Weight Bench Covers: Dust Cover, Slip Cover or Grip Cover?

The right weight bench cover depends on the job you need it to do. A dust cover protects a bench you keep in a garage, on a porch or outdoors. A slip cover, also called an upholstery cover, wraps a pad whose vinyl is torn or cracked, so the bench looks new and the foam stays protected. A sweat cover keeps your sweat off the pad. A grip cover is a thin, grippy layer that sits where your back meets the pad, so you stay in place while you lift. If the vinyl is in good shape and only slippery, a new upholstery cover will not change much: you need grip. And if the foam underneath is crushed, no cover fixes it, and it is time for a new pad.

What kinds of weight bench covers are there?

Shoppers use many names for them: workout bench cover, gym bench cover, bench press cover, weight bench seat cover. They all come down to four kinds, each with its own job.

Most home benches need one or two of these, not all four. Start with the problem you actually have.

When do you need a dust cover?

When the bench lives somewhere the weather can reach it. Sun fades and dries out vinyl until it cracks, damp air rusts the frame, and dust settles into every seam. A cover over the whole bench slows all of that down.

• Water resistant, but breathable. A cover that traps moisture can do more harm than good.
• Big enough for the frame. Measure the bench with any uprights or leg attachments, not just the pad.
• A drawstring or straps. So wind cannot lift it off a bench outdoors.
• A dry bench underneath. Wipe the pad and let it dry before you cover it.

In a dry room indoors, a dust cover is optional. A quick wipe after each session does the same job.

When is a slip cover worth buying?

A new cover is worth buying when the vinyl is torn or cracked, not for grip. A tear lets sweat and moisture into the foam, and a cover seals it again and makes an old bench look new. Fitted covers stretch over the pad and pull tight underneath with an elastic edge or a drawstring. If you are handy, you can also reupholster the pad: take it off the frame, stretch new vinyl over the foam and staple it to the underside of the board.

Keep in mind that a new vinyl cover is as smooth as the old one. It changes how the bench looks, not how it holds you. If your pad is in good shape and the only problem is slipping, here is how to fix a slippery weight bench without replacing anything.

How do you measure a bench pad for a cover?

Measure the pad, not the frame, and write every number down in inches or centimetres.

• Length. End to end along the top of the pad.
• Width. At the widest point. Some pads taper toward the head end.
• Thickness. The foam at the edge, from the board to the top.
• Seat and back separately. On an adjustable bench, the seat and the backrest each need their own cover so the bench can still fold.
• Extra to wrap. For upholstery, add the thickness on each side, plus enough to wrap under the board and staple.

Should you cover a torn pad or replace it?

It depends on what is under the vinyl. A cover fixes the outside of the pad. It does not fix the inside.

• Cover it when the vinyl is torn, cracked or faded but the foam is still firm and the board is sound.
• Replace the pad when the foam is crushed and you can feel the board or the frame, when the board is cracked, warped or soaked through, or when the pad wobbles on its bolts.

For a weight bench pad replacement, measure the length, width and thickness of the old pad and the spacing of the bolt holes underneath, so the new pad lines up with the frame. A fresh pad with firm foam gives you a stable base again, and a grip layer on top keeps sweat off the spot your back touches most.

What is a weight bench sweat cover?

A sweat cover is a towel made for the bench. Some hook over the top of the backrest, others lie flat on the pad. It keeps your sweat off the vinyl and keeps the bench cleaner between sessions. Because it is fabric, it can shift on the pad once you are under load. Here is how a gym towel and a grip mat compare, and why many lifters bring both.

What does a grip cover do?

A grip cover is the one cover made to hold you. It is a thin, double-sided layer: one face grips the pad, the other grips your back, so you stay where you set up while you press, thrust or row. It goes where your body meets the bench and comes off when you are done.

“Commercial bench pads at my gym are shot. I was sliding toward the uprights every heavy set. This mat locked my shoulder blades down and the bar path finally stayed consistent.”

PR Grip is a grip cover in mat form. HexaTrac on both faces grips through pressure, not adhesive, so it leaves no residue on the pad and lifts straight off. It works on vinyl, leather and padded surfaces, and keeps your sweat off the spot it covers. To clean it, wipe it with a damp cloth and mild soap, or wash it cold and hang it to dry. Here is what to look for in a bench press mat.

“Wipe-down is ten seconds. No funk, no chalk paste baked into foam. I actually keep it in the bag because it stays clean.”

Can you put a cover on a gym bench you do not own?

Not a fitted one, but you can bring your own surface. A towel or a grip mat goes down where your body meets the pad, you train on it, and it comes home with you. Wipe the bench down when you finish, the same as always. Here is how to wipe down gym equipment on a shared bench.

The same goes for hotel gyms and travel. You never know what bench you will find, and a grip mat that rolls into your bag gives you a familiar surface on any of them.

“Hotel gym benches are the worst vinyl on earth. This is the only reason I can bench on the road without sliding into the rack.”

One mat fits standard flat and adjustable benches, leg press seats, hip thrust benches and most machine pads. At about 300 grams, PR Grip rolls into a gym bag and goes wherever you train.

See the PR Grip mat

Frequently asked questions