Horizon fitness Upright U bike vs Nordictrack 2950 treadmill

This is a comparison of the Horizon fitness Upright U cycle and the Nordictrack 2950 treadmill including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview and review Nordictrack Commercial 2950 Treadmill $2999 - $3599

This is a review of the Nordictrack commercial 2950 model which was originally posted in "Which Nordictrack treadmill to get". Follow the links for more details.

Overview Nordictrack Commercial 2950 Treadmill $2999 - $3599

The 2950 is the top-end treadmill from Nordictrack without the big %40 incline option. The main features are the massive 22-inch touchpad and the foldable Running track. The full list of features is:

22” Smart HD Touchscreen
1-Year iFit® Membership Included ($468 Value)**
Auxiliary Music Port
Two 3” Digitally-Amplified Speakers
Runners Flex™ Cushioning
Dual AutoBreeze™ Workout Fans
22” x 60” Commercial Tread Belt
4.25 CHP DurX™ Commercial Plus Motor
0 - 12 MPH Speed
0 - 15% Incline
0 - 3% Decline
OneTouch® Controls
EKG Grip Pulse
300 Lb. User Weight Capacity
2.5” Precision and Balanced Non-Flex Rollers
SpaceSaver® Design with EasyLift™ Assist
40 On-Board Workout Programs
Integrated Tray
79.5” L x 39.2” W x 66.6” H Footprint
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty
1-Year Labor Warranty

If you have some surplus money to spend and like the good things in life this is the treadmill for you. The incline options from Nordictrack technically have more bells and whistles if you only want the best, but I think you are more than covered with what the 2950 has to offer with the added bonus that it can be folded up.

Pros of the Nordictrack 2950

The pros of the 2950 Nordictrack treadmill are:

Big screen
Good folding mechanics
Strong motor
High capacity and large belt

This machine is a great option for a high-end home gym for which the owner does not want to spare any expenses without paying for unnecessary gimmicks which will be rarely used. If you work with the elderly are anyone that needs a big touch screen you will not be disappointed with the 2950. The same goes for if you need the extra size and cushioning because you are heavy or just like comfort.

Cons of the Nordictrack 2950

The cons of the 2950:

No Start stops possible
High price
Big footprint

The Nordictrack 2950 is a great option when you have the necessary change in your pocket and space in your home or gym. Otherwise, it is a pretty bad choice. If you have to buy in bulk the price will escalate quite quickly. You also can not do Start-stop sprints that are relevant to many sports.

Alternatives to the Nordic track 2950

Alternatives to the 2950 are

The X32i is the ultimate treadmill you can get from Nordictrack. It has a 32-inch touchscreen and goes up to 40% incline. If you want everything and can pay for it go for this model. I personally think that 40% incline is overkill unless you are an extreme Trail runner who wants to be able to train all year round. If you want to burn the maximum calories per minute there are cheaper options than an incline treadmill.

The Nordictrack X22i has the same specs as the X32i. The only difference is that the screen is 22inch and you save $1000 because of that.

The true form runner is roughly in the same price range than the 2950. Rather than using an electrical motor, you propel the belt forward yourself. This is a better option when you train high performing athletes who need to do start and stop drills. Especially if you have limited space. It’s still not as good as training outdoors on the pitch, but the true from runner can be used all year round even when the pitch can not be accessed.

The Rogue echo bike is a great value for money option if your main goal is to burn as many calories as possible in a short amount of time. It is roughly priced at $700 and therefore for under most cardio equipment you can get for your home gym. In addition, it is also very space-efficient.

The Versaclimber SM is the ultimate machine for getting you to sweat and burn calories in the shortest amount of time. This machine is not for beginners and therefore has a smaller range than the rest of the cardio equipment in this comparison. The big disadvantage against the echo bike is the higher price tag. If you are super fit, rich and value your time above anything else, get this machine to burn the calories fast before you go on set or in the boardroom. If you are a mere mortal with limited finances get the Rogue echo bike to burn calories.

