MY MOM BOUGHT me a cheap curl bar set in 2010, which I used daily, igniting my obsession with health and fitness, a field in which I’ve written professionally for 10 years…collecting as much gym equipment as my apartment (and wife) will allow. My current set-up includes the familiar players: adjustable dumbbells, a weight bench, slam balls, bands, kettlebells, even a couple of maces. So, when Shogun Sports offered to send me its pièces de résistance, the Nord-Ex, to review, I turned a blind eye to my lack of space and embraced the opportunity to level up my training compound (and workouts).
| Weight | 126 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 41” x 25” (19” x 26” when stored vertically) |
| Assisted Nordic Curl Angles | 15, 30, 45 degrees |
| Back Extension Angles | 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 degrees |
| Materials | A combination of 13-, 11-, 8-, and 4-gauge steels, and polyurethane foam |
This was my first time using a product made by Shogun Sports. The brand makes kettlebells, dumbbells, sleds, bands, and more, but its products aren’t typically found at the commercial gyms where I train. Shogun has a reputation for building high-quality equipment to last, and I was pleasantly unsurprised by the craftsmanship that went into this two-in-one machine. It comes mostly assembled, is simple to use, and stores vertically (assuming you buy the stand). Mind you, this praise is contextual; if back extensions and Nordic curls aren’t your priority, you can put your money to better use.
Overall, the Nord-Ex is superb, and I’m already working towards performing my first full range-of-motion Nordic Curl. Is it a must-have? Absolutely not, but Shogun set out to make a best-in-class product in a niche category and stuck the landing.
Shipping and Assembly
The Nord-Ex arrived six days after the order was placed. Full disclosure: I did not pay for it. Shogun Sports does offer free shipping for orders inside the continental United States and Australia. A waiting time of less than a week (assuming it’s in stock) is a good deal to me.
I live in a second-floor apartment and my wife was 34 weeks pregnant when the Nord-Ex arrived. Dragging 126 pounds of steel encased in a cardboard box up two flights of stairs solo was doable, but I’d highly suggest enlisting a friend to help. (The box did have small handles, which made the process far easier.)
Once you have the Nord-Ex where you want it, you’re basically done. Shogun ships it to you nearly 100% assembled, with the one additional step being to slide the leg roller into the back of the bench. Between the unboxing and teaching myself how to switch between the back extension and Nordic curl functions, setting it up took less than eight minutes.
Design and Features
No kidding, my hands have never touched such a beautifully crafted piece of gym equipment. I have average taste. The Nord-Ex feels out of place against my litter box disguised as a plant, last year’s Christmas lights, and an Amazon bookshelf housing three different books about grilled cheese. It belongs in The Rock’s Iron Paradise, not my dump. Alas, it’s here, assembled, and being used—no givebacks.
Shogun uses various gauges of steel to build the Nord-Ex—11-gauge for the frame, 8-gauge for the footplate, 4-gauge for the side panels, and 13-gauge steel for the tubing. The frame is finished with a black powder coating, which helps to prevent rusting and corrosion over time and looks high-end; the tubing is stainless steel. The footplate features a diamond pattern for extra grip and is comfortable enough to use barefoot. Even the logos are quality. The top pad has the word “Nord-Ex” and “Shogun” etched into the leather, and a laser-cut steel plate bolted to the side of the frame reads “Shogun” with the machine’s name and serial number listed right below.
The padding for the top pad, leg roller, and hip pad is all made from the same high-density molded foam. Based on my measurements, the padding on the leg roller is about an inch thick from the metal cap, the hip pad is two and a half inches thick, and the primary top pad is three inches thick. The foam is comfortable but has very little give. The density and pliability feel similar to the foam on weight benches by premium brands like Rogue and REP Fitness. Considering how sensitive and bony the knee joint is, effective padding is (or should be) non-negotiable when making a Nordic curl bench, and Shogun delivers.
