The Vulcan M-61 Multi-Bench is one of the best adjustable benches on the market and this article will tell you why.
| Model | Pros & Cons | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Pros:
| Rated 4.8 out of 5 |
The M-61 has unmatched adjustability, looks beautiful and is extremely overbuilt.
That said, it’s not perfect. And the price definitely puts it out of reach for the vast majority of home gym owners.
But if you want a premium quality bench, it’s definitely worth considering.
In this Vulcan M-61 Multi-Bench review article, I’ll share all of the insights I’ve gleaned after thoroughly testing this adjustable bench over the past two months.
I’ll tell you about the construction quality, adjustment features, finish options, design details, pros, cons, and much more!
Table of Contents
Vulcan M-61 Multi-Bench Review Video
Watch my Vulcan M-61 Multi-Bench review video on YouTube:
Assembly & Shipping Experience
Getting the M-61 set up in my gym was a straightforward process.
Packaging
The bench arrived in perfect condition. The boxes were reinforced, and all components were securely braced with styrofoam and other protective packaging. So there was no movement of pieces inside the boxes during transit, which means no damage, cosmetic or otherwise, to the different pieces.
Assembly Process
Assembly was surprisingly easy and quick. It took me about 30 minutes at a relaxed pace. The main part of the frame comes largely pre-assembled, which significantly speeds up the process.
If you have a proper ratchet set, you can do it much faster.
The required assembly steps were minimal: attaching the backrest and seat pads, installing the rear frame with the wheels, and adding the various handle points. If you opt for the leg roller attachment, that’s also super easy to assemble – just four pads secured with four bolts and washers.
Build Quality, Stability & Frame Design
Sturdy is an understatement for this bench. You pay a lot for this bench largely because of the materials used – and specifically the amount of material used, as well as the construction quality of putting it all together.
Built Like an Absolute Tank
Weighing in at a hefty 140 pounds, the M-61 is one of the heaviest adjustable benches on the market. It’s right up there with the Rogue Manta Ray, which is also 140 pounds.
The M-61’s heavy weight comes from a whole bunch of thick steel throughout. The thinnest steel on this bench is still a beefy 11-gauge (3mm) tubing in the form of the 2”x4” frame.
Beyond that, you have the ridiculously thick 12mm, or half-inch thick, steel plate running down the length of the backrest on both sides.
There’s also super-thick 10mm steel used to reinforce the hinge area.
And the ladder rails are a very substantial 8mm thick.
The welds are beautiful and the hardware is oversized.
It’s completely overbuilt. And I think that’s great!
Suffice to say, you don’t have to worry about a lack of support or stability when you’re bench pressing hundreds of pounds.
The sheer amount of steel used makes it rock solid under load. Of course, it’s also put together well. And the main hinge can actually be tightened more during assembly to max out the stability.
In practice, there’s no wobbling, rocking, or shifting. I’ve confirmed this through lots of testing, including doing max and near max loads on flat and incline bench press.
I even did heavy hip thrusts off the side to test stability when pushing against the side. The bench didn’t budge, and the backrest didn’t wobble either.
Another area where the heavy weight comes in handy is chest-supported cable rows. By being so heavy, you don’t have to worry about the bench sliding even when you’re pulling heavy weight on the cable system.
Tripod Design With Protective Feet Inserts
While the heavy weight of the bench is a major contributor to stability, the tripod design also helps. This consists of the single front foot and a rear stabilizer with two points of contact. The three points of contact prevent wobbling on uneven surfaces, while also giving your feet clearance in the front.
But unlike some other tripod-style benches on the market, the front foot on the Vulcan M-61 is wide enough that you don’t sacrifice stability when putting all your weight on the front end of the bench for seated exercises.
The feet all have high-quality protective inserts to protect your floors while helping with stability. Notably, these inserts are bolted into the bench frame, rather than being caps that are just slid on, meaning they won’t slip off like on many other benches.
Aesthetic & Finish
Beyond its performance, the Vulcan M-61, particularly the industrial grind/stainless finish, is an incredibly good-looking piece of gym equipment. It’s hard to overstate how nice it looks.
Industrial Grind Frame + Stainless Steel Rails
The industrial grind finish on the main frame is absolutely beautiful. It’s eye-catching, rugged, and gives the bench a super elevated look. It really catches the eye and stands out. I’d say it’s currently the nicest-looking item in my home gym. And it matches my clear coat REP PR-5000 power rack perfectly.
