Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD Review (2024): 6 Machines In 1, But Are All of Them Good?

The Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD is either the machine you’ve been waiting for or the machine you never knew you needed. Either way, it’s the ultimate muscle-building tool for the posterior chain. In this Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD review, I’ll take you through the specs, pros, cons, and the experience our expert product testers had while using all six modalities. 

Yes, you read that right, this Freak Athlete machine offers six machines in one including a glute ham developer, Nordic bench, back extension, reverse hyper, hip thrust, and sit-up bench. And our experts are suckers for multi-function, combination machines—that’s why we adore the best adjustable dumbbells for the ability to save money and offer a compact footprint.

Our Pros Know How to Spot a Solid Combo Machine

Your friends here at Garage Gym Reviews offer unique industry expertise with a group of certified personal trainers, CrossFit Level 1 Trainers, gym owners, and Olympic-level athletes coming together to test the best home gym equipment and write equipment reviews. 

Plus, we’re home gym owners ourselves. Our goal is to help you get the best bang for your buck (and square foot). For this Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD review, Coop Mitchell, OG home gym owner, product tester, and GGR founder, put this versatile piece of equipment to the test in his own home gym. 

Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD

Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD

GGR Score: 4.22

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Product Highlights

• 6-in-1 workout functionality
• Nordic hamstring curls
• Glute-ham raise 
• Sit-up bench
• Reverse hypers
• Back extensions
• Hip thrusts
• Vertical storage 
• Patent-pending
• Lightweight, 105-lb design

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 100-day money back guarantee
• Priced under $1,000
• Perform Nordic hamstring curl progressions

Cons

• Pre-orders only
• Welds are just OK
• Subpar transport wheels

Bottom Line

The Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD has many different uses including Nordic hamstring curls (with 10 different incline progressions), glute ham raises, GHD sit-ups, 45-degree back extensions, and hip thrusts. It’s designed to support folks ranging from 5 to 7 feet tall and offers 12 different positions with easy-to-read laser etched numbers.

A Quick Look at the Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD

In July of 2023, Freak Athlete released the Nordic Hyper GHD machine, which shook the fitness world with the convertible six-in-one design. This machine offers six distinct movements, all focused on building posterior chain strength (aka your backside including hamstrings, glutes, and lower back). 

The machine allows you to perform Nordic hamstring curls, glute ham raises, sit-ups, reverse hyperextensions, 45-degree back extensions, and hip thrusts. While this machine has tons of versatility and will take up minimal square footage in your home gym, our expert product testers agree that not all six movements perform equally. But, don’t worry, I’ll dive into those details later when I break down the workout experience for all six exercises. 

Before You Buy

• Currently only pre-orders are available on the website, which ship at a later date determined by the manufacturer.  
• The lightweight 105-pound machine may need weight plates to be anchored down during use. 
• The reverse hyper functionality on this machine does not allow for full range of motion.

Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD Video Review

Is the Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD Worth It?

If you are someone who prioritizes a balanced training approach to quads and hamstrings, the Freak Athlete six-in-one machine offers a way to build your hamstrings, glutes, and lower back in a space barely bigger than the best weight bench. 

At the time of writing this review, there is no other piece of equipment on the market that can function in the same way as the Nordic Hyper GHD. It essentially replaces six different gym machines, all bulky and costly as standalone pieces. 

For reference, the Rogue Abram GHD 2.0 is priced at $740 and is over 6 feet in length and nearly 4 feet wide. The Vulcan Kraaken-Hyper Machine is a combination unit featuring the ability to perform the GHD and weighted reverse hyper. The Kraaken goes for about $1,700, measures over 6 feet in length, and weighs 565 pounds. 

Another combination machine that offers more portability than the Abram or Kraaken is the Shogun NORD-EX, which is a two-in-one design featuring a Nordic bench and hyper extension priced at $999. 

Not one of these machines offers the functionality of the Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD, which is priced at $999, measures under 5 feet long, just shy of 2 feet wide, and 105 pounds. Our callout on this Freak Athlete machine is the fact that the materials are not the highest caliber. 

“The quality of this piece doesn’t necessarily match the functionality,” Coop says. “But I will say this: The functionality vastly exceeds the cost.”

In short, yes, the Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD machine is worth it for the average garage gym or home gym owner with a 4.5-out-of-5-star rating for overall value. For the under-$1,000 price tag you get six different machines:  

Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD Specs

Using the Nordic Hyper GHD

Coop was put to the test for this Freak Athlete review, which required configuring and demonstrating all of the Nordic Hyper GHD’s capabilities. 

