Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench Review

Gluck September 2024

The Prime Fitness Shorty Bench is a unique and well thought out adjustable bench that stands out thanks to its high quality design and its ever growing ecosystem of attachments. In the home gym space versatility is king and the Shorty has quite a few tricks up its sleeves to maximize the amount of things it can do. Thankfully, Prime Fitness didn’t stop there. This bench has a build quality that rivals the best on the market though it’s not without its flaws.

The Shorty Bench is easily one of our favorite benches, and we say that owning and having reviewed dozens of adjustable benches ranging from under $100 to well over $1000. In this review we’re going to make some comparisons and see where the Shorty ranks against the competition.

Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench

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Build Quality & Attention to Detail

Let’s start by calling it what it is. Prime’s Shorty bench is a premium commercial quality product. We know those are some of the most overused marketing terms thrown around by companies to help their sales, but Prime Fitness built its reputation on manufacturing high end commercial gym equipment and the Shorty bench is another great example of that.

Of all the benches we’ve tested, we’d label only 2 of them commercial quality. Rogue’s Manta Ray, and Prime’s Shorty bench. The build quality and attention to detail on these American made benches are second to none. That also means they’re pretty expensive. That being said, if you’re looking for the best, these two products go a step above because they’re designed for commercial spaces where hundreds of people would use them every week.

Does that mean the Shorty bench is a bit over the top for most home gyms? Probably, but it also means you’ll find clever and high end touches throughout that will make your life easier every training session. For example the braces on the back of the pads extends from one edge to the other, fully supporting the pads, whereas on a bench like Rep’s AB-5200 it covers just over half. There’s also the lack of a hinge between the back pad and seat pad on the Shorty. Prime is using a U-shaped system that not only keeps the gap between the pads tiny no matter what angle the bench is set to but it also ensures the hinge will never get in your way. If you’ve ever used like the Titan Series Adjustable Bench then you’d have experienced the not so pleasant moment of a cold hinge riding up your backside.

When purchasing the Shorty there’s 8 finishes to choose from. The powder coating on Prime’s equipment, like everything else, is premium. Wynie chose Prime’s vibrant green for our bench and while we were hesitant, we have to say it’s growing on us. The coating is thick, durable, and consistently applied which you’d think would be the standard in the industry, but it’s not. Oftentimes coatings are applied thinly and scratch easily or a texture effect is added to coatings to cover up the sloppy finish jobs. The finish on the Shorty is fantastic. We should note however, that no matter what color you pick for the frame, the rubber handles and pop pins will always be Prime green. If that bothers you Basement Brandon has a video on how you can swap those out.

The quality level on the Shorty extends through to the packaging and assembly as well. Prime Fitness is known for their over the top packaging with items arriving in crates and components so well protected and secured it makes most other companies seem negligent. For the little assembly that does need to be done (the bench comes mostly assembled) it couldn’t be simpler. Prime provides clear and well written instructions even going so far as to give you torque specs for some bolts. Those types of things may seem unnecessary but it’s a testament to how meticulous Prime is with their equipment.

Prime Shorty Adjustable Bench Specs

The Shorty bench is a ladder style bench meaning it’s easy to adjust just by pulling up on the back pad or seat and it will click into the next position. The Shorty has 10 back positions that range from flat to 85 degrees, and 5 seat positions. Our only gripe with Prime’s ladder system is there’s no cage around back and seat support. We tend to prefer cages because it makes the adjustment process a little simpler since the posts aren’t able to slip out of position. It’s not a safety issue or a deal breaker but definitely a detail worth mentioning.

Another good example of the attention to detail Prime has put into engineering the Shorty bench is that although 10 back positions is fairly standard on ladder style benches, they’ve provided more low angles than high. Most adjustable benches just evenly distribute their angles. The problem is, there are more exercises where you’d want lower angles. Things like decline work (which the Shorty can do), flies, chest supported rows, and the list goes on. This gives the Shorty a little more versatility than your typical adjustable bench. One note though, even if it is a bit of a nitpick, is that Prime didn’t mark the seat angles like they did all of the back angles. Admittedly they’re not as important but it seems an odd omission nonetheless.

Although the Shorty has a much smaller footprint than other high end benches like the Manta Ray, it’s no less stable. This is because Prime has provided a wide rear foot and that provides great lateral stability. The welds are high quality and the bench feels as solid as any other bench we have which leads us to believe Prime might have erred on the side of caution with their weight capacities. While it’s listed as 1,000 lbs when flat and 600 lbs when inclined, those have become the standard numbers many companies use and the Shorty is anything but standard. As a comparison, those weight capacities are identical to Rep’s AB-4100, which is a much less expensive home gym quality bench. While both are nice products within their respective price ranges , the only thing the Shorty has in common with the AB-4100 is its compact footprint.

