Nordictrack FS7i vs 1750

This is a comparison between the Nordictrack FS7i elliptical and the 1750 treadmill. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review Nordictrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill $1799 - $2299

This is a review of the Nordictrack 1750 model which was originally published under "Which Nordictrack treadmill to get". Follow the links for more details.

Overview Nordictrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill $1799 - $2299

The Nordictrack 1750 treadmill is the bread and butter machine from Nordictrack. The features are well balanced and you can get it for a solid price which is not outrageous. This would be my recommendation for any weekend warrior or athlete who does not see running as a core discipline, but as a support to bring up their cardiovascular system. It goes up to a capacity of 300 lbs, provides a 3.75 Chp motor and -3 to 15% incline. This has everything you need at a reasonable price, as long as you don't want to go bonkers. The full list of features includes:

10” Smart HD Touchscreen
1-Year iFit® Membership Included ($468 Value)**
Bluetooth® Audio Capabilities
Two 3” Digitally-Amplified Speakers
Runners Flex™ Cushioning
22” x 60” Commercial Tread Belt
Dual AutoBreeze™ Workout Fans
Integrated Tray
0–3% Decline
0-15% Incline
0-12 MPH Speed
OneTouch® Controls
3.75 CHP DurX™ Commercial Plus Motor
2.5” Precision and Balanced Non-Flex Rollers
300 Lb. User Capacity
EKG Grip Pulse
SpaceSaver® Design with EasyLift™ Assist
78.8” L x 39.2” W x 63” H Footprint
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty
1-Year Labor Warranty

This is the machine to get when you walk in and say "I just want a good treadmill and not be screwed over with stuff I don't need". Enough said about this model, you can not go wrong if you have space and money.

Pros of the Nordictrack 1750 treadmill

Well balanced
Ticks all the boxes
Reasonably priced

The 1750 Nordictrack is a best seller for a reason. It ticks all the boxes for a stable, reliable treadmill at a good price tag without being too fancy.

Cons of the Nordictrack 1750 treadmill

Cons of the 1750 treadmill are:

No massive screen
No massive Incline
No Heart-rate monitor included

If you buy the Volkswagen Golf from Nordictrack you can not expect it to be a Jeep or Ferrari. It does not come with a massive flashy 32inch screen or a challenging 40% incline. To be honest these are features that you do not need for a good treadmill run. Still, this is not the machine to show off with to your friends if you are filthy rich. If that is the game you are playing, get the 32i.

Alternatives to the Nordictrack1750 treadmill

Alternatives to the 1750 treadmill are:

If space is one of your main concerns and you can therefore not fit a 1750 into your home or you want to optimize your gym floor, the T 6.5 might be a better alternative. This treadmill is not as wide and also shorter and therefore saves space in your home.

If your main goal is to burn calories as fast as possible you might want to consider the Rogue Echo bike as an alternative to the Nordictrack 1750. You will save almost $1000 and a lot of space while burning more calories per minute. Especially the Tabata intervals on the Rogue Echo bike will kick your backside.

The true form runner is a different concept of the treadmill which is self-propelled rather than driven by a motor. It is more expensive than the 1750 but better suited for athletes who want to do sprints and practice sudden braking and acceleration on a treadmill.

Overview and review of the FS7i Free stride $1999

This is a review of the Nordictrack Fs7i 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 FS7i

The FS7i Free stride is the oldest model in the Free stride elliptical range of Nordictrack. Its main features are the 7-inch touch screen, 20-pound flywheel, and 10% incline. This is a solid free stride model at a reasonable price and the full list of features includes:

7” Smart HD Touchscreen
Includes 1-Year NordicTrack iFit® membership**
Pivoting Integrated Tablet Holder
Auxiliary Music Port
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
Power Adjustable 0 – 10% Incline
OneTouch® Controls
Commercial Solid Steel Construction
iFit® Bluetooth® Smart Chest Strap Included
Oversized Levelers
375 Lb. User Capacity

35 On-board Workouts
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 was one of the first free stride models on the market with the flywheel in the middle of the installation. With this, you get a three in one design combining a treadmill, elliptical, and stepper. The FS7I is also reasonably priced compared to the FS9I and the FS10I.

Pros of the FS7i

The pros of the FS7i are:

3 in 1 design
Price
Long stride
Novel experience

The three in one design makes this machine especially interesting for home gym owners or for boutique gyms that do not have the space to fit out multiple machines for different preferences of their clients. As long as you have enough balance and finesse to control the floating experience this is a big bonus.

The price of the FS7i for the type of engineering it provides is also good. The FS10i and FS9i are quite a bit apart from the FS7i in price. So if you want to invest in a free stride machine from Nordictrack without completely breaking the bank, this can be a good option.

If you are a tall athlete and can not work with the shorter stride of the front and rear drive ellipticals than the free stride provides 32inches of stride length which can be varied. If you want to train for a longer stride for your long-distance runs, this is the machine to get.

The last pro of the FS7i is the novel experience you will have compared to a treadmill or traditional elliptical. This machine will make it varied and interesting for many days to come.

Cons of the FS7i

The cons of the FS7i are:

Free-floating
More error-prone
No big screen
Low-calorie burn

The free-floating experience of the Nordictrack free stride series is not for everyone. If you like the stable, predictable rotation of traditional ellipticals from your local gym, stick with a front or rear-drive elliptical.

The FS7i has more moving parts than traditional ellipticals to create the three in one experience. More moving üarts means more parts that can break, This is a relevant consideration for any commercial buyer that wants to invest in a fleet of machines. Homebuyers will very likely not put enough miles on a machine. Just take extra care that no one walks into the machine while you are exercising.

As the FS7i has its flywheel in the center you can not attach a big screen to it. Front-drive ellipticals are a better fit for that as they provide a stable rest for a big screen to be attached.

As with all ellipticals they have quite a low-calorie burn per minute given that you put in the same amount of effort. This is the price of comfort and having less stress on your joints while exercising.

Alternatives to the FS7i

Alternatives to the FS7i are:

The Nordictrack 12.9i is a front-drive elliptical in the same price range as the FS9i. The bigger flywheel and fixed ellipsis make it a better option for mass roll out or if you feel uncertain about the three in one design of the FS7i.

The Nordictrack FS10i is the newest model in the free stride line p of Nordictrack. Compared to the FS9I and the FS7i it has the best value for money ration at $2999. This might be a limited time offer due to the developments of 2020, so stay tuned and observe how prices develop when Nordictrack starts to roll out this model globally.

The VersaClimber H/HP is the home version of the VersaClimber. It has limited warranties to make the price more palatable for the home buyer. If you want to maximize your calories burned per second and train your calves like mad, this is the machine to go for.

The concept 2 rower is the classic machine for endurance training with low impact. You will also have less friction in your nether region compared to a bike when exercising. Out of these alternatives, it is the first one to be under $1000.

The Rogue Echo Bike is my personal favorite for home gyms when it comes to calories burned per minute at a reasonable price. The Rogue echo bike comes in at $700 and gives you a challenging workout to train in intervals easily.

Summary for the FS7i

The FS7i is the most affordable free stride machine out of the Nordictrack line up. If you like this design, but do not want to break the bank, go with the FS7i. This is mainly a machine for boutique gyms or a "special corner" machine for commercial gyms with massive floor space. If you are buying for the home I think this is a great machine for a multi-generation family with different needs. If your home is filled with hardcore fitness freaks you are better off investing your money in a VersaClimber and Rogue echo bike in my opinion.