Force USA G3 Review (2024): Their Best Value All-In-One Trainer?

Force USA has an extensive line of all-in-one trainers, but many of them won’t make sense to the majority of garage gym users. Although all-in-one trainers combine the best functional trainers with the versatility and functionality of a power rack, the higher-end trainers by Force USA—like the G6, G20, or X20 Pro—will be too bulky for those with a low ceiling or limited space, or too expensive for anyone on a budget.

Enter the best-seller from the brand: the Force USA G3. This machine provides versatility with a compact footprint and a competitive price. But does it have value for you? GGR founder Coop Mitchell tested out the trainer, and in our Force USA G3 review, we’ll go over the different aspects of this trainer to see if it’s right for your home gym.

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As with other trainers by Force USA, like the G20 and X20 Pro, we did a thorough testing of the Force USA G3. Both Coop Mitchell and GGR Everything lead reviewer Lindsay Scheele tested out this all-in-one trainer, noting its ability to perform as a power rack, a Smith machine, and a functional trainer.

Force USA G3

Force USA G3

GGR Score: 4.2

Check Price Use code GGR5 to save 5% on orders over $250

Product Highlights

• All-in-one home gym machine 
• Functional trainer and squat rack
• Smith machine
• 2:1 pulley ratio
• 14 attachments included 
• Even more add-ons available for purchase

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Barbell or smith machine training
• Cable machine with two pulleys
• Plate-loaded
• Multi-grip pull up bar
• Countless exercise selection
• Includes variety of attachments

Cons

• Steel gauge not disclosed
• Entire unit weight limit under 1,000 lbs
• 772-lb smith machine and chin up weight limit

Bottom Line

The Force USA G3 is an all-in-one home gym machine. It functions as a functional trainer with two pulleys, a smith machine, and a squat rack. It’s worth noting that the design of the G3 will have you barbell training on the outside of the rack, not within the rack. However, it comes with J-cups and spotter arms so you can squat and bench safely at home.

A Quick Look at the Force USA G3

The Force USA G3 is the most popular all-in-one trainer sold by the company, and for good reason. This machine is their budget-oriented version of their all-in-one trainers, and Force USA touts that a piece of equipment like this is all you need for your home gym. You can use it for multiple functions, including:

• Power rack
• Functional trainer
• Smith machine
• Chin-up station
• Suspension trainer
• Core trainer (using the landmine station)

In addition to these functions, you can purchase several optional attachments for the G3, which can expand its functionality to:

• Vertical leg press
• Lat pull-down
• Jammer arms
• Dip station
• Low row
• Leg developer

That’s a lot you can do with one machine.

The budget-ish pricing comes from the choice in using plate-loaded weights instead of weight stacks like those used in the Force USA G20. Although similar commercial-grade materials are used, the G3 comes in at one-third of the price of the G20. The caveat is that you’ll need your own bumper plates to add to the trainer weight horns.

Before You Buy

• We’ll get more into this later, but the trainer comes in one giant crate, and the assembly instructions were a little rough, even for our assembly expert Sam Presley. He recommends being at home for the delivery so the crate isn’t left at the end of your driveway.
• The thing that separates this power rack from most all-in-one trainers is the presence of a Smith machine. If you’re looking for that option in your home gym, this is one of the best value all-in-one trainers out there.
• You can also save 5% on your order using our exclusive Force USA discount code GGR5.

Force USA G3 Video Review

Is the Force USA G3 Worth It?

The Force USA G3 All-In-One Trainer is just under $2,000 with free shipping, and it includes 14 different attachments and a lot of versatility. Although $2,000 can be a pricey number, the versatility of this machine with solid construction gives it great value, leading Lindsay to rate the value a 5 out of 5.

“The G3 is the most interesting piece of equipment made by Force USA because the value it brings is the highest,” Coop adds. “There’s a lot that you get with this rack that a lot of similar racks don’t even have.”

The biggest standout is the Smith machine. Most power racks and all-in-one trainers don’t have that feature. The closest comparison we can make is the Inspire line of functional trainers, like the FT1 and the Inspire Fitness FT2 Functional Trainer, which both have Smith machines. However, the prices are higher than the G3, with the FT1 at $2,700 and the FT2 at $5,000; plus, these functional trainers don’t really double as power racks, either.

