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Horizon Elite T5 treadmill vs Nordictrack X9i

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Mar 14, 2021 10:00:00 AM

Horizon Elite T5 treadmill vs Nordictrack X9i

This is a comparison between the Horizon Elite T5 treadmill and Nordictrack X9i including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in which Horizon treadmill to get.

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Overview and review of the X9i 2199

Overview of the Nordictrack X9i

 
The X9i treadmill comes in at a price of 2199 pounds at the time of writing. Its main features are the 3 horsepower motor, 40% incline, and 7-inch touch screen. With this, it is a treadmill at the higher end of the price spectrum and relatively big features and incline and screen real estate.  The full list of features runs as follows:
 
  • 7" HD Touch Screen Display
  • iFit Integrated
  • Smart BlueTooth Chestbelt included
  • Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
  • Dual 3-Inch Speakers
  • Reflex™ Cushioning
  • Tablet Holder Included
  • 55 x 152 cm Tread Belt
 
  • Dual AutoBreeze™ Workout Fans
  • 3.6 CHP Motor
  • 0 – 40% Incline - 0 – 6% Power Decline
  • 0 – 20 km/h Speed
  • 2.5” Precision-machined and
    Balanced Non-flex Rollers
  • EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Monitor
  • 135kg Max User Weight
  • Out-of-the-box Easy Assembly
  • Large Boxed Item - This item can only be delivered or delivered and installed to a ground floor room location.
  • Free Installation Included With Mainland Customers
  • Product Weight 135kg
  • Boxed Weight 175kg
  • Assembled Dimensions - 178L x 100W x 181H cm
  • Boxed Dimensions - 227L x 103W x 64H cm
  • Warranty - Lifetime Frame Warranty, 10-year Motor Warranty, 2-Year Parts & Labour upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.
 
All of this makes the X9 a good machine for the UK market if you are interested in a 40% incline and a touchscreen. 
 

Pros of the Nordictrack X9i 

 
The pros of the X9i are 
 
  • 40% Incline
  • 7-inch touch screen
The X9i shines on the incline and the touch screen options. This is a high-end treadmill that you can either use at home or in a commercial setting. 
 

Cons of the Nordictrack X9i

 
  • Price
  • Older model
2000 pounds is a high price for a treadmill either to buy for your home or in bulk. Really think hard about whether you will need the 40% incline on a regular as this is the main reason for driving the price up. If you only will use it occasionally you might want to look into other options with less incline. 
 
Another point is that the X9i is one of the older models in the Nordictrack incline treadmills line up. The newer models are the X11i, x22i, and the X32i. These models are not available in the UK yet, but you may want to have a close look at the US website first. Especially if you can wait for half a year to a year with your purchase.  
 

Alternatives to the Nordictrack X9i

 
Alternatives to the Nordictrakc X9i are:
 
 
The Nordictrack FS5i is a three in one elliptical which can be used as a stepper, treadmill, and elliptical which is available in the UK. This might be the better choice for someone who buys for use at home by multiple people. Especially the fitness levels are a bit lower. A commercial buyer might not want to go this way, is the ellipticals with the flywheel in the middle are more error-prone than the front / rear-drive flywheels or treadmills. Commercial buyers with space might want to split up their fleet in specialized machines. 
 
If you are really sure that you need the 40% incline but want to save a little bit of money you can go for the X7i instead of the X9i. It is basically the same machine, except that the screen is not a touch screen. This city a little of the budget while you still almost get the same specifications for what you are buying. If you are insisting on a 40% incline and think that this is your main use case you right also want to look at the VersaClimber product range. This is usually the better pick for maximizing the calories burned per minute.
 
The Nordictrack C7.5 would be the treadmill of choice of you ditch the idea of a 40% incline. This is a solid machine for home or commercial use which is more affordable and still does the trick. Definitely look in this area of the Nordictrack portfolio if you think %40 is overkill (which I would say in 999 out of 1000 cases).
 
The last option would be to go for something completely different. The Rogue Echo bike coma in at a price of about 700 pounds. It is compact, easy to move, and you can burn a lot of calories per minute with the interval settings. This is the machine that I got for my personal gym as I prefer tor un outdoors. 
 

Summary for the Nordictrack X9i

 
Nordictrack X9i is one of the most modern incline treadmills available for the UK market from Nordictrack at the moment. Still, you are investing a lot of money into a machine that has been overtaken with new models in the US. I am personally not a fan of spending a lot of money on something which I know will be outdated very soon. Combined with the fact that most people do not get a lot of use out of the 40% incline option the X9i is not one of my favorite options and would go for the X7i instead to save some money if you are insisting on 40%.

