This has got to be one of the best bench press units on the market. It has exactly what you need in a bench press and then some more. I am really excited!

Review of the Marcy MWB-Monster Olympic Width Bench Press

Okay so take a look at this little beauty. It has a comfortable seat, adjustable height barbell pins as well as full on strength supporting arms. This can handle some serious weight!

This bench press is perfect for people who can’t always have a spotter around. You just set the pins nice and low and if you feel like you can’t push it back up again you just drop it behind your head onto the pin. I have one of these in my gym and it is really handy. You can lift heavy without having to worry about crushing your chest with the barbell. Perfect.

If you are looking for a bench press that is a little stronger than the normal than this one is for you. It is one of the best designed bench presses I have seen in a long time.

If you want to get a price check on this bench press take a look here.

What to look for when buying a second hand bench press

Here are some things you should take a look at when you are buying the bench press.

1. Rust
If there is any rust on the bench press you should not buy it whatsoever. Rust weakens the structure of the equipment and usually spreads pretty quickly.

2. Dents and imbalance
The main thing a bench press needs to do is be stable when you are lifting a heavy weight. If the bench press is wobbly or unstable you should forget about it. Look elsewhere.

3. Price
The price should be no where near what an original bench press costs. You should be paying about 60% less than normal market price, even if it has only been used once or twice. To check out the prices of some bench presses take a look here.

4. Width of the arms
Make sure the arms are nice and wide a part. You should be able to put your hands on the INSIDE of the arms when you lift the bar. The wider they are usually means the more stable.

5. Placement of the arms
The arms should also be in the right place. You do not want to have to lift the bar from a position that is behind your head. This is important. Lay down on the bench and get a feel for where you would be lifting the weight from. It took me ages to find the bench press that worked for me.

If all of these things are right then the bench press should be in good condition. Take your time and don’t rush in. You will be using it for a long time and you want to be comfortable and safe.

To get a price on some cheap bench presses take a look here.

As far as I am concerned this is the best rowing machine on the market. It might be intended for commercial gyms but it is the perfect addition to your home fitness equipment.

The Lifecore Commercial Rowing Machine for Home

The durability and toughness of this machine is truly amazing. The people at Lifecore have done an amazing job making a smooth, gliding and easy to use rowing machine with all the usual features. It is a little bit more expensive than you other home rowing machines but in this case you really get what you pay for. I have spent many hours on these machines and I love them.

It has over 15 preset workout programs as well as heart rate based monitoring. It has a fancy LCD screen, 16 levels of resistance and it stores data for up to four people.

Check out our store for a price check.

When it comes to heart rate monitor watches it seems as though Polar are at the cutting edge of the industry. The RS800 Heart Rate Monitor watch is the peak of their range - it is very cool!

What features does the Polar RS800 Watch have?

This heart rate monitor watch has all the usual features and comes with the Polar quality stamp. With Polar you really do get what you pay for.

The features include a stopwatch, chronograph, heart rate monitor, computer PC statistics, clock, alarm, altimeter as well as a two year warranty.

To find out more about this watch or get a price check take a look here.

An abdominal exercise used by Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee and a lot of the greats. This Everlast Ab Roller Exercise Wheel is the perfect thing to hit your abs in a seriously intense way.

The Everlast Ab Roller Exercise Wheel

Basically this thing is like a wheel on two sticks! However, usually these things have a cog in them so that they start reversing after a certain distance. This is good for beginners.

They way you use this thing is by getting on your knees and rolling the wheel forward using your abs and arms to hold your body off the ground. Try to take your body all the way down to parallel to the ground.

Once you get better at it you can stand instead of kneeling as this takes it to a whole new level.

Buy the Everlast Ab Roller

If you want to get a price check on the wheel or buy one right now you can check it out here.

As usual Nike are pushing the bar. This new t shirt is one of the best things you can wear while you are working out or playing sport.

The Nike Under Armour Heat Gear Workout T Shirt

This t shirt is made from lightweight microfiber technology which expands and contracts in the heat. The idea is that when you sweat the t shirt will force the sweat to roll off your body and not get stuck in the shirt which can weight you down and get you too cold. It really is a great invention.

