With so many companies out there making home gyms and cardio equipment, I’m sure you’re uncertain which to buy.
Do you go for a high quality respected brand? Or do you choose a much cheaper option?
Honestly, it really depends on you in terms of budget, desired features, and fitness goals.
In this article, I’m going to review NordicTrack gym equipment- who are somewhere between medium and high end on the price & quality scale.
I’ll give you some background of the company, talk about their most popular products, and also list some alternatives.
About The Company
NordicTrack was founded in Minnesota, a typically cold state where people would naturally want to train indoors.
That’s one of the reasons why it has become a reference brand when it comes to indoor cardio machines.
They make an effort to combine the best technologies on the market with tons of interesting features to keep users engaged in their workout.
Among the machines they produce, they have ellipticals, treadmills, standing bikes, and many other cardio trainers.
The company was acquired by ICON Health and Fitness, who also owns Proform and the globally known iFit system.
Treadmills
NordicTrack treadmills are very solid machines with an enviable reputation. They are highly valued by gym owners, personal trainers, and many users.
They have different price points for each one of their models, and each model has something different to offer depending on your goals and budget.
NordicTrack Commercial Series Treadmills
This model can be used as a commercial treadmill, but it is also adapted for home use with a folding function that saves room space when not in use.
More importantly, this treadmill offers up to 15% incline and 3% decline options, with a maximum speed of 12 MPH.
One of our favorite features on this model is its 10-inch interactive touchscreen, where you can stream your iFit coach and different workouts to choose from.
What customers are saying
The majority of customers are very satisfied with this treadmill, especially when they try the iFit coaching platform.
The customer problems and concerns reported are usually not a big deal, such as not having a proper search tool in the iFit platform or having a long boot time for every workout.
NordicTrack T Series Treadmills
The T Series Treadmill is an interactive training unit focused on delivering an engaging workout in the comfort of your home.
This treadmill has a larger 14-inch HD touchscreen where you can stream on-demand videos from iFit.
Similar to the majority of models, you get a 1-year free membership where you will be able to search through an endless variety of training and personalized coaches.
It also offers up to 12 MPH of speed and 12% incline options.
What customers are saying
This treadmill is really good according to most customers. You get all you need in a high-quality machine.
The most common complaints are around the iFit subscription, which will be an additional $15 a month, but it’s completely optional.
NordicTrack Desk Treadmill
You will probably never see a treadmill like this anywhere else. It is a treadmill desk with an 18×40-inch working surface where you can place your laptop comfortably.
Additionally, it has an LCD window and the controls you need to adjust the speed (up to 6 MPH).
It does not have an incline option or speakers, but it works with iFit just like any other treadmill manufactured by NordicTrack.
What customers are saying
According to customer reviews, it is beautiful and sturdy, but can be louder compared to other models.
Plus, the assembly of the desk part can be very difficult to achieve if you try to do it alone.
Indoor Bikes
NordicTrack builds great-looking indoor bikes with high-quality frames and components, plus they have integrated iFit workouts.
Some of them also have an integrated fan, and the majority have a sound system where you can actually listen to your coach when you’re on an iFit workout.
If you don’t like the preset workouts, you can also opt to use it as a manual stationary bike.
Here’s a list with our favorite models:
NordicTrack Commercial Studio Cycle
This indoor bike is surely dedicated to turn your cycling experience into an immersive digital experience.
You get a huge 22-inch screen where you can enjoy your iFit subscription, which is included as a free membership for 1 year.
Moreover, the display is adjustable with a 360-degree rotation option.
You also get a pair of dumbbells for cross-training and the typical functions of a commercial indoor bike, including silent magnetic resistance with 24 adjustable levels, and a 10% decline and 20% incline option.
What customers are saying
Satisfied customers are very happy with the live workouts and how adjustments are automatically made on their devices. They also say the assembly is very easy.
Some people have complained about wobbling handles and others do not agree with activating the iFit experience, but the reviews on this bike overall are really good.
NordicTrack GX 4.7 Exercise Bike
This exercise bike is the best choice if you want lower-impact workouts and a very comfortable seat to prevent back pain.
