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The NordicTrack x11i is one of the best treadmills you can buy for the $$$ right now. With a 40 degree incline, powerful motor, and great price you'll love this incline trainer. Read our full review below for more information.
Updated: 9-9-2022
The NordicTrack Commercial x11i Incline Treadmill is one of the company's most popular treadmills. In fact, the specific category of ‘incline treadmills’ is becoming more and more popular, given the ability to burn more calories in less time and with less impact on your joints and muscles. With the latest rollout of the Commercial edition of the much-loved incline treadmills, the Commercial x11i is an even better option when you are looking for a high-quality home treadmill.
For us here at Treadmill Reviews, the x11i is the most popular treadmill in the office for everything from a quick walking break to a full workout—and yes, we have quite a few treadmills laying around. This reason is just one of the many reasons we have given the x11i the ‘Best Buy’ Award for home treadmills between $2000 and $2500. If we had the category of “best treadmills for high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts,” then this one would definitely make that list.
The x11i incline treadmill from NordicTrack is built for those looking to add variety and challenge to their home treadmill workouts. With a 40% incline, you have the ability to burn more calories at a faster rate compared to running on a flat surface, and we say climb because 40% is a very steep angle. However, you still have the ability to utilize the x11i as a normal treadmill - in some ways giving you the best of both worlds.
For the homeowner, the main downside that we found in our review of the NordicTrack x11i is that it does not fold and is actually quite heavy making this a difficult treadmill to move. This is due to the mechanics of how the incline treadmills go from -6% decline to a +40% incline. So, if you don’t have a ton of space, you might end up getting stuck having to go outside and climb those hills the old fashioned way.
After assembling, tinkering, and training on the x11i for a few months, we came to a pretty simple conclusion - this treadmill was the best option at this price point. Here’s why:
Motor Size - As stated above, the motor size on the x11i is an impressive 4.25 CHP (continuous horsepower) DurX Commercial Plus motor. 4.25 CHP puts this at the top of the class and is one reason to upgrade to the Commercial x11i over other NordicTrack treadmills.
Running Surface - At 22” wide by 60” long, you will have more than enough tread belt space for intense running. We also love how the x11i treadmill has tons of space in front and in back of where you plant - you don’t have to worry about hitting the track cover if you overstride while running.
It’s also important to note that we didn’t have any problems as the track adjusts to both the +40% incline and the -6% decline, even our 6’6” reviewer didn’t have any issues and found the running surface to be large enough for him.
Space / Footprint - At 39.6” wide, 70.2” long, and 71.6” tall, the total area required for the x11i is just over 115 ft2. While the x11i doesn’t fold like other NordicTrack treadmill models do, the footprint while in use is smaller than even some of the less powerful machines such as the NordicTrack 1750.
If you’re in an apartment or home where you need the ability to fold the treadmill after use for space reasons, then you will want to pass on the x11i. However, if folding capabilities don’t matter much to you, then it’s important to note the small footprint, yet still large running surface available.
Noise Level - The noise level is fairly low for the x11i, and as long as you aren’t blasting the music while you run, then you should be fine running in the room next to your sleeping baby.
Treadmill running at (baseline room noise of 52 decibels (dB)):
Incline/Decline - We've probably already beat this point to death, but the incline/decline range on this machine is phenomenal. It goes from a -6% decline to a +40% incline with just the touch of the button. This is super helpful and fun when you are running courses using Google Maps or working out with a virtual personal trainer via iFit. With most treadmills, you have a max incline of +15%, which means you get the ‘easy’ version on most runs compared to the full-blown heart-pounding +40% incline you get on the x11i incline treadmill.
For those interested in a crazy intense workout, the max incline gives that to you. The best part about this incline range is that you can do everything from a long, super intense workout, to a short, quick, and effective workout.
The huge incline gives you the ability to get a great workout in without running, again making this incline treadmill the perfect treadmill for someone who just wants to walk. Yes, it will cost more than a cheap $500 walking treadmill, but it will give you a workout that is 10 times as effective.
One of our favorite aspects of the NordicTrack x11i is the cushioning. The running track is both very forgiving and supportive at the same time. Due to the Reflex Cushion Technology extending almost throughout the entire running surface you will find this is one of the most cushioning/absorbing machines on the market. In fact, at first, we were worried that it would be too cushioned and impact our testers’ ability to run well. However, after testing and reviewing it, we have not found that to be the case at all.
The x11i’s deck does a bit of shaking at high speeds. It makes viewing a screen difficult at speeds higher than 8 mph. But we don’t feel like this is a deterrent to using the x11i.
We were a little surprised that 1750 was actually a little better in this regard, and think it’s probably due to how the suspension system is set up on the x11i vs the 1750. The x11i has the main base at the back of the track, where the 1750 has the base right below the console, as well as a support bar, making the console a little more stable.
Workout Apps - Not only are there 44 built-in workout programs on the Commercial x11i, but thanks to the iFit free month membership, you can access thousands of excellent workout video and other programs from this treadmill. To help illustrate your options, check out the images below.
Home Screen
Workout Program Library
Workout Overview
Display - We love the 10” touchscreen and wish that NordicTrack got rid of all their 7” touchscreen models. While the 7” models are good, we do find it easier to navigate through all your different options on a 10” high-definition touchscreen. This functionality is especially apparent when you scroll through the thousands of iFit workouts available at the touch of your finger.
One question we get all the time is, “Do I have to subscribe to iFit if I purchase the x11i?” The answer is absolutely not. In fact, you receive a free month of access to iFit when you buy your Commercial x11i through NordicTrack! But without iFit Coach, you still get to use a library of 44+ iFit videos on your treadmill.
Speakers - There are 2 digitally amplified speakers that come on the x11i. When we review and compare the speakers from the x11i vs the 1750, the sound is significantly better on the x11i. The sound is much more rich, achieving greater range and depth than the 1750 and SOLE F80 and F85. Bottom line is that you will really enjoy these speakers.
Workout Fans - There are 2 fans that come with the x11i. With the AutoBreeze function, you can allow the fans to automatically adjust to the intensity of your workout or choose from multiple speeds to keep cool.
Bluetooth Heart Rate Monitor - We love the Bluetooth heart rate monitor that comes standard. All you need to do is put it on your chest, start running, and the machine will do the rest and start tracking your stats. We personally recommend using the chest strap vs the handle grips as we found that the chest strap is much more accurate. We even compared the chest strap vs. a few fitness trackers we use and found the monitoring on the standard iFit strap to be very accurate.
Other Tech Features
If you are someone who wants a treadmill that fits the following, then we would highly recommend buying the NordicTrack x11i Incline Treadmill.
We always recommend buying treadmills directly from the manufacturer. This gives you access to the best prices, better customer service, good financing options, and easier returns if it comes to that.
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