Coop recommends the G3 for anyone looking for the Smith machine functionality. If you’re not looking for that, you may want something else, like the REP Fitness PR-4000 Power Rack with a plate-loaded Athena cable attachment. The price will depend on your customization options, but it’s built a bit more solidly than the G3 with 3-inch-by-3-inch uprights, and it still has the function of a squat rack and functional trainer.

While the G3 is the “budget” version of Force USA’s all-in-one trainers, there are some more budget-friendly options available on the market. One of our favorite ones is the Major Fitness PLM03 power rack, for just over $800 with free shipping. While this alternative also lacks the Smith machine, it provides a good amount of versatility at less than half the price.

Force USA G3 Specs

Using the Force USA G3 

There’s a lot to look at when it comes to the Force USA G3. The main feature is its versatility, as the trainer has up to 12 exercise stations in one, depending on the optional attachments you get. Even without optional attachments, the trainer comes with an abundance of attachments, leading GGR lead reviewer Lindsay Scheele to rate the versatility of the G3 a 4.5 out of 5.

Let’s break down how the Force USA G3 trainer performs as a power rack, a Smith machine, and as a functional trainer, plus discuss the attachments.

Power Rack

For the power rack, the G3 is using 2-inch-by-2-inch uprights made with 11-gauge steel, which will have a max weight rating to cover most people’s needs—992 pounds. The steel is finished with chrome instead of stainless steel, which makes it stand out a little more and provides corrosion resistance. In our testing, the rack was sturdy, leading Lindsay to rate the stability and construction both a 4 out of 5.

The front of the uprights has Westside hole spacing of 1 inch along the entire length of the upright—not just the bench zone like most power racks. There are additional holes spaced out more along the sides for the cable pulleys. Numbers are laser-etched along the front and sides of the uprights for easy reference of the adjustment points. 

The outside-to-outside width of the rack uprights is 48 inches, which is just between Rogue’s standard 49 inches and REP Fitness’ 47 inches. For most powerlifters, this is a good median width and should feel pretty good.

The rack fits a lot of stuff in a relatively small space—a Smith machine, weight plate storage, power rack, and a functional trainer—which will be great for home gym users looking for compact exercise equipment. However, if you have the room for more space, it may feel a bit cramped while using it. “For those of you with extra room in your garage gym, then this space-saving trainer might be a little annoying with how compact it is,” Coop mentions.

Smith Machine

The Smith machine is pretty unique to the Force USA trainers, as most other all-in-one trainers don’t offer one. It’s not counterbalanced like commercial-grade Smith machines typically are, which means the starting weight will be higher than those machines that start at around 5 pounds. Still, the starting weight of 35 pounds won’t be too heavy for most people, especially for Smith machine leg workouts.

Another factor to consider on the Smith machine is that the uprights are completely vertical, whereas other higher-end Smith machines will have a slight angle to them to mimic a more natural movement. This is by no means a dealbreaker, but just something to be aware of.

The height of the trainer is 87 inches, which is shorter than most functional trainers, simply due to the fact that this trainer is made to fit into home gyms and not commercial gyms. This machine should work for ceiling heights of 8 feet, however, that limits the height of the Smith machine, which means upper body exercises like a standing overhead press won’t be possible for most; you’ll have to be OK with seated or bench presses.

The Smith machine’s barbell is knurled, which is always nice…but in this case, it could be nicer. “You have a center knurl and an edge knurl. If you’re used to nice power bars, you probably won’t like the knurling on this bar,” Coop explains. “It’s just not very good. I really wish they would spend more time on this.”

RELATED: What Is Barbell Knurling and Why It Matters

Functional Trainer

The build of the functional trainer is the main reason that the G3 can be so much cheaper than the G20 and other Force USA trainers while still using similar materials and components. The main difference was the choice to use a plate-loaded system instead of weight stacks, which saves a lot on construction and shipping. It does require you to have weight plates already to create resistance for your strength training.