It is a recumbent bike with an ergonomic seat and comfortable pedals that will give you the stability you need to enjoy your workout.
It has 22 resistance levels and a 5-inch backlit display where you can monitor your calories, heart rate, speed, time, and distance.
It is iFit compatible by syncing with your smartphone or any other device.
What customers are saying
Many customers are extremely happy with this product while others have complained about the assembly, which requires adjusting many screws and parts.
NordicTrack Commercial Vr21 Recumbent Bike
This recumbent bike model by NordicTrack has everything you need for a comfortable experience while doing cardio.
The design of the seat and frame is designed to get on and off very easily and without a problem compared to other recumbent bikes.
The seat is cushioned with a ventilated lumbar support, and even though it does not have an integrated display, you get a pair of speakers where you can play your favorite music.
What customers are saying
Reviews of this bike are somewhat mixed, and the majority of bad reviews complain about the iFit subscription and the $15 fee after completing one year for free.
Many customers also complain that the seat is not very comfortable, and the assembly is not easy.
However, you do get detailed assembly instructions, and mechanically the bike is very sturdy and functional.
Indoor Rowers
Rowing is an excellent exercise for your back muscles, core, arms, and even your lower body.
NordicTrack rowers add a few high-tech features to the experience in order to help you enjoy the ride and get yourself started in rowing regardless of your fitness level.
These machines are very sturdy and have an added interactive element that makes up for the higher price.
We have two favorite indoor rowers, both manufactured by NordicTrack:
NordicTrack RW 900 Rower
The RW 900 rower by NordicTrack is a very silent rower built with a smooth magnetic resistance, offering up to 26 levels.
This is more than enough for a beginner and may also challenge very experienced users.
It has big parts and pedals, so you don’t have to worry if you’re heavier than average. It also has a space-saving design and it is very easy to move with a pair of transport wheels.
Similar to other NordicTrack machines, you get an iFit subscription, and this model has a huge 22-inch interactive touchscreen to provide a truly immersive experience.
What customers are saying
The best comments from customers are around the iFit experience, which is a great combination for the rower and provides a great dose of motivation.
However, activating iFit through the rower can be frustrating and many customers recommend activating it through a computer instead.
NordicTrack RW 200 Rower
If you’re a beginner or want to try rowing for the first time, this is probably the best entry-level rower by NordicTrack.
It is similar to the model above, but instead of 26 resistance levels, you get 24.
There is no big display in this model but you do get a performance monitor that displays time, strokes, distance, and calories burned.
The RW200 is easy to fold and despite the lack of a screen, it comes with an iFit subscription that you can connect with on your tablet or smartphone.
Ellipticals
NordicTrack offers various models of elliptical trainers with a range of the main three types you can find in the market.
They have rear-drive ellipticals which usually take up more room space, front-drive ellipticals, with a flywheel in front of you, requiring a bit less space, and center drive ellipticals, which are the smallest.
Each model has different features, preset workout programs, and other key aspects you should consider before buying.
Here’s our favorite NordicTrack ellipticals:
NordicTrack Spacesaver SE7i Elliptical Trainer
This is a rear-drive elliptical with 22 digital resistance levels an incline level you can adjust from 0 to 10 degrees, and 24 preset workouts to choose from.
Additionally, it is iFit coach ready, meaning that you can enter your iFit subscription in your mobile or tablet, place it on the tablet shelf, and follow your personal trainer and his/her workouts.
Features
The unit also comes with a 5-inch display, a water bottle holder, EKG grip pulses, and a folded mode for easy storage.
Keep in mind, this is a heavy unit and transportation can be difficult, even with its transportation wheels.
NordicTrack Commercial Elliptical
This is one of the best front-drive ellipticals manufactured by NordicTrack.
This one comes with a 7-inch HD touchscreen display where you can stream your iFit workouts and display your stats as you exercise.
It has 24 digital resistances to choose from, and an adjustable incline level.
