Is It Worth The Price Tag?
The NordicTrack FS14i elliptical is the latest machine to be added to their FreeStride Trainer series. When we tested the FreeStride Trainer at the NordicTrack corporate headquarters, we found that the basic mechanics were similar and that the major changes were with the electronics. However, mechanically the machines in the FreeStride Trainer Series – the FS10i and the FS14i are very similar; and the main difference is the display size.
In addition, all three models come with the free 30 day trial family membership for iFit. NordicTrack is a reputable brand in the fitness equipment industry, and they are known for producing high quality equipment. So, for us there is no doubt that the FS14i is a premium elliptical machine.
*Note: At the time of this review, the FreeStride Trainer Series ellipticals come included with 30-day iFit family membership included in the price.
0″ to 32″ Auto-Adjusting Stride – The FS14i elliptical intuitively follows your movements during your workout and auto-adjusts your stride length for you. Pushing buttons isn’t necessary!
iFit Technology – iFit is an exclusive fitness technology offered only on NordicTrack and ProForm machines. With the FreeStride series, you get iFit LIVE Interactions. Qualified iFit trainers will use LIVE resistance and incline control, adjusting your machine’s incline and resistance for you.
Other iFit Features include:
OneTouch® Controls – Enjoy a user friendly, easy to navigate console with 26 digital resistance levels.
20 Lb. Effective Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel – A heavier flywheel provides a more natural feel while exercising.
Incline – -10% Decline to 10% Incline will allow you to mimic going up and down hills to increase the difficulty of your workout.
14” Smart HD Touchscreen – This is a large display screen, typically the largest you will find on elliptical machines.
Warranty – 10-Year Frame warranty, 2-year parts, 1-year labor. This is pretty standard from NordicTrack.
The FS14i does have the largest display screen, and it does have decline capabilites, while FS10i only has incline capabilities.
Other than than screen size and decline feature, the FS10i and FS14i are really similar but with major differences in their prices. If a large screen is really important to you, or you enjoy the decline feature on ellipticals, the price tag on the FS14i may be justified to you.
Go to www.NordicTrack.com and learn more!
The NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical comes packed with some awesome features, at a great price point. NordicTrack is well-known in the industry for producing top notch equipment. T
This machine offers you Live Interactive Training through a technology called iFit. During your workout, your trainer will be able to digitally adjust your incline and resistance as they see fit. With all the options provided to you on this machine, you’ll never have a boring workout, and you’ll be able to achieve maximum results.
Note: At the time of this review, the NordicTrack Commerical 9.9 comes with a 30 day iFit trial.
7″ Smart HD Touchscreen — This full color display lets you access everything iFit has to offer, right at your fingertips!
iFit Ready — The best thing about the Commercial 9.9 machine is iFit technology. You no longer have to pay for a gym membership, a personal trainer, nutrition coach, and commute back and forth to prioritize your fitness. iFit allows you to crush your goals right from the comfort of your own home, with just you and your elliptical. Some of the top iFit features include:
25 lb. Flywheel — This is a decent size flywheel. The heavier the flywheel, the better. Heavier flywheels make for a smoother stride on your machine.
Adjustable Stride Length
0-20% Incline, 22 Resistance Levels — Be prepared to take your workout to the next level with these incline and resistance capabilities.
Front Drive —The front drive design is more compact, easier to mount/dismount, and places less stress on your hips. Read more about Rear Drive vs. Front Drive here.
Comfort Features — The Commercial 9.9 was built with user comfort in mind with features like an AutoBreeze workout fan, SoftTouch handle bar grips, and OneTouch user controls.
Sound System — Play your favorite workout jams through Bluetooth enabled 2” digitally amplified speakers.
350 lb. User Weight Limit — This is one of the highest weight limits that we find on ellipticals.
Warranty —10-Year Frame Warranty, 2-Year Parts Warranty, 1-Year Labor Warranty. This is decent coverage for the price range.
This elliptical has great incline and resistance capabilities, so even though you’re working out at home, you’re still going to get an effective workout in.