Loaded weight plates are guided with a roller assembly instead of guide rods, which are a common feature on higher-end machines. The roller assembly is nice in that you can off-set the weight while still maintaining a smooth travel of the cables in the machine. There are weight plate holders on either side to even the weight, but in our experience, it didn’t make a difference on how balanced the weights were. The maintenance of rollers is much easier than guide rods, too.

The cable ratio of the pulley system is 2 to 1, meaning that the weight loaded will feel half of its actual weight—50 pounds will feel like 25 pounds. Additionally, this allows for a longer cable length, allowing for more versatility for the functional trainer.

Although it can be used for lat pull-downs, tricep push-downs, and low rows, the Force USA G3 functions best as a functional trainer. The low height position will mean you’ll have to do seated lat pull-downs. “Lat pull-downs and similar bodybuilding movements won’t be as good as a standalone lat pull-down machine because the pull won’t be absolutely vertical,” Coop says.

Attachments

Instead of a straight pull-up bar, the Force USA G3 has a multi-grip chin-up bar, which will allow for wide-grip pull-ups and close-grip chin-ups, plus other grips as well.

Probably the biggest downside to the G3 is the lack of accessory compatibility to other brands. Because the uprights are 2 inches by 2 inches, they aren’t compatible with the likes of REP or Rogue, as most major brands sell attachments compatible for 2-inch-by-3-inch or 3-inch-by-3-inch uprights. Force USA still sells and includes quite a few power rack attachments, so Lindsay rated the accessory compatibility a 3.5 out of 5.

The Force USA G3 lists all of their included attachments as follows:

• Pair of J-hooks
• Pair of safety spotter arms
• Landmine attachment
• Multi-grip landmine handle
• Dual hook straight bar
• Small straight bar
• Pair of nylon stirrup handles
• Pull-down rope
• Four band pegs
• Two Olympic lock collars
• 10 Olympic spring clips
• Four carabiners

In addition, you can add optional jammer arms, lat pull-down and low row attachments, dip bars, a leg press attachment, and a leg curl and leg extension attachment. There’s a lot of versatility present in this trainer, as well as the potential to add more with the available attachments. Still, be aware that the quality of the attachments won’t be quite on par with the likes of other major brands.

Force USA G3 vs REP PR-4000 with Athena Cable Attachment 

REP Fitness Athena Plate-Loaded Functional Trainer

REP Athena Plate Loaded Side-Mount Functional Trainer

GGR Score: 4.2

Check Price 10% off all cable machines, Nov. 8-14

Product Highlights

• Fits PR-4000  or PR-5000 V2 series power racks
• 2:1 pulley ratio 
• Available for 80” and 93” power racks

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Free shipping
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Available to purchase as left or right and paired.
• Functional trainer without large footprint
• Designed to be adjustable with one hand with large oversized pop-pin
• Integrated band pegs on base and headplate
• Upgrade kit will be available in the future

Cons

• Compatible with limited racks
• The Athena cannot clear weight horns with all diameter plates
• Comes with only 1 only D-handle attachment

Bottom Line

The Athena Plate-Loaded Side-Mount Functional Trainer could be a useful addition to your home gym: It can add a lot of versatility to a cable system without taking up much space, provided your current gym set-up is compatible with the Athena.

One of the most comparable products by price and versatility is the REP Fitness PR-4000 Power Rack with the REP Athena cable attachment. The price will vary depending on the customization options of the Athena and PR-4000, but typically, a six-post PR-4000 with a plate-loaded Athena cable system will be around the $2,000 price of the G3.

As far as versatility, the Force USA G3 has the Smith machine, while the PR-4000 doesn’t have any sort of Smith machine attachment. If you’re looking for an all-in-one trainer with the function of a Smith machine, this is definitely one of the best value options available.

Aside from the Smith machine, the two power racks have similar functionality as a squat rack and a functional trainer. The G3 comes with more attachments initially, but the PR-4000 still has the option to add on attachments.