Prime Shorty Specs

The Shorty is light and easy to move around weighing 94 lb of with the head pad on. That's one of the reasons Wynie likes it so much. To put its weight in perspective Rep’s AB 5200 2.0 is 115 lb and Rep’s BlackWing is 131 lb but feels like a ton since the BlackWing is very front heavy and is also a great investment if you never want your wife to lift with you. Believe us, Wynie refuses to move it.

The Shorty Bench Pads 

At this point it might be clear that we really like this bench but the pad may make it or break it for you. Just like everywhere else Prime is using high end materials so the vinyl, stitching, and overall quality of the foam and pad is great but much like knurling on a barbell, the perfect pad is a subjective matter. 

The Shorty’s pad is a little thinner, softer, and narrower at 10.5” then many other adjustable benches. There are pros and cons to that. For example, we prefer a 12 inch wide pad for flat pressing. That’s what’s the width of the pad on Rogue’s Manta Ray is. It's probably the best pad for flat pressing we’ve seen on an adjustable bench. It’s really just a thinner version of the Thompson Fat Pad but on an adjustable bench. It’s firm, incredibly grippy, and overall a phenomenal pad.

Is that the perfect pad then? Well, we’re not a huge fan of it on incline work. It’s almost too sticky. There you might feel like you can’t set your shoulders because they’re stuck to the pad. The Shorty’s pad is almost the opposite of the Manta Ray’s.

We’d argue it’s actually soft and a little narrow if you’re doing a lot of heavy flat pressing. Since Prime’s vinyl doesn't have much grip it’s harder to keep your shoulders set and keep yourself from sliding if you’re using a lot of leg drive. We love the Shorty for literally anything besides heavy flat benching because for everything else it's easy to maneuver your shoulders and get into position. It’s also a very comfortable pad which has helped it to earn Wynie’s seal of approval.

The Attachments

The Shorty is a great bench on its own but the attachments are what make it really shine. Prime has been building up an impressive ecosystem of attachments that gives the bench a versatility that’s hard to match. We bought all of the ones available but Prime is currently developing more which we also plan to purchase and will update this review as we get the new ones in.

The way they’re installed and removed is not only quicker and simpler than other systems but it ends up being more stable as well. I’ll detail each attachment individually as we go but let’s quickly talk about the head pad since it comes included with the bench and is a great example of the simplicity and elegance of the attachment system. To remove the head pad you pull a pop pin and rotate the pad downward to release the hooks. To attach it is just as easy. Align the hooks and lift the pad and it locks in.

With the head pad removed you’ll have more space for exercises where you face the pad like chest supported rows or spider curls. With it installed the bench is long enough for flat presses and other exercises where you’d want a full length pad. Not only that but with it off we were able to perform dumbbell tricep extensions without the back pad getting in the way. It also gives your shoulders and head enough space for movements like overhead press. It’s a very clever and well engineered system and all the attachments are stable during use, which is something not every attachment-ready bench can say.

The Preacher Curl Pad

The preacher curl pad is my favorite attachment on the Shorty bench which is probably not much of a surprise to anyone who’s familiar with my content. It attaches just like the head pad making it quick to add or remove and stable once it clicks into place. The padding is comfortable and the best feature of the Preacher Curl Pad is that you can quickly change its angle by adjusting the angle of the back pad. It can be set to a more traditional preacher curl angle of 45 to 60 degrees or lowered to something like 30 degrees to emulate spider curls.

The preacher pad is a fantastic option for those of us who always wanted a dedicated preacher curl station but aren’t willing or able to dedicate the space to such a limited number of movements. Which brings us to the recurring theme of this review. The attachment is well very made but it is expensive even with code Gluck saving you some money at Prime Fitness.

The Prime Dumbbell Cradle Attachment

The Cradle Attachment is meant to be partnered with the Preacher Curl Pad but the two can be used separately as well. The cradle is designed to hold dumbbells or a curl bar and with it on it’ll be much easier to reach them during exercises like Preacher curls, incline rows, or spider curls. To attach it you slip it over the end post. When attached it may seem a bit loose but it’s not a factor during use. Since it’s made from 11 gauge steel, much like the other attachments, it’s overbuilt and stable. It works well when partnered with the preacher pads but we’ve found that as you lower the back pad angle past 45 degrees the cradle can affect range of motion and get in the way depending on your arm length.

