Nordictrack S50 treadmill vs Fs5i elliptical

This is a comparison of the Nordictrack S50 and FS5i. Learn about pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the NordicTrack FS5i 1499

This is a review of the NordicTrack FS5i 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 FS5i

The FS5i is probably the best elliptical from Nordictrack you can currently get for the UK market. It has its flywheel at the center which enables a lot of freedom of movement and a long stride of 32". The main features of this elliptical are its 7kg flywheel, 5-inch backlit display, and 32 workout programs. The full list of features reads as follows:

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

Center Drive
7kg. Effective Inertia-enhanced Flywheel
22 Digital Resistance Levels
OneTouch® Controls
Max User Weight 135kg
32" Auto-Adjustable Stride

AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
SoftTouch™ Upper Body Grips
Oversized Cushion Pedals
32 Workout Programmes
Transport Wheels
Water Bottle Holder

Large Boxed Item - This item can only be delivered or delivered and installed to a ground floor room location.
Product Weight 105kg
Boxed Weight 113kg
Assembled Dimensions - 148L x 75W x 187H cm
Boxed Dimensions - 157L x 77W x 65H cm
Warranty - 5-Year Frame Warranty, 2-Year Parts and Labour Warranty, subject to registration within 28 days of purchase.

This is the right choice in the Uk in most scenarios for an elliptical without breaking the bank, but also not compromising on quality or functionality.

Pros of the NordicTrack FS5i

The pros of the FS5i are:

Good value for money
Relevant product line
32" stride

This elliptical will provide a lot of options to you at a reasonable price. It is also part of the FS family which is still being produced in the US. This ensures that you will have less trouble getting support or parts for this machine than for the S and C series which has been discontinued in the States. With the 32" stride this machine provides a lot of different workout modes to play around with your stride. If you are very tall, this might be the elliptical for you.

Cons of the Nordictrack FS5i

The cons of the FS5i are:

Space requirements
More error-prone
Not for everyone

As this is one of the machines with the longest stride available for the UK market it also needs more clearance around the machine. For the ellipticals with the flywheel in the center, you have to clear the area in front and in the back of the elliptical. That is not always the most practical option to get a working setup.

Compared to the more compact design of treadmills and ellipticals with motors in the back or front, this design is a bit more error-prone. Especially commercial buyers should think twice if they have a lot of use and people using the FS5i.

The free stride models are also recommended to be tested before you use them. The freedom of movement is not for everyone who are used to classic elliptical setups.

Alternatives to the NordicTrack FS5i

Alternatives to the Fs5i are:

The ACT commercial can be an alternative for anyone who does not have the space to put the FS5i into their home gym. The ACT is more compact and therefore friendlier in tight spots. You will also save some money compared to the FS5i. The only downside is that the ACT series is discontinued and you will find it harder and harder over time to get parts and support for this particular machine.

If you want a treadmill instead of an elliptical your best choice for the Uk from Nordictrack is the T7.5. The T7.5 is right in the middle of the available Nordictrack portfolio for the UK and has all you need without going overboard on any of the features. The only downside is that you will not get a 40% incline or a massive screen with this treadmill.

The concept 2 model d rower is a great option for smaller options. If you do not want to stand while exercising the concept model d will cover your needs. Don't expect wonders from the screens on this machine, but the tracking capabilities are sound.

My personal favorite for home gym environments is the Rogue Echo bike. It is compact, easy to move, and packs a punch for a great 20-minute cardio workout using interval training. If you want to burn calories, save money, and save space, this is the machine to get. The downside is that this machine is not designed to entertain you and keep you engaged. You have to bring the willpower, the rest will be taken care of.

Summary for the FS5i

The FS5i is a great machine when you have space and you are tall yourself. It will provide many different workout modes and is probably the best buy for ellipticals in the Uk from Nordictrack to date.

Overview and review of the Nordictrack S50 1999

This is a review of the NordicTrack S50 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 S50

The main features of the S50 treadmill are the 3.5 CHP motor, 12% incline, and that it can be folded up. The full list of features for the S50 covers the following items:

Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
iFit Integrated
Two 2” Bluetooth Digitally Amplified Speakers

3.5 CHP Motor
0% - 12% Digital Incline
0 – 22 km/h Speed
Onetouch™ Controls
1.9” Precision and Balanced Non-Flex Rollers
125kg Max User Weight
EKG Handgrips

FlexSelect™ Cushioning
51 x 152 cm Tread Belt
This Machine Does Not Feature a Workout Fan

SpaceSaver® Design with EasyLift™ Assist
Assembled Dimensions - 200L x 90W x 145H cm
Product Weight 92kg
Boxed Weight 109kg
Folded Dimensions - 103L x 90W x 180H cm
Boxed Dimensions - 210L x 82W x 34H cm
Warranty - Lifetime Frame Warranty, 10-year Motor Warranty, 2-Year Parts & Labour upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.

The S50 used to be solid in the Nordictrack portfolio but might have gone a little out of date.

Pros of the Nordictrack S50

The pros of the S50 are:

Strong motor
Can be gotten used

The Nordictrack S50 has a very strong motor and therefore good longevity. If you can get one used at a very small price you will not be disappointed. Especially if it was in-home use. As it has been around for a while you will have a higher likelihood on this machine to snatch a second-hand deal. If you are considering a new machine in the UK you might want to go for a different option.

Cons of the Nordictrack S50

The cons of the S50 are:

Not really good value for money
Older model

If you are looking into a new machine you are better off to look at the NordicTrack C1650 instead of the S50. You will get the same, maybe even better, specs at roughly the same price. You will have a harder time finding a used machine for the C1650.

Alternatives to the Nordictrack S50

The assault air runner is a self-propelled treadmill without a motor which is especially good for sprint/stop work. If you are an NFL or NBA player and want to work off the court on your speed development, this is a good machine to have. The Assault air runner is said to have bearing that is a little too fast compared to the Trueform Runner, which is said to have a better configuration.

The TrueForm Runner is the deluxe model in the realm of self-propelled treadmills. It usually gets the highest marks in terms of calibration and features in this market segment. This comes at a higher price compared to the Assault air runner. If you are buying for an individual athlete for home use, probably go for the TrueForm runner. If you buy for commercial use or outfitting a facility for an entire team, go for the Assault air runner.

The C1650 is the better value for money option from Nordictrack to achieve the same thing than the S50. The screen is bigger and the design is more modern for roughly the same price.

If you want to save a lot of money while maximizing the calories burned per minute I personally recommend the Rogue Echo bike. It is compact, affordable, and sturdy. Even you run usually outdoors and want to burn some extra calories or if you ave limited budget and space, this is the bike to get for your home gym.

Summary for the Nordictrack S50

Unfortunately, the S50 is probably not the best option out of the Nordictrack portfolio for Uk customers. Have a closer look at the C1650 instead at similar budget and space requirements.