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Horizon fitness IC 7.9 bike vs Versaclimber H/HP

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Mar 31, 2021 4:00:00 PM

Horizon fitness IC 7.9 bike vs Versaclimber H/HP

This is a comparison of the Horizon fitness IC 7.9 indoor cycle and the Versaclimber H/HP including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview and review of the VersaClimber H/HP

Price $2065 - $2300

The VersaClimber H/HP comes in at $2065 - $2300. In this article you will learn more about the product itself, its Pros and cons and alternatives you might want to consider. This article has originally been published in the overview "Which conditioning equipment to buy from Rogue".

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Overview of the VersaClimber H/HP

 
The VersaClimber H/HP models are the range of the VersaClimber portfolio which has been designed for the use at home. This model is the lightest and smallest that you can get out of the VersaClimber range. It’s specifications are:
 
 
  • Height 7’6”
  • Weight 65lb
  • Color Black 
  • Footprint 36”x44”
 
The Versaclimber delivers a stepper and vertical Climber in one machine. This is probably the hardest workout you can get on a machine in your own home. Compared to treadmills and ellipticals you also will have less impact and save your joints from too much pain. The VersaClimber H is not intended for commercial use and the warranty will be voided if placed in a professional gym. With an optional heart rate monitor, you can optimize the experience even further. 
 

Pros of the Versaclimber H/HP

 
Here are the pros of the Versaclimber H/HP modem:
 
  • Price 
  • Space 
  • High intensity 
  • Health 
 
The price is great compared within the Versaclimber line up. This product is priced at half of what the top line range of Versaclimber is at. If you compare it to other innovative options like the TrueForm runner it also holds up on price. If you want something special in your gym or home gym, this option saves you $2000 to $3000. 
 
Especially compared to ellipticals and treadmills the Versaclimber takes up a lot less space. The home version is also very light and can be moved easier in case you were moving house or want to rearrange things at home. This is a compact beast with a punch. 
 
If you buy a cardiovascular machine you probably want it to make you sweat. Otherwise, you would be doing yoga. With the Versaclimber you get what it says on the tin. You will be sweating buckets in no time. Your cardio can be cut short and will still have an impact. 
 
Compared to running on concrete or on a treadmill the Versaclimber has less impact and there is easier on your joints. 
 

Cons of the VersaClimber H/HP

 
  • Price 
  • Specificity 
 
Compared to options like the Rogue Echo bike or concept 2 skierg the Versaclimber H/HP is still about $1000 out of range. If you want to exercise at the same time as someone else in the house you can get two Echo bikes for the price if one Versaclimber H/HP.
 
If you are preparing for an Ironman or want to get better at sprinting the Versaclimber is not specific to these movements. For $500 more you can get a concept 2 package including a skierg, bike and rower for a more versatile training experience, given you have space. 
 

Alternatives to the VersaClimber H/HP

 
Here are some alternatives to the Versaclimber H/HP you might want to consider:
 
 
The Versaclimber SM is the top model of the Versaclimber range. If you are buying for the professional world of gyms this is the machine to go for. You will have extra coverage for warranty and the machine is more than twice the weight of the H model to take a constant beating. It also uses fewer beams and gives the athlete more freedom to move. 
 
If you are looking for a machine for your home gym that focuses more on your upper than your lower body the concept 2 skierg is for you. This machine will enable you to train your arms and back more than the usual bikes and treadmills. 
 
The Rogue echo bike is a solid option to kick your butt at home. It is built like a tank and one of the most modern takes on the air bike. It is also reasonably priced compared to the other options. 
 

Summary for the VersaClimber H/HP

 
The Versaclimber H is the right choice for you when you want a vertical climber for your home. If you run a gym go for the SM model. If you are on a budget and still want a killer cardiovascular workout than the Rogue echo bike is a great option. If you like to run, outdoors is a good option too, just maybe not all year around winding on where you live. 
 
 

Overview and review of the Horizon fitness IC 7.9

This is an overview of the Horizon fitness IC 7.9 bike including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was first published in Which Horizon fitness bike to get?

