Horizon fitness Evolve 5 elliptical vs Nordictrack X11i treadmill

This is a comparison of the Horizon fitness Evolve 5 elliptical and the Nordictrack X11i treadmill including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

If you want the most up to date news or ask direct questions, then you can follow me on Instagram.

Overview and review Nordictrack Commercial X11i Incline $2249 - $2999

This is a review of the Nordictrack Commercial X11i incline model which was originally published in "Which Nordictrack treadmill to get". Follow the links for more details.

Overview Nordictrack Commercial X11i Incline $2249 - $2999

The X11I is the low end of the 40% incline range of the Nordictrack portfolio. This machine has up to 44 programs and works with 300 lbs. capacity. It is great for runners, walkers and joggers alike. While it probably was top-notch when it was released, you can see that the design and the trend to more screens versus buttons have put the design a little past its best date. If you want to go full touch screen opt for the X22i or X32i which also costs considerably more. Apart from that, you get a slightly less powerful motor than with the top range alternatives. The full specifics of the NordicTrack X11i are:

10” Smart HD Touchscreen
1-Year iFit® Membership Included ($468 Value)**
Bluetooth® Audio Capabilities
Two 3” Digitally-Amplified Speakers
Reflex™ Cushioning
22” x 60” Commercial Tread Belt
Dual AutoBreeze™ Workout Fans
0 - 40% Incline
0 – 6% Decline
0 - 12 MPH Speed
OneTouch® Controls
3.75 CHP DurX™ Commercial Plus Motor
Reinforced Steel Construction
2.5” Precision and Balanced Non-Flex Rollers
iFit Bluetooth® Chest Strap Included
300 Lb. User Capacity
44 On-Board Workout Programs
71.6” L x 39.6” W x 72.2” H Footprint
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty
1-Year Labor Warranty

Overall this is a great workhorse incline treadmill at a good price for the home or professional gym. Compared to other Nordictrack models you will save $1000 to $2000. If you are not that much into a big screen but the 40% is a must because you are a trail runner or want to maximize calories burned per minute, this is a good machine to get.

Pros of the Nordictrack X11i Incline

The pros of the X11i Nordictrack include:

Good price for 40% incline
Focusing on what matters
Great cushioning
Big capacity

If a 40% incline is what you always needed or wanted for yourself and/or for your clients, this is a good value for money option. You will get a solid treadmill by a solid player in the market which covers all the programs you need. In addition, you will also get great comfort and power. The only sacrifice you will be making as that the design feels a little more like the early time of mobile phones rather than the slick, screen heavy world from today. If you want to focus on running only in a professional facility this is more than enough. If you cant to portray the California luxury vibe in your facilities and attract the corresponding clientele you might want to upgrade to the X22 or X32.

Cons of the Nordictrack X11i incline

The cons of the X11I are

Small screen
Not foldable
Too many options

The screen on the X11i is relatively small compared to other models. In my opinion, you might as well go for a model that has the same incline, but no touchscreen to save even more money. As small as the screen is you might as well not need to spend money on it. But that is just me, I am a strong advocate of running outdoors anyway.

If you want to use it at home, keep in mind that you can not fold the X11I. While this is great for the incline and decline options it provides with great cushioning to top of it, it is not very space-efficient. If you are looking for a treadmill to use at home, possibly even only to walk and not to jog on, this is not the right option for you.

Last but not least I personally think that it still has too many options. You don't really need a lot of different programs in my personal view. I solid run for distance, time, interval and hill function as a pyramid is more than enough.

Alternatives to the Nordictrack X11i incline

Alternatives to the X11i are

The X22 and X32i from Nordictrack are your options if you want more touch screen and fewer buttons on the console. The design of these two machines feels slightly more modern than the X11i. They also come with a more powerful motor and more workout options. The biggest difference between these two treadmills is that one has a 32inch while the other has a 22inch touch screen.

The Nordictrack 2950 is the tradeoff between the Incline models and the touch screen width. While the X11i has more incline it has a smaller screen. The 2950 provides fewer options on INcline and decline, but a bigger screen. The price points are within the range from each other so this might be a consideration for you tot ake based on personal preference.

The true form runner is more expensive than the X11i and follows a completely different concept than an electrical treadmill. The true form runner is self-propelled and the treadmill rests on bearing. This makes start-stop drills possible and also gets rid of any electric motors which might break down. This is a great option if you want to train quick acceleration and deceleration on a treadmill.

