Last Updated: July 18, 2023
NordicTrack began with one man’s dream to take skiing indoors. In 1976 the first NordicTrack machine was invented by Ed Pauls. Pauls had a background as a mechanical engineer and as a skier, the perfect combo to result in the NordicTrack Skier. Soon, the whole Pauls family was in on the venture, with Ed joined by his wife Florence, son Glenn, and daughter Terri contributing to the brand’s success. The company had a successful decade of family business. The Pauls sold the company in 1986.
The CML corporation, the original acquirers, are responsible for expanding NordicTrack’s line to include more exercise equipment. One of the first NordicTrack treadmills was known as the Walk Fit, a non-motorized treadmill with moving handles. Eventually, the CML corporation filed for bankruptcy, leading them to sell NordicTrack.
ICON Health & Fitness acquired NordicTrack in late 1998. The company has since rebranded as iFIT, the same name as its training content platform. The iFIT umbrella has grown to encompass more fitness brands, including NordicTrack’s sister company, ProForm.
NordicTrack’s success has skyrocketed, though it has left its roots as a ski machine manufacturer behind. Their bread and butter has since become the treadmill, though they are successful in other cardio machine categories as well as strength equipment. They have three current treadmill lines. Our rigorous testing of NordicTrack’s entire treadmill line has allowed us to see what so many consumers have seen: NordicTrack knows how to make a superior machine.
NordicTrack Treadmill Product Line Summary
NordicTrack is a name well-known in the treadmill industry. Their commercial series is often touted as the best of the best. Certainly, the Commercial series represents high-end smart running treadmills with sleek builds and cushioned running decks. The Incline Series is a premium, high-tech treadmill line with the best incline and decline capabilities on the market. The EXP series makes NordicTrack accessible to more walkers and runners by offering more affordable options. NordicTrack provides premium-feeling (if not always premium-priced) machines that pair with worldwide, virtual iFIT training content.
Commercial Series Reviews
The Commercial series is NordicTrack’s running treadmill line. These treadmills pair smart features with HD touchscreens to showcase the spectacular iFIT training content. These treadmills have -3% to 12% inclines and standard 0 to 12 mph speed ranges. They are noteworthy for their soft cushioned decks, putting a little spring in every step. The decks measure 20” x 60”, ensuring runners have enough room to lengthen their strides.
The treadmills in this series have two main differences: screen size and motor power. They are united by their tilt and pivot screens which provide great on- and off-treadmill viewing. iFIT provides training content for both scenarios, lending more versatility to your treadmill. They share smart features, most noteworthy for their AutoAdjust technology. The speed and incline settings adjust to match the onscreen content and the user’s fitness level, adapting every time the walker or runner overrides the iFIT settings. The incline level matches the terrain as accurately as the treadmill’s range allows, creating an immersive experience.
The NordicTrack Commercial series treadmills are some of the best-selling treadmills on the market. They are some of our personal favorites. Their soft cushion and smart training features help runners and walkers go farther faster or recover from high-intensity training or injury. The Commercial series features NordicTrack’s folding SpaceSaver design paired with Easy Lift for hydraulic-assisted folding. With sleek, black z-shaped frames, the Commercial series is designed to impress and fit into a modern home.
Incline Treadmill Series
The Incline series from Nordictrack are revolutionary treadmills. They have category-winning incline ranges of -6% to 40%. They are NordicTrack’s premium treadmills, and their features prove it. The treadmills are each named for the touchscreen size, a whopping 22 and 32 inches. These treadmills deliver cinematic content that transports users to the trails of their dreams. The large incline ranges allow for the most accurate representation of onscreen content, adjusting automatically.
The treadmill decks are larger than those found on the Commercial series. They are even softer underfoot, delivering one of the most cushioned treadmill experiences ever. These treadmills are luxuriant but deliver one of the toughest incline workouts. They also allow users to sled push their belts for an even more versatile workout.
The Incline treadmill series does not fold. They are large and require a dedicated space. They are also very heavy, and we recommend that users assemble them where they will be kept long-term. A powerful treadmill needs a powerful motor, and the Incline series has it. They have a standard 0 to 12 mph speed range, though the speed maximum decreases with extreme incline or decline settings activated. Hikers, trail runners, and treadmill users looking for the very best will love this series.
EXP Series Treadmill Reviews
The EXP treadmill series delivers NordicTrack products at a more affordable price. The EXP series is best for walking to lower running mileage. The motors are not quite as powerful as those found on the Commercial series. Their decks are more economical and space-saving at 20” x 55”. The decks use Runner’s Flex Cushioning for a soft run or walk. They have z-shaped frames and compact folding decks that use the NordicTrack SpaceSaver Design. EasyLift Assist provides hydraulic assistance to lift and lower the deck.
The EXP series offers automatic incline and speed adjustments to match the onscreen iFIT content, as seen in other NordicTrack treadmills. The EXP series has an incline range of 0 to 12%. The speed range varies from a maximum of 10 to 12 mph. The screens range from 7 to 14 inches in size and tilt up and down. The EXP series slims down some of the pricier features found on the Commercial series while preserving many of the smart features NordicTrack is known for.