 

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Overview of the Horizon IC7.9 Indoor cycle $699

 
The Horizon IC 7.9 bike is an indoor cycle that follows a classic spinning bike design. It is belt-driven and uses mechanical resistance to simulate a bike ride from the road as best as possible while being in the comfort of your home. The full specifications list runs as following:
 
Frame Type: Indoor Cycle
Adjustable Pedal straps: Yes
Pedal Type: Dual-sided Pedals with Toe cages/clips
Seat Type: Racing style road saddle
Seat adjustment: Horizontal, Vertical
Resistance System: Magnetic
Resistance levels: Resistance lever 0 -100%
Flywheel weight: 35lbs
Extras: Tablet rack, Transport Wheels, Water Bottle Holder
Max User Weight: 300
Weight: 123 lbs.
Assembled dimensions: 53x 24 x48
Home Warranty Frame: Lifetime
Home Warranty Parts: 1 year
Home Warranty Labor: 1 year
 
This is a solid option for someone who likes spinning classes and riding hard outdoors but does not want to bring their road bike in a home stance for convenience reasons.
 

Pros of the Horizon IC7.9 Indoor cycle

 
The pros of the IC 7.9 indoor cycle are:
 
  • Reinforced frame
  • Mechanical belt
  • Smooth resistance adjustments
 
The frame of this bike is sturdier than if other bike options you can get from Horizon fitness. This seems that bigger athletes can exercise harder on this bike compared to the GR3.
 
A lot of bikes work with magnetic resistance in today’s high technology environment. This bike still works with a belt and a mechanical brake. While this means higher maintenance it also translates to an experience that is closer to biking on the street. Depending on what you are looking for this might be an advantage for you.
 
With the dial to adjust the resistance at the wheel, it is easier to adjust resistance compared to the GR3 indoor cycle. Think of the IC 7.9 as a high-quality spinning bike for commercial use, while the GR3 is more aimed at home users.
 

Cons of the Horizon IC7.9 Indoor cycle

 
The cons of the Horizon IC7.9 are:
 
  • Lack of programs
  • Price
 
The included computer of the IC 7.9 is basic and only provides revolutions, distance traveled and other information about how far and fast you are traveling. As it is very similar to a spinning bike you need to set it up near a television or find someplace else for your tablet or phone to rest on. This is not going with the times where peloton and echelon have entire entertainment systems onboard.
 
The price is rather high for something that is essentially not a lot more than a bike on a stance. If you already have a high-end cycle at home you might as well get an indoor stance for it which is cheaper and gets you the real deal at home.
 

Alternatives to the Horizon IC7.9

Alternatives  to the Horizon IC 7.9 are:

 
 
The horizon GR3 is the little brother of the IC 7.9. It has the same basic functions but all the parts are a little less sturdy than with the IC 7.9 which makes the bike cheaper overall. If you are a light home user this bike is the better value for money for you. Commercial buyers should stick with the IC 7.9 instead.
 
The Nordictrack VU19 is the entry-level stationary bike from Nordictrack. It is more aimed at the leisure cyclist and for commercial use. It is bigger and sturdier than the IC 7.9 and the flywheel is under, rather in front of the user. Therefore the target group is a little different but if you are a commercial buyer comparing the Horizon and Nordictrack fleets have a look at the VU19.
 
The Rogue echo bike is in my opinion the best value for money cardio machine in the sub $1000 category. This is the case if you want a sturdy machine with a basic machine that you can go hard at. If you want a smooth ride and sit comfortably other machines might be better. A lower-budget copy cat of the Rogue echo bike is the TITAN fan bike.
 
If you want a low-impact cardio kick on a small footprint the concept 2 skierg might be for you. It takes up minimal space compared to other machines and is also fairly silent. The only downside is that it is not a bike or full-body workout and mainly targets the upper body.
 

Conclusion for the Horizon IC7.9 Indoor cycle

 
If you are looking for a spinning bike this is the best you can get from Horizon fitness. Especially if you want to stay under $1000 and still get something solid the Ic 7.9 is a very good option. There are cheaper bikes on Amazon, but they might have some quality issues. There are other bikes with more multimedia and gamification options, but those will break the $1000 budget wall.
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