While Coop likes the machine for some exercises more than others, Nordic Hyper GHD earns a 4-out-of-5-star rating for workout experience. Here is the movement breakdown: 

Nordic Bench: 

Setting up for Nordic hamstring curls might be the best part of this machine. It’s suitable for beginners all the way to advanced lifters with tons of angle adjustability. You can set the Nordic bench as high as 45 degrees when you’re learning the movement and slowly work through all 10 incline increments as you get stronger. 

The bench flattens to zero degrees for traditional Nordic curls and even features four decline Nordic angles for anyone with solid, bulletproof hamstrings. Our expert product testers agree that having so many incline and decline features is the highlight of this machine. Nordic curls are one of the hardest bodyweight exercises and this machine offers a true progressive overload (via range of motion) option to improve. This function alone adds tons of value to a home gym owner’s workout routine. 

Back Extension: 

The back extension feature provides the classic 45-degree back extension angle you see in commercial gyms. Once you’ve set the machine in place at the 45-degree angle, you’ll have 12 height options on where to place the hip pads, which are numbered so you can note exactly what level is suited to your height. 

In this position, you can also perform QL raises. This feature functions exactly like you’d want it to in a commercial gym for extensions and QL raises. 

Glute Ham Raise (GHD): 

To perform the GHD, you’ll attach the removable half-dome GHD pad to your Nordic bench set up. Once the half-home pad is in place, it mimics a traditional GHD. Like a Nordic curl, you’ll have the ability to regress or progress the GHD with 10 incline angles and four decline angles. 

The pad attaches with a Velcro fastener and you’ll have the ability to place it anywhere on the Nordic bench depending on your leg length. The downside to this removable pad is the fact there is the potential for it to move around during use or wear down over time. 

For a full range of motion GHD (which includes a 90-degree back extension), you’ll want to set the machine up off the ground using the adjustable arms. In this position, you can perform the GHD into the back extensions for full extension of the hamstrings. 

With the machine extended off the ground, you can remove the Nordic bench pad and perform a full range of motion GHD sit ups. Coop notes that GHD sit-ups on the Freak Athlete aren’t as good or stable as a stand-alone GHD machine. 

Sit-Up Board: 

You can use the Nordic Hyper GHD as an ab board for flat or decline crunches, leg lifts, or sit-ups. You can even use the GHD pad for decline sit-ups and support the space under your knees. This function performs as it should. 

Reverse Hyper:

The reverse hyper on the Freak Athlete will suffice for short people and beginners. Beyond that, the reverse hyper is our least favorite movement on this machine due to the fact you can’t get full range of motion. During the testing process, Coop’s feet hit the ground instead of swinging under the machine in a pendulum motion like on a traditional standalone reverse hyper machine. 

On the Freak Athlete FAQ page, the brand addresses a statement that the reverse hyper doesn’t seem high enough. The response says that the reverse hyper mode is suitable for folks up to 6 feet and 4 inches tall, which is less than the overall recommendation for the machine as a whole, which is people up to 7 feet tall. 

This functionality is also not designed to be loaded with anything other than a resistance band. While that will work for some folks, it won’t offer the spinal decompression (or tension through the whole range of motion) most people are looking for when performing a reverse hyper. 

Hip Thrust: 

The hip thrust modality allows you to take a leg roller off and pop it into an upright on the opposite end of the machine. The leg roller acts as a back support for hip thrusts with a bodyweight, band, or barbell. The leg roller can also be used for Bulgarian split squats, couch stretch, and reverse Nordics. 

This functionality works well, but there is a little wobble and play on the leg roller. For the most part, the exercises you’ll be doing here require downward force to help keep things stable. 

Footprint and Portability

For everything the Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD can do, it features a surprisingly small footprint at 56 inches long and 23 inches wide. And when it’s in the most compact position for Nordic hamstring curls, it sits under 2 feet tall. 

Overall, the six-in-one machine earns a 4-out-of-5-star rating for footprint and portability. Coop docks a point because the transport wheels are not the best, noting that, “The wheels are cheap and crappy, so it will be a little annoying to move it around. But it features vertical storage if you want to get it out of the way.” 