To step up the game even more, iFit comes into play providing you with an extensive video workout library, and personal training as well as lifestyle coaching. Overall, the Commercial 9.9 machine provides some really solid features for the price range.
A similar machine to consider from NordicTrack is the Commercial 12.9. It has all the features we like from the 9.9, but it comes with 10″ touchscreen, and a heavier flywheel. Also, see a full comparison chart of NordicTrack Ellipticals here.
Go to www.NordicTrackEllipticals.com to learn more.*
The NordicTrack FreeStride Trainer FS10i is an awesome machine in their FreeStride Trainer series. The FreeStride series is unlike anything else on the market, as it combines the benefits of a treadmill, stepper, and an elliptical all into one machine. This breakthrough in cross training innovation provides variable motion while exercising and promotes “muscle confusion”—leading to a much more efficient workout.
When our team visited NordicTrack’s headquarters, we were able to view some of their FreeStride line first-hand. As we mentioned, the FreeStride series contains other models. In the FreeStride Trainer Series you can also find the FS14i model.
Auto-Adjusting Stride — A major benefit of the FS10i is the auto-adjusting stride length. The technology of the FS10i intuitively follows your movements during the workout, and auto-adjusts to you. The machine is capable of up to a 32” stride length, so it’s appropriate for users of most height ranges.
iFit Interactions — iFit is an innovative patented technology available from NordicTrack. The newest iFit feature enabled with the FreeStride Trainer FS10i is LIVE Resistance and Incline Control. Live Interactions allows you to focus on your workout, while your iFit trainer adjusts the incline and resistance of your machine for you. The only thing you focus on—is crushing your workout.
Other iFit Features Include….
10″ Smart HD Touchscreen — This is a generous size display screen where you can view your workout stats and tackle your favorite workout class with iFit.
20 Lb. Effective Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel —The heavier weight of the flywheel on this machine will provide a more natural feel while exercising.
OneTouch® Controls — This console is easy to navigate and has 24 digital resistance levels.
Center Drive — The center drive design provides greater stability and reduces the size of the frame. Since the mechanics are located in the center rather than the front or the rear, it’s more compact.
Incline — The FS10i features 0-10% incline. If you’re looking for incline AND decline capabilities, check out the FS14i model.
Warranty — You get a fairly standard coverage that includes 10-year frame, 2- year parts, 1-year labor.
See a comparison chart of all NordicTrack Elliptical trainers here.
It’s clear that the NordicTrack FreeStride Trainer series is better than most standard ellipticals out there. The 3-in-1 development enables natural motion that targets more muscles, giving you a more effective overall workout. The compact design from the center drive location of the FreeStride series makes it ideal for anyone who needs a machine with a smaller footprint.
Go to www.NordicTrack.com and learn more!
NordicTrack Freestride Trainer FS9i – Read our full review here.
The award-winning NordicTrack Elliptical Trainers are conveniently for sale online and include Free Shipping. You can shop their user-friendly web site and select the model right for you. However, they have a variety of models and designs that can make the buying process confusing. Our experts are here to assist our Canadian friends in buying the right model for your body and budget.
Elliptical trainers typically come in front or rear models. But NordicTrack also has a center drive design. In addition, they offer the innovative FreeStride Trainers. Below is a description of each design.
NordicTrack FreeStride Trainers – Comparison Chart
NordicTrack SpaceSaver Rear Drive Ellipticals – Comparison Chart
NordicTrack C-Series and Commercial Front Drive Ellipticals – Comparison Chart
To learn more about the pros and cons of this brand, check out our full profile of NordicTrack.
