Horizon fitness Elite T9 treadmill vs Nordictrack S40
This is a comparison between the Horizon Elite T9 treadmill and Nordictrack S40 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 NordicTrack S40 1599
This is a review of the NordicTrack S40 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.
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Overview of the Nordictrack S40
The main features of the
Nordictrack S40 are its 3.0 CHP motor, the 12% incline, and the one-touch controls. Unfortunately, the S series is one of the older product ranges of the Nordictrack line up and you might want to look into the
C1650 or
T7.5 as an alternative. Still, you might make a good grab on the used treadmill market for this model. The full list of features includes:
- Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
- iFit Integrated
- Two 2” Bluetooth Digitally Amplified Speakers
- 3.0 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 84kg
- Boxed Weight 105kg
- Folded Dimensions - 103L x 90W x 180H cm
- Boxed Dimensions - 212L x 81W x 28H cm
- Warranty - Lifetime Frame Warranty, 10-year Motor Warranty, 2-Year Parts & Labour upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.
Have a good look at the market what you can get, but this treadmill might not be an ideal choice for buying something new.
Pros of the Nordictrack S40
- 3.0 CHP motor
- One-touch controls
The 3.0 CHP motor makes this a long-lasting treadmill for someone who runs a lot. Especially used this might be a good steal. The one-touch adjustments for speed are also a great feature of Nordictrack treadmills which make them more user friendly as you only need to push one button to get to the right space.
Cons of the Nordictrack S40
For the age of this product line, you still pay a pretty high price. This is good for Nordictrack to empty their inventory of old models, but not necessarily for your purse. If you buy new you may want to get for the newer models in the X line or the T line which have followed the C line of Nordictrack models.
Alternatives for the Nordictrack S40
Good alternatives for the
S40 are:
The Nordictrack T7,5 is, in my opinion, a better alternative to the
S40 unless you manage to get a discount on the
S40. The
T7.5 is the more modern machine and has almost the same specifications. They also punch in the same budget weight class. So stick with the
T7.5 instead of the
S40 in the Nordictrack portfolio.
The
FS5i is a good alternative for an elliptical for a home gym or commercial gym. It costs roughly the same as the
S40 and comes with Free Stride technology. The FreeStride technology puts the flywheel in the middle of the machine. This enables a longer stride and you can also use the elliptical as a treadmill, elliptical, and stepper in one. This freedom comes at the price of a more error-prone design and more challenging movement patterns.
If you want to save some money and like rowing, you can go for the
Concept 2 Model D rower. This is the flagship model from
Concept 2 who has been around for years in the rowing place. You will be hard-pressed to find a major commercial gym without one of these on the floor. They come in under 1000 and might be a get alternative to consider. The only challenge is that they take up as much space as a treadmill, but are easier to move.
The
Rogue Echo Bike is my personal favorite for home gyms as it is compact, sturdy, and burns a lot of calories per minute if used right. This machine can be gotten at the 700 mark and will last for a lifetime. The big disadvantage is that the Echo bike has no onboard entertainment whatsoever. If you need a video or machine to motivate you to get your training in, this is not the one for you. This is a great tool for intrinsically motivated people who want to save money and space.
Summary for the Nordictrack S40
As with the entire S series you might want to opt for something else which is a little more modern and therefore will get more support from the vendor Nordictrack. Always check the US website and compare the portfolio with the Uk website to avoid that you are buying something with is being discontinued. At the time of writing the S series is not available in the US anymore where Nordictrack headquarters is situated.
Overview and review of the Horizon fitness Elite T9 treadmill
This is an overview of the Horizon Elite T9 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 Fitness Elite T9 $1999
The
Horizon Fitness Elite T9 is the flagship treadmill from Horizon. Its main distinguishing features are the most powerful engine at 3.25 CHP, the side rails, and the touchscreen which the other models from the Horizon elite line do not have. While it is lightweight build and comes in at 275lbs, it is still the heaviest of the elite series. This makes it more stable and resistant for serious runners, but might be overkill for walkers. The full list of specifications runs as follows:
Frame Type: Feather-Light Folding
Running area: 22"x60"
Cushioning: 3-Zone Variable Response Cushioning
Drive Motor: 3.25 Horsepower
Belt: 1.4mm, Silicone
Deck Thickness: .75
Roller Size: 2.4"
Speed range: 0.5 - 12 mph
Incline Range: 0% – 15%
Extras: Aluminum Side Rails, Built-in Speakers, Energy Saver Mode, Passport Ready, Tablet Rack, Water Bottle Holder
Weight: 275 lbs
Assembled dimensions: 78.75" x 39.38" x 63"
Folded dimensions: 47.25" x 39.38" x 71"
Max User Weight: 350
Electrical Requirements: 110 - 120V
Home Warranty Frame: Lifetime
Home Warranty Motor: Lifetime
Home Warranty Parts: 5 years
Home Warranty Labor: 2 years
This machine appeals to a wide range of walkers and runners and is best chosen in a commercial setting or when you are a serious runner who has to travel far to get to a good area for running long distances. If you want to walk only it is overkill. The same goes for anyone who does not need a lot of technology or rails on their treadmill. Here you might get a better motor for less money with other treadmills if you strip back on some other features.
