The best treadmill reviews you can trust
The T 6.5 Si is a low-budget, high-tech home treadmill that gives the user a great experience with the onboard workout programs and trainers from iFit. With minimal specs like motor and incline range, this is a great walking treadmill. Read the review to learn more.
Last Updated: June 9, 2023
The newest budget high-quality treadmill that you should be considering if you are looking for an affordable treadmill for walking and jogging is the NordicTrack T 6.5 Si. As NordicTrack phases out the C series, the T 6.5 Si is a replacement for the NordicTrack C700 with some impressive upgrades.
A key upgrade found in the T 6.5 Si is the 10” touchscreen display. This high-definition screen is a definite upgrade from the simple LED windows on the C700. The T 6.5 Si also has a commercial 2.6 CHP* motor, which is a great motor size for walking and light jogging.
Also, this treadmill comes with a free month of access to the iFit training program, allowing you to not only have access to world-class running instruction but also a wide variety of cross-training programs.
If you are looking for an affordable treadmill to do your walking and some light jogging, we recommend the NordicTrack T 6.5 Si.
MSRP for the T 605 Si is $1299. But we regularly see this treadmill on sale for $900. That’s why we have categorized it with treadmills between $700 and $1000.
We compare treadmills first in their pricing category and then against all treadmills, regardless of price. It’s rare to see such an inexpensive treadmill score so highly. But we really do feel that if you’re planning on mostly walking on your home treadmill, the T 6.5 Si is one of the best treadmills you can buy.
Motor Size: 2.6 CHP
Running Area: 20” x 55”
Weight Capacity: 300 lbs
Folding: yes
Footprint In Use: 67.5” L x 36” W x 73” H
Max Speed: 10 mph
Electrical Requirements:
Warranties: 10-Year Frame Warranty, 2-Year Parts Warranty, 1-Year Labor Warranty
Roller Size: 1.9” precision, balanced, non-flex rollers
Cushioning: yes
Return Policy: 30 days
Motor Size - The motor in the T 6.5 Si is a little smaller than the C700, measuring 2.6 CHP. However, it is also a commercial DurX motor, which makes it a stronger motor than you can find in the C700. Also, with its small size, the T 6.5 Si runs quietly as you workout.
*Please note that the 2.6 CHP motor comes from power achieved in a testing facility. Because of the limitations in residential homes and apartments, you will not be able to achieve the same power output on this treadmill as noted. We are not expert electricians but we are expert fitness equipment reviewers. This treadmill gives off plenty of power for light jogging and walking on a daily basis.
Running Area - Along with having a commercial tread belt, the T 6.5 Si has a running area of 20” wide and 55” long. This length may be a little short for users who are over 6’2” or have a longer stride in general.
Weight Capacity - User weight capacity for the T 6.5 Si tops out at 300 lbs, which is good compared to other budget treadmills in this price range.
Folding - A hydraulic system is built into the T 6.5 Si, allowing you to easily fold up this treadmill. Once it is raised up high enough, the T 6.5 Si deck will lock in place until you depress the lever. As the deck descends, you can allow it to touch down hands-free, as the hydraulic system will create a featherlight descent.
Space / Footprint - A compact treadmill, the T 6.5 Si measures 36” wide, 67.5” long, and 73” tall.
Max Speed - The maximum speed on the T 6.5 Si is 10 MPH, though we don’t recommend you use the upper speeds of this treadmill often, as it is not really built for heavy-duty running.
Incline - There is a decent incline range on the T 6.5 Si, going from 0% to 10%. That way, you can increase your calorie burn even while walking or lightly jogging.
Users can adjust the cushioning of the T 6.5 Si to suit their preferences. All that needs to be done is to turn the orange shock absorbers located directly along the sides of the T 6.5 Si to your preferred cushioning level. So, whether you want the top cushioning or want more resistance while working out, the T 6.5 Si will protect your joints from impact while allowing you to set your ideal cushion level.
Another point in favor of the T 6.5 Si is the commercial tread belt. With a commercial-grade belt, the durability of the belt is far greater than your average belt, and all you’ll need to do is potentially lube it up once a year to keep it in good condition.