My bench originally shipped with black rails, even though I ordered the stainless steel rails. Thankfully, Vulcan rectified the situation by sending out the stainless steel rails so I could swap them.
So for some time, I was using the bench with the black rails. And they did provide a nice contrast with the industrial grind frame.
However, upgrading to the stainless steel rails was a huge aesthetic improvement, in my opinion. They even included matching stainless steel hardware, which just further enhances the look and shows attention to detail by Vulcan.
Beyond the visual upgrade, it also eliminated a couple of issues I had with the black rails. For one, I no longer have to deal with any chipping of the powder coat where the adjustment arm makes contact.
Also, now I can clearly read the laser-cut angle numbers because the stainless rails provide better contrast. The black rails make it hard to see the numbers unless you get up close.
Vulcan also offers a gloss red or metallic black powder coat finish for the bench frame, each of which can be paired with either the stainless steel or black powder coat rails. The different powder coat finishes will save you a decent chunk of money compared to the industrial grind frame and the stainless rails, which I’ll talk about later.
Tasteful Branding
Vulcan has done a great job with the branding on this bench. It’s tasteful and professionally executed.
You’ll find the Vulcan name laser-cut into both sides of the backrest adjustment arm, which looks really sharp.
Additionally, the laser-cut Vulcan “V” logo icon is present on the front foot. What’s cool about this is that through the cutout, you can see the black UHMW backing, which provides a rich contrast.
A more subtle, but very cool, branding detail is that the front lift handle is mounted on an M-shaped bracket. I’ve confirmed with Vulcan that this is intentional and is a reference to the “M” M-61.
Adjustment System & Ladder Rails
The M-61’s adjustment system is a key component of its functionality and user experience.
More Angle Adjustments Than Any Other Bench
Adjustable benches are versatile by their very nature. But the M-61 takes that even further by boasting an impressive 13 backrest positions, which is more than on any other adjustable bench I’ve seen on the market.
The backrest angles range from a slight -10° decline all the way up to a near-vertical 85° incline. What’s particularly great about this range is the excellent low-angle incline coverage. You get precise settings within including 0°, 10°, 20°, 30°, 35°, 40°, and 45°.
That’s a ton of options just within the 0° to 45° range, which is quite possibly the most important range of angle options that an adjustable bench can have. Because, typically, that’s where you’ll be doing most of your incline work. For me, that’s usually incline barbell press, incline dumbbell press, and incline dumbbell rows.
I also really appreciate that the top angle maxes out at 85° instead of 90°. A true 90° angle can often feel like you’re pitched too far forward for shoulder work, making it awkward. My Rep AB-5000, for example, has a 90° setting that I never actually use.
That said, when I do shoulder press on the M-61, 85° is still too upright for my preference. But that’s just me.
Beyond the backrest, the Vulcan M-61 Multi-Bench offers 5 seat angles, ranging from -20° to 30°. Most competitors typically only offer four, so having that extra option is a nice touch.
The -20° decline seat position allows you to position your head comfortably for steep decline angles when using the leg roller on the backrest for decline sit-ups or presses.
But it’s also nice that you can still do mild decline exercises without the leg roller. Instead, you just put the backrest at negative ten degrees and the seat at positive ten degrees.
Fully Enclosed Ladder System
The Vulcan M-61 Multi-Bench uses a fully enclosed ladder system for adjustments. Unlike some benches where the adjustment rails are open, the M-61’s rails are enclosed. This design offers several benefits:
- Smooth, one-handed angle changes (on the way up): Adjusting the backrest or seat is incredibly fluid and can often be done with just one hand, at least when increasing the angle. When decreasing the angle, you need a second hand.
- Adjustment arm stays in the guide: The arm doesn’t swing out, which makes adjustments quicker and safer.
- Safer and cleaner upright storage: When stored vertically, the enclosed system prevents the adjustment arm from protruding or getting in the way.
- Easier overall operation: The entire process of changing angles feels intuitive and effortless.
Rail Construction Quality
I’ve already touched on this, but it bears repeating: the adjustment rails are super thick and robust. They’re 8mm thick, which is way more than you actually need. But that’s the theme of this bench. It’s overkill, but in a good way.