Plus, the machine is only 105 pounds. “It’s not crazy heavy for all that’s in here, which is kind of a positive and kind of negative,” says Coop. “The positive side is in a home gym you can move this in and out of the garage pretty easily.” The negative to the machine being so lightweight is the durability and potential for unnecessary movement during use. 

Durability and Construction 

Speaking of durability and construction, the Nordic Hyper GHD earns a 3-out-of-5-star rating. Coop says, “It’s very OK.”

Coop notes that the telltale signs of average craftsmanship show in the quality of the welds, vinyl, and construction of the leg rollers (which don’t actually roll). “Overall, the fit, finish, powdercoat, and everything is just OK,” he says. 

“This is the same fabric that many of the imported companies used years ago and have since upgraded from,” explains Coop. “It’s grippy, but it’s not great, it’s not super thick. The foam that’s on here it’s not crazy comfortable, it’s somewhat dense, but over time it’s going to really compress.”

Coop also points out there is quite a bit of plastic on the moving parts. For example, the channels on all the moving uprights are made from plastic. The problem is this plastic is not a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) so it will be susceptible to cracking over time. 

It’s also worth noting that areas of adjustability had some play and wobble. Coop notices that with a few twists to the pop pins to tighten them down you’ll feel more secure, but it doesn’t offer the same stability you’ll find from welded uprights or something heavy-duty like a squat rack. 

In addition to the adjustment points having some play, performing the reverse hyper and Nordic hamstring curl will likely give way to wobbling. There are three weight horns located on the machine, which can (and should) be used to anchor the machine down with weight plates. Coop highly recommends anchoring the machine, especially for Nordic hamstring curls because the your body provides enough leverage and weight to make the side with the footplate fly off the ground (but that’s nothing a 45-pound plate or two can’t solve).

RELATED: Best Weight Plates

Adjustability and Ergonomics 

The Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD might compare more to a Swiss army knife than another piece of gym equipment. And like the handheld multi-tool, you have to know which levers to pull on to access the tool you want. Same goes for this Freak Athlete machine. 

With multiple final positions, three adjustable upright arms, and seven pop pins, Coop says it can be difficult to start using it right away. This is mainly due to the fact there are no labels to decipher which pop-pin and arm triggers each position. You’ll certainly have a learning curve setting up for all six movements and to the angle of your preference. 

However, Coop notices that while there are no labels on the pop pins, the adjustable arms are all numbered with engraved numbers (or angle measurements) on the interior portion of the steel uprights. 

“Because there is so much adjustability, you want to know what number or angle you’re using to have repeatability every time you do your workout. This allows you to do that,” says Coop. 

Additionally, Sam Presely, GGR operations manager, warns to use both hands and take it slowly with adjustments because there are no shocks. If a pop-pin slips out of place during a speedy adjustment, the machine can drop fast. Coop and Sam nearly had the machine drop on Sam’s arm during the initial test. 

Freak Athlete vs Shogun vs BaseBlocks 

Shogun NORD-EX

Shogun NORD-EX

GGR Score: 4.5

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Product Highlights

• 2 machines in 1
• Nordic curl bench and back extension machine
• Fully adjustable to fit most people
• Compact footprint at 41” x 25”
• 11-gauge carbon steel main frame
• Custom-molded self-skinning polyurethane foam
• 35- to 55-degree adjustments for back extension
• 15, 30, or 45 degrees for assisted Nordic curls 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Adjustable angles for back extension and assisted Nordic
• High-quality, heavy-duty materials
• Compact footprint
• Able to store with caster wheels and handle
• Innovative design
• Free shipping in the Continental U.S.

Cons

• Expensive
• Ships in 3 separate boxes

Bottom Line

A truly innovative product, the NORD-EX is a fully adjustable Nordic bench that can be converted into a fully adjustable back extension machine. Able to adjust in multiple angles for a back extension as well as an assisted Nordic curl, the NORD-EX can also be folded and stored away, leaving it a very compact footprint when not in use. At just under $1,000, it’s a bit pricey, but the innovative design is built with quality, heavy-duty materials.

The Nordic Plus

The Nordic Plus by Base Blocks

GGR Score: 4.22

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Product Highlights

• Adjustable to five heights 
• Thick foam pad for knee support
• Progression to full Nordic curl
• Build lower back muscles

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Free shipping to the USA and Canada
• Good for various experience levels
• 90-day app access
• Anchors for bands
• Set-up is fast

Cons

• Currently only available for pre-order
• No reviews yet

Bottom Line

The Nordic Plus may be a great addition to your home gym whether you are just starting out or are more experienced and want a way to train Nordic curls. This bench’s ability to adjust to five heights makes it extremely versatile for various strength levels.You can strengthen your hamstrings, calves, or lower back depending on the exercises you do. It also comes with band anchors, allowing you to increase the difficulty of certain exercises.Its assembly time is only five minutes, so you can get started right away.