The machine is very smooth, even with resistance, and you get a 1-year free iFit subscription where you can run more than 12,000 workouts.
What customers are saying
According to customer reviews, one of the best features of this elliptical is its solid construction.
The design is excellent and of great quality, and the workouts are very useful to keep you engaged.
The most common complaint is around customer service, which is not as responsive as some expect.
Strength Machines
You won’t find many strength machines by NordicTrack, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t created highly functional machines.
Actually, there’s one model that caught our attention, also compatible with the iFit technology and very sturdy as you will see below:
NordicTrack Fusion CST
This strength machine offers many possibilities to build muscle in the upper body, lower body, and core.
It has 6 integrated handles attached to 6 precision cables. You also get two squat pulleys and ankle strap accessories to increase your number of possible workouts.
It includes a chest strap to monitor your heart rate which connects via Bluetooth with the main machine.
You will have 20 digital resistance settings and compatibility with iFit which you can stream from the tablet that comes with the equipment.
What customers are saying
According to reviews, the main downside of this machine is not having enough resistance, especially if you’re an experienced weightlifter.
It’s best used for high-repetition workouts and is more for toning and cardio than actual muscle-building.
iFit Training
iFit training is one of the most celebrated functions of NordicTrack machines. It is really good, as long as you are willing to pay its $15 monthly membership.
It keeps you motivated, shows amazing places in a completely immersive experience, and has limitless workouts.
None of which are exclusive to a certain machine as they allow cross-workouts with other equipment or your own bodyweight.
Globetrek Workouts
One of our favorite functions of iFit is the Globetrek destinations, where you can run, hike, or bike along with your coach in stunning places around the world.
This includes paradise places in Thailand and New Zealand, beautiful street views in New York and Paris, and other spots in Switzerland, Italy, and Hawaii.
LiveCast Workouts
LiveCast Workout is an impressive technology built into NordicTrack devices.
This feature enables your incline levels, resistance levels, speed, and more to automatically change in accordance with the progression of your workout or the commands from your coach.
Elite Personal Training
When you subscribe to iFit, you get a personal account where all of your progress is being tracked.
You will be able to see your advances and stream exercises from personal trainers from coaches around the world or play with your own adjustments and track your progress.
Alternative Brands To Consider
NordicTrack is definitely a brand to try if you’re into cardio workouts, and especially if you want to try the iFit technology.
But there are other brands to consider, and you can’t make a good decision if you don’t compare your options.
Sunny Health & Fitness
Based in China and Los Angeles, Sunny Health & Fitness is an importer and distributor of machines and other fitness products and they offer some of the most competitive prices.
Besides cardio machines, they also offer strength training picks and almost everything you need to build your home gym.
Nautilus
This is a renowned brand in the United States and abroad, and has been manufacturing gym machines for 40 years now.
With decades of experience in the field, they are always innovating and evolving with new technologies.
They offer cardio and strength training machines, and they commercialize the Bowflex brand as well.
Marcy
Marcy is a brand directed by IMPEX a company founded in 1982 and well-known for creating durable and high-quality products for home and commercial gyms.
For Marcy, customer service is one of the most important features, and their prices are very competitive, compared to others in the market.
ProForm
This brand is a great alternative to NordicTrack if you’re interested in iFit coaching workouts but for some reason do not like NordicTrack or have had a bad experience with this brand.
ProForm is owned by ICON Fitness as well, and they offer an iFit experience which is pretty much the same as NordicTrack.
Moreover, ProForm machines have other built-in workout programs and an excellent warranty that makes you feel more confident about buying.
Should You Buy NordicTrack?
NordicTrack is a solid brand with excellent products, and it is aligned with iFit technology, which is guaranteed to make your workout more engaging and fun.
These machines are a good place to start if you lack the motivation to do long workout sessions and like high-tech gadgets and machines.
What concerns us about NordicTrack is the quality of the customer service, which shows in some bad reviews we came across.
Although those reviews should be considered before your purchase, keep in mind that the majority of reviews are still very positive, and the chance of having missing or damaged parts is very unlikely due to the high-quality of their products.