Pros of the Horizon Fitness Elite T9
-
Folding mechanism
-
Belt tested up to 21.000 miles
-
Touch Screen
-
Sidebars
-
Automatic incline / decline
-
Polar heart rate monitor included
The folding mechanism of the
Horizon fitness T9 elite is smooth and also protects you from falling onto you. The frame is reinforced compared to other Horizon models which make it a good pick for serious runners or heavier athletes.
The belt has been tested up to 21.000 miles without a need of change. For someone who runs 100 miles a week, this means that you can for 210 weeks or 4 years without changing the belt. The motor also needs no cooling as it runs with magnets.
The touch screen is another bonus over the other models from Horizon which have classic button navigation. The included sidebars make it family-friendly or more appealing when placed in a gym.
The automatic incline goes with the running programs that Horizon has included in the package. You can also purchase some extra courses in scenic locations which will make use of the INcline options too.
The whole package is rounded up by including a polar heart rate monitor which you can strap to your chest and connect to the machine for heart rate training. Walkers can also use the bars which come with heart rate monitors inbuilt.
Cons of the Horizon Fitness Elite T9
$2000 for a treadmill is a big bankroll. If you are savvy with craigslist and Facebook groups you might get an entire gym with several machines and a treadmill for this budget. Of course, this takes time and connections and not everyone is a hustler like the cowboys in the good, the bad, and the ugly or patient as Nelson Mandela. But if you are into used goods and sourcing them, spending $2000 is a lot to shell out for one piece of equipment in a private setting. For a commercial setting, it depends on how many you are going to buy and who will use them. If you have a very varied clientele and only need a few treadmills to make your community happy, this is the buy and do not think about it again option. If you have to buy in bulk and cater to a narrower fitness community you might want to consider more focused / cheaper options.
The technology on this treadmill seems a little outdated and needs a facelift. If you look at the newest peloton and
Nordictrack models the entertainment options far surpass the ones on offer on the horizon flagship. In fairness, there is also a $1000 gap between the
Elite T9 and the X32i, but if you are already considering $2000 for what is basically a convenience upgrade within the Horizon portfolio, then you might as well go all the way.
High-intensity interval training, or ins short HIIT, has been quite a rage in the fitness industry as of late. What most treadmills have in common is that they are not particularly well suited for this type of training as the motor and belt do not accelerate and decelerate naturally. The models which come closest to a proper stop-start sprint experience are the Assault air runner and the True Form runner. Personally, I am a huge fan of Airbikes as these are great for HIIT and do not take up a lot of floor space. They are also a lot cheaper than treadmills. The model I own is the
Rogue Echo Bike and its direct copycat competitor is the
TITAN fan bike.
This treadmill is a beast that is great when you are serious about running and willing to give up the necessary space in your home for your hobby. If you are just an occasional runner or walker you can not store this treadmill under the bed, sofa, or in a cupboard after use. Therefore it is not recommended for use in apartments with limited space unless you also want to use it as a bed.
Alternatives to the Horizon Fitness Elite T9
The
elite T7 has a 3.00 CHP horsepower motor and no railings. It also has no touch screen. This might be the better option for home athletes who are serious but do not want to fast for very long periods of time. If you are willing to compromise on the motor power and railings you can save yourself $500 on the sticker price within the Horizon portfolio by going with the
Elite T7 instead of the
T9. Definitely, the better option if there are no walkers to be expected to use the treadmill or someone who goes full throttle for an hour and weighs 200 pounds or more.
The
elite T5 has a slightly smaller belt than the
T9 and a 2.75 CHP motor. If you also feel that you need to save a little space because the treadmill will just about fit into your home space, then this is the one to make. You will also make some considerable compromises with the
T5 on the warranty so it might not be the best option in a commercial setup. On the positive side, the
T5 brings you far away from the $2000 mark and very close to the $1000 mark at $1199 retail price.
If you are willing to spend $2000 on a treadmill the
Nordictrack 1750 might be a desirable option for you. This treadmill not only has incline but also a 3% decline inbuilt. The IFit software subscription for your runs is a little more up to date than what Horizon has on offer and you will get a more powerful motor at 3.75 horsepower. The warranties are also longer than with Horizon, too. The only downside is that negative feedback about the
Nordictrack brand is more readily available than for Horizon. Whether this is due to a higher sales volume and therefore a higher likelihood for complaints or down to product quality and design is a matter of opinion.
Conclusion for the Horizon Fitness Elite T9
The
Horizon Fitness Elite T9 is the best that Horizon has to offer. If you want a great, durable treadmill for commercial use or the very serious home athlete that presses 100 miles a week or more, this is the one to get. It might not be at the forefront of the current market developments anymore, but you are getting a lot of belt, frame, and miles for a relatively small price. All other flagship treadmills in the market usually come in at $1000 more with a massive screen included. Not everyone wants that.