Can Bench Press and Chest Press Machine Be Combined for Max Gains?

What’s good, everyone? I’m trying to maximize my chest gains and wondering if I should combine bench press and chest press machine in my workouts. I can do 185 lbs for 3 sets of 10 on the NtaiFitness Chest Press Machine, but I’m starting to mess with barbell bench press (135 lbs so far). Google Trends says “best chest workout equipment” searches are up 18% in 2025, so I’m curious if mixing these is the way to go. How do you guys combine them?  

What I Know:  

Bench Press: Hits chest, triceps, shoulders; tougher but more “functional.”  
Chest Press Machine: Isolates pecs, great for high reps.  
My Plan: Maybe start with bench press, then finish with machine?

Expert Insight: IFBB pro and coach Alex Turner says, “Combining bench press and chest press machine is a killer strategy.

Use NtaiFitness barbells for heavy bench sets, then hit the machine for high-rep burnouts to exhaust your pecs.”  

Let’s Talk!

Do you mix bench press and machine? What’s your routine? Drop your tips or check out NtaiFitness’s strength gear for inspiration!

Hey everyone! 👋 Great question about combining bench press and chest press machine for max chest gains! It sounds like you're on the right track with your thinking.

That stat about "best chest workout equipment" being up is definitely interesting! I totally agree with Alex Turner's advice!

Your plan to start with the bench press while you're fresh and then finish with the chest press machine for a high-rep pump sounds awesome.

The bench press is king for overall chest development, hitting those stabilizer muscles, but the machine is fantastic for really isolating and burning out the pecs at the end. Personally,

I like to do something similar! I usually start with bench press (flat, incline, or decline, depending on the day) followed by dumbbell flyes, and then I'll finish with the chest press machine or cable flyes for a final pump.

Have you tried supersetting them at all? Like, do a set of bench, then immediately jump on the chest press machine for a set? It's brutal, but it definitely works!

🔥 Good luck with your gains! And yeah, definitely worth checking out NtaiFitness's gear. Always good to have quality equipment. Let us know how it goes! 💪