The great thing about these t shirts is that they are fitted to your body and look really great. They are one of the best t shirts for showing off your muscles as well which is a secret added bonus.

It comes in a wide variety of colors and sizes and even has long sleeves. This is a great t shirt for playing football, soccer or basketball in as it is really hard for the opponent to grab onto your clothes and pull you away from the ball.

My favorite workout apparel ever!

Get a price check on or order the Nike Under Armour Heat Gear here.

Recently my girlfriend bought one of these armbands for her iPod so that she didn’t have to keep holding the thing when she was working out. It has some good elements some bad.

What is the Aztech iPod Armband?

These things are designed with rubber and velcro to hold your iPod on to your arm so that you don’t have to hold your music player while you are running, riding, lifting weights, etc. They are designed for maximum comfort and to repel sweat so that you don’t end up with a soggy iPod.

What are the disadvantages?

The major disadvantage of this armband is that it does not seem to be made for maximum ease of use. By this I mean that the holes for the buttons at the top do not line up perfectly. This can make it difficult to turn your iPod on and off the hold function.

You can get a price check and see other brands here.

When it comes to martial arts, strength and power training almost nothing beats the kettlebells. These funny little weights were popularized a few years ago by a Russian Kettle Bell expert and ever since then they have taken off and positioned themselves as a fitness force not to be messed with.

What are Kettlebells?

Kettlebells are round weights with a handle on the top. The idea is to use these weights in a more fluid and moving style than normal weights and as such it is said to help you develop strength and power without impacting on your speed.

Who can use Kettlebells?

Kettle Bells are best for:

• Sports people
• Martial artists
• Gymnasts
• Boxers
• Strength trainers

They are good for anyone who wants to supplement their normal weights routine with a workout that is hard, fast and very good for your body.

What exercises can you do with Kettlebells?

Kettle Bells can be used for almost every bodybuilding and strength training exercise as well as many more. Most of the exercises you see people doing on kettle bells have been specifically designed to be done with a kettle bell.

However, you can still do exercises such as: bicep curls, squats, military presses, lateral side raises, abdominal crunches, tricep extensions, etc. All of the regulars are still easily done.

Where to buy a kettlebell?

If you want to buy a kettle bell you can look to your local martial arts supplier or take a look at the Amazon store here. They have lots of kettle bells at much better prices than retail.

This was hard.

So I took the rest and my ankle seemed better. However, after a few slips on the martial arts floor the ankle was right back where it was weeks ago. Sore, swollen and very stiff. I needed a brace.

The Ankle Brace that works

A lot of other braces I have used aren’t that good. They don’t really stabilize anything and it seems as though they just cut off the blood flow. This Futuro Ankle Stabilizer, however, is magic. It sweats really well and it keeps the ankle tucked in tight without feeling uncomfortable and painful. It does what it is supposed to do.

The ankle is one of those things that need to be taken care of. If you push through ankle pain you will end up with a chronic ankle that ever heals and is always painful - much like a tennis elbow.

Do yourself a favor and buy yourself an ankle brace now.

If you are serious about bodybuilding then you will be serious about training your legs. The best way to develop your legs is with some heavy squats and to do heavy squats you need a squat rack.

Why every bodybuilder needs a squat rack

You simply cannot do heavy squats at home without a squat rack. It is too dangerous and it doesn’t allow you to get enough weight on the bar. How do you expect your shoulders and arms to hoist the weight your legs need up onto your shoulders to do the squats? Its impossible.

Safety is also a big issue when it comes to putting the weight down. You need to be near something that allows you to place the weight down slowly without having to stand up or drop the weight behind you. This is perfect.

The Powerline Sqaut Rack

Powerline are a true force when it comes to quality gym equipment. This squat rack is no different and as it is built to handle as much weight as you are ever going to be able to. You can also use this rack for exercises like deadlifts, bench press, etc.

The only problem I have with this rack is that the area to place the weight is quite small. When you are struggling under a massive weight you really don’t want to have to hassle around looking for the little holders. Other than that it is one of the better racks I have seen.

Get a price on the Powerline Squat Rack.