Models & Links to Reviews | FreeStride Trainer FS14i |
|
(Swipe RIGHT on your mobile device.) | ![]() |
![]() |
Rating | ![]() |
![]() |
Price | $3,299 | $2,999 |
Drive System | Center | Center |
Incline | -10% to 10% | None |
Stride | 32″ Auto Adjustable | 32″ Auto Adjustable |
Flywheel | 20 lb | 20 lb |
Programs | 38 | 32 |
Display | 14″ Smart HD Touchscreen | 10″ Smart HD Touchscreen |
Resistance Type | SMR 26 Levels | SMR 24 levels |
Suggested Weight Limit | 375 | 375 |
Heart Rate Control | Wireless Chest Strap Included | Wireless Chest Strap Included |
Technology | Includes 1-year iFit membership, Integrated Handle Controls, Two 2″ Speakers Auxillary Music Port | Includes 1-year iFit Membership, Integrated Handle Controls, Two 2″ Speakers, BlueTooth Capabilities |
Fan | Yes | Yes |
Pedals | Oversized, Cushioned | Oversized, Cushioned |
Warranty |
10-year Frame, 2yr Parts, 1 yr Labor |
10-year Frame, 2 yr Parts, 1 yr Labor |
Models & Links to Reviews | Space Saver SE9i | SpaceSaver SE7i *Best Buy |
(Swipe RIGHT on your mobile device.) | ![]() |
![]() |
Rating | ![]() |
![]() |
Price | $1,799 | $1,299 |
Drive System | Rear | Rear |
Incline | 0-10 | 0-10 |
Stride | 18″ | 18″ |
Flywheel | 18 lbs | 18 lb |
Programs | 30 | 24 |
Display | 7″ Smart HD Touchscreen | 5″ Backlit, Integrated Tablet Holder |
Resistance Type | SMR 24 Levels | SMR 22 Levels |
Suggested Weight Limit | 325 | 325 |
Heart Rate Control | EKG Pulse Grips, Wireless Chest Strap Included | EKG Pulse Grips |
Folding | Yes | Yes |
Technology | iFit Coach Ready, Integrated Tablet Holder, Includes 1-year iFit Membership, Two 2″ Speakers Auxillary Music Port | iFit Coach Ready, Two 2″ Speakers Auxillary Music Port |
Fan | Yes | Yes |
Pedals | Adjustable, Oversized, Cushioned | Adjustable, Oversized, Cushioned |
Warranty | 10-year Frame, 2 yr Parts, 1 yr Labor | 10-year Frame, 2 yr Parts, 1 yr Labor |
Models & Links to Reviews | Commercial 14.9 | Commercial 12.9
*Best Buy |
Commercial 9.9 |
(Swipe RIGHT on your mobile device.) | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Rating | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Price | $1,999 | $1,499 | $1,299 |
Drive System | Front | Front | Front |
Incline | 0-20 | 0-20 | 0-20 |
Stride | 19″ power adjustable | 20″ power adjustable | 19″ power adjustable |
Flywheel | 32 lb | 32 lb | 25 lb |
Programs | 35 | 35 | 32 |
Display | 10″ Smart HD Touchscreen, Integrated Pivoting Tablet | 7″ Smart HD Touchscreen, Tablet Holder | 7″ Smart HD Touchscreen, Integrated Tablet Holder |
Resistance Type | SMR 26 Levels | SMR 26 Levels | SMR 22 Levels |
Suggested Weight Limit | 350 | 375 | 350 |
Heart Rate Control | EKG Pulse Grips Wireless Chest Strap Included | EKG Pulse Grip, Wireless Chest Strap Included | Dual CardioGrip |
Technology | iFit Coach Ready, Includes 1-year iFit Membership | iFit Enabled, Quick Touch Handle Controls, Includes 1-year iFit Membership | iFit Enabled, Includes 1-year iFit Membership |
Fan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Speakers | (2)2″, Auxiliary Music Port | (2)2″, Auxiliary Music Port | (2)2″, Auxiliary Music Port |
Pedals | Adjustable, Oversized, Cushioned | Adjustable, Oversized, Cushioned | Adjustable, Oversized, Cushioned |
Warranty |
10-year Frame, 2 yr Parts, 1 yr Labor |
10-year Frame, 2 yr Parts, 1 yr Labor |
10-year Frame, 2 yr Parts, 1 yr Labor |
I constantly get asked which is better – NordicTrack elliptical trainers vs Sole elliptical trainers. Or, I get asked if a specific NordicTrack elliptical is better than a particular Sole elliptical. The answer is not so cut and dry.
