NordBench vs Shogun NordEx

NordBench vs Shogun NordEx: Which compact Nordic curl bench is best?

Both take up very little space compared to other Nordic bench combos in the market.

One is built like a tank but costs twice as much while doing less.

I’m gonna give you all the details so you can decide which nordic curl bench is best for you…

Reviews

NordStick NordBench Review

Read my in-depth NordBench review and see everything this compact adjustable Nordic curl bench can do.

One thing that makes it unique is it’s folding footplate that can be used as a slant board.

No other Nordic bench has this unique feature which I’ll show you in more detail later on.

Shogun NordEx

Read my detailed Shogun NordEx review and see how this overbuilt Nordic bench works.

It’s made out of heavy duty steel and premium molded foam so they didn’t skimp on quality.

The NordEx is also adjustable but the regressions are partial (I’ll explain later).

NordBench vs Shogun NordEx: Similarities

First I’ll show you what both the NordBench and Shogun NordEx have that’s similar…

Compact Size

Both Nordic benches are compact and don’t eat up a lot of my floor space.

The Shogun NordEx is 41″ long and the NordBench is 33″ at its smallest position.

When you compare that to a bigger machine like the Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper Pro (60″ long), you can appreciate how compact their design is.

Nordic Curls

Both are adjustable Nordic curl benches that allow me to adjust a Nordic curl starting at 45 degrees.

The bigger the incline angle on the bench, the easier the Nordic curl feels since I’m not fully fighting gravity.

I’ll show you some differences later on to show you how Nordic curl regressions are done on each bench.

For now I’ll just let you know that the NordBench has 8 levels of adjustment and the NordEx has 3.

Lower Back Extensions

Both machines have adjustable 45 degrees lower back extension settings.

I can adjust the angles and also the length of the pads so that people of different heights can use it comfortably.

Here I’m doing a weighted lower back extensions on the NordBench.

It’s stable and has a weight capacity of 500 lbs which is more than enough for most people.

Here’s a 45 degrees lower back extension on the Shogun NordEx.

It feels just as good as when I do them with the NordBench and the weight capacity has to be much higher because of it’s 11 gauge steel frame.

The mechanism of adjustment is different for both benches and I’ll explain when I show you the differences between the two.

Split Squats / Hip Thrusts

I can set up the NordEx for splits squats and hip thrusts by setting the incline to the highest setting (45 degrees).

This gets the footplate out of the way so my body doesn’t come in contact with it while exercising.

Here’s how I do hip thrusts on it.

I get middle back support and with the rollers being round, they feel more comfortable then doing these off the side of a weight bench.

I use a similar set up with the NordBench except this footplate is bigger so I flip it down all the way.

Here’s what the split squat looks like on the NordBench rollers…

Or I can also do them on the opposite end with my foot on the hip pad.

Hip thrusts on the NordBench rollers are basically the same as on the NordEx but I can also do them on the opposite end.

I do prefer to do them on the roller side because the handles on the other side can get in the way of my arms.

GHD Sit Ups & Reverse Hypers

GHD sit ups on both benches are nearly identical.

I like to set the incline angle to about 30 degrees so it’s not so steep.

Here’s what they look like on the NordBench.

Both benches have a single roller but that’s enough to keep my feet down while doing this exercise.

I can do reverse hypers on both benches but they’re not high enough to let my legs hang straight down.

So on the way down, I have to flex my knees so my feet don’t touch the floor.

Not a huge deal but this is not the same as doing reverse hypers on a plate loaded pendulum machine.

Still feels great on the lower back muscles after doing many reps.

RELATED: NordBench vs Freak Athlete

NordBench vs Shogun NordEx: What’s Different?

NordBench

Adjustable Footplate

The NordBench has an adjustable footplate that doubles as a slant board and a leg for vertical storage (plus a low row footplate hack I came up with).

This is unique to the NordBench and no other Nordic bench has this feature.

There’s 3 settings on the NordBench’s footplate…

This allows me to use the footplate as a slant board and do exercises like heel elevated squats to target my quads.

And calf raises for my gastrocs.

Here’s the hack I mentioned earlier…

With the footplate in the second position, I set the bench in front of my Voltra cable machine and use it as a low row footplate.

This is something I struggled with for years with my set up and this works perfectly so I can push off to counteract the cable machine’s weight.

Resistance Band System

The NordBench has several spots on the frame where eye hooks can be bolted on to attach resistance bands.

There’s two in the back legs…

Two on the front legs…

Three on the middle of the frame (two on the sides and one on top).

And two more on the footplate (one on each side).

So it’s obvious these are strategically placed to hit different angles for resistance band exercises.

I think it’s a smart move by the NordStick to include all these anchor points to get more value from the NordBench.

Landmine Attachment

The NordBench’s landmine attachment is held down by the bench to fit any Olympic sized barbell for even more exercises.

If you’re into landmine workouts, this may a good attachment to pick up.

EXPLORE MORE: Freak Athlete vs Tib Bar Guy

Shogun NordEx

Adjustment Mechanism

The Shogun NordEx has pop pins in different places that allow me to adjust the length and angles.

