All in all this is a very stable bench that looks very nice.  The lid is very firm, so it doesn't fall.  But the downside is that it was difficult to put together.  The instructions were not very clear and I didn't get a set of washers installed on the hinges to the lid, though it works fine without them.  By the time I had realized it, I already had it put together.  But, like I stated, the lid of the bench is very stiff, so it doesn't fall down on you.