The Rogue Echo Bike is a low budget / small-space alternative to all the treadmills outlined. If your goal is maximum calories burned per minute, it is hard to beat this air bike that only costs $700. So if it maximum calories per second that you are after, go for the Rogue Echo bike.

Now currently the ultimate holy grail in calories per second is probably a Versaclimber. The footprint is low, the calories per second very high. The only downside the Versaclimber's have compared to the Rogue Echo bike is that they at least are double the price. More likely in the $3000 - $4000 range.

Summary for the X11 incline

If you are a serious runner who wants to get something for their home gym, it is probably this treadmill. With this, you can simulate any run around the globe to prepare and I doubt that an Ultra marathon runner cares a lot about the size of their screen. If you are a long-distance runner who mainly does races on concrete, you are throwing money out of the window. You will rarely ´, if ever, came across a 40% incline in a city marathon or similar race. For commercial gym owners, I think you can get one or two of the X11i to satisfy your most extreme clients. Fill the rest off the floor with something less expensive and less incline. Boutique shops either want to go upmarket or completely barebone depending on whom they are targeting. I personally think this is a bit too middles of the road for a boutique that has its niche figured out. All in all, if you don't know exactly what you need, but still want everything at a decent price, the X11 is the right choice for you.

Overview and review of the Horizon fitness Evolve 5 elliptical

This is an overview of the Horizon fitness Evolve 5 elliptical including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was first published in Which Horizon fitness elliptical to get?

For the most up to date information and asking direct questions you can follow me on Instagram.

Which Horizon fitness treadmill to get?
Which Horizon fitness bike to get?
Which Horizon fitness elliptical to get?

Which Nordictrack treadmill to get?
Which Nordictrack elliptical to get?
Which Nordictrack bike to get?

Which Cardio Equipment to get from TITAN?
Which conditioning equipment to get from Rogue Fitness?

Overview of the Evolve 5 elliptical $1,399

The Horizon Evolve 5 elliptical is the current flagship elliptical in the Horizon lineup. It’s main distinguishing feature is the big flywheel which provides a smoother ride and lower need for maintenance. This is the right choice if you like Horizon and the idea of an elliptical and do not want to compromise. The full specifications of this machine run as follows:

Frame Type: Sic Star Folding

Flywheel:23

Stride Length: 20

Incline Range: N/A

Resistance Range: 20 Electronically adjustable

Step on height (inches): 10

Extras: Built-in speakers, Energy Saver Mode, Passport ready, Tablet rack, Water Bottle holder

Electrical requirements: 110 lot and 220 Volt

Weight: 181 lbs.

Assembled dimensions: 69" x 28" x 69"

Max user weight: 300

Warranty - Frame: Lifetime

Warranty - Brake: 3 years

Warranty - Flywheel: N/A

Warranty - Parts: 3 years

Warranty - Labor: 1 year

Pros of the Evolve 5 elliptical

The pros are the Horizon Evolve 5 elliptical are:

Big flywheel
Foldable

This elliptical has all the bells and whistles and the biggest flywheel that Horizon currently offers. With the finding mechanic, it takes up considerably less space when it is not in use. If you want the most amount of elliptical money can buy from Horizon, then this is the model for you.

Cons of the Evolve 5 elliptical

The cons of the Horizon Evolve 5 are:

Price
Console

With $1400 the Horizon Evolve 5 is the highest priced elliptical in the Horizon lineup. For that high price, I think you get not a lot of extra compared to the Evolve 3 or AE 7.0. The only thing the Evolve 5 has going for it is the big flywheel. This is only relevant when you either go very hard at it or intend to be a lot of mileage on it in a short frame of time. The console is not internet-ready and only gives you updates about the preloaded workouts.

Alternatives to the Evolve 5 elliptical

Alternatives to the Horizon Evolve 5 are:

The Evolve 3 is in my opinion the better option if you buy into the idea of a foldable elliptical. It costs less and almost does the same as the Horizon Evolve 5 except for a smaller flywheel.

The Nordictrack SE 7i is the entry-level elliptical from Nordictrack. If Horizon is out of stock or you want to compare prices you can go with this one too.

The Rogue Echo Bike is is my opinion the best option for homeowners who want to go hard at it on a small footprint on a bike. Its low-budget competitor is the TITAN fan bike.

Conclusion for the Evolve 5 elliptical

The Horizon Evolve 5 is great when you like to buy the best and have berthing for your home gym elliptical. For commercial use I think the folding approach to the frame is not a great idea as it provides too much opportunity for things to break. For home gym users I think that the AE 7.0 Elliptical is a better value for money.