Horizon fitness 7.0 AE elliptical vs Nordictrack ACT commercial elliptical
This is a comparison of the Horizon fitness 7.0 AE elliptical and the Nordictrack ACT commercial elliptical including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.
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Overview and review of the NordicTrack ACT commercial 1299
Overview of the NordicTrack ACT commercial
The
ACT commercial is one of the most compact ellipticals which Nordictrack has in its portfolio. Its main features are a 10kg flywheel, 5-inch display, and a 22-inch stride. The full list of features covers:
- 5" Backlit Display
- iFit Bluetooth - 1 Years Membership Included
- Integrated Tablet Holder
- Auxiliary Music Port
- Two 2” Digitally-amplified Speakers
- Center Drive
- 18" – 22" Adjustable Stride
- 10 KG Inertia-enhanced Flywheel
- 24 Digital Resistance Levels
- OneTouch® Controls
- EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Monitor
- 135 Kg User Weight Capacity
- Soft Touch™ Upper Body Grips
- Adjustable Oversized Cushion Pedals
- AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
- Water Bottle Holder
- Front-Mounted Transport Wheels
- 32 On-board Workouts
- 165cm L x 81cm W x 162cm H Footprint
- Warranty - 5-Year Frame Warranty, 2-Year Parts and Labour Warranty, subject to registration within 28 days of purchase
This is the machine to get for small spaces if you want the experience of an elliptical.
Pros of the NordicTrack ACT commercial
The main and probably only reason to get this machine is because of its compact design. If you desperately want an elliptical and want to fit it in a tight spot, the
ACT commercial is the machine for you.
Cons of the NordicTrack ACT commercial
- High price for a small elliptical
- Age of the model
The
ACT commercial is one of the models of Nordictrack which is supported in the Uk but not in the US. This is not a great sign for the future of this model as Nordictrack HQ is situated in the US. If you want an elliptical and have space available you are probably better off to get a model out of the FS series which is available in both countries to protect your investment.
Alternatives to the NordicTrack ACT commercial
If you want a compact treadmill instead of an elliptical the
S25 with a 3.5 CHP motor might be for you. It comes in at the same price as the
ACT and has a powerful motor to put a lot of miles on it. The only downside to the S series is that it is also likely to be discontinued once stocks worldwide have been depleted as the US does not actively sell the model anymore.
If you want an elliptical with an incline and have more space you can go for the
C7.5 instead of the
ACT commercial. This elliptical provides up to a 20% incline at the same cost of the
ACT. The trade-off is that it is heavier and needs more space. By going with the
C7.5 you will also move below 1000 for purchasing your cardio machine.
Another option is the
Concept 2 model D rower if you do not want to stand while exercising. The c
oncept 2 model d has been around for a long time in different iterations and can be found in most gyms around the world, If you want a reliable rowing machine for your home or commercial gym, this is the one to go for.
My personal favorite is the
Rogue echo bike for any kind of home gym scenario.
Rogue came up with a solid, compact, and sturdy design for an airbike and put a super competitive price tag on it. It will be hard to find an airbike at the same price which is built like a tank.
Summary for the NordicTrack ACT commercial
The
ACT commercial is a great option for limited space scenarios if you are fine with buying something that is not the latest and greatest in the line-up. If you fit that niche, this machine will be hard to beat.
Overview and review of the Horizon fitness 7.0 AE elliptical
This is an overview of the Horizon fitness AE 7.0 elliptical including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was first published in Which Horizon fitness elliptical to get?
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Overview of the 7.0 AE elliptical $999
The
7.0 AE elliptical is the best value for money option in the Horizon elliptical lineup. This is mainly due to the most modern console out of all the Horizon ellipticals. The size and layout are more than enough for home gym use. In a commercial setting, you might want to bet on something with a bigger frame and different warranty options. The full specifications are:
Frame Type: Six Star Non-folding
Flywheel: 23
Stride Length: 20
Incline Range:20 Levels 0-100%
Resistance Range: Magnetic, 20 levels
Step on height (inches): 10 3/4"
Extras: Built-in Speakers, Fan, Tablet rack, Water bottle holder
Electrical requirements: 120V - 60Hz
Weight: 194lbs
Assembled dimensions: 76" x 24" x 65.5"
Max user weight: 325 lbs.
Warranty - Frame: Lifetime
Warranty - Brake: Lifetime
Warranty - Flywheel: 1 year
Warranty - Parts: 3 year
Warranty - Labor: 1 year
Pros of the 7.0 AE elliptical
-
Price
-
Compact design
-
Console
This is a great elliptical for under $1000 to put into your home. The updates to the console to make it YouTube friendly and more compatible with the devices you already own is a big step forward for Horizon fitness. We hopefully see more of that in their treadmill and bike products to catch up to Peloton in terms of gamification of workouts. This is the Best Buy from Horizon in my opinion if you are looking to get an elliptical for your home.
Cons of the 7.0 AE elliptical
There is not a lot I can find wrong with the
7.0 AE for an elliptical except ... that it is elliptical. I personally prefer something that can really hit hard for my cardio like an Airbike or even the BlazePod system. Ellipticals are great and easy on you but just not the preferred choice for cardio. But, if you are into a good workout that does not put you at risk of injury, this is it.
For commercial use, the
7.0 AE frame might not be the best. Go a bit upmarket for $1500 upwards to get an elliptical that is not foldable and has a bit of weight on it so it can take some of the weirder crowd that comes with running a big commercial gym.
Alternatives to the 7.0 AE elliptical
The
Horizon Evolve 3 is bigger than the
7.0 AE and foldable. If you are invested in the idea of a foldable elliptical this is the better choice even though the console is not as up-to-date.
The
Nordictrack SE7i is currently the low-end option for entering the elliptical market with this brand. This can be an option when you want something fast and Horizon is out of stock.
The
Rogue Echo Bike is in my opinion the best solution on the market for someone who does not want to pay a leg and an arm and have intense cardio workouts on a small footprint. The
Rogue Echo Bike is high quality at an affordable price. It will kick your butt I’m a good way. The copycat lower-cost competitor of the
Rogue Echo bike is the
TITAN fan bike.
Conclusion for the 7.0 AE elliptical
If you like Horizon fitness as a brand and want an elliptical for your home, the
7.0 AE is the best choice for bang for your buck as long as you have the space to place it in.