Summary for the 2950

The 2950 treadmill is, in my opinion, the sensible wealthy treadmill for the home gym owner or the elite/boutique sensible option for a commercial gym. Anyone who enters your gym will be impressed and it will not look cheap. In addition, you get a plethora of functionality without going overboard with the 40% incline. For everyone else, more than 3000 is a lot of money to spend on one machine. You can get up to ten squat stands for that and open an Olympic weightlifting gym. Just the plates might eat your budget up, but that is another topic.

Overview and review of the Horizon fitness Upright U bike

This is an overview of the Horizon fitness Upright U 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 Comfort U upright bike $679

The Horizon Comfort U upright bike is a good choice for anyone who does not want to go hard at their workout and life prevents them to go outside to get exercise. This is the right bike for anyone who can not get out of the house to have a walk or cycle that often because you live in a very hot or cold area. If you live in an area where you rather not step outside at certain times because you feel vulnerable then this bike is also a way to get in your exercise anytime you want without making it too strenuous. A great alternative to sitting on the couch whilst watching TV or browsing through the internet leisurely as long as you do not lumbar support to do this. The full specifications of this machine are:

Frame Type: Upright

Pedal Type: Self Balancing pedals

Seat Type: Gel comfort seat

Seat Adjustment: Horizontal, Vertical

Resistance System: ECB Magnetic Brake

Heart rate: Handgrips, Polar wireless receiver

Extras: Built-in speakers, Energy saver mode, tablet rack, Water bottle holder

Max user weight: 300

Weight: 77lbs

Assembled dimensions: 65 x 26 x 53

Home Warranty - Frame: Lifetime

Home Warranty - Parts: 1 year

Home Warranty - Labor: 1 year

Pros of the Horizon Comfort U upright bike

The pros of the Horizon U upright bike are:

Simple design
Good tablet holder
Warranty

The Horizon U is simple in its design and therefore not intimidating to get on and off on or use. Just step on and start to cycle while watching your favorite streaming service on your own device. The tablet holder is in a good spot and makes a lot of sense to use. Nothing to fancy, but sometimes simple just wins. Compared to other options you can get for less money, especially on no-name Amazon resellers, you know that you will be covered by a good warranty from a company that specializes in exercise equipment.

Cons of the Horizon Comfort U upright bike

The cons of the Horizon Comfort U upright bike are:

Lightweight
Handle positioning
Console

The main con of this bike is that it is very light. If you are heavy or unstable you might want to opt for something with a bigger frame or a recumbent bike to feel safer. If you still can easily ride your own bicycle, go for this one.

The handle positioning of this bike can not be changed. Depending on how your body is shaped you might find it awkward to get into the cycling position and then you are stuck with that setting. Other bikes provide a little more flexibility with different handles or handles that can be adjusted more.

The last con of this bike is the console. If you prefer your multimedia options to be integrated into the console rather than using your own device, then this machine is not the best pick.

Alternatives to the Horizon Comfort U upright bike

The Horizon Comfort R is the Horizon recumbent bike with lumbar support. This means you get a full seat with this bike where you can rest your back against. If you can not sit upright on a bike yourself or if you are very heavy then this machine might be the better option for you.

The Nordictrack VU19 is another option on a comfortable upright bike from Nordictrack. If Horizon is out of stock and you want something fast, or if you just want to keep your options open, then have a look at the VU19 as an alternative.

The concept 2 skierg provides a moderate workout that can be scaled to very intense workouts on a small footprint. If you want a machine that you can easily fit into your home that can address all kinds of intensities without being too noisy then this is a good pick. The only downsides are that you have to be able to stand for the duration of your workout and that it mainly works your upper body instead of your lower body.

The Nordictrack VR25 is the recumbent bike alternative from Nordictrack to the Horizon Recumbent R. If you are buying for yourself you might want to give it a look before hitting buy.

Conclusion for the Horizon Comfort U upright bike

The Horizon Comfort U upright bike is a great option for anyone who wants to simulate a leisure bike ride at home because whether or surroundings do not allow for this. It is not designed for very heavy athletes or very intense workouts as the frame is rather light.