifully. - Bicep Attachment ($200): For preacher curls. - Sit-Up Attachment ($120): For decline core work. - Dip Attachment ($80): Handlebars that attach to the bench. - Cable Attachment ($50): For low-row functionality.

These attachments use a quick-attach system that makes swapping them out relatively painless. If you buy the bench and the attachments, you are essentially replacing a dedicated leg machine, a preacher curl station, and a dip station.

Comparisons / Alternatives

vs. REP Nighthawk: The REP Nighthawk is my other top recommendation. It is a more traditional bench. It has a better pad (REP's Clean Grip vinyl) and slightly less play in the ladder system. If you just want the best pure benching experience and don't care about chest-supported rows or a massive attachment ecosystem, the Nighthawk is the better choice. If you want maximum versatility, get the ABX.

vs. Ironmaster Super Bench Pro: The Ironmaster is the classic versatile home gym bench. It also has a huge attachment ecosystem. However, the ABX's integrated chest support pad and modern ladder adjustment system make it a more user-friendly option for most people today.

Tradeoffs

There are two things you should know before buying the ABX.

First, the padding. It's functional, but it's not at the same premium level as the REP Nighthawk. If Freak Athlete does an update or offers an upgraded pad in the future, I'd love to see them match the density and grip of the Nighthawk's vinyl.

Second, there is a slight wobble when doing decline sit-ups. Because the bench uses a magnetic pin to lock the headrest, there has to be a tiny bit of clearance between the pin and the holes so it doesn't jam or rub the paint. This results in the slightest bit of play between the back pad and the seat pad. When you're at the top of a decline sit-up, you kind of float a little bit. It feels similar to the float you get on a rack-attached lat seat.

If that's the only compromise required to unlock the incredible versatility of the multi-angle pad, I'm totally happy with it.

Who Should Buy

The home gym owner who wants one bench to do everything (incline, decline, flat, plus chest-supported rows, leg extensions, and curls) without taking up the entire garage. If you value versatility and space-saving over having dedicated standalone machines, this is the bench for you.

Who Should Skip

Skip the ABX if you just want a traditional bench for heavy flat and incline pressing and have no interest in chest-supported rows or attachments. In that case, a dedicated FI bench like the REP Nighthawk will give you a slightly better pure benching experience for less money.

Final Verdict

The Freak Athlete ABX is one of the most interesting adjustable bench designs out right now.

It's not meant to be just a traditional bench — it's more of a compact training platform than a normal adjustable bench. If you want to maximize your floor space and add a lot of useful accessory work without needing separate machines, the ABX is the bench to get. It has definitely earned its spot as one of my top two recommendations.