Nordictrack C1650 treadmill vs FS10i elliptical

This is a comparison between the Nordictrack C1650 treadmill and the FS10i elliptical including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more details

Overview and review of the FS10i Free Stride $3999 - $2999

This is a review of the Nordictrack Fs10i model. You will learn about the specifics, pros, cons and alternatives of this elliptical to ake a deicison. This article was originally published in "Which elliptical to get from Nordictrack".

Overview of the Fs10i

The FS10i free stride is the newest addition to the center drive elliptical product line of Nordictrack. In 2020 it comes with a hefty price reduction of $1000 which makes it an attractive buy on the high end of the portfolio. As long as this remains, it is definitely the better option over the FS9i model. The main features of this machine are its center flywheel, the 10% incline option, 10-inch monitor and the free moving ellipticals which make it a stepper, ellipticals, and treadmill in one machine. The full list of features includes:

10" Smart HD Touchscreen
Includes 1-Year NordicTrack iFit® membership**
Bluetooth® Audio Capabilities
Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers

AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
SoftTouch™ Upper Body Grips
Oversized Cushion Pedals

Center Drive
20 Lb. Effective Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel
SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
32" Auto-Adjustable Stride
24 Digital Resistance Levels
0 – 10% Incline
OneTouch® Controls
Commercial Solid Steel Construction
Oversized Levelers
375 Lb. User Capacity

Transport Wheels
Water Bottle Holder
58.5" L x 29.5" W x 74" H Footprint
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty
1-Year Labor Warranty

This is the newest machine in the line up for free stride from Nordictrack in 2020 with a killer price. Observe how it will develop in the future as this value for money offer might not extend to the future.

Pros of the FS10i

The pros of the FS10i are:

All bells and whistles
Three for the price of one
Long stride
Free adjustments
Low impact

The FS10i still has all the bells and whistles in the Nordictrack Free stride line up. You or your clients will have little to desire when you opt for the FS10i as your free stride machine of choice.

The concept of the middle flywheel for your elliptical enables that you can move more freely. This makes the FS10i a stepper, treadmill and elliptical in one machine. If you were considering getting all of these different machines the FS10i is still a bargain in terms of price and footprint which is being used up compared to getting three instead of one machine. Never mind the maintenance and energy consumption of the other machines.

With 32 inches of stride, the FS10i provides longer stride than the Front and read-drove ellipticals from Nordictrack as there is no flywheel in the way. This will especially help your larger athletes or clients.

The free adjustments of the movements will be beneficial for homeowners with big families or commercial gym owners with a wide variety of clients. This is the main engineering idea behind these free stride machines which move the flywheel to the middle of the machine, rather than having it in the front or back.

The low impact on knees and ankles is one of the main health advantages of ellipticals compared to treadmills. If you have an underlying condition or work with a lot of clients with weak hips and legs, this is a better machine for health reasons than a treadmill with a higher impact.

Cons of the FS10i

The cons of the FS10i are:

High price
No big screen
No remote control in the handles
Floating experience
More prone to error
Low-calorie burn

Even when the price is reduced to $2999 the FS10i is still a considerable investment. There are lower-cost options for free striders in the Nordictrack portfolio. Especially if you are not bought into the free stride concept as you do not have to provide a lot of variety or comfort with the machine you buy, definitely look somewhere else. $2999 can buy you a rack, barbell, and plates for a full gym setup if you invest it somewhere else. It depends on your goals, available space, and training preferences.

As the flywheel is in the center of this design the FS10i has no real stand or option to attach a big screen as other treadmills or ellipticals would have. In a home gym, this can be solved with a screen on the wall or no screen whatsoever. In a commercial setting, a screen on the wall can become quite small for individuals who are for away or want to do their own thing while they are exercising. If you think that entertainment options are a must for yourself or your clients over the experience of the free stride than opt for a front-drive elliptical or a big treadmill where a big screen can be attached.

Compared to the FS9i Nordictrack model the FS10i has no controls to adjust resistance and incline in the handles. These are positioned in the console. This is the only main advantage I can see for the Fs9i over the FS10i. If you like this convenience, go for the Fs9i instead.

While the fleeting experience is great when you have great body awareness and like to experiment, it can be stressful for someone who just likes to have a stable, repeatable experience. The many options you have with the FS10i which require a bit more fine motor skills than on a traditional elliptical might not be for everyone.

Moving the flywheel from the front or back of an elliptical to create more options and a longer stride poses two engineering challenges. One is that the flywheel can not be as big as with front- and rear-drive options, as you have less space. Second is that you need more moving parts to make the machine go in multiple directions at different angles. The smaller flywheel and the more intricate design make the Free stride models more error-prone than the front and rear drive options. While it is unlikely that you will break this as a home gym owner by yourself, the commercial gym owner should consider how much mileage each machine will go through depending on where it is positioned in the gym and how many machines you have.

