NordicTrack C7.5 vs FS10i elliptical

This is a comparison between the Nordictrack C7.5 elliptical and the FS10i 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 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.