What we find interesting about comparing the Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD to other equipment currently on the market is the fact it’s practically a piece of equipment all on its own because it replaces six different machines. 

At the time of writing this review, the closest options to the Freak Athlete combination machine are the Shogun NORD-EX and the BaseBlocks Nordic Plus. We’ve tested and written full reviews on both machines, and both are highly rated among our expert product testers. 

RELATED: BaseBlocks Nordic Plus Review

But, both the Shogun and BaseBlocks machines offer only two things: the Nordic hamstring curl bench (with incline capability for regressions) and a back extension machine. Neither machine will allow you to perform glute ham raises, reverse hypers, hip thrusts, or GHD sit-ups.  

RELATED: Shogun NORD-EX review

Customer Experience 

When it comes to customer experience, Freak Athlete earns a 3.5-out-of-5-star rating. This category is based on a few things including methods to contact the brand, warranty policy, return policy, and financing options. 

If you have any concerns about your orders, to contact Freak Athlete you have two methods available. Either send an email to support@freakathleteessentials.com or fill out the general inquiry form on the contact page. Ideally, we’d like to also see a phone number and business hours listed on the website or a live chat function. 

That said, we like the fact Freak Athlete offers financing options at checkout through Afterpay and Shop Pay. We also appreciate that the brand provides a 100-day money-back guarantee no matter what. The website notes you’ll be refunded once your return is received, but does not indicate if shipping and handling are covered for the return trip. Additionally, the brand offers a generous 100-day return policy, but I find it a little odd that the brand doesn’t provide a warranty policy. 

Ordering and Assembling the Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD

Even though the Nordic Hyper GHD has three adjustable arms and seven pop pins, putting the whole thing together is fairly straightforward. The box comes well-packaged and the instructions are clear and easy to follow. Overall, this Freak Athlete machine earns a 4-out-of-5-star rating for ordering and assembly. 

Sam notes that the directions are straightforward, but there is one measure of safety to lookout for: the pop pins. “When pulling pins for adjustments there are no shocks. This machine will just fall like a guillotine,” says Sam. “If your hand happens to be stuck in there, you’re probably going to at the very least have a broken hand.”

Nordic Hyper GHD Customer Reviews

This Freak Athlete six-in-one machine is still new to the market, which means there are not a ton of reviews to scour through. At the time of writing this review, there are seven, all of which feature a 5-out-of-5-star rating (and one is from shreddeddad.com). 

Although there are not many customer reviews yet, the theme is the same: The Nordic Hyper GHD offers a unique and space-saving way to rep out Nordic hamstring curls (progressions and regressions) along with five other back-building exercises, which would normally take up more than triple the floor space. 

Final Verdict of Our Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD Review

The Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD offers a ton of versatility for the home gym owner, especially if you’re working with a small space. It’s important to note that if you’re the most interested in the reverse hyper function, this machine is not your best option. This machine is best suited for folks mainly interested in progressive Nordic curls and GHD capabilities. 

None of the functions will offer the same amount of stability as any of the given standalone machines because of the adjustable arms and pop pins. Ultimately, there will be some wobble, but not so much to make your workouts unsafe.

“For whom this is marketed to—which is the average home gym owner who wants to get a lot done in a small package without paying an exorbitant amount of money—this thing kills it,” Coop ays.

Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD Rating

Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD

Will the Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD review convicine you this 6-in-1 machine is your next home gym investment?

Product Currency: $

Product Price: 999.99

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
4.22

Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD: FAQs

Lauren Strong, CPT

Lauren is an NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer working with clients of all ages and skill levels. She specializes in coaching the squat, bench, and deadlift and enjoys introducing beginners to barbell training. Before becoming certified, she worked in marketing roles after graduating from the University of Maine with a BA in Journalism. Writing for Garage Gym Reviews blends her two passions: writing and lifting. Lauren spends her leisure time in the kitchen, reading fiction, and taking nature walks. She's also an avid downhill skier, learning how to ski when she was just two years old. She lives in Maine with her husband and two cats.

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