TITAN under desk walking treadmill vs Nordictrack VR21

This is a comparison between the TITAN under desk walking treadmill and the Nordictrack VR21 including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in which conditioning equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the Nordictrack VR21 749 / 999 (UK/US)

This article discusses the pros, cons, and alternatives for the Nordictrack VR21.This review was originally posted in “Which Nordictrack bike to get”. Follow the links for more details.

The Nordictrack VR21 is the little brother of the VR25 in the Nordictrack recumbent bike line up. Its main features are a 5-inch backlit display, 9kg flywheel, and 125kg maximum capacity. The full list of features reads as followed:

5" Backlit Display
iFit Bluetooth - 1 Years Membership Included
Smart BlueTooth (BLE) Chestbelt Compatible
Dual 2-Inch Speakers

Recumbent Frame
Step Thru™ Design
9kg Flywheel
25 Digital Resistance Levels
Onetouch™ Controls
EKG Handgrips
125kg Max User Weight

Lumbar Supported Cushioned Seat
Horizontal Seat Adjustment
Extra-wide Ergonomic Pedals with Adjustable Straps
AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan

Front-mounted Transport Wheels
Water Bottle Holder
Integrated Tablet Holder
32 Workouts Apps
Assembled Dimensions - 155L x 59W cm x 132H cm
Product Weight 48kg
Boxed Weight 57kg
Boxed Dimensions - 153L x 65W x 39H cm
Warranty - 2 Years parts and labor; 5-year frame guarantee upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.

The VR21 is the better option for home gym buyers who want to save some money as the 9kg flywheel is more than enough. Commercial buyers might consider this option when they want to buy 5 - 10 units instead of the VR21. Otherwise the VR25 might be the better option.

Pros of the NordicTrack VR21

The pros of the VR21 are:

Price
Meshed seat
Comfortable position

The VR21 is the cheapest recumbent bike that you can get from Nordictrack. If you want one and like the NordicTrack brand, this is the one to go for. Especially if you are a home gym buyer. Commercial buyers might consider this model when they buy in bulk. If you only want to have one or two on the floor, invest in the VR25 and the bigger flywheel as they will clock more miles per unit as a fleet of ten VR21 on the floor.

The meshed seat is a good little design feature to prevent sweating like mad. Other models have hard plastic full seats which can become sticky and unpleasant.

If you only want to moderately exercise and still use the time to go through emails or place some calls, a recumbent bike can be a very good option. They also have the advantage over ellipticals that they are closer to the floor and therefore do not need high ceilings.

Cons of the VR21

The cons of the VR21 are:

9kg flywheel
Space requirements
Low-calorie burn
No touch screen

The 9kg flywheel puts the VR21 at a disadvantage to the VR25 model which has an 11kg flywheel. For home users this will not be as relevant as for commercial users. The trade-off is that you pay less money.

Compared to a traditional bike a recumbent bike takes more space and burns fewer calories per minute. If you want to optimize your floor space for the maximum amount of people burning the maximum amount of calories this is not the model to go for. Keep your clients and space requirements in mind, especially when shopping for recumbent bikes.

Compared to the VR25 the VR21 has no touch screen. If you want to get the full benefit of an easy workout while doing your work or surfing on the internet, the touch screen option will go along way for convenience.

Alternatives to the Nordictrack VR21

Aöternatives to the Nordictrack VR21 are:

The Nordictrack VR25 is the big brother of the VR21. Personally I think that this is a better option for commercial buyers who only want one or two recumbent bikes on their floor. Otherwise, homebuyers can save some money by getting the VR21. The worse media options can be compensated by just using your own devices on an easy ride.

The NordicTrack C700 is the treadmill alternative from Nordictrack in the same budget range as the VR21. The C700 is a good option for walkers and joggers to get some miles in. If you intend to get your calorie burn in while standing, this might be the better option than the VR21. The C700 is not suited for runners who will take their treadmill through a lot of abuse in speed or distance.

The NordicTrack SE3i elliptical is the cheapest elliptical in the Nordictrack line up. This can be a good compromise for all your clients or the entire family when you think that a recumbent bike does not have enough oomph. Just make sure that you have enough clearance to the ceiling as an elliptical will put you in a higher position than a recumbent bike and is harder to get on and off.

The concept 2 model D is the industry standard for indoor rowing. If you want to row and turn your cardio into a full-body workout, this might be better option than the VR21. A rower can also be hung on the wall after your workout to save some space. The only downside is that the calorie burn per minute is also relatively low compared to treadmills and upright bikes.