Laser-Cut Angle Markings
Another feature that speaks to the M-61’s premium feel is the laser-cut angle numbers on both the backrest and seat rails.
You’ll find every single adjustment point clearly marked, which is a significant improvement over some benches that skip numbers to save space or cost. This means you always know your exact angle without guessing.
Metal-on-Metal Contact: No Protection at Adjustment Points
Here’s one area where the M-61 falls a bit short compared to some other premium benches. Both the seat and backrest adjustment arms rest directly on bare steel rails.
There’s no UHMW or other protective lining between these contact points.
This design choice leads to loud metal-on-metal clanging, especially if you adjust the ladder quickly. If you want to avoid the noise, then you need to be more slow and deliberate with the adjustments, and use two hands.
Some type of dampening feature is a common feature on many other benches on the market, so the lack of one on the M-61 is unfortunate.
I may be more sensitive to noise than others, so I think most people won’t be as annoyed by the noise as I am. Nonetheless, it could be a quieter, more pleasant experience.
I’ll probably eventually do a DIY fix to reduce this noise, likely by adding a custom wrap around the end piece of the adjustment arm. It shouldn’t be too difficult.
Wheels
Moving a 140-pound bench around your gym requires good wheels, and my experience with the M-61’s wheels had a bit of a journey.
Initial Friction Issue Solved with DIY Fix
Initially, the wheels were surprisingly hard to roll, which was a bit frustrating, especially for such a heavy bench. My suspicion is that this was due to over-tightening from the factory.
However, this was an easy fix. I simply removed the wheels to clean out some debris, reinstalled them without over-tightening, and then applied some silicone lubricant. This simple solution greatly improved their movement, making the bench much easier to maneuver.
Angle-Dependent Rolling Behavior
Even after the fix, the wheels still have a minor quirk that’s worth noting. While they function much better than they did out of the box, they still spin a bit slower when you’re rolling the bench while it’s at a steeper angle.
The lower the bench is tilted, the smoother the wheels roll. It’s not a big problem by any means, but still a bit of a disappointment.
Wheel Covers
The wheels have steel covers that are welded onto the rear stabilizer. These covers protect the wheels from damage and even allow a spotter to stand on them without worrying about slipping. It also just looks cool and helps with the upright storage.
Upright Storage
For home gym owners, space is at a premium, and the M-61 is designed with vertical storage in mind. This bench does upright storage better than any other adjustable bench on the market. Clearly, Vulcan put a lot of thought into this feature.
A Stable Base for Vertical Storage
There are multiple design elements that contribute to the M-61’s great upright storage functionality. The most basic of those elements are the protective bumpers on the backrest base and the steel wheel covers. These are crucial because they create a perfectly flat support plane when the bench is vertical.
Enclosed Ladder Helps Upright Safety
The enclosed ladder system also contributes to safer upright storage. It prevents the backrest adjustment arm from swinging out unexpectedly when the bench is stored vertically, keeping the profile clean and reducing any potential snagging hazards.
“Lockdown” Pin Feature
Here’s where the Vulcan goes above and beyond other vertical storage designs. This is a spring-loaded pin mechanism that can be engaged or disengaged.
In its engaged state, it effectively locks the seat and backrest in place, preventing them from moving at all when the bench is stored upright. On other bench designs, particularly those with ladder rails for the seat, the seat can sometimes flip out when stored upright, posing a stability issue. This feature solves that.
When you want to disengage the pin to use the bench and make angle adjustments, you simply retract the pin with a quick turn.
The pin features a knurled stainless steel knob. It’s not like you really need extra grip, but it looks nice and matches the various knurled handles on the bench, contributing to a more cohesive aesthetic.
I haven’t seen a feature like this on any other bench, but it’s pretty cool, and I love to see the innovation in small details like this.
TIP: You can engage the pin while you have the bench in the flat position. The reason for doing this would be so you can lift the bench up using the built-in seat handle instead of the main lift handle. Why would you want to do that? It could be helpful if you’re particularly tired and don’t want to bend all the way down or if you have a back injury and find the bench too heavy – Lifting from 15″ higher can help in these scenarios.
Knurled Handles
The attention to detail in the M-61’s design extends to its handles – YES, handles plural!
And all of them are not just visually appealing, but functional as well.