If you’re looking for a sturdy rack with versatility, the 3-inch-by-3-inch uprights of the REP PR-4000 will provide a little more stability than the 2-inch-by-2-inch uprights of the Force USA G3. While both are solid choices, the REP is a little better quality, as long as you’re OK with the lack of a Smith machine.

You can check out our REP Fitness Athena review for an in-depth look at this cable attachment.

Customer Experience 

Lindsay rated the customer service a 3.5 out of 5, as Force USA is a bit limited in the means of contacting them. “The best way to get a hold of them is by calling, which I hate. There isn’t a form or email easily available to ask them a question,” Lindsay says, adding, “When I did call, they answered quickly, plus I wasn’t put on hold…which was my biggest fear.”

Force USA provides a 30-day “No Questions Asked” return policy, guaranteeing a refund for any reason in that time period—minus return shipping costs. To qualify for a refund, items must be returned in their original packaging and on a pallet if it was delivered as such.

The G3 has a lifetime warranty for the frame, 10 years for the moving parts, and 1 year for upholstery and attachments. This warranty is for home use only; if the G3 is used in a commercial gym, the warranty will be voided. Lindsay rated Force USA’s policies a 5 out of 5.

Ordering and Assembling the Force USA G3

You can order the G3 directly from Force USA’s website, and they offer financing through Affirm, with options starting around $167 a month.

GGR operations manager and assembly expert Sam Presley has had a bit of a history with building out Force USA products, as the Force USA G20 was a 40-hour ordeal. While this wasn’t near the level of a headache of the G20, there were some hitches during the assembly of the G3 to be aware of.

First, the Force USA G3 is shipped in one giant crate. Sam recommends being home for the delivery of the trainer; otherwise, the crate will be left at the foot of your driveway with no means to bring it up to your home gym except piece-by-piece.

You’re going to want a friend to build this out. The assembly time for us was around 12 to 16 hours, with two people involved. Sam had a few mishaps, though, due to bad instructions. “Even though we do this every day, we still had a couple different things that got put on upside down because the diagram had it upside down.”

Still, Sam does add that Force USA has come a long way in simplifying the build-out process since the G20, giving the delivery and setup a 3 out of 5.

Customer Reviews

As of this writing, the Force USA G3 has 156 reviews, averaging out to 4.9 stars out of 5. Most reviews are very positive, remarking highly on the build and the versatility of the rack and trainer combo.

There aren’t too many negative reviews, although some reviews have minor complaints on the quality of attachments. A couple reviews do speak on the professional assembly service that can be added on to the G3 for $600. It’s done by an independent contractor, and reviews claim that they did a poor job, or didn’t even show up to assemble the unit.

While we didn’t use the assembly service and can’t remark on our experience of it, it’s still worth mentioning.

Final Verdict of Our Force USA G3 Review

At just under $2,000 and with free shipping, the Force USA G3 All-In-One Trainer definitely presents high value with its extreme versatility and a compact workout space. Coop highly recommends the piece for anyone looking for a versatile trainer with a Smith machine added. If you’re not invested in a Smith machine, though, there are a few comparable options available that will have a bit more durability, or maybe be more budget-friendly.

Force USA G3 Rating

Force USA G3 All-In-One Trainer

In our Force USA G3 review, we’ll take a look at how much value this budget-ish all-in-one trainer can bring to your home gym.

Product Brand: Force USA

Product Currency: USD

Product Price: 1999.99

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
4.2

Force USA G3 FAQs

Caine Wilkes, OLY, CNC, USAW-L1

Caine Wilkes is an Olympian, placing 9th in weightlifting at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A former gym owner, he also has more than 15 years of experience coaching other athletes in weightlifting, CrossFit, and functional fitness.

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Force USA has an extensive line of all-in-one trainers, but many of them won’t make sense to the majority of garage gym users. Although all-in-one trainers combine the best functional trainers with the versatility and functionality of a power rack, the higher-end trainers by Force USA—like the G6, G20, or X20 Pro—will be too bulky for those with a low ceiling or limited space, or too expensive for anyone on a budget.Enter the best-seller from the brand: the Force USA G3.  » Read more about: Force USA G3 Review (2024): Their Best Value All-In-One Trainer?  » Read more