When thinking about tightening up your abs and strengthening your core, you need to consider using a high quality ab board to see concrete results.
What are you looking for in an ab board? You want an ab board made out of quality materials, one that is strong enough to withstand the rigors of everyday use, and one that doesn’t take up the entire house. But, you also want it to be comfortable for the hips and low back without making the workout too easy.
Under review is the Universal Decline Bench.
The Universal Decline Ab Bench is a high quality ab board that comes with…
- 5 inch foam rollers to provide maximum comfort
- High quality 2 inch foam padded bench
- Easy to clean vinyl pad covering the bench
- Foldable design for easy storage
- Designed for users up to a maximum user weight of 250 lbs
The Universal Decline Bench is available online at several different places for between $40 to $55; and depending on the seller, the shipping should be included in the purchase price.
We found our decline bench at Amazon, and it arrived in four days. It is very easy to put together, and from unpacking to finished product, assembly took under fifteen minutes.
The Universal Decline Bench – No Frills, Just Effective
Once assembled, the Universal Decline Bench is a simple but strong, no frills ab board that works. The frame is constructed out of 2 inch by 2 inch steel, and the front and back circular tube bases are wide enough to make this a very stable ab board.
It is very light at 21 pounds, so it is a snap to pick up and move around the house; and it doesn’t take up a lot of space.
At 45 inches long by 15 inches wide, it is ideal to set up in front of the TV or even in an empty hallway. And since it is foldable as well, it can be stored anywhere (a closet, under a bed) when not in use.
The five inch foam rollers at the knees and ankles are comfortable; especially when you put strain on them at the top of your crunches. And the bottom pad is adjustable to three different height positions to accommodate even taller users (six foot two or better).
The back pad is comfortable as well; a problem with other ab boards that cause lower back pain and friction on the tailbone. The vinyl covering causes any excess sweat to bead up, and cleaning it is nothing more than a quick wipe with a wet towel.
This is static ab board; in other words, the angle of the board is not adjustable to multiple heights. While this is fine for new users, it is lower to the ground and may not be enough of a challenge for more advanced users.
But the width of this board is more than enough at 15 inches so you can target obliques and other side ab exercises without the instability you will find on a thinner board. And for crunches and sit ups, the Universal Decline Bench is perfect.
The Universal Decline Bench – What it Lacks
As we stated earlier, the Universal Decline Bench is a no frills, efficient and durable ab board; but it is not perfect.
It is rated up to 250 pounds; but if you are over 200 pounds, you may want to look elsewhere.
And the plugs that hold on the padded rollers are very cheaply designed and have a tendency to pop off. This is fixable with some tape; but it shouldn’t be an issue in the first place.
Last, the incline is a little shallow. We’ve fixed this by adding some blocks under the front bench support to increase the angle; but that really depends on individual preferences.
For a simple, no frills, easy to use and easy to store ab board that is very comfortable when in use, then the Universal Decline Bench is a great choice. And for the price, it cannot be beat.
If you are looking for all the bells and whistles, then the Universal is not going to fit the bill; but if you are looking for a simple, sturdy ab boards that is great for sit ups and crunches, then the Universal Decline Bench is perfect for the job… And perfectly priced.
