Horizon fitness Upright U bike vs Nordictrack Elite 10.9i elliptical

This is a comparison of the Horizon fitness Upright U cycle and the Nordictrack 10.9i elliptical including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview and review of the Nordictrack Elite 10.9i $1299

This is a review of the Nordictrack Elite 10.9i model. You will learn about the specifics, pros, cons, and alternatives of this elliptical to make a decision. This article was originally published in "Which elliptical to get from Nordictrack".

Overview of the Elite 10.9i

The elite 10.9i is the low-cost front-drive elliptical from Nordictrack. Its main features are a 20-pound flywheel, 20% incline, and a 7-inch touchscreen. The full list of features includes:

7” Smart HD Touchscreen
1-Year iFit® Membership Included*
Auxiliary Audio Port
Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers
EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Sensors

AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
Soft Touch Upper Body Grips

Front Drive
20 Lb. Effective Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel
SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
19” Power-Adjustable Stride
24 Digital Resistance Levels
0-20% Incline
One Touch® Controls
Integrated Pivoting Tablet Holder
Commercial Solid Steel Construction
Oversized Levelers
350 Lb. User Capacity
Oversized Cushion Pedals

Front-Mounted Transport Wheels
Water Bottle Holder
69.5" L x 25" W x 71.5" H Footprint
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty
1-Year Labor Warranty

This is the elliptical to get if you want to maximize your savings while still buying an elliptical from Nordictrack.

Pros of the 10.9i

The pros of the 10.9 elliptical are:

Price
7-inch touch screen

The 10.9 elliptical can not be beaten on price in the NordicTrack line-up and still dons a 7-inch touch screen. If you are considering this model the main criteria for purchase will be price, as otherwise, you are possibly looking at other options from Nordictrack.

Cons of the 10.9 elliptical

The cons of the 10.9 elliptical are:

Front-drive 20-pound flywheel
Size
Price

If you are a commercial buyer you probably want to look at the 12.9i instead. It is only a small uptick in price but you get a 30 pound instead of a 20-pound flywheel. As commercial buyers should assume heavier usage and more breakage this minimal uptick in price is a good tradeoff for fewer maintenance cases. I am also quite sure that if you buy 10 plus machines in one go you will get the 12.9i for the price of a 10.9i per piece anyway if you ask for it.

A front-drive elliptical is a big machine. Take this into consideration, especially when you are buying for a home gym. More than $1000 for one machine is still a considerable investment in the private realm. If you are already budget-conscious you might as well get a stationary bike for a lower footprint and price to meet your endurance goals.

Alternatives to the 10.9

Alternatives to the 10.9 elliptical are:

The 12.9i front-drive elliptical is the better option for commercial buyers as it is better value for money. It will not impress any of your clients, but also not look cheap or break the bank. If you want to impress go for the 14.9i instead which has a massive screen included.

The Nordictrack SE7i is a rear-drive elliptical and can be an alternative for home gym owners who still want a high quality elliptical and save some space. The SE7i comes in at the same price as the 10.9i but has the advantage that the rear-drive design makes it foldable. This way it can be folded up and stored against a wall when it is not used. This is not relevant for most commercial gym scenarios, but definitely in smaller home gym environments.

The concept 2 rower is a good option for anyone who likes a bit more intensity but does not want to stand while exercising. These rowers can also be conveniently stored on a wall hanger to save space when not in use. The main models are the Model E and Model D. Go for the Model E when you are either big and strong (reads NFL player sized) are have problems with going very low. The Model D version is the standard concept 2 model.

The Rogue echo bike is my personal favorite when it comes to bang for your buck. It has a high-quality machine that can be used professionally and only costs $700. It is space-efficient and intense. If you are a home gym owner who means business and does not need any fancy stuff, this is the machine to get.

Summary for the 10.9i

The 10.9i is a good option for anyone who loves the idea of an elliptical at home for occasional exercise and has space. For my personal tastes I think you can be more consequent in your thinking for a home gym and push the cost under $1000, but I do not have any medical conditions preventing me from doing that. I am also not a huge fan of ellipticals as I have run three marathons and want a bigger challenge. But that is just for context, I might think very differently in 10 - 20 years time or if I consider everyone in the family for a home gym.

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.