Functional and Stylish
The Vulcan M-61 Multi-Bench incorporates a total of three different knurled handles:
- One at the front for lifting the bench
- One for adjusting the backrest angle
- One for adjusting the seat angle
All three of these handles are made of stainless steel, adding to the bench’s use of premium quality materials. And they all have a nice, grippy, medium knurling.
The knurling comes in handy with the main lift handle – obviously – since it’s a super heavy bench.
But it’s also more useful than you might think on the backrest handle. Remember, the backrest is also particularly heavy because of the half-inch steel plating on it, so having a secure handle to grip onto does actually help when adjusting.
Having a handle for the seat may not be as necessary, but it does help a bit.
Beyond functionality, these knurled handles beautifully tie into the bench’s overall beautiful-yet-rugged aesthetic.
Front Handle Design Details
As I mentioned earlier, the front lift handle stands out because it’s mounted on an M-shaped bracket, which is a subtle nod to the “M-61” branding.
This design choice, combined with the use of steel acorn cap nuts for securement, makes the front handle a visual standout and is very well executed.
Minor Aesthetic Wishlist
The knurled handles are so awesome. And seeing them makes me want more knurling when I look at the welded mini-handles on the seat and backrest adjustment arms. These are not knurled, but if I could wave a wand, they would be.
I understand this was likely omitted due to manufacturing complexities, as they are fully welded pieces, but it would just add that extra touch of consistent design. It’s certainly not a functional issue, just a style preference.
Pads & Dimensions
The pads are where you’ll spend all of your time when using the bench in training. As such, their quality and performance are critical.
Backrest & Seat Sizing
The back pad is 12″ wide, making it IPF-compliant. If you want a wider pad, Vulcan will be releasing a 14″ wide pad later this year. Though I think twelve inches is best for an adjustable bench for most people.
The back pad is nice and long at 38.7″ long, so it will fully support your head at all angles, even for tall users. Plus, if you happen to land on the pad gap during flat bench press, you can just shift backward and fit your entire body on just the backrest portion of the bench.
The seat is 11.5″ wide at the top, tapering to 8″ at the bottom, and is approximately 12″ long. The tapered design of the seat is a thoughtful touch, as it helps with comfortable leg positioning.
Pad Gap
The pad gap is often a point of contention for adjustable benches, and the M-61 handles it well.
The gap between the backrest and seat is approximately 1 to 1.25 inches. This is minimal and largely unobtrusive during use. In fact, I find it easier to manage than some “zero-gap” systems, which can sometimes be more cumbersome to adjust.
Because it’s so minimal, chances are your butt/back won’t land on it while you’re flat bench pressing. But even if it does, it’s not that noticeable. And besides, as I mentioned earlier, having such a long backrest means you can shift your body onto it and avoid the gap entirely.
Likewise, you can move the bench and shift more forward onto the seat.
Bench Height
The bench is 17.5″ tall in the flat position, which is great because it’s as tall as can be while still being IPF-compliant.
Pad Firmness
The M-61’s pads are very firm – They’re by far the firmest pads on any bench I’ve owned, as well as most benches I’ve used throughout the years in commercial gyms. This is great if you lift heavy and want a lot of support. Not so much if you prefer some cushion.
I actually didn’t like it initially, but have become quite accustomed to it and don’t even notice it now.
Upholstery Material
The upholstery uses a modern basket-weave grippy vinyl. This material is a definite improvement over older, dimpled-style grippy vinyls because it’s much easier to clean while still providing comparable grip.
However, there is a minor downside: while grippy and easy to clean, this particular upholstery material seems to pick up surface-level scratches and scuffs more easily.
These aren’t deep gouges, but they are visible marks that remain even after cleaning. I think it’s just the nature of this type of upholstery; it’s softer, almost rubbery (which lends itself to being more grippy). However, I haven’t confirmed if this is unique to Vulcan or common across the many other brands using a similar style of vinyl.
In any case, it’s not a dealbreaker, but the scratches can take away from the pristine look if you focus on them.
Leg Roller Attachment
If you’re looking to expand the versatility of your bench to be able to do steep decline exercises like decline sit ups and decline bench press, then the optional leg roller attachment is a worthwhile addition.
Build & Comfort
The leg roller attachment is solidly built with no standout weaknesses in its construction. The pads themselves have a bit of give, making them more comfortable than, for example, the leg roller on the Rep AB-5000.