The Rogue echo bike is my personal favorite for indoor gyms. This is a straight forward machine to make you sweat. No extra bells and whistles, just pure focus on high-intensity interval training. For some this bike might be intimidating, but I love it and it is also reasonably priced. Still, i would not place this one in an old folk's home or rehab center. The VR21 might be a better option in those scenarios.

Summary for the Nordictrack VR21

The Nordictrack VR21 is a good budget option for a recumbent bike from Nordictrack. If you want to relax and still burn some calories, this is the right machine for home use.

Overview and review of the TITAN under desk walking treadmill

This is an overview of the TITAN under desk walking treadmill including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally published in Which cardio equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for more details.

Overview of the TITAN Under desk walking treadmill

The TITAN Under desk treadmill is the only treadmill that TITAN currently stocks. Again, as with all TITAN products, the price tag has been trimmed down as much as possible while you can expect subpar customer service as their portfolio is so vast. That is not bad if you know what you want, know how to work it, and do not mind things doing yourself. The full specifications of the TITAN under desk treadmill are:

- Wide track for ample walking room

- Safety key stops the treadmill if disconnected from the console

- Console fits onto your desktop

- Variable speed in half MPH increments

- Compatible with Standing Desks

- FITSHOW App compatible see instruction manual for details

- Walking Platform Height: 6-in.

- Overall Height: 8-in.

- Overall Length: 65-in.

- Overall Width: 25-in.

- Speed: 0-4 mph

- Time: 0-99:59 min

- Distance: up to 99.9 miles

- Steps: up to 9999

- Calories: up to 999.9 Kcal

- Belt Length: 53-in.

- Belt Width: 18-in.

- Weight Capacity: 250 lb.

- Product Weight: 114 lb.

This is a solid treadmill for a low price to burn more calories during the day when you are working at your desk.

Pros of the TITAN Under desk walking treadmill

The pros of the TITAN Under desk treadmill:

Low price
Small footprint

If you want to self build a treadmill desk, you can do this fairly cheap by ordering from TITAN. Combine the under desk treadmill with the A2 single motor sit to stand desk and you have a treadmill desk for under $1000. It won't be the prettiest, fanciest, and have the most features, but it will do the deed for under $1000.

Cons of the TITAN Under desk walking treadmill

The cons of the TITAN under desk treadmill are:

Not for running
Can not fold
Minimal computer unit

The TITAN under desk treadmill is not ideal for running fast. As with most under desk treadmills, they are designed for a very slow walking pace and will not take a prolonged heavy pounding. Especially if you are a big athlete you should be careful.

Compared to other under desk treadmill models the TITAN version can not fold up. If your desk setup should be permanently able to have a treadmill setup that is fine. If you want to change around often you might want to look for a foldable option instead.

The computer of the under desk treadmill is pretty simple and does not incorporate any kind of extras. All it does is that it shows your the steps, calories, or distance you have done. A bonus is that you can place it on the desk so that you do not need a remote or bend under the desk to make adjustments.

Alternatives to the TITAN Under desk walking treadmill

Alternatives to the TITAN under the desk treadmill:

If you are looking for a treadmill the TrueFrom runner is the current king of the court. This self-propelled treadmill has a reputation for the best belt in the business when it comes to self-propelled machines. If you want to accelerate and decelerate fast, this is the right treadmill to simulate a game environment without taking up too much space. While it is the creme de la creme in functionality, the price is astronomical and close to $6000. You can build an entire gym with that or deck your entire team with TITAN under the desk treadmills instead.

The Rogue Echo bike is in my opinion the best choice for a home gym that is focused on performance. For long runs, you can go outside and get your running shoes on. For interval training and burning as many calories as possible in a short amount of time, there is no match for air bikes. Air bikes can accelerate and decelerate fast without costing a fortune. Technically the Jacobs ladder and the Versaclimber burn more calories per minute but they cost more and take up more space. Other Air bikes in the market are usually more than $1000 except the TITAN fan bike which takes a low-budget clone approach to the Echo bike.

The Nordictrack 32i is the flagship treadmill from Nordictrack. This beast has all the bells and whistles including a massive screen as well as incline and decline settings for running. If you want the full running experience and be entertained at the same time, this is the machine to get.IN return you have to give up a considerable share of your living space and wallet share.

Conclusion for the TITAN Under desk walking treadmill

If you do not mind putting your hands and mind into a project you can build a cheap desk treadmill using the TITAN under desk treadmill as the belt. You could also get it as a cheap walker to get more steps in without having to go outside and watch the television. Apart from that, there are better options for a similar price out there, if you take your running and cardio seriously.