The frame of the T 6.5 Si is relatively light, making it easy to fold up, tilt, and roll away if you need a treadmill you can put away when not in use. And with the lifetime frame and motor coverage, you can feel confident using the T 6.5 Si as long as you respect the weight limit of 300 lbs.
As for the return policy on the T 6.5 Si, you will have 30 days to try the T 6.5 Si in your home. If you find during that time that the T 6.5 Si isn’t for you or is defective, you can contact customer support for either a refund or a replacement. There is a 10% stocking fee applied to any refund unless the machine is defective.
Incline Range: 0% to 10%
Display: 10” HD touchscreen
On-Board Workouts: 20
Speakers: yes
Fans: no
Heart Rate Monitoring: EGK hand grips
USB port: no
HDMI port: no
Audio Jack: yes
Water bottle cubbies: yes
Tablet holder: no
Workout Apps - There are 20 built-in workout programs on the T 6.5 Si, ranging from calorie burn to distance. Along with the programs which come with this treadmill, you also have access to iFit.
If you haven’t heard of iFit, it is a training program that gives you access to thousands of on-demand workout programs led by world-class personal trainers. Run along with trainers on beaches in Thailand or go on a walking tour in downtown London. All this and more are available on the T 6.5 Si thanks to iFit.
Display - An impressive, 10” high-definition touchscreen is built into the T 6.5 Si. With the design of the console keeping it stable, the touchscreen can be your doorway into some of the best workouts when using iFit, all in vibrant color and in-depth workout information available all at the touch of your finger.
Speakers - Decent speakers are built into the T 6.5 Si, so you can workout headphone-free. The sound quality breaks up a bit at the highest levels, but it is unlikely that you will need to turn up the volume that loud, as the T 6.5 Si can output quite a bit of sound.
Fans - There is no fan built into the T 6.5 Si, making it the only NordicTrack treadmill without at least one.
Heart Rate Monitoring - On the T 6.5 Si, there are dual EKG handlebar pulse grips, which you can use for heart rate training. However, like all treadmill handlebar monitors, these are not very accurate and should be used only for rough measurements.
Other Tech Features
Name: iFit
Brief Description: View an expansive library of studio treadmill classes, outdoor running, walking, and hiking tours, google maps, and more. iFit classes control your treadmill to change your incline/decline and speed to mimic real-world terrain and training scenarios.
Cost: Free for 1 month with purchase of T 6.5 Si from NordicTrack.
User Profiles: $180 per year for one user profile OR $39 per month for up to 5 user profiles
Class Varieties:
Community: Share results, create and join challenges, post to message boards Subscription Limitations: We’re crossing our fingers that iFit can make their UX more user-friendly and intuitive. Currently, the learning curve is a little uncomfortable.
There is a lot to learn about iFit that we don’t include in the individual reviews of iFit compatible treadmills. But you can learn more about this subscription service by reading our in-depth, thorough review of iFit here.
While the T 6.5 Si is a good treadmill, it is a little limited in what it can offer. The length of the belt means it may not comfortably fit users over 6’-6’2”, as people around this height may find their stride restricted. Also, while the motor is a commercial-grade display, a treadmill with a 2.6 CHP motor should be primarily used for walking and jogging. However, there are a number of positives which set this budget treadmill above others in its price range:
If you are looking for an affordable treadmill with quality features for your walking and light jogging workouts, then we recommend you consider the T 6.5 Si as your next treadmill.
As the T-series treadmills are new to NordicTrack’s treadmill lineup, currently the only place to find them is on NordicTrack’s website. However, even if you were able to find them through a third-party, we generally recommend you go through NordicTrack to buy their treadmills.
That way, you can enjoy greater quality assurance, warranty coverage, and an easy return or exchange if you need it. Also, from our understanding, the free access to iFit will only apply to machines purchased through NordicTrack. The savings that will offer as well as the premier training programming available through the free access makes it even more attractive to buy the T 6.5 Si through NordicTrack.
Additionally, the NordicTrack T 6.5 S, not the Si, is the exact same treadmill with a downgraded display screen. This model treadmill is only available on Amazon and can save you around $300 if you’re looking for a less expensive treadmill. The display is downgraded to an LCD screen but the treadmill can still Bluetooth to your mobile device to access and view the iFit library.