General consideration for elliptical machines is that they burn fewer calories on average compared to bikes and treadmills as the exercise is less intense. If you are generally healthy and want to maximize the calorie output per minute, the elliptical machines are not the right buy for your need.

Summary for the FS10i

The FS10i is the best buy from Nordictrack in 2020 for a free stride elliptical with all bells and whistles. As long as it is cheaper than the FS9i this will hold. This is a good machine for the home gym owner with a big wallet and some health issues, who still want to exercise regularly. For commercial buyers, the price will be too high for someone who is thinking to buy more than 5 units at a time. Boutique gyms that work with a lot of clients with very specific needs will find this machine useful.

Overview and review of the NordicTrack C1650 1999

This is a review of the NordicTrack C1650 including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in “which NordicTrack treadmill or elliptical to get in the UK”. Follow the links for more details.

Overview of the C1650

The C1650 is a solid option in the Nordictrack portfolio. The main features are the 3.5 CHP motor, 10 HD touch display, and up to12% incline. This is a good option for walkers, joggers, and runners alike. The full list of features includes:

Large Boxed Item - This item can only be delivered or delivered and installed to a ground floor room location.
iFit Integrated
10" HD Touch Screen Display
Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
Integrated Accessory Tray
Dual 2-Inch Speakers

Flexselect™ Cushioning
51 x 152 cm Tread Belt
Autobreeze™ Workout Fan

3.5 CHP Motor
0 – 12% Incline
0 – 22 km/h Speed
EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Monitor
135kg Max User Weight
1.9" Roller

SpaceSaver® Design
Assembled Dimensions - 202 x 90 x 154 cm
Product Weight 92kg
Boxed Weight 115kg
Folded Dimensions - 90 x 107 x 181 cm
Boxed Dimensions - 213 x 77 x 35 cm
Warranty - Lifetime Frame Warranty, 10-year Motor Warranty, 2-Year Parts & Labour upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase

The C1650 is a good upper range option from Nordictrack for the UK market, especially if you want a bigger touchscreen for your professional or home gym.

Pros of the Nordictrack C1650

The main advantages of this treadmill are:

3.5 CHP motor
10-inch monitor

This machine is good when you expect a lot of usage by people who want to be entertained while they are running. It is also a better value for money option from Nordictrack as a new buy than the S50 in my opinion. The 3.5 CHP motor gives it longevity while the 10inch touch monitor is an upgrade from most other options.

Cons of the Nordictrack C1650

The cons of the Nordictrack C1650 are:

No 40% incline
Relatively high price

The C1650 is still a machine that has quite a high price. If you do not expect to run a lot of miles in each session or expect multiple users per day the motor might be oversized. For the price tag, you will also not get a 40% incline which other models might offer you for the same budget. Here you can see how important it is to make a plan which features you are actually interested in.

Alternatives to the Nordictrack C1650

Some alternatives to the C1650 are:

The Nordictrack X7i is a good alternative for the home gym user who wants a 40% incline at the same price as the C1650. The motor is slightly smaller with 2.75 CHP and it has no touch screen, but in return, you get the 40% incline. So if you are not a marathon runner and preparing for long-distance races, but want to use a treadmill to use weight, the X7i might be a better option as the C1650.

The ACT Commercial 7 is a center drive elliptical which is very compact. If you want to save space in your home and do not like the pounding of a treadmill on your joints, the ACT 7 commercial is an alternative to the C1650 at roughly the same price. Definitely a good option for seniors or less ambitious fitness enthusiasts.

The TrueForm Runner is a self-propelled treadmill that is a great fit for anyone who wants to do starts and stops for sprints on a treadmill. If you are a short distance runner, football player, or any other kind of team sports-related athlete you want to look into this piece of equipment. The TrueForm Runner is hailed in many reviews as the best one of the self-propelled kind. This comes at a price, so be prepared to pay significantly more than for the Nordictrack C1650 for this model.

The Assault air runner is the other option in the self-propelled treadmill market. Compared to the True Form runner it comes in at a lower price. While this is a bonus, the reviews I have seen are slightly worse than for the TrueForm runner. The most common remark is that the bearing mechanics of the belt are calibrated better in the Trueform runner than in the Assault air runner. The Assault air runner seems to be unnaturally fast.

The öast aöternative to the C1650 is the Rogue Echo bike which is my personal favorite for home gyms. It is compact, affordable, and burns a lot of calories without being too hard on the joints. You will not get any multimedia options with it and the display is kept simple. This is the type of 20-minute maximum cardio machine which is ideal for the home. Yes, you can get cheaper bikes, but definitely not built like a tank like this one. With a price of around 700 - 800 it competes with competitor models in the 1200 - 1500 range.

Summary of the Nordictrack C1650

The Nordictrack C1650 is a good machine for anyone who expects to crunch more than 100 miles a week at home or in the gym. The big motor will make it long-lasting and a good buy. If you are not a long-distance runner you might want to look into other options which cost less but still provide a to of different features.