Bench set adjusts to women’s needs

Women have been standing shoulder to shoulder with men in gym weight rooms for decades, using the same machines and equipment to pump the same iron. Despite the fact that the sexes share dumbbells, barbells and benches, not everything is one-size-fits-all. Some women find the free weights and plates too cumbersome -- and the machines tailored for larger builds. An adjustable-incline bench set promises relief.

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Fold Up Bench: The equipment was designed with women in mind, says Donna Savage, president of Massachusetts-based Danskin Fitness. “We asked a lot of women what they didn’t like about weights,” she says, and they came back with a list that included cold, raw steel, clanking weight plates and collars that were difficult to attach. The dumbbells and barbells in this package have foam padded bars, vinyl-coated weight plates and snap-on collars, all the better to protect hands and nails. The bench itself is a little lower to the ground than those found in most gyms. It’s also narrower, which allows more range of motion when doing exercises such as bench presses. The set folds up for easy storage.

Price: Danskin Fitness Fold Up Weight Bench, including the weights, costs about $190; it is available at Sam’s Club stores in Long Beach, Torrance, Fullerton, City of Industry and San Fernando. For more information, go to www.danskinfitness.com.

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-- Jeannine Stein