Horizon fitness Upright U bike vs Nordictrack X32i treadmill

This is a comparison of the Horizon fitness Upright U cycle and the Nordictrack X32i treadmill including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview and review NordicTrack Commercial X32i 3999 - $4999

This is a review of NordicTrack X32i which was originally published in "Which Nordictrack treadmill to get". Follow the links for more details.

Overview NordicTrack Commercial X32i 3999 - $4999

The Nordictrack commercial 32i is the current top of the line treadmill from Nordictrack. It comes with all bells and whistles maxed out and leaves nothing unwanted. Of course with this comes a high price tag which some people might find hard to swallow. The same is the case for the space requirements is this machines doe not fold and is huge. The full list of features includes:

32” Smart HD Touchscreen
1-Year iFit® Membership Included ($468 Value)**
Bluetooth® Audio Capabilities
Two 3” Digitally Amplified Speakers
Reflex™ Cushioning
22” x 65” Commercial Tread Belt
Dual AutoBreeze™ Workout Fans
0 - 40% Incline
0 – 6% Decline
0 - 12 MPH Speed
OneTouch® Controls
4.25 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
50 On-Board Workout Programs
76.5” L x 40” W x 73” H Footprint
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty
1-Year Labor Warranty

If you have the money and space, you can not go wrong with this treadmill. It is top class and beats most of its competitors in terms of comfort, features, and performance.

Pros of the Nordictrack commercial 32i

The biggest pros of the Nordic track commercial 32i are:

Big screen
Wide range of inclines/declines
Powerful motor
Great cushioning
High weight capacity
Wide belt

This ocmbination makes it a great fit for health facilities who want to work with a wide arrange of clients. If you are either a very big athlete or struggle with too much weight, you can get nothing better in terms of cushioning. The screen is massive and with the I fit functionalities which come with this machine you can simulate almost any run you want to prepare for. As long as it is available on Google maps the Nordictrack 32i will simulate the ups and downs.

Cons of the Nordictrack commercial 32i

The biggest cons of the Nordic track commercial 32i are:

Overkill
Price
Can not be folded

While having the best of everything is nice it is usually hard on resources. If you have $4000 - $5000 to spend on a treadmill, this is good. Do you really need a 40% incline and a 32-inch screen which are the mina price drivers compared to other models? Probably not. Apart from this the space requirements for this treadmill are bigger than almost anything else on the market. If you have to fit it in a small space this is not the one to get. In addition, you have no option fo fold the Nordictrack 32i to gain space.

Alternatives to the NordicTrack commercial 32i

Alternatives to the Nordictrack 32i are:

The TrueForm Runner is an alternative to the Nordictrack 32i which plays in the same price range. The True Form runner has no screen or incline and works without a motor. The main concept is that this treadmill runs on bearing. Therefore it is the better fit for fast interval training and sprints with a lot of acceleration. Basketball players, football players, and other team sport/sprint related athletes might get more use to increase performance out of this machine.

The NordicTrack 2950 is the top of the line model which costs $1000 less. You get 15% of incline and a 22-inch screen with about the same bells and whistles otherwise. I still think this is more than enough for running indoors and lets you get 3 instead of 2 treadmills against $10.000. If you want luxury but don't want to go crazy on spending, go with this one.

The Rogue Echo Bike is a very compact low price option at about $700 if you want to keep your knees safe and still get a good workout in. It is robust, easy to store and you can get a whole fleet of them for the price of two X32i. If your gym has not a lot of space or you want to maximize it, this is a solid option. In terms of comfort do not expect too much as this bike does not have any fans and screens or digital gadgets attached to it.

Summary for the Nordictrack commercial 32i

The NordicTrack 32i is a great option for the very wealthy home gym owner, as you can not get anything better for comfort and performance or a boutique commercial gym. If you only have one treadmill in your facility, this is a good option. the Nordictrack 32i is not a good option for budget gyms which have to maximize the number of machines in their space for peak times or low budget home gym owners. For the price of one 32i you can already outfit an entire 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.