Other NordicTrack Equipment Reviews
NordicTrack offers more than treadmills. They offer exercise bikes, ellipticals, rowers, and strength equipment. The majority of NordicTrack’s products are united by their touchscreens, displaying subscription iFIT content. They have three styles of exercise bikes: studio, recumbent, and upright. For full-body workouts, check out NordicTracks ellipticals and rowers. The category of strength equipment is the most diverse. NordicTrack offers complete home gym solutions using cables or smart free weight training with their interactive mirror. A few home gym staples like dumbbells, dumbbell racks, and an exercise bench can also be found under this category.
Top NordicTrack Equipment Reviews:
- NordicTrack S22i Commercial Studio Cycle Review
- NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 Elliptical Review
- NordicTrack Fusion CST Review
Content Options With NordicTrack Treadmills
NordicTrack treadmills showcase iFIT’s vast content library from their 7-inch to 32-inch HD smart touchscreen displays. iFIT offers a variety of on- and off-treadmill content. Their workouts are filmed on every continent alongside over a hundred different coaches. The treadmill workouts automatically adjust the incline to match the real-world terrain as closely as possible. The greater the incline range on the treadmill, the closer the match. As for speed, the classes have predetermined settings that adjust to match your fitness level as you override the workouts. So if a workout is too fast or too slow, change the speed. The rest of the workout will adjust to match, and it will affect your future training experiences, allowing them to become more personalized over time.
iFIT doesn’t stop with the trainer-led content. You can also program your own routes via the Google Maps integration. This feature allows you to train anywhere Google has Street View images available. The incline will continue to automatically adjust to the real terrain, while you have complete control over the speed.
iFIT content is great for the treadmill. With thousands of classes, you will never get through them all. Join series and challenges to push your training to the next level. The coaches provide salient training advice or educational information about the terrain you are virtually exploring. If the treadmill content weren’t enough, the off-treadmill content is accessible with the same iFIT membership. Thus, iFIT can effectively replace a gym membership and link to any NordicTrack or other iFIT equipment you may own.
Common Features On NordicTrack Treadmills
NordicTrack equipment is designed for iFIT content. The treadmills include touchscreens that may tilt or pivot. The AutoAdjust features deliver hands-free workouts, so you can stay focused on walking or running without pushing a dozen buttons per workout. The speed, incline, and fan speed all have AutoAdjust capabilities tailored around iFIT content and to your needs.
A few more features make iFIT content truly spectacular on NordicTrack treadmills. The audio quality is great, whether through the speakers or Bluetooth headphones. Setting up a Bluetooth device is as easy as a few screen taps. The classes offer closed captions for an audio alternative. NordicTrack treadmills offer Feed.fm radio, allowing walkers and runners to jam out to current or decade music during their workout. The audio mixes can be customized from the touchscreen, allowing the coach and music volume to be adjusted separately.
NordicTrack treadmills are known for their softly cushioned decks. These treadmills are great for runners and walkers trying to increase their mileage or time on feet and recovering from an injury or hard workout. Most NordicTrack treadmills fold and use a z-shaped frame for a sleek and modern appearance. A small detail that will mean a lot to many exercisers is the inclusion of OneTouch buttons down either side of the touchscreen. These buttons allow users to quickly toggle between one setting and another without pressing multiple times, thanks to their sensitivity. NordicTrack treadmills are designed to deliver a phenomenal workout without an overly cluttered build or console.
Bottom Line NordicTrack Treadmill Reviews
NordicTrack has three active treadmill series. These treadmills are designed to accommodate a variety of exercisers. From walking to running, recovering to incline hiking, NordicTrack has you covered. Their smart features and hands-free iFIT training create an immersive and premium experience that furthers the brand’s popularity. NordicTrack treadmills stand out for their soft cushioning and modern style.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which NordicTrack treadmill is the best?
The best NordicTrack treadmill is going to depend highly on your needs, space requirements, and training regimen. The X32i is the “money is no object” choice, but I actually prefer the X22i’s screen size. Overall, we tend to rate the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 the highest. It is the perfect combination of smart features and a great construction at a decent price.
Is NordicTrack a good brand?
We have personally tested all of NordicTrack’s treadmills. Our experience has been great, so we definitely consider them a good brand! Their reputation has firmly established them as a key player in the home exercise equipment market, and that spot is well-deserved. We recommend reading our in-depth product reviews to decide if a NordicTrack treadmill is right for you!
How much is an iFIT membership?
iFIT has a monthly or yearly subscription plan. The monthly family plan is $39. The yearly plan is $396 for a family plan and $180 for an individual plan. iFIT offers a free 30-day free trial, so you can test out the platform before committing. NordicTrack also offers the NordicTrack+ program, which offers one piece of equipment free when you buy a 4-year subscription to iFIT.
Can you use NordicTrack treadmills without a subscription?
NordicTrack treadmills work best with iFIT content, but they can be used without it. You will need a stable internet connection to use iFIT or access the onboard workouts. The preset workouts automatically control the speed and incline settings while displaying the manual activity screen. There are also rotating samples of iFIT’s premium content. Without WiFi, users are restricted to performing manual activities, which is also accessible with a WiFi connection and iFIT subscription. The manual activity screen shows a ¼ mile track and a few basic metrics, like total time, speed, incline, and distance.
