Feierdun Chest Press Machine Review

Who this machine is for

The Feierdun chest press is a plate-loaded press machine for somebody who wants a controlled bench press and shoulder press at home without a barbell. It's a well-built machine for the money, and it does more than one thing.

It fits best if you're around 6 foot or under. I'm 6'5" and it's a little small for me, which is why it's not staying in my gym. More on that below.

Why I tried it

In a home gym, space is short, and a lot of the time you don't have a spotter. That's what got me interested in this machine. It folds up, and the arms adjust for height, so you can set where the press starts and not get stuck under a bunch of weight.

FED Fitness sent it to me. I built it on camera, pressed on it, and then gave it a month before I decided anything.

What you can do on it

It's not a one-trick pony. You can lie down and chest press. You can turn around, sit up and shoulder press. Each arm moves on its own, so you can work one side at a time. You can do shrugs with it too.

The bench changes with a pin. It goes upright, incline or flat, so you can do an incline press. There are foam rollers on the back to hook your feet under for core work.

The handles have more than one grip, so you can go with a forward grip or a side grip. Each arm pins to its own height. If you want to start the press a little higher, you pull the pin and move it up.

How the press feels

It's smooth. It's one range of motion, and you can't press any other way. That's good or bad depending on who you are and what you're trying to do.

For my dad, that's the whole appeal. He's 72. He still likes free weights, but having a controlled movement in one plane of motion for bench press and shoulder press is very nice for him.

Fit at 6'5": it's a little small for me

I'm 6'5" and I weigh 275 to 280 pounds, and this machine feels a little small for me. When I lie down, I hit myself on the handles. So it's a bit of a hassle to get in. Once I'm in, no problem. Getting in and out is the challenge.

The leg rollers are the same story. When they're down, they sit right on my knees.

My dad is 5'10" and about 200 pounds. For him it's perfect. He didn't have a hard time getting in and out of it at all.

Floor space and folding

Floor space is not something I take lightly. Every piece of equipment that comes into my gym had better do more than one thing, or be worth the floor it takes up.

This one does help itself there. Pull a pin and the bench folds up. It stands on its own, and the handles can go all the way back and lean against the wall. There's plate storage down at the bottom too, so your plates stay with the machine.

You still need the room for it. Make sure you have the space before you order.

Plates and the weight rating

The plate pegs are 1 inch with 2 inch sleeves that slide over the top. If you've got old plates with a 1 inch hole, take the sleeve off and they fit. Standard 2 inch plates work great with the sleeves on.

The listing says 1,250 pounds, but that's not what you can press. It breaks down to 450 on the bench and 200 per arm, and the rest is the plate storage pins. Go by 200 per arm.

Putting it together

It's seven steps and a lot of pieces. The hardware is bagged and marked by step, which made it a lot easier.

The instructions tell you not to tighten anything down through the first three steps. Listen to that. One of the tubes has to flex into place, and it wouldn't have gone in if I'd already tightened everything.

When it's time to tighten it all down, grab a 17 mm socket wrench. I also pinched my hand putting the plate pegs on, so watch your fingers there.

What changed after a month

When I first built it, I said I might be a little too big for it, and I didn't know how long it would last in my gym. A month later, that's how it played out. It's not staying.

That doesn't mean the equipment is no good. It's just not going to work for what I want. For the price, you'd think it isn't going to be that great. It genuinely is a great piece of equipment for the price.

Where it's going: my dad's gym

My dad came over the other day and took a look at it. I asked him if he'd be interested, and he fell in love with it. My mom even tried it and said she'd like it.

So it's going to his house. He's going to get a lot of use out of it, and I'll get to see how it holds up over time.

Who should buy it

I can recommend it for the right person in the right setting. If you're around 6 foot or under, you want a guided press and shoulder press at home, and you have the space, it could be a great add to your gym.

If you're a big guy like me, this might not be the best piece of equipment for you. Getting in and out of it every set is going to bug you.