NordicTrack C7.5 vs 10.9i elliptical

This is a comparison between the Nordictrack C7.5 elliptical and the 10.9i including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more details

Overview and review of the Nordictrack Elite 10.9i $1299

This is a review of the Nordictrack Elite 10.9i model. You will learn about the specifics, pros, cons, and alternatives of this elliptical to make a decision. This article was originally published in "Which elliptical to get from Nordictrack".

Overview of the Elite 10.9i

The elite 10.9i is the low-cost front-drive elliptical from Nordictrack. Its main features are a 20-pound flywheel, 20% incline, and a 7-inch touchscreen. The full list of features includes:

7” Smart HD Touchscreen
1-Year iFit® Membership Included*
Auxiliary Audio Port
Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers
EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Sensors

AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
Soft Touch Upper Body Grips

Front Drive
20 Lb. Effective Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel
SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
19” Power-Adjustable Stride
24 Digital Resistance Levels
0-20% Incline
One Touch® Controls
Integrated Pivoting Tablet Holder
Commercial Solid Steel Construction
Oversized Levelers
350 Lb. User Capacity
Oversized Cushion Pedals

Front-Mounted Transport Wheels
Water Bottle Holder
69.5" L x 25" W x 71.5" H Footprint
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty
1-Year Labor Warranty

This is the elliptical to get if you want to maximize your savings while still buying an elliptical from Nordictrack.

Pros of the 10.9i

The pros of the 10.9 elliptical are:

Price
7-inch touch screen

The 10.9 elliptical can not be beaten on price in the NordicTrack line-up and still dons a 7-inch touch screen. If you are considering this model the main criteria for purchase will be price, as otherwise, you are possibly looking at other options from Nordictrack.

Cons of the 10.9 elliptical

The cons of the 10.9 elliptical are:

Front-drive 20-pound flywheel
Size
Price

If you are a commercial buyer you probably want to look at the 12.9i instead. It is only a small uptick in price but you get a 30 pound instead of a 20-pound flywheel. As commercial buyers should assume heavier usage and more breakage this minimal uptick in price is a good tradeoff for fewer maintenance cases. I am also quite sure that if you buy 10 plus machines in one go you will get the 12.9i for the price of a 10.9i per piece anyway if you ask for it.

A front-drive elliptical is a big machine. Take this into consideration, especially when you are buying for a home gym. More than $1000 for one machine is still a considerable investment in the private realm. If you are already budget-conscious you might as well get a stationary bike for a lower footprint and price to meet your endurance goals.

Alternatives to the 10.9

Alternatives to the 10.9 elliptical are:

The 12.9i front-drive elliptical is the better option for commercial buyers as it is better value for money. It will not impress any of your clients, but also not look cheap or break the bank. If you want to impress go for the 14.9i instead which has a massive screen included.

The Nordictrack SE7i is a rear-drive elliptical and can be an alternative for home gym owners who still want a high quality elliptical and save some space. The SE7i comes in at the same price as the 10.9i but has the advantage that the rear-drive design makes it foldable. This way it can be folded up and stored against a wall when it is not used. This is not relevant for most commercial gym scenarios, but definitely in smaller home gym environments.

The concept 2 rower is a good option for anyone who likes a bit more intensity but does not want to stand while exercising. These rowers can also be conveniently stored on a wall hanger to save space when not in use. The main models are the Model E and Model D. Go for the Model E when you are either big and strong (reads NFL player sized) are have problems with going very low. The Model D version is the standard concept 2 model.

The Rogue echo bike is my personal favorite when it comes to bang for your buck. It has a high-quality machine that can be used professionally and only costs $700. It is space-efficient and intense. If you are a home gym owner who means business and does not need any fancy stuff, this is the machine to get.

Summary for the 10.9i

The 10.9i is a good option for anyone who loves the idea of an elliptical at home for occasional exercise and has space. For my personal tastes I think you can be more consequent in your thinking for a home gym and push the cost under $1000, but I do not have any medical conditions preventing me from doing that. I am also not a huge fan of ellipticals as I have run three marathons and want a bigger challenge. But that is just for context, I might think very differently in 10 - 20 years time or if I consider everyone in the family for a home gym.

Overview and review of the NordicTrack C7.5 999

This is a review of the NordicTrack 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 Nordictrack C7.5

The Nordictrack C7.5 elliptical gives you an opportunity to enter the NordicTrack portfolio under 1000. The main features of this elliptical are the 9kg flywheel, 20% incline, and 5-inch backlit display. The full list of features covers:

5" Backlit Display
iFit Bluetooth - 1 Years Membership Included
Integrated Tablet Holder
Two 2” Speakers

Front Drive
18" Power-Adjustable Stride
9kg. Effective Flywheel
0 - 20% Power-Adjustable Incline
22 Digital Resistance Levels
OneTouch® Controls
EKG Pulse Grip Heart Rate Monitor
Max User Weight 125kg

AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
SoftTouch™ Upper-Body Grips
Oversized, Cushioned Pedals

Water Bottle Holder
Front-mounted Transport Wheels
26 Workout Apps
Product Weight 86kg
Boxed Weight 99kg
Product Dimensions - 169L x 63W x 176H cm
Boxed Dimensions - 178L x 37W x 77H cm
Warranty - 5-Year Frame Warranty, 2-Year Parts and Labour Warranty, subject to registration within 28 days of purchase.

The C7.5 is a good and stable machine, especially as it is front-drive.

Pros of the NordicTrack C7.5

The Pros of the C7.5 are:

20% Incline
Compact design

The C7.5 is a compact front-drive elliptical which has a 20% incline. For the money, you are putting on the table this is a solid, professional machine. In the Uk, this is currently probably the best value for money elliptical which Nordictrack has in its portfolio.

Cons of the NordicTrack C7.5

The cons of the C7.5 are:

18" Stride
Set elliptical

The C7.5 comes on a set elliptical and can not move in different directions like the free stride models of NordicTrack. Some people before a set movement patterns, but Free Stride makes other ellipticals a three in one machine including a stepper, elliptical, and treadmill. The stride is also shorter compared to most other Nordictrack ellipticals which come in 22" and 32" stride length.

Alternatives to the NordicTrack C7.5

Alternatives to the C7.5 are:

The Nordictrack C5.5 has a smaller flywheel and no incline. If you want to no incline and ave a little money in your elliptical purchase, this would be the right machine to go for. Still, the C7.5 and C5.5 are so close in price, that you might as well get the bigger flywheel and 20% incline for a little money extra.

The Nordictrack SE5i is a rear-drive elliptical with a 16kg flywheel. It will take up more space than the C7.5. In return, you will get a more solid machine at a lower price tag. The trade-off is that you have to give up more space.

The concept 2 model D is a classic rowing machine that is in use in many gyms all over the world. It is reliable, field-tested, and can be gotten for under 1000 as a new piece of equipment. If you like to row and do not want to stand while you are doing your cardio, this is a good option.

The Rogue Echo Bike is my personal favorite among the cardio machines for a home gym. It compact, affordable and gives you many opportunities to work up to a good burn. Rogue did a great job of producing a competitively priced Airbike to be used for dedicated home warriors. The only downside is that it comes with little to no multimedia accessories.

Summary for the C7.5

The C7.5 from Nordictrack is currently the best value for money option in the UK market from Nordictrack to be used at home. It compact, affordable and does not take up as much space as other ellipticals from Nordictrack. It might not have the most modern display or biggest flywheel, but these are the compromises you have to take for a compact machine at a good price point.