The Prime Elbow Pad Kit

Of all of Prime’s Shorty bench attachments the Elbow Pads are our least favorite. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re bad. It's just for the price we’d have hoped to have gotten a little more functionality from them. We tried using them as a more comfortable version of an Arm Blaster. We tried emulating floor presses with them but they’re not quite large enough. We set them under our shoulders during bench press in hopes they’d help the bench feel like it had a wide pad on it. For all our tinkering though, they never worked that well.

The Decline Attachment

Prime’s Decline Attachment is an upgrade over most company’s offerings because they’re one of the few companies that aren’t reusing the same generic design and pads everyone else is. A good example of that is them being one of the few brands who include a handle in the attachment itself, making it easier to get into and out of position. It pops on where the head pad would and although there’s a little lateral movement, once you’re in position and using it, it works great and is solid and stable.

I will say that using the decline attachment (at 6’ tall) was the one time we felt the Shorty bench may have been… a bit short. If that sounds like you, check out the Prime Adjustable Bench which is their nearly identical bench just with a longer back pad.

Prime's Future Attachments

Prime still has more planned for their attachment ecosystem. They’re very close to releasing their Smart Arm which is a leg extension and leg curl attachment that fits on 3 inch x 3 inch racks and is designed to work with the Shorty. They’ve also engineered more ways for attachments to install on their bench which makes us wonder what else they’ll come up with. There’s the hook and pop pin system on the back pad that the head pad and decline attachment use. The side rails that run along both sides of the back pad that the Elbow Pads lock into. We even found some points on the rear brace they could use. We know they’re working on a vertical storage add-on so the real question is what else does Prime have up their sleeves?

Prime Shorty vs Rogue Manta Ray Adjustable Bench

The Manta Ray Adjustable Bench from Rogue Fitness is quite possibly the nicest adjustable bench we’ve ever seen. It features the same commercial level build quality that the Shorty does. The 7-gauge steel frame and unique internal back and seat pad ladder system help to make it one of the most stable adjustable benches on the market. The pad is unrivaled in quality even if some people may find it a bit stiff or possibly too sticky for some incline movements. The only problem? It can’t come close to the Shorty bench when it comes to versatility. Rogue does offer a foot catch so you can use it for decline movements but that’s the only attachment available.

Rogue Manta Ray Adjustable Bench

Prime Shorty Vs Ironmaster Super Bench Pro

The only bench that rivals the Shorty on versatility, is Ironmaster’s Super Bench Pro. Actually, Ironmaster has quite the lead in that department. Ironmaster has over a dozen different attachments for the Super Bench including a preacher curl pad and dip attachment. It’s also light and easy to move around and can be stored vertically.

Offering 11 back angles and a removable seat the Super Bench Pro is easy to use and is priced much lower than the Shorty bench. In spite of its price it’s still stable, compact, and well constructed. Where the Shorty has an advantage is that it looks and feels like your typical adjustable bench. The Shorty is also the better build of the two. Whereas the Super bench is solid you won’t be blown away by its build quality when it’s put up against the Shorty. Although that’s to be expected given the price difference.

Ironmaster Super Bench Pro V2

Prime Shorty Vs Bells of Steel Buzz-Saw Bench

A comparison of versatile benches wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Bells of Steel Buzz-Saw adjustable bench. With a leg extension & leg curl attachment, preacher curl pad, as well as a leg roller attachment and a few prototypes we’ve seen but aren’t allowed to talk about, Bells of Steel is building up their options with the Buzz-Saw.

To install attachments on the Buzz-Saw you have to purchase and install an adapter. The issue there is it, as well as the attachments, often feel like bolted on afterthoughts. The Buzz-Saw is a heavy duty, sturdy, and stable bench but it lacks the features, refinement, and versatility of the Shorty. That being said it is a much less expensive option and if you’re not ready to invest in the Shorty this is a decent budget option.

Bells Of Steel Buzz-Saw Heavy-Duty Adjustable Bench

Final Thoughts

We’ve tested dozens of adjustable benches and the Shorty bench easily stands out from the crowd. From the over the top build quality to the unique and clever touches you will not find another adjustable bench like this on the market. The attachments are well thought out, it’s versatile, and features some of the best engineering we’ve seen on an adjustable bench. Prime has once again created an exceptional product with the Shorty. If you’re doing a lot of heavy flat bench pressing or looking for a grippier vinyl I’d probably look elsewhere. Otherwise, there’s not another bench like this out there and we give it our highest recommendation.

Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench

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Prime Fitness Shorty Adjustable Bench Video Review