Despite weighing 126 pounds, the Nord-Ex is fairly easy to move thanks to the wheels under the footplate and the crossbar attached to the front. Simply grab, lift, and roll the Nord-Ex where you want it, then store it upright to reduce its footprint. (The back extension must be flat for vertical storage.) For an additional $50, you can buy the Nord-Ex Stand to hold the wheels in place when storing the Nord-Ex vertically. Without the stand, I found it nearly impossible to keep my Nord-Ex upright on carpet without leaning it against a wall. For the price, I think Shogun should throw in the stand, but they don’t, so you’ll have to decide if vertical storage is crucial for you.
Switching between the Nordic curl and back extension took me, on average, about a minute and a half. You’ll need to move the hip pad from one tube to another depending on if you want to perform assisted Nordic curls or back extensions. Doing so is simple. However, based on my scale, the hip pad weighed in at 18 pounds. Single-handedly inserting the hip pad into a tube while simultaneously pulling the push pin back to allow entry was moderately annoying. (Spoiled writer problems, though, right?)
Training With the Nord-Ex
The assisted Nordic curl and back extension feel better than any version of these machines I’ve used in a big box gym. None of the parts wobble during use, the leg roller adjusts easily and feels great on the ankles, and the padding is friendly to my knees and hips.
My favorite function of the Nord-Ex is the adjustable Nordic curl pad, which allows you to scale the difficulty of the movement by limiting your range of motion. If you’re new to Nordic curls like I am, I suggest starting with the pad set to its highest setting of 45 degrees. I slowly lower my chest until it touches the pad, then explode back up to the starting position. After a few weeks of thrice-weekly Nordic curl sets, I’ll lower the angle to 30 degrees and try the movement with a longer range of motion. The idea is that you’ll slowly progress to a full-range-of-motion Nordic curl, which is very hard to do and impressive as hell if you can pull it off. You’ll also be faster and stronger than when you started.
If you’re like me and worry that you’ll face-plant and be laughed out of the gym anytime you hop on a back extension machine, rest assured that the Nord-Ex felt supremely sturdy as I repped out extensions. You can adjust the back extension to five angles and use it for side bends and sit-ups (though I didn’t find the sit-ups comfortable.)
Pro tip: I’d suggest tracking the settings you prefer for the hip pad and leg roller during both exercises, as those are based on your height. This way, when you’re ready to train, you’ll only have to adjust the angle of the back extension or assisted Nordic curl pad (based on how easy or hard you want your curls to be).
Value
Look, Shogun’s Nord-Ex costs a lot. There are cheaper ways to train the muscles the Nord-Ex hits (with the deadlift and Romanian deadlift, for example), but if you’re interested in buying a Nordic curl and/or back extension, this is a good deal. It’s the highest-quality exercise equipment I own, and it’s probably better built and more durable than anything in my apartment. The build quality matches the price tag, and you get two machines in one.
Standalone Nordic benches cost between $250 and $600, and a back extension costs another $250 to $500. There are cheaper Nordic/back extension benches on the market, but Shogun’s is of the highest quality, routinely topping numerous “Best Nordic Benches” lists, including our own.
Warranty
Shogun offers various warranty periods for the Nord-Ex. They are:
- Three years for metal parts and welds
- Three years for cushions
- Ninety days for the finish
- Ninety days for plastic and rubber parts
Final Verdict: Should You buy the Shogun Nord-Ex?
If you’re set on investing in a Nordic curl and/or back extension, then the Nord-Ex is a worthwhile buy. It should last you forever with little to no wear and tear (assuming you treat it right).
Overall, I’d classify the Nord-Ex as a nice-to-have. After you’ve outfitted your home gym with the essentials—in my opinion, a squat/power rack, barbell, weight plates, dumbbells, and a weight bench—you could add it to your set-up.
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Charles Thorp is the Fitness and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, where he shares the best product recommendations in gym equipment, recovery tools, supplements, and more. Following an early life in athletics, Charles became a NASM-certified trainer and began writing programs alongside the most respected coaches in the world.
Since entering the world of fitness content, Charles has had the opportunity to learn from and train alongside high performance individuals from the NFL, UFC, NBA, Formula 1, CrossFit, US Olympics, and Navy SEALs. When he’s not writing about training programs or gear, he can be seen at the gym or in the wild, putting them to the test.
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