In terms of material construction, they have a urethane core and high-density foam outside that. They are also covered in the same grippy vinyl as the bench pads, ensuring a consistent look and feel.
Adjustability
The attachment offers three pop-pin extension settings to adjust its distance from the bench, allowing you to customize it for your body and exercise. You may want to adjust it further out if you’re really tall.
However, I think the main use of the different pop-pin positions is to adjust it further out or closer in, depending on whether your head lands on the pad gap. Obviously, you don’t want to accidentally hit the back of your head on the metal hinge during sit ups. This adjustability feature lets you avoid such a scenario.
Security & Locking System
The leg roller slides securely into the backrest receiver. A pop-pin selects your desired extension position. You should then tighten the pop pin to reduce any wiggle room. And finally, there’s also a detent pin you can insert to further secure the roller fully into the receiver, ensuring it’s locked in place during use.
It is truly impressive how stable the leg roller is when installed properly. It’s a tight fit with virtually no wiggle room. So during use, you feel absolutely locked in with no extra movement.
Compatibility Limitation
One important note for those with other brand attachments: the M-61’s receiver size is not compatible with the upcoming REP Fitness leg curl/leg extension attachment. I know this because I attempted to put the REP AB-5000 leg roller into the M-61’s receiver, and it’s too large.
However, there may be a Vulcan leg developer option coming soon. 😉
Bench Stability During Decline Exercises
The leg roller itself, as discussed, is extremely secure. And so is the bench itself due to its heavy weight, at least in nearly all scenarios, even at steep angles.
The only time you can feel the bench move is if you’re irresponsibly explosive in your sit-up motion. You shouldn’t be doing that in the first place, of course. There’s no reason to do so, but hey, that’s why I test these things!
Even if you do this, it only comes up a bit in the back. It’s not a side-to-side issue, which would be a problem.
Price & Value
Apart from a few minor critiques, I really like this bench. You probably know that by this point.
But there’s one part that’s not so exciting. And that’s the price tag.
This is a premium bench, and it comes with a very premium price tag, especially if you get the version I have with the industrial grind frame with the stainless steel rails. This version, at the time of writing this, costs $1,019 for just the bench or $1,128 with the leg roller.
That puts it around the same price as the Rogue Manta Ray bench. In other words, it’s at the very top of the adjustable bench market.
Alternatively, you can pay as little as $760 for just the M-61 bench if you opt for a powder-coated finish on both the frame (red or black) and the rails (black).
Overall Rating
Vulcan M-61 Multi-Bench
The Vulcan M-61 Multi-Bench is a premium adjustable FID bench designed for serious home gym lifters. It features 13 backrest angles (-10° to 85°) and 5 seat positions, with laser-cut markings and a fully enclosed ladder system for fast, secure adjustments. Built from thick-gauge steel with stainless or powder-coated rail options, it weighs 140 lbs for maximum stability. Key details include grippy vinyl upholstery, a 12" wide IPF-compliant pad, optional leg roller, stainless knurled handles, and locking upright storage. Engineered for durability, adjustability, and aesthetics, the M-61 is one of the most overbuilt benches on the market.
4.8
Pros
- Extremely overbuilt with rock-solid stability
- 13 backrest and 5 seat angles, including -10° to 85°
- Enclosed ladder rails backrest and seat
- Laser-cut angle markings on all settings
- Multiple finishes, including industrial grind w/stainless rails
- 3 different knurled handles for adjustment & transport
- Secure upright storage with unique Lockdown pin
- Grippy vinyl upholstery with very supportive pads
Cons
- Super expensive, especially with upgraded finishes
- More effort needed to adjust/move due to heavy weight
- Wheels have resistance when bench is at a steep tilt
- Adjustment arm makes loud metal-on-metal contact
- Upholstery prone to visible surface scuffs
Final Verdict
Is the Vulcan M-61 Multi-Bench worth it?
Well, if you want a lightweight and extremely maneuverable bench, this isn’t it. Likewise, if you want a good bang for your buck, you should look elsewhere because this bench is very expensive.
But if you want a rock-solid, premium bench with best-in-class adjustability, top-tier aesthetics, super secure upright storage features, and excellent construction quality, then yeah, this thing is awesome if you have the budget for it.
If you do decide to buy, then be sure to use my affiliate link below to support my channel at no extra cost. I really appreciate it. And if you have any questions I didn’t cover, definitely ask in the comments.