It should be mentioned that NordicTrack and Sole are the two leading manufacturers of elliptical trainers in the U.S.A. Besides selling huge numbers on the Internet you will find NordicTrack ellipticals in Sears and Sole ellipticals in Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of this machine to see if it is right for you:
PRO: Variable motion up to 38-inches.
The Freestride Trainer allows the user to adjust their stride from short ‘stair-climbing’ steps all the way up to a ground covering 38” stride. This is a huge increase over the stride length of only 20”
If you find that you are too late, you may also consider some machines from ProForm fitness. They are manufactured by the same company that makes NordicTrack so the quality will be similar, but the ProForm are often priced slightly lower than NordicTrack.
WEEKEND SALE ENDS MONDAY: The NordicTrack Elite 10.7 has been DISCONTINUED. Instead, check out the NordicTrack C9.5. Shop Now at NordicTrackEllipticals.com
Power Incline — The Elite 10.7 has power adjustable incline that goes up to 20 degrees. This feature is nice because it allows you to switch up your workout to target more muscles in your legs.
Front Drive Design — Front drive ellipticals are usually more compact that rear-drive varieties. In addition, they are easier to mount and dismount, which can be an advantage if you have mobility issues. Finally, the pedals are closer together so you will have reduced stress on your hip joints and back during the workout.
28 Lb. Flywheel — This is a decently heavy flywheel and is especially impressive given the low price of this machine. A heavier flywheel contributes to a smoother more fluid-like motion on your elliptical.
Adjustable Cushioned Pedals — The pedals on the Elite 10.7 elliptical are adjustable so you can reduce heel lift and toe numbness. Extra cushioning helps reduce impact on your joints.
Wireless Chest Strap Included – These wireless straps help you monitor your heart rate during the workout. This will help you stay in a prime exertion range to maximize your results. This is about a $50 value for FREE!
6″ Backlit Display – This display is not fancy but it gets the job done! It will display your stats for speed, time, distance, pulse, calories burned, and progress around a quarter-mile track.
Warranty — Lifetime frame, 3-Year parts, and 1-Year labor coverage. Pretty good especially at this price range!
32 Installed Exercise Programs — This is a great selection of pre-programmed workouts for you to add variety to your daily routine.
Cooling Fan — The fan automatically adjusts to match the intensity of your workout.
The NordicTrack 10.7 Elliptical is a great deal at only $899, but this deal won’t last. Once the models are sold out, you will not be able to purchase this machine. I would caution you that this particular model needs a module to fully work with the iFit Live programming. Since this requires an additional $100 purchase, those interested in iFit may prefer the NordicTrack C 9.5 for $999. If iFit is not such a priority, then you might as well enjoy the $100 in savings and snatch up one of the last models of the Elite 10.7.
Go to www.NordicTrackEllipticals.com for more details.
A Solid $999 Buy with a 7″ Touchscreen Display
The NordicTrack C 9.5 is a definite value buy at $999. It is a front drive elliptical, which means that it is more compact and easier to mount. What makes this machine a stand-out is the 7″ Smart HD Touchscreen display, optional iFit technology, a 25 lb flywheel and a generous selection of 32 workout programs.
You are not going to find any $999 elliptical, except for the rear drive NordicTrack rear drive SE7i, with as many upgrades and leading edge technology. This is not your typical elliptical trainer, it is also a motivational fitness machine.
WEEKEND SALE ENDS MONDAY: The NordicTrack C 9.5 is currently priced at $1299 with Free Shipping. No interest financing available
Note: At the time of this posting, a FREE 1-year iFit Membership comes with this machine. After that initial year, there is an addition subscription charge to use the features.
The NordicTrack C 9.5 Elliptical Trainer is a budget machine at $999, which means it is best for low to moderate weight users. Still, it’s a great value in this price range with its web enabled touchscreen and iFit technology! The 25 lb flywheel is a mid-weight wheel from NordicTrack. They offer a few machines that have 28 or 32 lb, but many that are also 20 or 18 lbs. A heavier flywheel helps create a smooth and natural elliptical motion. We really like this compact little machine. Check out a comparison chart of all NordicTrack Ellipticals here.
Go to NordicTrackEllipticals.com to learn more about the NordicTrack C 9.5.