This is different than the NordBench which uses a combination of pop pins, cotter pin, and a support arm.

Here’s a close up of the NordBench set at 25 degrees of incline.

The transition from adjustable Nordic curls to low back extensions on the NordBench requires less steps so it takes less time.

Adjustable Nordic Bench (Partial vs Full ROM)

With the Shogun NordEx I’m able to do inclined Nordic curls to make Nordic curls easier until I’m able to do flat Nordic curls.

This bench has 3 incline angles: 45, 30, and 15 degrees.

Here’s what that looks like at an incline of 45 degrees and it gets harder the closer to the floor I get.

Notice that Nordic curls on the NordEx are partial since my knees aren’t able to straighten out all the way.

This is different than the NordBench where my knees and hips are on the same pad so I’m able to do a Nordic curl through a full range of motion.

I personally like doing these through a full range of motion because I can keep tension on my hamstrings when they’re outstretched, which is the hardest part of the exercise.

Padding & Frame

The frame and padding used on the NordEx is the highest quality out of all the Nordic curl benches I’ve tested.

It has a frame made out of thick, 11 gauge steel, and this is why it weighs 126 lbs even though it’s compact.

For padding, Shogun went with a premium molded foam that’s so good it doesn’t require any upholstery.

The sliding tubes are 13 gauge stainless steel and have numbers etched into them.

The leg rollers on the NordEx are made of the same premium foam as the knee and hip pads.

They’re not as thick or long as the NordBench’s but still feel good.

With that being said, the padding on the NordBench feels very good and is covered with high quality upholstery.

NordBench vs Shogun NordEx Storage

Both Nordic benches have the ability to stand up vertically which is always good for home gyms and garage gyms.

This reduces the floor space they take up when not in use by a lot.

I will say that the NordBench has better stability when standing upright.

What I really like about the NordBench though, is that I can hang it up on my wall so it takes up ZERO floor space.

I’m all about using as much wall space as possible so this a huge advantage the NordBench has over all Nordic benches on the market.

ALSO READ: Home Gym Storage & Organization

NordBench vs Shogun NordEx: Pros & Cons

NordBench

Pros

• Compact: I can store this on my wall, under a bed, stands up vertically, or in a closet

• Versatility: With the bench itself I can do a lot of exercises, adding the landmine attachment and resistance bands makes it a full body machine

• Comfortable: Premium foam (3″ thick) on the pads and leg rollers (5″ diameter) make it super comfortable

• Price: Compared to other Nordic benches, this is one of the most affordable ones that maintains high quality and versatility

• Footplate: I love that the footplate doubles as a slant board which is something other Nordic benches like this one don’t do

• One size fits most: This works for people from 4′ tall all the way to 6’8″ and has a weight capacity of 500 lbs so most people can use it

Cons

• Base lock: Lining up the pin that locks the base would be streamlined if it had line markers (I used a sharpie to make it easier for me).

• Handles: When rolling the Nordbench, the handles touch the floor depending on the angle I hold it. Smaller, upward curved handles could solve that.

• Hip pad knob: Knob is right below the hip pad so to adjust it, I have to get my hands into a tight space. Smaller knob would work better.

Shogun NordEx

Pros

• Build: Metal used on the NordEx is top of the line making it heavy, sturdy, and durable

• Size: Compact design doesn’t take up a lot of floor space

• Storage: Stores vertically to reduce footprint when not in use

• Foam: Premium, molded foam is comfortable and made to last

• Adjustable: Length and angles can be adjusted to fit people of different sizes

Cons

• Cost: It’s one of the most expensive Nordic benches around

• Partial Nordic curls: I prefer to do inclined Nordic curls at full range of motion than partials

Prices

NordBench Price & Discount Code

The NordStick lists the base price for the NordBench at $599 but currently have it discounted at $399.

Depending on the attachments you want to get with it, the price can go up to $599 with everything included.

Click the red button below to get an additional 10% discount code.

Shogun NordEx Price & Discount Code

The Shogun NordEx sells for $999.99 which is more than double the price of the NordBench.

As far as quality goes, the NordEx is made with some of the best materials compared to other Nordic curl benches.

But it is also not as versatile as others.

Click the red button below to reveal a 10% discount code.

Other Alternatives

Freak Athlete Hyper Pro

The Freak Athlete Nordic Bench is a 9-in-1 nordic bench combo.

One feature this one has over other Nordic benches is the ability to elevate the rear part which opens up more exercises.

Freak Athlete also has a leg developer attachment to add lower body isolation exercises.

With that being said, it is $800 for the base product and can go over $1000 when all attachments are included.

Tib Bar Guy Nordic Back Extension V2

The Tib Bar Guy Nordic Back Extension V2 machine is another affordable Nordic curl bench option (sells for $499).

It is not as compact as the NordBench or NordEx but it can do a lot of the same exercises.

NordBench vs Shogun NordEx: Which One Should You Buy?

I’ve given you all the similarities and differences between both Nordic benches…

Now it’s up to you to determine which one fits your training style, workout space, and how much you want to invest.

Whichever one you go with, both benches offer a lot of versatility in a space saving design.

You get a lot of bang for your buck compared to buying all the machines they replace separately.