Overview and review of the Horizon Elite T5 treadmill

This is an overview of the Horizon Elite T5 treadmill including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in which Horizon treadmill to get. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview of the Horizon Elite T5 $1.199

 
The Horizon Elite T5 is the smallest of the Horizon Elite lineup of treadmills which come with an extra sturdy frame. Compared to its two bigger brothers, the T7 and T9, it has considerably less warranty and a smaller belt to run on. In exchange, it hugs the $1000 price tag tightly while the other two models cost $1.599 and $1.999. The list of specifications for the T5 can be seen below:
 
Frame Type: Feather-Light Folding
Running area: 20"x55"
Cushioning: 3-Zone Variable Response Cushioning                      
Drive Motor: 2.75 Horsepower
Belt: 1.4mm, Silicone
Deck Thickness: .75
Roller Size: front 2.4" rear 1.8"
Speed range: 0.5 - 12 mph
Incline Range: 0% – 15%
Extras: Built-in Speakers, Energy Saver Mode, Fan, In-reach Resistance Controls, Passport Ready, Tablet Rack, Water Bottle Holder
Weight: 227 lbs
Assembled dimensions: 73" x 35" x 61"
Folded dimensions: 43.3" x 35" x 65"
Max User Weight: 350
Electrical Requirements: 110 - 120V
Home Warranty Frame: Lifetime
Home Warranty Motor: Lifetime
Home Warranty Parts: 3 years
Home Warranty Labor: 1 years
 
The Horizon Elite T5 is a good option when you want a sturdy frame but do not particularly care about the warranty, extra digital features, or the motor. All these compromises bring the price down to a little over $1.000 for a treadmill that can take up to 21.000 miles without a problem.
 

Pros of the Horizon EliteT5

 
The pros of the Horizon Elite T5 are:
 
  • Price
  • Frame
  • Folding mechanism
 
For this price, you are getting a formidable running machine for your home that is convenient to use and to collapse depending on your needs. Most runners at home will not put the treadmill through the same abuse as in a commercial setting and unless you are an elite runner yourself the motor will most likely be more than enough for you. The folding mechanism is easy and you do not have to worry that the treadmill comes crashing down on your kids or they can catch a finger in the mechanics easily.
 

Cons of the Horizon Elite T5

 
The cons of the Horizon Elite T5 are:
 
  • Smaller warranty package compared to other Elite models
  • Limited Entertainment options
  • Smaller belt
  • Smaller motor
 
The Horizon Elite T5 saves you money which comes at a cost for convenience and entertainment. The warranty package has been stripped compared to the Elite models which make it a less attractive buy in a commercial setting or in a home gym where multiple elite runners will throw everything they have at this treadmill. The biggest downside for a machine for $1.000 is the limited multimedia functions. No Bluetooth hurts in these modern days. A smaller belt and motor round off the cutback on features to deliver the low price tag of the Elite T5.
 

Alternatives to the Horizon Elite T5

 
Alternatives to the Horizon Elite T5 are
 
 
The Horizon Elite T9 is the flagship treadmill out of the Horizon lineup. Compared to the T5 it has a bigger belt, a touch screen, and a more powerful motor. This is the option for commercial gyms that want to cater to all types of runners and walkers or for the home gym athlete that does not want to compromise and pay no more than $2.000 for their treadmill. There are other options above $2.000 in the market that basically come with a massive television attached, but not everyone needs that.
 
The Horizon Elite T7 is a good compromise between the T9 and the T5. It has a smaller footprint than the T9 and better warranty options than the T5 while still having the same belt size as the T9. If you are a serious runner who already has a Television in their gym or a commercial buyer who wants to buy in bulk where televisions are already installed in the facilities then this is a good buy. If you want the latest and greatest in entertainment technology you have to give the T7 a pass as it has no Bluetooth.
 
The Nordictrack 1750 is a strong competitor to any treadmill in the below $2000 budget arena. It outperforms the Elite series on the length of the warranty, the strength of the motor, and entertainment functions. You should have a look at this treadmill which is right in the middle of the Nordictrack portfolio. Nordictrack has recently done a facelift of their product line providing models with integrated television and working hard on their Ifit software to catch up to Peloton who are sweeping the market. The only downside to Nordictrack is that there is more negative customer feedback readily available online. This could be done to higher sales numbers or worse product quality compared to Horizon fitness.
 
The Assault air runner is a cheaper model in the area of self-propelled treadmills. These treadmills run on bearings instead of an electric motor. This means you can determine the pace yourself and it makes them superior to traditional treadmills for Interval training and start-stop sprints. The only downside is that these haven't been standardized in production like most of the treadmills you see, so they are usually north of $3.000 in price.
 
The Rogue Echo Bike and the TITAN fan bike are two different air bikes that I highly recommend as an alternative to a treadmill for your home gym. Air bikes are easier to move around, lend themselves better to HIIT training, and take up much less space in your home gym or garage gym. I prefer to run outside and as long as your circumstances allow for it, I would recommend that. On top of that, they are also more affordable at around $700 sticker price.
 

Conclusion for the Horizon Elite T5

 
The Horizon Elite T5 is a good budget option for the serious runner who does not want to waste money on technology and maximize the lifetime of the treadmill. Commercial buyers might want to opt for the T7 instead of they already have entertainment as the warranty is better. If Bluetooth is a must you can go for the T9, but then you are also just at the brink of $2.000 for your treadmill. The Nordictrack 1750 is always worth a look as an alternative.

Topics: Treadmill, Horizon